Share Markets Open Amid Volatility, Sensex About 50 Points Down, Nifty Nearly Flat

In the pre-open session, the Sensex slipped over 50 points and breached 85,700, and the Nifty rose 22 points and tested 26,350, as of 9:06 AM.

The week is likely to be data-heavy both at home and overseas, coinciding with the early phase of the quarterly earnings season.

Source : ABPLIVE AI

Indian markets looked poised for a volatile start to the trading week on Monday. The BSE Sensex rang the opening bell above 85,700, falling close to 50 points, while the NSE Nifty50 opened at 26,324, slipping merely 4 points, around 9:15 AM.

In the pre-open session, the Sensex slipped over 50 points and breached 85,700, and the Nifty rose 22 points and tested 26,350, as of 9:06 AM.

In the 30-share BSE Sensex, among the top gainers are stocks such as BEL, Tata Steel, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, and Reliance. Meanwhile, the laggards included stocks like HCL Tech, Infosys, Trent, Tech M, and HDFC Bank. 

In the broader markets, the Nifty Smallcap50 climbed 0.50 per cent. Sectorally, the Nifty Media index rose 0.81 per cent, while the Nifty IT index fell 0.95 per cent.

IT Weakness, Global Tensions Cap Early Gains

Market participants remained cautious amid concerns over the implications of the US military action in Venezuela, which has added to global uncertainty at the start of the new calendar year. Analysts warned that escalating geopolitical risks could have wider repercussions for global markets, tempering optimism despite improving domestic fundamentals.

Geopolitical Risks In Focus At Start Of 2026

Analysts cautioned that a series of geopolitical flashpoints could influence markets in the near term. The US action in Venezuela may destabilise global geopolitics, while the Russia-Ukraine conflict is expected to continue. Rising protests in Iran, coupled with threats of intervention by US President Donald Trump, could further complicate the global backdrop. There are also concerns that China may seek to exploit the situation to advance its stance on Taiwan.

A potential positive for India from the Venezuelan crisis could be a medium- to long-term bearish impact on crude oil prices, analysts noted.

A busy macroeconomic calendar, global market cues and the trading pattern of foreign investors are expected to drive equity market movement in the  week, analysts said, as investors step into the new year amid rising optimism around domestic fundamentals.

Strong and uninterrupted buying by domestic institutional investors (DIIs) helped Indian equities extend gains last week, providing resilience despite mixed global signals, traders noted. The week is likely to be data-heavy both at home and overseas, coinciding with the early phase of the quarterly earnings season.

Key Domestic Data In Focus: PMI Readings To Guide Sentiment

On the domestic front, market participants will track the final readings of the HSBC Services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) and Composite PMI for fresh cues on business activity and employment trends. These indicators are expected to offer insights into the strength of India’s services-led growth momentum.

“Globally, key US macroeconomic data and economic releases from China will be closely watched for signals on growth, demand and inflation trends,” said Ajit Mishra, Senior Vice-President (Research) at Religare Broking Ltd.