Last Updated on January 30, 2026 11:31 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
Rupee Hits Record Low
AMN / BIZ DESK
Domestic equity markets snapped their three-day winning streak on Friday as investors turned cautious ahead of the much-anticipated Union Budget 2026–27, scheduled to be presented on Sunday in a special trading session.
At the close, the Nifty 50 declined 0.39 per cent, or 98.25 points, to settle at 25,320.65, while the BSE Sensex fell 0.36 per cent, or 296.59 points, to 82,269.78. On a monthly basis, the Nifty slipped 3.1 per cent, marking its worst monthly performance since February 2025, when it had corrected by over 5.8 per cent.
Market sentiment remained volatile through the session as participants preferred to stay on the sidelines, awaiting clarity on fiscal priorities, taxation and capital expenditure announcements in the Union Budget.
Sector-wise Performance
Metals:
The Nifty Metal index emerged as the worst performer, plunging over 5 per cent. Stocks such as Tata Steel bore the brunt of selling pressure, tumbling 4.57 per cent, amid concerns over weak global demand, falling commodity prices and uncertainty around infrastructure-led stimulus.
Information Technology:
The Nifty IT index ended about 1 per cent lower. Heavyweights including HCL Technologies, Tech Mahindra and Infosys declined as investors remained cautious due to a strong US dollar, margin pressures and muted global tech spending outlook.
Banking and Financials:
Banking stocks showed mixed trends. ICICI Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank featured among the laggards, while State Bank of India (SBI) gained, supported by expectations of continued credit growth and possible policy support for public sector banks in the Budget.
FMCG:
The Nifty FMCG index was among the top gainers. Stocks such as ITC, Hindustan Unilever and Titan advanced on hopes of rural demand revival and stable input costs, aided by easing inflation.
Defence and Capital Goods:
Bharat Electronics (BEL) closed higher, reflecting sustained investor interest in defence stocks amid expectations of higher budgetary allocation for defence manufacturing and indigenisation.
Media:
Nifty Media also ended in the green, supported by selective buying and expectations of improved advertising spends.
Broader Markets
The broader market showed resilience compared to benchmark indices. The Nifty Midcap 100 slipped marginally by 0.19 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 rose 0.32 per cent, indicating selective risk appetite among investors.
Top Gainers and Losers
Among Sensex stocks, Tata Steel, ICICI Bank, Power Grid, HCL Tech, Tech Mahindra, Infosys and Kotak Mahindra Bank were the major laggards. On the other hand, Mahindra & Mahindra, SBI, ITC, Bharat Electronics, HUL and Titan led the gainers’ pack, rising up to 1.3 per cent.
Rupee Movement
In the currency market, the rupee hit an all-time low of 92.02 against the US dollar during intra-day trade before paring losses to close at 91.97. The weakness was attributed to a firm dollar index and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties.
Key Triggers Ahead
Adding to the cautious mood, the Economic Survey 2026 projected GDP growth at 7.4 per cent for FY26 and 6.8–7.2 per cent for FY27, supported by easing inflation, resilient domestic demand and continued fiscal discipline.
Meanwhile, national stock exchanges will remain open on Sunday, February 1, for a special trading session coinciding with the Union Budget announcement. Pre-market operations will be held from 9:00 am to 9:08 am, followed by normal trading hours from 9:15 am to 3:30 pm.
With the Budget set to provide direction on growth, spending and reforms, market participants are expected to remain cautious in the near term, while sector-specific announcements could drive sharp stock-specific movements.
https://biznama.com/share-bazar-stock-market