New Delhi, 12 January (H.S.): Domestic share markets opened weakly on Monday, with both benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty facing sustained downward pressure during early trading.Trading commenced on a frail note, as initial buying support propelled both indices into positive territory right after the opening bell.

However, selling pressure swiftly reemerged, dragging them back into the red within minutes. By 10:15 a.m., after the first hour of trade, the BSE Sensex was down 0.57% and the NSE Nifty 0.49% lower.

Among major stocks, HDFC Life, Trent Ltd., SBI Life Insurance, Tata Consumer Products, and Hindustan Unilever traded with gains ranging from 0.41% to 1.69%. In contrast, Max Healthcare, Apollo Hospitals, Adani Ports, Eternal, and Larsen & Toubro declined between 1.06% and 2.02%.

Trading activity encompassed 2,696 stocks, with 595 advancing (in the green), 2,101 declining (in the red). Of the 30 Sensex constituents, 8 remained in positive territory on buying support, while 22 traded lower amid selling pressure. Similarly, among Nifty's 50 stocks, 16 were green and 34 red.

The BSE Sensex opened 140.93 points weaker at 83,435.31, surged over 180 points to 83,617.53 on early buying, but plummeted more than 500 points to 83,043.45 as sellers dominated. Buyers then stepped in modestly, yet by 10:15 a.m., it was down 476.37 points at 83,099.87 amid ongoing volatility.

The NSE Nifty mirrored this volatility, opening 14.25 points lower at 25,669.05, climbing to 25,700.95 on initial purchases before slumping over 150 points to 25,529.05 within the first 15 minutes.

A slight recovery followed, but by 10:15 a.m., it traded 126.70 points lower at 25,556.60.For context, on the previous trading day—Friday—the Sensex closed 604.72 points or 0.72% weaker at 83,576.24, while the Nifty ended 193.55 points or 0.75% down at 25,683.30.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar