Market Brief: Volatile Session Ahead of Budget **Indices & Trends** Indian markets witnessed high volatility today, January 29, 2026. While the **Sensex** and **Nifty** opened lower and dipped sharply intraday—dropping over **600 points** at one stage—they staged a recovery in the afternoon session. At the time of writing, the **Sensex** was trading near **82,500** and the **Nifty 50** hovered above **25,400**, showing resilience after the morning sell-off. **Key Drivers** * **Economic Survey 2025-26:** Investors are digesting the newly tabled survey, which projects India’s GDP growth at **6.8% to 7.2%** for the upcoming fiscal year. * **Global Cues:** Sentiment remains mixed following the US Federal Reserve’s decision to hold interest rates steady at **3.5%–3.75%**. * **Currency Pressure:** The Indian Rupee hit a fresh record low, breaching the **92** mark against the US Dollar. **Sector Watch** * **Gainers:** Metal and Oil & Gas stocks are outperforming, with heavyweights like **Hindustan Copper** seeing significant surges. * **Laggards:** IT and Auto sectors faced selling pressure, dragging the indices during the early hours. **Context & Outlook** The current volatility follows a strong rally yesterday, driven by optimism surrounding the landmark **India-EU trade agreement**. However, focus has now shifted entirely to domestic policy. Market participants are cautious ahead of the **Union Budget**, scheduled for presentation this upcoming weekend. *** **Next Step:**