Daily Finance Pulse India - 20 January 2026
Indian markets closed lower on Friday with Sensex down 324 pts and Nifty below 25,600 ahead of a quiet Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday in the US; exchanges closed today, overall sentiment neutral amid FII outflows and budget anticipation.
1/10
**Sensex -324 pts, Nifty <25,600: IT Rally Fades, Caution Returns**
Sensex settled 324 points lower on Jan 19, 2026, with Nifty slipping below 25,600; Friday's IT-led rally from Infosys earnings reversed amid profit booking. [1]
Impact: Markets eye flat open Tuesday post US holiday; watch FII flows and budget cues.
2/10
**FIIs Sell Rs 22,530 Cr in Early Jan: Drags Returns, Rupee Weakens**
FIIs offloaded Rs 22,530 crore in first half of Jan 2026, following Rs 1.66 lakh crore sales in 2025; geopolitics and delayed US-India trade deal cited. Jan 19, 2026. [6]
Impact: DII buying offers cushion but equity returns pressured; SIP inflows tested.
3/10
**HDFC Bank Q3 Profit Beats: ₹18,653 Cr, NII +6.4% YoY**
HDFC Bank reported Q3FY26 net profit of ₹18,653 crore beating estimates, with NII at ₹32,615 crore up 6.4% YoY. Jan 19, 2026. [2]
Impact: Boosts banking sector confidence ahead of budget; stable assets support loans.
4/10
**GR Infra Wins ₹488 Cr NTPC Order: Infra Sentiment Lifts**
GR Infra declared L1 bidder for NTPC project worth ₹488 crore, strengthening power infra positioning. Jan 19, 2026. [2]
Impact: Order inflows signal sustained capex; positive for infra execution plays.
5/10
**Markets Open Sunday Feb 1 for Budget 2026: BSE/NSE Confirm**
BSE and NSE to hold full trading sessions on Sunday Feb 1, 2026 for Union Budget reaction; normal hours 9:15am-3:30pm. Jan 19, 2026. [4]
Impact: Rare Sunday trade enables immediate budget response; prep for volatility.
6/10
**India-EU FTA by Jan 27: Trade Pact to Boost Exports**
India-EU Free Trade Agreement expected to seal by Jan 27, 2026; key event alongside US trade deal. Jan 16, 2026. [3]
Impact: Potential export surge in services/manufacturing; watch forex and sectors.
7/10
**FDI Inflows Surge to $51 Bn in Last 6 Months: Capex Boost**
FDI inflows reached $51 billion over last six months per DPIIT; supports economic momentum. Jan 16, 2026. [3]
Impact: Offsets FII equity sales; aids rupee and investment cycle.
8/10
**Wholesale Inflation at 0.8%: Eight-Month High Pressure**
WPI inflation at 0.8%, lower than expected but signals building input pressures. Jan 16, 2026. [3]
Impact: RBI to monitor for rate cues; mixed for margins in commodities.
9/10
**Oil Prices Crash on Trump Iran Remarks: Relief for India**
Global oil crash follows Trump comments on Iran; eases import bill. Jan 16, 2026. [3]
Impact: Supports CAD, lowers inflation; bullish for oil importers like India.
10/10
**Gift Nifty Marginally Up: Cautious Flat Open Expected Tuesday**
Gift Nifty signals flat-to-positive start amid weak Europe, high VIX; FII selling persists. Jan 19, 2026. [5]
Impact: Range-bound trade likely; DII support key vs global headwinds.