equity benchmarks ended lower on January 30, 2026, as investors turned cautious ahead of the Union Budget and booked profits after recent gains. The BSE Sensex declined by more than 350 points, while the NSE Nifty 50 slipped below the key 25,300 level, reflecting weak global cues and stock-specific selling pressure.
Market sentiment remained subdued through the session, with losses seen across auto, metal and select FMCG stocks. Tata Motors emerged as a major laggard, with its shares falling sharply after the company reported a steep drop in net profit for the December quarter, despite steady revenue growth. Weak margins and higher costs weighed on investor confidence.
Voltas shares slid around 5% after the company posted disappointing quarterly earnings, missing market expectations. Metal stocks, including Tata Steel, also traded lower amid concerns over global demand and soft commodity prices, adding to the pressure on frontline indices.
On the positive side, Dabur India gained around 2%, supported by a modest rise in December-quarter profit and stable demand across its key product categories. Some defensive stocks and select FMCG names also saw mild buying as investors shifted to relatively safer segments amid market uncertainty.
Broader markets mirrored the weak trend, with midcap and smallcap stocks trading under pressure for most of the day. Sectorally, metal, auto and capital goods indices were among the top losers, while FMCG and healthcare stocks showed relative resilience.
Investors remained on the sidelines ahead of the Union Budget, looking for clarity on government spending, fiscal consolidation and measures to support growth. Global factors, including mixed Asian market performance and concerns around interest rate outlooks, also influenced domestic sentiment.
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