Gift Nifty signals record opening for Sensex, Nifty on first trading day of 2026

Sensex, Nifty Today: Indian equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty 50 were expected to open at record highs on Thursday, January 1, marking the first trading session of 2026, despite thin volumes as most global markets remained shut on account of New Year.

GIFT Nifty at record high

Early signals from the Gift Nifty pointed to a positive start for domestic equities. The Gift Nifty was trading at a record high of 26,371.5, up 96 points or 0.37 per cent, compared with the previous close of Nifty futures.

Markets end 2025 on a strong note

Indian equities ended the final session of 2025 on a positive note, supported by broad-based buying and short covering. Investor sentiment improved on expectations of better earnings growth in the year ahead, progress on a potential India–US trade agreement, and renewed foreign investor participation.

The Sensex gained 546 points, or 0.64 per cent, to close at 85,220.60. The Nifty 50 rose 191 points, or 0.74 per cent, to settle at 26,129.60.

Global cues mixed

Most major Asian stock markets were closed on Thursday due to the New Year holiday. On Wall Street, benchmark indices ended lower in the last session, though they logged double-digit gains for the third consecutive year. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed 0.74 per cent and 0.76 per cent lower, respectively.

Market performance in 2025

In calendar year 2025, the Nifty 50 gained 10.5 per cent, extending its winning streak to ten consecutive years. Bank Nifty rose 17.2 per cent, marking its fifth straight year of gains. The Midcap Select index advanced 6.7 per cent, while the Midcap 100 gained 5.7 per cent.

Smallcap stocks underperformed, with the Smallcap index falling 5.6 per cent, snapping a two-year winning run. Among sectors, the PSU Bank index surged 30.5 per cent for the fifth straight year, while the Metal index rose 29 per cent, extending gains for the sixth consecutive year.

December trends and technical signals

After three months of gains, the Nifty, Bank Nifty and Midcap Select ended December on a weak note. The Smallcap index declined for the second straight month. Metals and auto stocks were the best performers in December, while realty and pharma stocks lagged.

On the technical front, the Nifty snapped a four-day losing streak and formed a higher high and higher low pattern. Bank Nifty extended gains for a second day and hit a 17-day intraday high, remaining range-bound between 58,800 and 59,800 on a closing basis.

Midcap Select and Smallcap indices also broke their recent losing streaks and formed positive technical patterns.

Institutional activity

Foreign institutional investors marginally increased their long positions in index futures. However, FIIs continued to sell in the cash market for the seventh straight session, with net sales of Rs 3,597 crore. Overall, FIIs remained net sellers across cash and derivatives for the fourth consecutive day.

Domestic institutional investors continued to provide strong support. They bought shares worth Rs 6,760 crore, marking their 87th straight day of net buying. Part of the buying was attributed to year-end NAV positioning and a large block deal in Privi Speciality.

Other global market trends

US markets declined for the fourth straight session, though 2025 marked the third consecutive year of gains for American equities. The dollar index fell 9.5 per cent in 2025, its weakest performance since 2017, while the rupee depreciated 4.79 per cent, its sharpest fall since 2022.

Gold and silver posted their strongest annual gains since 1979, though silver saw a sharp decline in the last session. Crude oil prices fell 18 per cent in 2025, marking their weakest performance since 2020. Copper snapped a six-day record closing streak, while aluminium hit its highest level since April 2022.