Last Updated on January 16, 2026 11:14 pm by BIZNAMA NEWS
BIZ DESK
India Equity benchmarks closed marginally higher on Friday, buoyed by strong earnings in the information technology sector and gains in state-owned banks, even as concerns over foreign fund outflows and uncertainty around a US trade deal kept investor sentiment cautious.
The Sensex rose 187.64 points (0.23%) to settle at 83,570.35, while the Nifty 50 added 28.75 points (0.11%) to close at 25,694.35. For the week, however, the Nifty managed a slim 0.04% gain, while the Sensex slipped 0.01%.
Broader markets outperformed, with the small-cap index climbing 0.5% and the mid-cap index up 0.2%.
Sectoral Performance
- Information Technology (IT): Led the rally with a 3.3% surge on Friday and 2.8% weekly gain, driven by better-than-expected earnings from Infosys, HCLTech, and Tata Consultancy Services.
- Banking (PSU Banks): State-owned banks advanced on optimism around earnings and asset quality, providing support to indices.
- Pharma & Healthcare: Posted modest gains as rupee weakness boosted export-oriented companies.
- Metals: Mixed performance; global commodity cues provided early strength but trade deal uncertainty capped upside.
- Energy & Oil & Gas: Flat to negative amid crude volatility and persistent foreign fund outflows.
- FMCG: Slight decline due to profit booking and inflationary concerns.
- Auto: Ended flat, with demand outlook remaining cautious.
- Real Estate & Infrastructure: Mild gains in select mid-cap names, though foreign selling limited momentum.
Currency Watch
The Indian rupee tumbled 50 paise, closing at 90.84 against the US dollar, near its all-time low. The sharp depreciation added pressure on import-heavy sectors but lent support to IT and pharma exporters.
Market Outlook
Analysts noted that while earnings optimism in IT and PSU banks provided a cushion, foreign fund outflows and global trade uncertainties remain key risks. Technical charts suggest near-term resistance for the Nifty around the 26,000 mark, with range-bound trading likely in the coming sessions.
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