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Monday, January 12, 2026

12/01/26, Market early hours news

 Indian equity benchmarks BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty fell as much as 0.3 percent at open on Monday, extending last week's sharp decline. Investors are now focused on whether key support levels can hold after the major correction and amid persistent foreign fund selling.

At 09:17 am, the benchmark indices were down around 0.3 percent, with the Sensex falling 258.4 points to 83,317.8 and the Nifty slipping 67.2 points to 25,616.1. Market breadth was firmly negative, with 1,736 stocks declining against 925 advances, while 195 shares were unchanged, signalling sustained risk aversion across segments. Midcap and smallcap stocks were also under pressure in early trade.

The cautious start follows a fifth straight session of losses on Friday, which pushed the Nifty closer to its medium-term support zone. Technical commentators flag the 25,500-25,600 band as critical for the index; a sustained hold here could help stabilise near-term momentum, while a decisive break risks opening the door to deeper cuts. On the upside, analysts see the 25,800-25,850 zone as an immediate hurdle that must be reclaimed to ease current pressure.

Sectorally, early trade was mixed. Weakness was visible in IT, infra, media and banking stocks, while selective buying lifted metal scrips. Volatility spiked, with India VIX jumping nearly 6 percent, reflecting elevated nervousness after last week's sell-off.

On the Nifty, insurance stocks outperformed, with HDFC Life Insurance and SBI Life Insurance among the top gainers. Hindalco Industries also traded higher on selective buying. On the downside, Bharat Electronics, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise, ICICI Bank and Infosys weighed on the index, reflecting pressure in defensives, financials and IT.

Global cues were mixed. US markets ended last week at record highs, supported by expectations of rate cuts following weaker jobs data, but Indian equities continued to lag amid concerns over potential US tariff actions and the absence of progress on trade talks. Crude oil prices remained volatile, adding another layer of uncertainty for domestic markets.

Institutional flows remain a key overhang. Foreign institutional investors have continued to sell into early 2026, while domestic institutional buying has so far failed to offset the pressure, keeping sentiment fragile.

Report made by Shareen Agarwal for Network 18

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