Closing Bell: Sensex Tumbles 1,060 Pts; Nifty Ends Below 25,250 Amid Broad Selloff

Posted by : sachet | Tue Jan 20 2026

Sectoral indexes ended in the red, led by the sharp 4% decline in the Realty index. Automotive, Information technology, media, metals, pharma, oil and gas, and consumer durables shares edged lower by 1-2% on the overall selling pressure. BSE Midcap and Smallcap gauges dipped more than 2%, underperforming the major indexes. Among Nifty indexes, the top losers were Eternal, Bajaj Finance, Coal India, Adani Enterprises, and Jio Financial Services, while the only sectors to provide some support were Tata Consumer Products and HDFC Bank.

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Stock Market Today| Index Close Summary

Benchmark Indices

Sensex: 82,972.55 down by 274.25 points (-0.33%)

The 30-share index ended lower amid weak global cues and sectoral pressure.

Nifty 50: 25,487.15 down by 97.35 points (-0.38)

The benchmark index closed below key psychological levels as investors remained cautious on global trade tensions and mixed earnings.

Key Trends Affecting the Stock Market Today

Indian Stock Market Today may remain under pressure from persistent foreign fund outflows, weak global trade cues and disappointing sector performances.

Some of the key Trends that are affecting the Stock Market Today are:

IMF lifts India’s FY26 GDP growth forecast to 7.3% on better Q3 outturn
L&T Realty acquires land rights in Mumbai’s Lower Parel for ₹448 crore
Wipro walks a tightrope between growth and margins
India’s FTA push alone may not shield it from US tariffs, warns Barclays
Raymond Lifestyle appoints Satyaki Ghosh as CEO
Myntra, Raymond rope in rival executives as fashion retailers see leadership shuffle
India’s central bank proposes linking BRICS’ digital currencies

Stock Market Today: Top Gainers & Losers

Stock Market Today: Nifty Top Gainers

Company Name	% Change
Dr Reddy’s	+0.45
Tata Consumer	+1.04
HDFC Bank	+0.48
HUL	+0.42
Kotak Bank	+0.21
ICICI Bank	+0.13
SBI	+0.18

Stock Market Today: Top Losers in Nifty50

Company Name	% Change
Eternal	-3.44
Coal India Ltd	-2.60
Bajaj Finance	-2.50
Trent	-2.35
InterGlobe	-2.39
Tech Mahindra	-2.30
Bajaj Finserv	-2.17
Wipro	-2.05
Apollo Hospital	-2.12
Jio Financial Services	-2.13

Stock Market Today: Sensex Top Gainers

Company Name	% Change
HDFC Bank	+0.60
ICICI Bank	+0.38
Kotak Bank	+0.36
HUL	+0.21
SBI	+0.11
Bharti Airtel	+0.00

Sensex Top Losers

Company Name	% Change
Indusland Bank	-3.47
Eternal	-3.46
InterGlobe	-2.53
Bajaj Finance	-2.42
Tech Mahindra	-2.35
Sun Pharma	-2.34
Bajaj Finserv	-2.03
HCL Tech	-1.87
Tata Steel	-1.44

Stock Market Highlights: Sectoral Performance

As regards sectorial trends, there was a mixed trend seen in today’s trading, and investors chose to focus on defensive as well as core stocks despite a weak trend in the market

Banking stocks led the pack, thanks to selective buying in major names such as HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and SBI. The sector held steady on expected steady loan growth and sound asset qualities even as markets ended up in the red.

FMCG shares were also trending higher, with names such as Tata Consumer Products and HUL being bought. Given the defensive demand and earnings visibility, FMCG shares proved better performers than the market.

Pharma stocks closed in the positive range, with the lead gainers being Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, as traders looked for safe havens.

However, the negative impact was seen in the technology sector, as IT shares were hit by apprehensions about global demand and currency fluctuations, as well as cautious outlooks from large technology companies.

Other cyclical sectors, such as metals, realty, and autos, remained under pressure due to global uncertainties and profit booking at higher levels.

Reasons Behind the Indian Stock Market Fall Today

There are five key factors behind the downtrend in the Indian stock market:

Trade War Fears: Investors appear increasingly concerned about the evolving geopolitical situation after US President Donald Trump reflects an aggressive side on acquiring Greenland.
Mixed Q3 Earnings: Q3 earnings have been mixed so far, partly due to the one-time impact of the new labour codes. Expert note that while the numbers have largely remained stable, and there has been a positive aspects which has failed to lift market sentiment already weighed down by geopolitical concerns.
Heavy FII Selling: Foreign Institutional investors (FIIs) have been selling Indian stocks relentlessly. So far in January, they have sold Indian stocks worth over ₹29,000 crores in the cash segment.
Money flowing to safe-haven assets: Increased geopolitical and geoeconomic risks have slowed the prospects for riskier equities, driving investors towards the safe-haven assets.
Union Budget 2026 in Focus: Experts say the market sentiment is also cautious ahead of the Budget on 1st February, as expectations are high that the government will announce measures to drive economic growth.

What’s Next? Future Outlook of the Indian Stock Market

The approaching F&O expiry date may contribute to market variability. As a matter of fact, traders usually rework their contracts in the expiry week, and such moments continue to cause wild intraday movements, particularly in heavyweight stocks and high-beta stocks. Global cues would remain in focus, with investors tracking policy signals from major central banks, including the US Federal Reserve and other global monetary authorities. Any change in their interest-rate outlook or liquidity stance could impact foreign fund flows and overall market sentiment.