Indian equities ended lower on Tuesday after giving up early gains driven by optimism over U.S. trade developments. The Sensex closed 250 points lower at 83,627, while the Nifty slipped 57 points to end at 25,732. The Nifty Bank bucked the trend, rising 128 points to 59,578. Selling pressure was seen in realty, consumer durables and pharma stocks, while selective buying emerged in IT and PSU banks. QSR and rice stocks remained in focus. ONGC, Eternal, Tech Mahindra, Hindalco and ICICI Bank were among the top gainers, while Trent, L&T, Reliance Industries, Dr Reddy’s and InterGlobe Aviation featured among the top losers.
Nifty futures on the NSE International Exchange traded 33.80 points, or 0.13 per cent, up at 25,757, hinting at a muted start for the domestic market on Wednesday.
On Monday, the Sensex settled 301.93 points, or 0.36% higher, at 83,878.17, while the Nifty gained 106.95 points, or 0.42%, to close at 25,790.25.
Nifty futures on the NSE International Exchange traded 46 points, or 0.16 per cent, up at 25,922, hinting at a positive start for the domestic market on Tuesday.
In this episode of "What's Hot" on Business Today, we highlighted the strong start to 2026 for precious metals, with gold reaching a record peak of around $4,563 per ounce globally and silver at $83.5 per ounce. These shiny metals continue their bullish run, driven by geopolitical tensions, central bank buying, and shifts away from the US dollar. Guest expert Abhishek Basumallick from Shree Rama Managers notes ongoing market volatility, with the Nifty dipping below 25,600 amid a 2.5% weekly decline and external shocks like US policy uncertainties and Middle East/Iran risks. He advises caution on silver but sees gold as supported by central banks, suggesting limited additions for portfolio diversification despite recent sharp rallies. The discussion shifts to Q3 earnings: Avenue Supermarts (DMart) delivered strong results with 13.3% revenue growth to ₹18,100 crore and 18% profit rise to ₹855 crore, aided by margin improvement and store additions. However, Basumallick remains skeptical due to quick commerce competition. For IT giants TCS and HCL Tech, expectations include modest growth, with focus on AI deals, client spending, and margins. He prefers mid-tier specialized IT firms over large caps. Overall, amid subdued markets and geopolitical noise, commodities like metals and oil offer opportunities, while earnings and the upcoming Union Budget will shape near-term sentiment.
JM Financial forecasts a profit after tax (PAT) increase of 9.8% year-on-year for Nifty50 in Q3FY26, driven by IT services, automobiles, metals & mining, telecom, and industrials.
Nifty futures on the NSE International Exchange traded 5.70 points, or 0.02 per cent, up at 25,794, hinting at a muted start for the domestic market on Monday.
Nifty futures on the NSE International Exchange traded 12.90 points, or 0.05 per cent, up at 25,998, hinting at a muted start for the domestic market on Friday.
Indian markets opened 2026 with early highs but quickly faced heavy selling pressure, with Nifty down ~200 points and Bank Nifty/IT indices sharply lower amid geopolitical tensions in Europe and South America, weekly expiry dynamics, and pre-weekend caution. JM Financial AMC CIO Satish Ramanathan views the volatility as an opportunity, noting reasonable economic momentum and improving earnings, though valuations warranted a pullback. He expects Q3 earnings to be solid and anticipates a post-Budget rally driven by domestic consumption push, possible tax reforms, and measures to attract FIIs. Precious metals continue strong on safe-haven demand. Strategy: Gradually build portfolios in volatile markets; avoid panic selling. Markets defend 25,900 on Nifty; IT down 2%.
Markets are entering 2026 with sharply divergent trends across gold, silver and equities, making asset allocation more critical than ever. With central banks easing and global risks still elevated, investors in 2026 face tough choices across precious metals and equities. Shriram Wealth’s new report highlights where stability, risk and growth are likely to emerge this year.
Nifty futures on the NSE International Exchange traded 82.60 points, or 0.31 per cent, down at 26,202.50, hinting at a negative start for the domestic market on Wednesday.





