Indian equity markets extended their losing streak to a third straight session on January 21, 2026, as persistent weakness gripped the bourses. Benchmark indices Nifty 50 and Sensex ended lower despite a partial intraday recovery from sharp lows, reflecting fragile investor sentiment amid global uncertainties and domestic selling.
A massive 741 stocks on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) touched their 52-week lows, including prominent names such as ITC, IREDA, Tata Motors PV, and Suzlon Energy, signaling broad-based selling across sectors.
The session opened on a weak note, with Nifty 50 crashing to an intraday low of 24,919.80—its first breach below the key 25,000 psychological level since October 2025. Sensex similarly dipped to 81,124. By the close, Nifty 50 settled at 25,157.50, down 75 points or 0.30%, while Sensex closed at 81,909.63, lower by 270.84 points or 0.33%.
The rebound from the day’s depths, which saw nearly 1% recovery at points, came courtesy of bargain hunting by value buyers, softer international crude oil prices supporting energy stocks, and a firmer tone in US futures after prior declines.
Yet the overall tone remained cautious. January has proven brutal for equities, with Nifty 50 shedding over 3.5% so far this month while declining in 10 of 14 trading sessions. The India VIX, the market’s fear barometer, jumped 7.9% to 13.75, highlighting elevated volatility.
Broader markets underperformed even more: Nifty Midcap 100 fell 1.2%, and Nifty Smallcap 100 dropped 1.5%. Sectoral indices showed a mixed bag, with Nifty Chemicals leading declines at -2.2%, followed by Nifty Realty (-1.3%) and Nifty PSU Bank (-1.0%). In contrast, Nifty Oil & Gas edged up 0.3% and Nifty Metal gained 0.1%.
Within Nifty 50, Trent (-2.1%), Bharat Electronics (-1.8%), and ICICI Bank (-1.7%) were the heaviest drags, while Eternal (+5.3%), IndiGo (+1.6%), and ONGC (+1.0%) stood out as top performers.
The downturn stems from a mix of global and local headwinds: cascading weakness in international markets, aggressive FII outflows, rising geopolitical risks, and widespread profit booking. These pressures combined to drive hundreds of stocks—including heavyweights—to yearly lows.
Notable examples include ITC at ₹324.35 (down 25.31% over the past year), Trent at ₹3,693 (-33.76%), IREDA at ₹127.02 (-37.36%), Tata Motors PV at ₹335.95 (-55.14%), Dixon Technologies at ₹10,274 (-29.97%), United Breweries at ₹1,429.80 (-30.59%), and Suzlon Energy at ₹45.46 (-19.47%). The sell-off spanned consumer staples, renewables, automobiles, and more.
With volatility showing no immediate signs of easing, market participants are closely monitoring forthcoming economic releases and global developments for potential stabilization cues. While the late-session bounce provided some respite, the high tally of 52-week lows underscores ongoing risks. Investors are urged to prioritize quality, fundamentally sound holdings in this choppy environment.