January 14, 2026: Nifty Ends Lower at 25,665 as IT and FMCG Weigh; Metals and PSU Stocks Outperform

Indian equity benchmarks closed lower on January 14, 2026, as selling pressure in heavyweight IT and FMCG stocks dragged the index despite strong gains in metal, energy, and select banking counters. The session once again highlighted a divided market, with clear sector rotation between defensives and cyclicals.

Also Read: January 14, 2026: Nifty Rebounds in Noon Trade as Metals, PSU Stocks Rally; Tata Steel, NTPC Lead Gains

Market Close: Benchmarks Slip Despite Intraday Recovery

At the close (15:30 IST), the Nifty 50 settled at 25,665.60, down 66.70 points or 0.26%.

Intraday movement showed sustained volatility:

• Open: 25,648.55

• High: 25,791.75

• Low: 25,603.95

Broader indices presented a mixed picture:

• Nifty Next 50: 68,786.90 (+0.39%)

• Nifty Financial Services: 27,501.40 (−0.31%)

• Nifty Bank: 59,580.15 (flat)

The flat performance in banking coupled with weakness in heavyweight sectors prevented the benchmark from holding on to intraday gains.

Top Gainers: Metals, PSU and Select Banking Stocks Shine

Cyclical and PSU counters dominated the gainers’ list, supported by strong volumes and high traded value.

• Tata Steel surged 3.71% to ₹189.35, with massive volumes of 559.08 lakh shares and traded value exceeding ₹1,051 crore.

• NTPC gained 3.28% to ₹349.00, reflecting strong buying in power sector stocks.

• Axis Bank advanced 2.93% to ₹1,299.00, emerging as the top-performing private bank.

• Hindalco climbed 2.09% to ₹955.90, extending the metal sector rally.

• ONGC rose 1.72% to ₹247.98, supported by strength in energy stocks.

The continued rally in metals and PSU names indicates that investors are actively accumulating value-oriented sectors.

Top Losers: IT and Consumer Stocks Drag the Index

On the downside, sustained selling in large-cap consumer and technology stocks weighed heavily on the market.

• Asian Paints declined 2.40% to ₹2,817.00, emerging as the top loser.

• TCS slipped 2.15% to ₹3,197.80, leading losses among IT majors.

• Tata Consumer Products fell 1.72% to ₹1,169.00.

• Maruti Suzuki dropped 1.69% to ₹16,148.00 amid profit booking in auto stocks.

• Hindustan Unilever (HUL) eased 1.65% to ₹2,350.00.

The weakness in heavyweights like TCS, Asian Paints, HUL, and Maruti played a decisive role in pulling the index lower.

Market Sentiment: Clear Sector Rotation at Play

The session reinforced the ongoing theme of sector rotation, with funds flowing into metals, PSU, and select banking stocks, while IT, FMCG, and consumption-driven sectors continued to see profit booking. Such divergence suggests that investors remain engaged but highly selective in stock choices.

Traders are likely to remain cautious in the near term, closely tracking earnings updates, global market cues, and institutional flows.

Conclusion: January 14, 2026

The Nifty’s close at 25,665 reflects a market struggling to build sustained upside momentum, despite strong participation in metal and PSU stocks. While Tata Steel, NTPC, Axis Bank, and Hindalco delivered solid gains, continued weakness in TCS, Asian Paints, and FMCG heavyweights capped the benchmark. In the short term, stock-specific action and sector rotation are expected to remain the dominant themes in Indian equity markets.