India, Jan. 30 -- Global markets diverged sharply on Thursday, January 29, 2026. U.S. indices turned lower as a sell-off in major technology stocks dragged down the Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 following the Federal Reserve's decision to hold interest rates steady. In contrast, Indian benchmarks closed higher for a third consecutive session, buoyed by an optimistic government Economic Survey.

The S&P 500 index declined 0.86%, retreating from the previous day's historic touch of the 7,000-point level. The drop was led by significant weakness in its Information Technology and Communication Services sectors, as disappointing earnings and guidance from several mega-cap companies prompted a broad re-evaluation.The index's sharp drop shows how...