22 January 2026: Market Wrap: Nifty Ends Higher at 25,289 as Pharma, Defence and Adani Stocks Lead Rally

Indian equity markets ended firmly higher on Thursday, 22 January 2026, supported by strong buying in pharma, defence, infrastructure and metal stocks. Positive momentum across broader indices and strength in key sectors helped the benchmarks close near the day’s highs, even as select consumption and insurance counters witnessed profit booking.

Also Read: 22 January 2026: Midday Market Update: Nifty Trades Flat Near 25,205 as Pharma and PSU Stocks Support; Titan Drags

Nifty 50 Closes Strong Above 25,280

At market close (15:30 IST), the Nifty 50 settled at 25,289.90, up 132.40 points (+0.53%).

• Open: 25,344.15

• Day’s High: 25,435.75

• Day’s Low: 25,168.50

The index showed resilience throughout the session and managed to hold above the key psychological level of 25,250, indicating sustained bullish sentiment.

Broader Indices Outperform

The broader market continued to outperform the headline benchmark, reflecting strong participation across sectors:

• Nifty Next 50: 67,592.80 (+1.09%)

• Nifty Financial Services: 27,149.95 (+0.69%)

• Nifty Bank: 59,200.10 (+0.68%)

Gains in financials, combined with strength in broader market stocks, added further support to the overall market structure.

Top Gainers: Dr Reddy’s, BEL and Adani Stocks Shine

Strong buying was witnessed across pharma, defence and infrastructure stocks:

• Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRREDDY): ₹1,218.60, +5.31%

• BEL: ₹417.80, +3.76%

• Adani Enterprises (ADANIENT): ₹2,088.20, +2.76%

• Adani Ports: ₹1,416.10, +2.72%

• Tata Steel: ₹189.40, +2.71%

The rally in Dr Reddy’s continued to lift the pharma space, while BEL outperformed on strong investor interest in defence stocks. The Adani group stocks remained in focus throughout the session, contributing significantly to the market’s upward momentum.

Top Losers: Eternal, Titan and SBI Life See Profit Booking

Some selling pressure was seen in select high-valuation and defensive names:

• Eternal: ₹276.50, -2.47%

• SBI Life: ₹2,024.90, -1.48%

• Titan: ₹4,022.10, -1.40%

• Eicher Motors: ₹7,046.00, -1.32%

• Max Healthcare: ₹999.50, -0.47%

The decline in Titan and Eicher Motors weighed on the auto and consumption space, while weakness in SBI Life reflected profit booking in insurance counters.

Market View: Broader Strength Signals Positive Undertone

The session highlighted clear sectoral leadership from pharma, defence, infrastructure and metals, while financials also contributed positively. The broader market’s outperformance indicates that investors continue to deploy capital selectively rather than exiting risk assets.

Technically, analysts are watching:

• Support: 25,150–25,200

• Resistance: 25,450–25,550

A decisive breakout above resistance could open further upside in the coming sessions.

Conclusion: 22 January 2026

Markets ended the day on a strong note, backed by healthy sectoral participation and improving sentiment. While selective profit booking persists in consumption and defensive pockets, the overall structure remains constructive. Investors are likely to track upcoming earnings, institutional flows and global cues for further direction.