Slow start of stock market in the year 2026, benchmark index closed stable due to heavy selling in ITC

Mumbai, 1 January. The Indian stock market had undoubtedly bid a grand farewell to the year 2025 with strong gains. But the first trading session of the new year 2026 had a sluggish start and both the benchmark indices closed almost flat amid fluctuations throughout the day on Thursday. The effect of closure of trading in many stock markets of the world on the occasion of New Year was also visible on the domestic stock market. Ultimately, amid heavy selling in the shares of the giant company ITC and withdrawal of foreign investors, the BSE Sensex weakened by 32 points while the NSE Nifty strengthened by 17 points.

Sensex weakened by 32 points

Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)’s benchmark index Sensex based on 30 shares closed at 85,188.60, down 32 points or 0.04 per cent. It touched a high of 85,451.70 and a low of 85,101.52 during trading. That means the index showed a fluctuation of 350.18 points during trading. Among Sensex related companies, shares of 22 remained in the green while shares of eight registered a decline.

Slight gain of 16.95 points in Nifty

On the other hand, the standard index Nifty based on 50 shares of National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed at 26,146.55 points with a slight gain of 16.95 points or 0.06 percent. Among Nifty related companies, shares of 38 were in profit while 12 showed weakness.

Investors’ capital increased by more than one lakh crore

Due to sluggish trading activity, all Nifty indices except Auto and FMCG were moving less than one percent. There was a gain of one percent in Nifty Auto while there was a decline of more than three percent in Nifty FMCG. Overall, in this mixed environment, the market cap of companies listed on BSE increased by Rs 1 lakh crore. That means investors’ capital increased by more than one lakh crore.

Heavy fall of 9.69 percent in ITC shares

Among the companies included in the Sensex group, shares of FMCG (daily use products) and cigarette manufacturing company ITC recorded a huge decline of 9.69 percent.

In fact, this pressure was seen after the notification was issued imposing additional excise duty on tobacco products and health cess on pan masala from February 1. Apart from this, shares of Bajaj Finance, Asian Paints, Bharat Electronics and ICICI Bank also remained in loss. On the other hand, shares of NTPC, Eternal, Mahindra & Mahindra, Larsen & Toubro and Power Grid rose.

FIIs made net sale of shares worth Rs 3,597.38 crore

According to stock market data, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) made a net sale of shares worth Rs 3,597.38 crore on Wednesday while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares worth Rs 6,759.64 crore.