Indian equity benchmarks traded lower in early morning deals on January 13, 2026, as weakness in IT, pharma, and select large-cap stocks weighed on sentiment. However, selective buying in energy, metals, and banking counters provided some support, indicating continued stock-specific action rather than broad-based selling.
Also Read: January 12, 2026: Nifty Ends Higher at 25,790 as Metals Rally; Coal India, Tata Steel Power Gains
Benchmarks Open Lower Amid Volatility
At 10:09 IST, the Nifty 50 stood at 25,756.60, down 33.65 points or 0.13%.
Intraday levels highlighted a volatile start to the session:
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Open: 25,897.35
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High: 25,899.80
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Low: 25,700.85
Sectoral performance was mixed:
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Nifty Next 50: 68,684.55 (−0.02%)
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Nifty Financial Services: 27,578.40 (+0.22%)
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Nifty Bank: 59,600.45 (+0.25%)
Gains in banking and financial services helped cushion the fall in the headline index.
Top Gainers: Energy, Metals and Banks Attract Buying
Buying interest was visible in select large-cap stocks, backed by healthy volumes and traded value.
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Eternal jumped 3.00% to ₹293.80, with heavy volumes of 169.27 lakh shares, emerging as the top gainer.
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ONGC rose 2.04% to ₹240.51, supported by strength in crude-linked stocks.
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Hindalco gained 0.90% to ₹928.40, extending momentum in metal counters.
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ICICI Bank advanced 0.80% to ₹1,424.40, lending stability to the index. -
State Bank of India (SBI) added 0.74% to ₹1,022.65, reflecting continued confidence in PSU banking.
ICICI Bank advanced 0.80% to ₹1,424.40, lending stability to the index.The strength in banks and commodity-linked stocks suggests investors are selectively positioning in fundamentally strong sectors.
Top Losers: IT, Pharma and Capital Goods Under Pressure
On the downside, selling pressure was concentrated in technology, pharmaceuticals, and infrastructure stocks.
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Larsen & Toubro (L&T) declined 2.24% to ₹3,929.00, emerging as the biggest drag on the index.
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HCL Technologies fell 2.16% to ₹1,631.50 amid weakness across the IT pack.
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Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories slipped 1.42% to ₹1,198.20.
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Bharti Airtel eased 1.33% to ₹2,016.80.
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Cipla dropped 1.22% to ₹1,447.30.
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories slipped 1.42% to ₹1,198.20.The decline in heavyweight stocks like L&T and HCL Tech capped any meaningful upside in the benchmark.
Market Sentiment: Selective Buying Continues
The early session reflects a mixed and stock-specific market, with investors rotating between sectors rather than exiting equities. Strength in banking and energy stocks indicates underlying confidence, while profit booking in IT, pharma, and capital goods suggests caution at higher valuations.
Traders are likely to track global cues, earnings expectations, and institutional flows for further direction through the day.
Conclusion: January 13, 2026
The Nifty’s dip to around 25,756 in early trade signals cautious sentiment, driven by weakness in IT and pharma heavyweights. However, strong performance by Eternal, ONGC, ICICI Bank, and SBI highlights continued opportunities in select sectors. Going forward, market direction is expected to remain data-driven, with sector rotation continuing to define short-term moves.
