Indian equity benchmarks extended their losses into a second straight session on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, as sustained selling pressure in index heavyweights like Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank weighed heavily on investor sentiment.
Key Indices Register Significant Decline
The market sell-off was broad-based, with the benchmark 30-share BSE Sensex taking a sharp hit. The index closed the trading day at 85,063.34 points, marking a substantial fall of 376.28 points or 0.44%. The decline was even more pronounced during intraday trading, where the Sensex plunged as much as 539.52 points, or 0.63%, to touch a low of 84,900.10.
Heavyweights Lead the Downward Trend
The primary drag on the market came from two of its most influential components. Shares of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and HDFC Bank witnessed significant selling activity, which created a negative ripple effect across the board. These stocks hold considerable weight in the index calculations, meaning their movement has an outsized impact on the overall market direction. The persistent offloading in these blue-chip counters dented confidence and triggered caution among other market participants.
Analyzing the Market Sentiment and Outlook
The consecutive days of decline suggest a shift in short-term market mood, moving away from the recent bullishness. Analysts point to profit-booking after recent rallies, combined with specific sectoral concerns impacting the banking and energy giants, as key reasons for the pullback. The market will now closely watch for domestic cues and global trends to determine if this is a temporary correction or the beginning of a more sustained phase of consolidation. The focus will also be on whether other sectoral indices can provide support or if the weakness in heavyweights will continue to dictate the trend.
