Indian equities opened lower on Wednesday as weak global cues and cautious investor sentiment weighed on benchmarks. Despite a brief recovery, selling pressure returned, keeping Sensex and Nifty in the red after Tuesday’s sharp market crash.
Sharp Decline in Early Trade: Sensex and Nifty Both in the Red
New Delhi: The Indian stock market began the third trading session of the week on Wednesday, January 21, on a negative note. Both benchmark indices—the BSE Sensex and the NSE Nifty 50—opened in the red, reflecting cautious investor sentiment. This weak opening came amid continued volatility following a sharp sell-off in the previous session.
At the opening bell, the 30-share BSE Sensex declined by 385.82 points (0.47%) to start at 81,794.65, while the Nifty 50 slipped 91.50 points (0.36%) to open at 25,141.00. The early losses indicated persistent pressure from global cues, profit booking, and sector-specific weakness.
Budget 2026 Buzz: Will joint taxation for married couples become reality in India? Explained
After the initial dip, both indices attempted a brief recovery, suggesting some buying interest at lower levels. However, this rebound proved short-lived. Selling pressure soon resurfaced, pushing the markets back into negative territory. This pattern highlighted the lack of strong conviction among investors and underscored the fragile nature of market sentiment.
By around 9:20 AM, the Sensex was trading 124 points lower at 82,055, while the Nifty 50 was down 18 points at 25,213. Although the losses had narrowed compared to the opening levels, the indices remained under pressure, indicating ongoing uncertainty.
On the BSE, select stocks managed to buck the broader market trend. Sun Pharma, Eternal, Tech Mahindra, and ITC emerged as the top gainers, supported by stock-specific buying and relative defensive strength.
Indian Markets Sink Under Global and Currency Pressure on Tuesday
On the flip side, heavyweights such as ICICI Bank, Trent, Asian Paints, and HDFC Bank featured among the top losers. The decline in banking and consumption-related stocks added to the overall market weakness, as these sectors carry significant weight in the benchmark indices.
The cautious tone on Wednesday followed a sharp sell-off on Tuesday, January 20, when Indian equities witnessed a steep decline. The Sensex plunged 1,065.71 points (1.28%) to close at 82,180.47, while the Nifty 50 dropped 353 points (1.38%) to end at 25,232.50.
Most sectors ended in the red during Tuesday’s session. Indices such as Nifty Midcap 100, Nifty Bank, Nifty IT, Nifty Smallcap 100, Nifty Auto, and Nifty FMCG all recorded losses. Notably, out of the 30 Sensex stocks, only one stock closed in the green, while 29 stocks ended lower, highlighting the broad-based nature of the sell-off.
Global Market Meltdown: Sensex and Nifty Sink as Trump’s Tariff Threats Rattle World Markets
The midweek market action reflects a phase of consolidation marked by volatility and selective buying. With recent sharp declines still fresh, investors appear cautious, closely tracking global developments, corporate earnings, and macroeconomic signals before taking aggressive positions.
