Nifty Slips Below 25,750, Sensex Down 250 Points Amid Selling in Auto, Pharma Stocks
Indian equity markets closed lower on January 12 with Nifty falling 0.22% to 25,732.30 and Sensex declining 0.30% to 83,627.69. Despite positive opening on global cues, selling pressure in auto, pharma, and realty sectors weighed on benchmarks. PSU Bank sector gained 0.78% while infrastructure declined 1.14%. Over 150 stocks hit 52-week lows including Trent, ITC, and Godrej Properties, reflecting continued market volatility.
*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
Indian equity markets witnessed another volatile session on January 12, closing lower as the Nifty slipped below the 25,750 mark amid widespread selling pressure across key sectors. Despite opening on a strong note following positive global cues and extending the previous session's recovery, domestic benchmarks failed to sustain early gains and remained largely rangebound throughout the trading day.
Market Performance Overview
The benchmark indices closed with modest losses, reflecting the ongoing market uncertainty. Key market performance metrics showed:
| Index | Closing Price | Change (Points) | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensex | 83,627.69 | -250.48 | -0.30% |
| Nifty 50 | 25,732.30 | -57.95 | -0.22% |
| Nifty Bank | 59,578.80 | +128.30 | +0.22% |
| BSE Midcap | - | - | -0.20% |
| BSE Smallcap | - | - | +0.50% |
The broader market indices displayed mixed performance, with the BSE Midcap index declining 0.2 percent while the Smallcap index managed to gain 0.5 percent, indicating selective buying interest in smaller companies.
Top Gainers and Losers
The session witnessed significant divergence among individual stocks, with ONGC emerging as the biggest gainer and Trent facing the steepest decline:
| Stock | Price (₹) | Change (₹) | Change (%) | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ONGC | 243.78 | +8.07 | +3.42% | Top Gainer |
| Trent | 3,921.90 | -134.50 | -3.32% | Top Loser |
Among Nifty constituents, major losers included Trent, L&T, Dr Reddy's Labs, Reliance Industries, and Interglobe Aviation. On the positive side, gainers comprised ONGC, Tech Mahindra, Eternal, ICICI Bank, and Hindalco Industries.
Sectoral Performance Analysis
Sectoral performance remained mixed, with certain segments showing resilience while others faced selling pressure:
Outperforming Sectors:
- Nifty PSU Bank: +0.78% (best performing sector)
- IT sector: positive territory
- Media sector: ended in green
- Metal sector: closed higher
Underperforming Sectors:
- Nifty Infra: -1.14% (worst performing sector)
- FMCG: declined 0.3-0.5%
- Capital goods: fell 0.3-0.5%
- Consumer durables: dropped 0.3-0.5%
- Pharma: declined 0.3-0.5%
- Realty: fell 0.3-0.5%
Individual Stock Movements
Several stocks witnessed notable movements based on corporate developments and earnings results. Sical Logistics shares jumped 5% following a Letter of Award from South Eastern Coalfields, while L&T shares declined 3% despite securing an order win. GTPL Hathway share price shed 8% despite reporting better Q3 earnings, and VA Tech shares added 1% on a large order win from BPCL.
Market Weakness Indicators
The session highlighted underlying market weakness, with more than 150 stocks hitting 52-week lows. Notable companies reaching yearly lows included Dixon Technologies, Cohance Life, Trent, Godrej Properties, BASF, Whirlpool, ITC, Happiest Minds, IRCTC, Cera Sanitaryware, and SignatureGlobal India, among others. This broad-based decline across various sectors and market capitalizations suggests continued investor caution and profit-booking activities in the current market environment.
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