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By Dalal Street Investment Journal (DSIJ)
In January 2026, trading activity on the NSE strengthened across cash, futures and options despite fewer sessions. Equity cash market turnover rose to a 16-month high of ₹23.9 lakh crore, taking average daily turnover to ₹1.2 lakh crore, up 27% MoM and 24% YoY, led by mainboard stocks. Average trade size touched a 56-month high, pointing to higher-value deals. Equity futures ADT climbed 29% MoM to a 15-month high, driven mainly by single-stock futures.
In January 2026, the National Stock Exchange of India recorded around 20 trading sessions, with two market holidays on January 15 (Municipal Corporation elections in Maharashtra) and January 26 (Republic Day). Despite the fewer trading days versus a typical full working month, equity cash turnover on the NSE rose to a 16-month high of ₹23.9 lakh crore. Average daily turnover (ADT) increased 27% month on month (MoM) and 24% year on year (YoY), driven largely by mainboard equities. The period also saw a 56-month high in average trade size, suggesting that higher value trades were a key driver of the rise in activity.
Also Read: Nifty Indices Rejig February 2026
Source: NSE Pulse Report
Key numbers
Monthly turnover (Equity CM): ₹23.9 lakh crore (16-month high)
ADT: ₹1.2 lakh crore (16-month high)
ADT growth: +27% MoM, +24% YoY
Average trade size: ₹33,559 (56-month high)
Mainboard Equities: The rise in average daily turnover was largely driven by mainboard equities. This segment contributed 67% of the incremental ADT, formed 89% of the total cash market turnover, and posted 19% MoM growth.
ETFs: Activity in ETFs witnessed a sharp uptick during the month, with turnover rising 174% MoM. On a longer-term basis, ETF growth since January 2025 now stands at an impressive 699%, underlining sustained traction in passive investment products.
Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs): Turnover in Sovereign Gold Bonds increased 95% MoM. This coincided with renewed investor interest in gold amid global uncertainty and domestic price volatility, alongside secondary market repositioning.
Some segments, however, saw a cooldown in activity during the month. Turnover in NSE Emerge equities fell 19% MoM, while InvITs and REITs dropped 50% MoM and 49% MoM, respectively, indicating softer participation in these categories compared with the stronger flow seen in mainboard equities.
NSE Emerge equities: -19% MoM
InvITs: -50% MoM
REITs: -49% MoM
Equity futures: ADT rises to a 15-month high; index futures ADT hits 7 month high
Single stock futures ADT: ₹1.5 lakh crore (15-month high), +29% MoM
Share of equity futures ADT (single stock futures): 84%
Index futures ADT: ₹29,120 crore (7-month high), +22% MoM
Within index futures
Nifty50 futures dominated with a 72% share
Bank Nifty futures held a 22% share but declined ~42% YoY. This was largely linked to the discontinuation and rationalisation of weekly expiry contracts.
Despite the rise in overall turnover, the average trade size declined on a month-on-month (MoM) basis. In equity futures, average trade size fell 7.6% MoM in index futures and 1.7% MoM in single stock futures. This suggests that the increase in activity was driven more by a higher number of trades rather than by larger individual positions. In other words, participation expanded in terms of trade count, while the ticket size per trade moderated during the period.
Average daily turnover (ADT) in equity options rose 35% month on month (MoM), supported by a 34% MoM increase in index options ADT, while single stock options climbed 46% MoM. Index options ADT touched a 15-month high, with Nifty50 options accounting for 91% of index options activity and rising by around 36% MoM. In comparison, other index options saw a decline on a year-on-year (YoY) basis, underscoring the continued shift in liquidity towards the Nifty50 contract.
SEBI Registered Research Analyst (INH000006396).
Founded in 1986, Dalal Street Investment Journal (DSIJ) brings decades of experience in India’s equity markets. DSIJ's research combines fundamental analysis with price action, guided by disciplined risk management and capital preservation. They follow a structured, data-driven approach designed to help investors and traders make informed decisions beyond short-term market noise.
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This article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Market investments are subject to risks. DSIJ Wealth Advisory Private Limited is a SEBI-registered Research Analyst (Reg. No: INH000006396) and Investment Adviser (Reg. No: INA000001142). Please consult your financial adviser before investing.
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