Mumbai | January 21, 2026:
Indian equity markets closed lower for the third consecutive session on Wednesday, weighed down by escalating geopolitical tensions, weakness across global markets, persistent foreign fund outflows, and a sharp decline in the Indian rupee, which sunk to a record low.
The 30-share BSE Sensex dropped 270.84 points (0.33%) to close at 81,909.63, after plunging nearly 1,056 points intraday to hit 81,124.45. The NSE Nifty slipped 75 points (0.30%) to end at 25,157.50, falling below the psychologically important 25,200 mark.
Rupee Crashes to All-Time Low of 91.73 Against Dollar
The Indian rupee witnessed a steep fall amid global risk-off sentiment and strong dollar demand.
It closed 76 paise lower at a lifetime low of 91.73 per dollar (provisional).
Currency experts attribute the drop to:
Persistent foreign fund outflows
Safe-haven shift towards the US dollar
Uncertainty in global markets
Rising geopolitical risks
Selling Pressure in Banking, Financial, and FMCG Stocks
Heavy selling in financials, banks, and consumption-linked sectors dragged indices sharply.
Top Sensex losers included:
ICICI Bank
Trent
BEL (Bharat Electronics)
Axis Bank
HDFC Bank
Larsen & Toubro
SBI
Maruti Suzuki
Meanwhile, gainers included:
Eternal
UltraTech Cement
InterGlobe Aviation
Reliance Industries
Despite the broader selloff, strength in select cement, aviation, and energy stocks helped limit deeper market damage.
Global Markets Add to Volatility
Asian markets closed mixed:
Nikkei 225 (Japan): Down
Kospi (South Korea): Up
Shanghai SSE Composite: Up
Hang Seng (Hong Kong): Up
European markets witnessed a broad decline, mirroring the global risk-off environment.
In the US, Tuesday’s session saw significant losses:
Nasdaq Composite: –2.39%
S&P 500: –2.06%
Dow Jones: –1.76%
Brent Crude Slips to $64.27 per Barrel
Global oil benchmark Brent crude fell 1% to $64.27 per barrel, offering some relief to import-dependent economies like India, though currency pressures offset gains.
FII Selling Continues, DIIs Step In
Exchange data shows:
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) sold ₹2,938.33 crore worth of equities on Tuesday
Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) bought ₹3,665.69 crore, helping cushion the market fall
A day earlier, the Sensex had crashed 1,065.71 points to close at 82,180.47, while the Nifty slipped 353 points to 25,232.50.
Market analysts expect volatility to remain elevated due to continued global uncertainty, currency weakness, and fluctuations in crude prices.
