Bears on the prowl: Over 1,000 stocks crash at least 30% from peaks. Is your portfolio safe? 

​A chill wind is blowing through Dalal Street, and the numbers paint a stark picture: more than 1,000 stocks have plummeted at least 30% from their 52-week highs, signaling a potential bear market and sending shivers down the spines of investors across India. The question on everyone’s mind: Is myportfoliosafe?The sheer scale of the downturn is alarming. Out of the over 4,000 stocks traded on BSE, a staggering 1,058 companies with a market capitalization of at least Rs 500 crore have seen their values shrink by at least 30%.Waaree Renewable Technologiesis down 70%,Honasa Consumer63% while Ola Electric, Jupiter Wagons, BLS E-Services,Adani Green, Titagarh, Cochin Shipyard, Easy Trip Planners, Vodafone Idea, Adani Total Gas, One Mobikwik and Tanla have lost at least half of their value, shows data from ACE Equity.The selloff, driven by a confluence of factors including FII outflows, Trump tariffs, slowing domestic growth, elevated valuations, soaring bond yields and forex pressure, has wiped out over Rs 33 lakh crore in market capitalization in 2025 alone.From established bluechip stocks to retail-favourite SMEs, few pockets of the market have been spared. While bluechip Nifty50 is down around 12% from its September-peak, the pain in investor portfolios is much deeper as Nifty Next50 is in bear grip after having lost 22%. Smallcap and microcap index are also nearing bear territory.”The new US administration’s tariff war is creating a whole lot of uncertainties and you cannot predict. On top of it, the valuations are rich vis-a-vis other markets. The Q3 results have also been by and large disappointing if you compare with the valuations,” Inditrade Capital’s Sudip Bandyopadhyay said.Also read | $10 billion gone in 30 days! FII ‘ghar wapsi’ calls for a smart stock market strategyFIIs, which have sold over $10 billion worth of Indian equities this year, are now being joined by HNIs and family offices as well.While domestic institutions have been buying, their firepower will start depleting soon, Bandyopadhyay warned, asking investors to be careful at this stage.HSBC said India’s premium multiple valuation will remain under pressure until earnings stabilize.”Q3 results were below estimates, even amid the backdrop of lowered expectations. Growth is likely to remain weak for at least two quarters before the lower base or potential policy impact kicks in. We see downside risk to consensus’s 15% growth expectations in CY25,” HSBC said.Should you buy the fear?While some investors may see the downturn as a buying opportunity, particularly in fundamentally strong companies at lower valuations, others are scrambling to reassess their portfolios and mitigate potential losses. Financial advisors are fielding a surge in calls from clients, many of whom are understandably worried about the value of their retirement savings and investment accounts.While the temptation to pull out of the market entirely may be strong, history suggests that timing the market is notori