Stock Market News: Sensex Sheds Over 300 Points; Nifty Holds 26,250 After Touching Record High

Share Market News: Headline indices finished the session in the red after touching a new record high on January 5. The Sensex finished at 85,439.62, down by 322.39 points or 0.38 per cent, while the Nifty 50 closed around 26,250.30 levels, down by 78.25 points or 0.3 per cent.

Earlier today, the 30-share Sensex gained 0.14 per cent to 85,883.5 levels. The Nifty 50 climbed 0.16 per cent to 26,373.2 levels. However, the indices retreated from the highs on account of likely profit booking from investors. On the sectoral front, realty, consumer durables, FMCG, metals, and auto stocks gained.

HDFC Bank and Wipro Lead Losers

Shares of HDFC Bank and Wipro emerged as the top losers among Nifty 50 stocks as they closed 2.31 per cent and 2.23 per cent lower on the NSE. Other Nifty losers included Infosys, HCL Technologies and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), which finished lower by as much as 2.21 per cent. While 23 stocks from the Nifty 50 finished in the green, 27 stocks finished in the red.

Nifty Realty and Nifty Consumer Durables Gain

The Nifty Consumer Durables and the Nifty Realty indices ended the session higher by 2.07 per cent and 1.12 per cent, respectively, and emerged as top-gainers among sectoral indices. On the other hand, the Nifty IT and the Nifty Oil & Gas index emerged as the top drags among sectoral indices as they finished lower by 1.43 per cent and 1.02 per cent, respectively. 

Asian Markets on January 5

Asian markets finished in the green on January 5 with the Nikkei 225 and the KOSPI finishing higher by 3.22 per cent and 3.32 per cent, respectively. The Shanghai Composite finished higher by 1.36 per cent.

Primary Market Action On January 5

Bharat Coking Coal IPO is scheduled to be the first major mainboard initial public offering of 2025. The company announced the price band for its public issue on January 5, fixing it at Rs 21 to Rs 23 per share.

Market Cues

In today’s trade, investor sentiment remained guarded as market participants continued to stay on the sidelines as geopolitical tensions rose following the US attack on Venezuela over the weekend. The onset of the Q3 earnings season and macroeconomic data from the US, such as the December non-farm payrolls report and unemployment rates, are expected to affect investor sentiment.