Indian Stock Markets End Lower Amid Volatile Session
Indian equity markets closed in negative territory on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. The trading day witnessed significant volatility with sharp intraday swings. Investors displayed a cautious mood throughout the session, largely due to a lack of clear positive triggers.
The benchmark Sensex declined by 250.48 points, settling at 83,627.69. This represents a drop of 0.30 percent. The broader Nifty 50 index fell by 57.95 points, closing at 25,732.30, marking a 0.22 percent decrease.
Key Factors Influencing Market Sentiment
Several major developments shaped the trading environment on Tuesday.
US-Iran Conflict: Former US President Donald Trump announced a suspension of all engagements with Iranian officials. He cited the ongoing suppression of protests within Iran. In a post on Truth Social, Trump addressed the Iranian people directly, urging them to continue protesting. He stated that help was on the way and that he had canceled meetings until the killing of protesters stopped.
India-US Trade Talks: External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar held discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The talks focused on trade, critical minerals, and energy cooperation. Both nations aim to more than double their bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. India has committed to increasing purchases of US energy and defense equipment to help narrow the trade deficit. Reuters reported that last year's trade negotiations did not yield a formal agreement.
Gold and Silver Prices: Precious metals surged to record highs on Tuesday. Stronger expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, fueled by US inflation data, drove the rally. Geopolitical and economic uncertainties further boosted demand for these safe-haven assets. On the MCX, gold hit a high of ₹1,42,949 per 10 grams. Silver reached a peak of ₹2,79,528 per kilogram.
Market Outlook and Primary Drivers
Abhinav Tiwari, a Research Analyst at Bonanza, identified the main reason for the market's decline. He pointed to renewed global anxiety after Donald Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on countries doing business with Iran. Since China is Iran's largest trading partner, investors feared escalating trade conflicts. This negative global signal overshadowed the positive news from the India-US trade discussions.
Looking forward, markets may find some stability. Progress in India-US trade talks and strong domestic institutional support could provide a floor. However, Tiwari cautioned that geopolitical uncertainties and continued foreign selling might increase short-term volatility.
Trade Setup for Wednesday
Prashanth Tapse, Research Analyst and Senior Vice President of Research at Mehta Equities, provided insights. He noted that the Nifty 50 managed to retain some of its previous day's gains but ultimately closed lower.
Tapse highlighted three critical factors for the Nifty's future trajectory:
- Expectations of interest rate cuts from the US Federal Reserve and the Reserve Bank of India.
- Anticipation of a positive Union Budget for 2026.
- The possibility of Trump reconsidering his tariff stance on Indian goods.
He emphasized that for sustained market growth, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) must return as net buyers. Tapse observed that FII selling has already crossed ₹15,000 crore this month.
"Technically, confirmation of major strength above the psychological 26,000 mark once again becomes a key hurdle to surpass," Tapse added.
Stocks to Buy Today: Eight Intraday Picks
Market experts have recommended eight stocks for intraday trading on Wednesday. The recommendations come from Sumeet Bagadia of Choice Broking, Ganesh Dongre of Anand Rathi, and Shiju Koothupalakkal of Prabhudas Lilladher.
The recommended stocks are:
- Oil India Ltd
- Vedanta Ltd
- Mankind Pharma Ltd
- Coal India Ltd
- Mahanagar Gas Ltd
- Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Ltd
- TD Power Systems Ltd
- Eternal Ltd
Sumeet Bagadia's Stock Picks
Oil India Ltd: Bagadia suggests buying at ₹448. He advises a stop-loss at ₹432 and sets a price target of ₹480. He notes the stock is in a strong bullish trend, showing a breakout from consolidation with a pattern of higher highs and higher lows.
Vedanta Ltd: Bagadia recommends buying at ₹637. The suggested stop-loss is ₹615, with a target of ₹681. He states the stock exhibits sustained buying interest, trades above all key moving averages, and shows strong momentum.
Ganesh Dongre's Stock Picks
Mankind Pharma Ltd: Dongre recommends buying at ₹2,216. The stop-loss should be ₹2,190, with a target of ₹2,260.
Coal India Ltd: He suggests buying at ₹428. The stop-loss is ₹418, and the target is ₹450. Dongre points to a major support level around ₹418 and a reversal pattern at the current price.
Mahanagar Gas Ltd: Dongre recommends buying at ₹1,064. The stop-loss is ₹1,040, with a target of ₹1,120. He observes a strong bullish pattern and notes the stock is holding a solid support base.
Shiju Koothupalakkal's Stock Picks
Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Ltd: Koothupalakkal suggests buying at ₹362.80. The target is ₹385, with a stop-loss at ₹354. He notes the stock found support near ₹344, has moved past the 50EMA, and shows improved volume participation.
TD Power Systems Ltd: He recommends buying at ₹687. The target is ₹735, with a stop-loss of ₹672. The stock has shown a bullish candle formation after taking support near the 100-period moving average.
Eternal Ltd: Koothupalakkal suggests buying at ₹294.50. The target is ₹312, with a stop-loss of ₹286. He highlights a consolidation period near ₹280 and a recent positive candle formation on the daily chart.
Disclaimer: The views and recommendations above are those of individual analysts or broking companies. They do not represent the views of Mint. Investors are advised to consult certified experts before making any investment decisions.
