Indian equity benchmarks kicked off the trading session on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, on a negative note, mirroring subdued sentiment across global markets. The benchmark indices opened lower, pressured by weak cues from international peers and specific stock movements.
Market Opening: A Weak Start
The BSE Sensex opened 156 points lower at 79,987, while the Nifty50 began the day at 24,225, down by 43 points. This cautious opening followed a mixed and largely negative trend in Asian markets and a decline on Wall Street in the previous session. Investors appeared to be in a profit-booking mood after recent gains, opting for a risk-off approach.
Stock-Specific Action: Trent Tumbles, Banks Mixed
The session was marked by sharp movements in individual stocks. Shares of Trent, part of the Tata Group, witnessed a steep decline of nearly 7% in early trade. This significant drop made it one of the top losers on the Nifty index, sparking concern among retail investors.
On the other hand, the banking sector presented a mixed picture. HDFC Bank managed to trade in the green, showing resilience and providing some support to the index. However, Kotak Mahindra Bank traded with minor losses. Other major index constituents like Reliance Industries and Tech Mahindra also opened lower, contributing to the overall bearish sentiment.
Global Cues Set the Tone
The weak opening in Indian markets was primarily influenced by negative global cues. Major indices in the United States, including the Dow Jones and Nasdaq, closed lower on Monday, January 5. Asian markets like Hang Seng and Nikkei were also trading with cuts during the early hours, creating a cautious environment for risk assets worldwide. This global weakness prompted foreign institutional investors to turn cautious on emerging markets like India.
Sectoral Performance and Outlook
At the opening bell, most sectoral indices were trading in negative territory. The Nifty Realty and Nifty Media indices were among the top laggards. The broader market indices, Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100, also opened lower, indicating widespread selling pressure beyond just the large-cap stocks.
Market analysts suggest that investors should brace for heightened volatility in the coming sessions. The focus will remain on global economic data, crude oil price movements, and the trajectory of the US dollar. Domestically, the upcoming quarterly earnings season will be crucial in determining stock-specific directions. For now, the market sentiment remains cautious, with support levels for the Nifty seen around the 24,100 mark.
