Sensex, Nifty trade flat with negative bias; WPI data eyed

Indian equity benchmarks made a negative start and turned volatile on Monday on account of continued pressure in IT and TECK stocks amid concerns over AI disruption. Sensex and Nifty were trading flat with negative bias in early deals as traders adopted wait-and-watch approach ahead of the release of Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation data later in the day. Some cautiousness came amid foreign fund outflows. Foreign institutional investors were net sellers of shares worth Rs 7,395.41 crore on Friday. On the sectoral front, power stocks were trading in green as the power ministry said India's power generation capacity addition from all energy sources has crossed record the 50 GW-mark during April-January period in the ongoing fiscal year.

On the global front, Asian markets were trading in green in a thin volume trading session with most of the markets remaining shut. Japanese markets were trading higher with caution amid dismal fourth quarter economic growth data. The world’s fourth-biggest economy expanded just 0.1 percent in the last three months of 2025. Meanwhile, markets in China, Indonesia, South Korea and Taiwan remained closed.

The BSE Sensex is currently trading at 82572.29, down by 54.47 points or 0.07% after trading in a range of 82276.95 and 82786.40. There were 10 stocks advancing against 20 stocks declining on the index.

The top gaining sectoral indices on the BSE were Power up by 0.93%, Utilities up by 0.61%, Healthcare up by 0.40%, Realty up by 0.34% and Capital Goods up by 0.09%, while IT down by 0.90%, TECK down by 0.63%, Basic Materials down by 0.62%, Metal down by 0.46% and Telecom down by 0.46% were the top losing indices on BSE.

The top gainers on the Sensex were Power Grid up by 2.30%, NTPC up by 1.28%, HDFC Bank up by 1.23%, Bajaj Finserv up by 0.64% and ITC up by 0.35%. On the flip side, Infosys down by 1.73%, Adani Ports & SEZ down by 1.18%, Tech Mahindra down by 0.83%, SBI down by 0.80% and Titan Company down by 0.68% were the top losers.

Meanwhile, expressing optimism over trade relation between India and UK, UK’s Trade Commissioner for South Asia Harjinder Kang has said that the both the countries share a dynamic and forward-looking partnership built on trust, collaboration, and shared ambition. He said 2025 year can be noted as a milestone year in UK?India relations, marked by the signing of a Free Trade Agreement, a shared India-UK Vision 2035, and reciprocal visits by Prime Ministers Keir Starmer and Narendra Modi to each other’s countries. 

He added the past year reflects a partnership that is deeper, broader, and more forward-looking than ever before. He further said that this agreement underpins the UK-India relationship, spanning trade and investment, culture and education, defence, climate action, innovation, and people-to-people ties.

India and the UK, on July 24, 2025, signed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) under which 99 per cent of Indian exports will enter the British market at zero duty, while tariffs on British products such as cars and whisky will be reduced in India. Meanwhile, the India-UK free trade agreement is likely to be implemented in April 2026.

The CNX Nifty is currently trading at 25455.05, down by 16.05 points or 0.06% after trading in a range of 25372.70 and 25528.45. There were 16 stocks advancing against 35 stocks declining on the index.

The top gainers on Nifty were Power Grid up by 2.47%, Coal India up by 2.34%, HDFC Bank up by 1.39%, NTPC up by 1.35% and ONGC up by 1.23%. On the flip side, Infosys down by 1.67%, JIO Financial Services down by 1.52%, Hindalco down by 1.42%, Adani Enterprises down by 1.07% and Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles down by 0.99% were the top losers.

Asian markets were trading higher; Hang Seng surged 159.88 points or 0.6% to 26,727.00, Nikkei 225 rose 61.03 points or 0.11% to 57,003.00 and Straits Times was up by 1.11 points or 0.02% to 4,938.89.