MUMBAI – The Indian equity markets witnessed a day of sharp contrasts, as strong buying in healthcare and private banking sectors was offset by a massive sell-off in retail and energy heavyweights.
The Gainers: Healthcare and Banking Lead the Charge
Apollo Hospitals (APOLLOHOSP) emerged as the day's top performer, with its stock price surging 3.5% to close at ₹7,331. The stock saw intraday highs of ₹7,360, reflecting strong investor confidence.
Banking major ICICI Bank also provided significant support to the index, climbing 2.8% to end at ₹1,409.9. The stock saw massive trading activity, with a turnover value exceeding ₹24,236 million. Other notable gainers included:
The Losers: Trent and Reliance Under Intense Pressure
On the flip side, Trent Ltd was the biggest laggard of the day, witnessing a sharp correction of 8.46%. The stock tumbled from a previous close of ₹4,429.8 to finish at ₹4,055, as sellers dominated the counter.
Index heavyweight Reliance Industries (RELIANCE) also faced significant heat, sliding 4.39% to close at ₹1,508.9. As the most traded stock by value (₹41,569 million), its decline played a pivotal role in capping the market's upside potential.
Other stocks ending in the red included:
High Volume Activity
Trading volumes were particularly high in ITC (72.5 million shares) and HDFC Bank (31.9 million shares). Despite the high volume, HDFC Bank ended the day 1.49% lower at ₹962.95.
Corporate Actions Outlook
Several companies are approaching key corporate action dates, with Kotak Bank (14-Jan-2026) being the most immediate among the listed data, following several others scheduled for mid-to-late 2025.
Market Sentiment:
Analysts noted that while the "defensive" sectors like Pharma and FMCG (Hindustan Unilever +1.71%) showed resilience, the volatility in high-growth retail stocks like Trent and heavyweights like Reliance suggests a cautious outlook among institutional investors.
