₹6 Trillion Wiped Out as Markets Bleed: Sensex Crashes 769 Points, Adani Group Shares Tumble Sharply

Indian equity markets witnessed a sharp and sudden sell-off on Friday, erasing nearly ₹6 lakh crore in investor wealth as heavy foreign selling, a weakening rupee, and sharp declines in Adani Group stocks rattled investor sentiment.

The benchmark BSE Sensex plunged 769.67 points (0.94%) to close at 81,537.70, while the NSE Nifty slipped 241.25 points (0.95%) to end the session at 25,048.65, falling below the key psychological level of 25,100. During intraday trade, the Sensex had fallen by more than 800 points, highlighting the intensity of the sell-off.

As a result of the market rout, the total market capitalisation of companies listed on the BSE declined by around ₹5.7 lakh crore, dropping to ₹452.69 lakh crore.

From Early Gains to Sharp Reversal

The markets had opened on a positive note, supported by firm cues from Asian equities and easing geopolitical concerns related to Greenland. The Sensex began the session at 82,335.94 and touched an intraday high of 82,516.27. However, the optimism proved short-lived as profit booking emerged at higher levels, triggering a sharp reversal in the second half of the trading session.

The sell-off came a day after markets had snapped a three-day losing streak, making Friday’s fall even more unsettling for investors.

Adani Group Stocks Under Pressure

Shares of Adani Group companies were among the worst hit, plunging by as much as 13 percent during intraday trade. The steep fall wiped out nearly ₹1.1 lakh crore from the group’s market capitalisation.

According to a Reuters report, the decline followed developments in the United States, where the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has sought permission from a local court to serve summons directly via email to Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani. The news triggered heavy selling across Adani stocks, dragging broader indices lower.

Persistent Foreign Investor Selling

Relentless selling by Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) remained the single biggest drag on the market. On Thursday, FIIs sold equities worth ₹2,550 crore, marking the 13th straight session of net selling in January. Notably, foreign investors have been net buyers on only one trading day this month—January 2.

The tug-of-war between foreign sellers and domestic buyers, which dominated market trends in 2025, appears to have continued into 2026, keeping volatility elevated.

Rupee Hits Fresh Record Low

Pressure on domestic assets intensified further as the Indian rupee slipped to a fresh all-time low against the US dollar. The currency breached its previous low of 91.7425 to fall to 91.77, marking a decline of nearly 0.2 percent during the day.

The weakness was driven by sustained dollar demand from importers and corporates, exacerbating concerns over capital outflows. The falling rupee heightened risk aversion among investors and added to the negative sentiment in equity markets.

Investor Caution Prevails

Despite some positive global cues, Indian markets continue to grapple with uncertainty stemming from foreign outflows, currency weakness, and stock-specific risks. With volatility remaining high, market participants are expected to stay cautious in the near term, closely tracking global developments, FII flows, and corporate-specific news.