January 12, 2026 (mid-day): Nifty Holds Flat Near 25,682 as Financials Support; Coal India, Asian Paints Outperform

Indian equity benchmarks traded largely flat in the afternoon session on January 12, 2026, as gains in banking and financial services helped offset weakness in select auto and new-age technology stocks. While the Nifty 50 hovered around the unchanged mark, market action remained stock-specific, with strong participation seen in energy, paints and consumption-related counters.

Also Read: January 12, 2026 (opening): Nifty Slips Below 25,600 as Financials Weigh; HDFC Life, Coal India Lead Gains

Benchmarks Trade Range-Bound

At 12:40 IST, the Nifty 50 stood at 25,681.55, marginally down 1.75 points or 0.01%, indicating consolidation after a volatile morning. The index traded within a wide intraday range, reflecting ongoing tug-of-war between bulls and bears.

• Open: 25,669.05

• High: 25,707.85

• Low: 25,473.40

Sectoral performance was mixed:

• Nifty Next 50: 68,229.80 (−0.38%)

• Nifty Financial Services: 27,492.95 (+0.40%)

• Nifty Bank: 59,438.35 (+0.32%)

The positive move in banking and financial stocks provided crucial support to the headline index.

Top Gainers: Energy, Paints and Retail Stocks Lead

Select heavyweight stocks attracted strong buying interest, supported by healthy volumes and traded value.

• Coal India surged 2.96% to ₹430.75, with robust volumes of 90.77 lakh shares, indicating strong institutional demand.

• Asian Paints climbed 2.20% to ₹2,887.80, supported by renewed interest in consumption-driven themes.

• SBI Life Insurance added 1.37% to ₹2,098.40, benefiting from the broader strength in financial services.

• Trent gained 1.32% to ₹4,025.20, continuing its steady upward momentum.

• Tata Steel rose 1.22% to ₹180.57, reflecting mild recovery in metal stocks.

The rally in Coal India and Asian Paints played a key role in keeping the broader market sentiment positive.

Top Losers: Auto and Financial Stocks Face Pressure

On the downside, selling pressure was visible in select auto and financial counters:

• Eicher Motors declined 1.63% to ₹7,384.50, emerging as the top laggard.

• Eternal slipped 0.95% to ₹281.65 amid heavy volumes, suggesting active profit booking.

• TMPV fell 0.93% to ₹350.85.

• Bajaj Auto eased 0.89% to ₹9,477.50.

• Bajaj Finance dropped 0.88% to ₹951.20, limiting the upside in financials.

The weakness in auto majors prevented the index from building on early gains.

Market Mood: Consolidation with Sector Rotation

The afternoon trade reflects a consolidation phase, with investors rotating capital across sectors rather than exiting the market. Strength in banking, insurance and select commodities suggests underlying confidence, while profit booking in autos and select high-beta stocks indicates caution at higher levels.

Traders are closely tracking earnings expectations and global cues, which are likely to determine the next directional move.

Conclusion: January 12, 2026

The Nifty’s flat trade near 25,682 highlights a market in balance, supported by financials but capped by weakness in autos and select large caps. Strong performance by Coal India, Asian Paints, and Trent underscores continued stock-specific opportunities. In the near term, market direction is expected to remain data- and earnings-driven, with volatility likely around key levels.