On Thursday, January 1st, Indian stock market benchmarks ended mostly flat in the first session of 2026 led by LT and Infosys. Meanwhile, the Volatility Index - India VIX closed around 9.2, at its lowest level.
After opening higher earlier in the day, equity benchmarks oscillated in a range with investors awaiting monthly auto sales updates. At the close, the Nifty 50 closed higher by 16.95 points, or 0.06%, at 26,146.55, while the Sensex slipped 32 points, or 0.04%, to settle at 85,188.60.
The Nifty auto index gained over 1%, after major companies reported monthly sales data for December, which was largely upbeat amid the impact of GST reforms.
Stock-Specific Highlights
Among individual stocks,
- Cigarette makers ITC and Godfrey Phillips share price fell 9.71% and 17.08%, respectively, after the government imposed excise duty on cigarettes from February.
Nifty Auto - Top Gainer
On the sectoral front, 9 out of all 11 sectoral indices closed in positive territory. The Nifty Auto index emerged as the top-gaining sector with gains of 1.03%, extending its winning streak to 3rd consecutive session with over 1% gain in each session. Additionally, the Nifty Realty, Nifty IT, and Nifty Metal indices advanced by over 0.5%. On the other hand, the Nifty FMCG index was the only losing sector, declining by 3.17%, recording the biggest intraday loss since February 24, 2022, nearly 3 years.
Broader Markets End Mixed
On Thursday, the broader market indices ended on a mixed note. The Nifty Midcap 100 index closed up 0.44%, and the Nifty Smallcap 100 slipped 0.05%.
Nifty 50: Top Pullers and Draggers of the Day
The key drivers of the index gains were:
- Larsen & Toubro: +13.52 points
- Infosys: +10.83 points
- Mahindra & Mahindra: +8.96 points
On the other hand, these stocks dragged the index:
- ITC: -82.51 points
- ICICI Bank: -8.30 points
- Bajaj Finance: -6.52 points
Market Breadth
As of January 1, 2026, market breadth was in favour of advancing stocks. Out of 3,223 stocks traded on the NSE, 1,683 advanced, 1,448 declined, and 92 remained unchanged.
A total of 66 stocks touched their 52-week highs, while 62 hit their 52-week lows. Additionally, 79 stocks were locked in their upper circuits, whereas 52 stocks were in lower circuits.
Disclaimer: The article is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.
