Indian equity benchmarks closed the first trade of 2026 on a subdued note after kicking off on a strong note. The Nifty 50 ended the day 17 points or 0.06% higher at 26,147, while the BSE Sensex fell 32 points or 0.04% to end at 85,188.
However, the Nifty Bank settled 130 points or 0.22% higher at 59,582, outperforming benchmarks. The mid- and small-cap stocks also closed the trade in the green. The BSE Midcap finished 127 points or 0.27% higher at 47,081.61. However, the BSE Smallcap finished 10 points or 0.02% lower at 51,515.
“The domestic market started the year with a range‑bound session and ended slightly higher amid thin trading due to global holidays and continued FII selling. Sectorally, auto stocks gained on strong December sales, while value buying supported IT stocks. However, overall advances were capped as FMCG stocks declined following the newly imposed excise duty on cigarettes. In the days ahead, Q3 earnings, budget expectations, and global cues such as the India‑US trade deal and potential Fed actions are expected to guide market direction, with earnings growth likely to remain the key driver in 2026,” said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Investments.
Big highlights from today’s market action-
Indices in intraday trade
The indices closed the trade on a lower note. During the session, out of 3,223 trading stocks, 1,683 advanced, while 1,448 declined, and 92 remained unchanged. Today, 66 stocks hit a fresh 52-week high. Meanwhile, 62 stocks touched a new 52-week low.
Top gainers
Bajaj Auto was the top gainer in the Nifty 50 in Wednesday’s session, closing 2.6% higher. It was followed by Shriram Finance, NTPC, Eternal (Zomato), and Wipro.
Top losers
ITC shares were the biggest losers in today’s trade, falling 9.7%. It was followed by Tata Consumer Products, Dr Reddy’s Lab, Bajaj Finance, and ONGC were the only losers.
Top sectors in Thursday’s trade
The plastic sector’s stocks rose the most in Thursday’s trade, rising 2.4% in the market capitalisation. Further, power stocks were followed by the nuclear power sector stocks, which were further followed by the water management sector stocks. However, the Tobacco sector stocks fell the most.
Best and worst performing business groups
The MP Birla Group’s market cap rose the most in today’s session, rising 4.7%. It was followed by the Hinduja Group. Apart from that, Shriram Group’s market capitalisation rose the most, increasing 1.94%. In the list of Shriram Group stocks, Shriram Finance’s share rallied 2.4%.