MUMBAI — It was a rollercoaster ride for D-Street on Monday, January 5, 2026. The Nifty 50 index touched an unprecedented lifetime high of 26,373 during intraday trade before profit-booking and global geopolitical jitters pushed the benchmarks into negative territory.
At the closing bell, the BSE Sensex stood at 85,439.62, down 322 points (0.38%), while the NSE Nifty 50 settled at 26,250.30, declining 78 points (0.3%). The volatility was reflected in the India VIX, which surged over 6% to end at 10.02, signaling caution among traders.
The Geopolitical Overlay: The Venezuela Factor
Market sentiment was weighed down by sudden geopolitical shifts over the weekend. Following a US military operation in Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, global markets turned cautious. Investors are closely monitoring Donald Trump’s subsequent statements, leading to a ripple effect on Indian oil and gas stocks, with ONGC shedding 1.4%.
Sectoral Performance: IT Slumps, Realty Surges
The market witnessed a sharp divide between sectors.
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Laggards: The Nifty IT index was the biggest drag, falling 1.5% as brokerage downgrades and global demand concerns hit heavyweights like Infosys and Wipro.
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Banking Woes: Despite strong Q3 business updates, HDFC Bank fell 2.3% to ₹978.50, becoming the top loser on the Nifty 50.
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Gainers: On the flip side, Nifty Realty jumped 2.07% following robust quarterly updates from developers. FMCG and Auto stocks also offered support, with Nestle India and Eicher Motors hitting one-year highs.
Quick Stats: Top Movers of the Day
| Top Gainers | % Change | Top Losers | % Change |
| Nestle India | +2.76% | HDFC Bank | -2.31% |
| Bharat Electronics | +2.53% | Wipro | -2.23% |
| Eicher Motors | +2.17% | Infosys | -2.21% |
| Hindustan Unilever | +1.60% | HCL Technologies | -2.15% |
The Gold and Silver Surge
As equity markets turned volatile, investors flocked to safe-haven assets. Gold prices on the MCX surged 1.5% to cross ₹1,37,800 per 10 grams, while Silver futures advanced over 3% to trade near ₹2,45,000 per kg.
Expert Analysis: A Healthy Correction or a Trend Reversal?
By the Breaking News Today Business Desk
Today’s session was a classic “Sell on News” scenario. After the Nifty hit its psychological resistance at 26,300, profit-booking was inevitable. The geopolitical tension in Venezuela provided the perfect excuse for institutional investors to trim their portfolios. However, the resilience shown by Midcap and Smallcap stocks—where 129 stocks hit 52-week highs—suggests that the underlying domestic liquidity remains strong. Investors should watch the ₹26,150 support level for the Nifty in tomorrow’s session.
