Share Market Today: Indian equity markets faced a rough ride today, with key benchmarks losing ground as cautious sentiment gripped investors. The drag came from persistent selling by foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) and jitters ahead of the Q3 earnings season, starting with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) this week.
On Friday, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) pulled out a hefty ₹4,227.25 crore on a net basis, exchange data revealed. Globally, Asian markets were mostly in the red as lingering US-China trade tensions kept risk appetites subdued.
Share Market Today: Key Highlights
- SENSEX Performance: The SENSEX tumbled 824 points, or 1.04%, to 78,384.57, moving between 78,727.18 and 79,352.67. While seven stocks advanced, a staggering 23 declined.
- NIFTY50 Movement: The NIFTY50 shed 262 points, or 1.09%, to settle at 23,734.85, oscillating between 23,716.70 and 24,089.95. Nine stocks climbed, while 41 faltered.
- Sector Impact: Broader indices also suffered, with the BSE mid-cap index dropping 1.27% and the small-cap index sliding 1.64%.
Share Market Today: Top Winners and Losers
Top Gainers on NIFTY:
- Apollo Hospitals: +1.60%
- Titan Company: +1.46%
- Bajaj Finance: +0.50%
- Tata Consumer Products: +1.12%
- Infosys: +0.50%
Top Losers on NIFTY:
- ITC: -6.78%
- Tata Steel: -3.79%
- Kotak Mahindra Bank: -3.20%
- Trent : -3.20%
- Coal India: -2.96%
Titan stood out after announcing a robust 24% YoY revenue growth in Q3 FY25. The company added 69 new stores across its retail network, reinforcing its leadership in the jewelry segment.
Meanwhile, ITC grabbed attention in share market today for other reasons—it marked the record date for the demerger of its hotel business.
Share Market Today: Why Are Markets Falling?
Several factors contributed to share market today’s downturn:
- Health Scare with HMPV Cases
Reports of two HMPV (Human Metapneumovirus) cases at a Bengaluru hospital spooked markets. While authorities have assured that neither patient has a history of international travel, the news injected fresh uncertainty. - Q3 Earnings Jitters
Investors are keeping a close watch on the Q3 earnings season, starting with TCS on January 9. “A strong US dollar, high valuations, and sell-on-rally sentiment are driving markets lower,” said Vinod Nair, Research Head at Geojit Financial Services. - Resilient Dollar and Weak Rupee
The US dollar remained strong, pressuring emerging market currencies. The Indian rupee hit an all-time low of 85.82 against the dollar, as fears of a slower global recovery compounded concerns. - Broad-Based Selling
Almost all sectors saw heavy selling, with metal, FMCG, and PSU bank stocks among the hardest hit, each losing over 2%.
Global Market Snapshot
Asian markets were largely bearish:
- Nikkei 225: -1.62%
- Hang Seng: -0.27%
- Jakarta Composite: -0.66%
However, there were some bright spots:
- KOSPI (South Korea): +1.75%
- Taiwan Weighted: +2.75%
What Lies Ahead?
With the Q3 earnings season kicking off, markets are poised for volatility. Investors will also watch global developments, particularly US economic data, for cues on Federal Reserve policies. For now, the prevailing sentiment remains cautious as markets navigate a storm of domestic and global challenges.
Stay tuned for updates as we break down the critical numbers and insights that matter to you!
