Indian equity benchmarks closed in the red on January 13, 2026, as selling pressure in heavyweight stocks across retail, infrastructure, and energy sectors outweighed gains in banking and select commodity-linked counters. The session reflected continued volatility and sector rotation, with investors remaining highly selective in their positioning.
Market Close: Benchmarks Slip in Late Trade
At the closing bell (15:30 IST), the Nifty 50 settled at 25,732.30, down 57.95 points or 0.22%.
Intraday levels reflected sharp swings through the session:
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Open: 25,897.35
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High: 25,899.80
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Low: 25,603.30
Broader and sectoral indices showed mixed performance:
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Nifty Next 50: 68,522.00 (−0.26%)
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Nifty Financial Services: 27,586.00 (+0.25%)
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Nifty Bank: 59,578.80 (+0.22%)
The gains in banking and financial services provided some support, but were insufficient to offset broader market weakness.
Top Gainers: ONGC, Eternal and Banks Support the Market
Selective buying was visible in energy, banking, and healthcare counters, supported by strong volumes and traded value.
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ONGC surged 3.30% to ₹243.50, with volumes of 225.27 lakh shares, emerging as the session’s top gainer amid strength in oil and gas stocks.
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Eternal rose 3.16% to ₹294.25, backed by exceptionally strong volumes of 503.50 lakh shares, indicating heavy investor participation.
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ICICI Bank gained 1.66% to ₹1,436.50, providing stability to the index. -
Hindalco advanced 1.61% to ₹935.00, extending momentum in metal counters.
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Max Healthcare climbed 1.60% to ₹1,029.90, reflecting defensive buying in healthcare.
ICICI Bank gained 1.66% to ₹1,436.50, providing stability to the index.These gains underline continued investor preference for fundamentally strong and sectorally resilient stocks.
Top Losers: Retail, Infra and Heavyweights Face Selling
On the downside, sharp selling pressure was seen in several heavyweight stocks, dragging the benchmark lower.
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Trent plunged 3.71% to ₹3,906.00, emerging as the biggest laggard of the session.
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Larsen & Toubro (L&T) declined 3.21% to ₹3,890.00, weighing heavily on the index due to its large market capitalization.
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Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories fell 2.27% to ₹1,187.90.
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IndiGo slipped 1.99% to ₹4,753.50 amid profit booking in aviation stocks.
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Reliance Industries eased 1.77% to ₹1,456.90, adding to the pressure on the headline index.
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories fell 2.27% to ₹1,187.90.The weakness in heavyweights like Trent, L&T, and Reliance played a decisive role in pulling the market lower.
Market Sentiment: Volatility and Sector Rotation Continue
The session highlighted a divided market, where gains in banking, metals, and select defensives were countered by sharp declines in retail, infrastructure, and conglomerate stocks. This pattern reflects ongoing sector rotation rather than broad-based risk aversion.
Traders are likely to remain cautious in the near term, tracking global cues, earnings updates, and institutional flows for clearer direction.
Conclusion: January 13, 2026
The Nifty’s close at 25,732 reflects a market struggling to find firm direction, with strong buying in ONGC, ICICI Bank, and Eternal offset by steep losses in Trent, L&T, and Reliance. While financials continue to provide support, sustained weakness in heavyweight stocks could keep volatility elevated in the short term. Investors may continue to favour stock-specific opportunities amid an uncertain broader trend.
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