admin 
Mumbai, January 1:
Indian equity benchmark indices opened the first trading session of 2026 on a cautious note, posting marginal gains on Thursday as most global markets remained closed due to the New Year holiday. Domestic institutional support helped markets stay in the green, even as overall trading activity remained subdued.
The Nifty 50 opened at 26,173.30, gaining 43.70 points or 0.17 per cent, while the BSE Sensex started at 85,255.55, up 34.95 points or 0.04 per cent.
Muted Session Expected Due to Global Cues
Market participants indicated that trading volumes are likely to remain low throughout the session. This is largely due to the closure of major global markets on account of New Year celebrations.
Experts noted that domestic institutional investors (DIIs) continued to provide support to the markets, helping offset persistent selling pressure from foreign portfolio investors (FPIs).
Ajay Bagga, Banking and Market Expert, said Indian markets witnessed short covering towards the end of 2025. However, FPIs remained heavy sellers in the cash segment, while DIIs recorded their 87th consecutive session of net inflows.
“FPI positioning remains extremely short at nearly 91 per cent. Gift Nifty signals a positive opening, but volumes will remain low as most global markets are on holiday,” Bagga told ANI.
Broader Markets and Sectoral Performance
Meanwhile, the broader market traded with a positive bias in early deals. The Nifty 100 rose 0.18 per cent, while the Nifty Midcap 100 gained 0.23 per cent. The Nifty Smallcap 100 also advanced 0.18 per cent.
Sectoral indices on the National Stock Exchange of India mostly opened higher. The Nifty Auto and Nifty Consumer Durables indices climbed 0.24 per cent each. Additionally, Nifty IT, Nifty Media, Nifty PSU Bank, and Nifty Pharma traded in positive territory.
Global Markets Remain Shut
Globally, almost all major equity markets were closed for the New Year holiday. US markets ended the final trading day of 2025 on a mixed note. The S&P 500 slipped on the last day but closed the year with gains of nearly 16 per cent, driven by strong optimism around artificial intelligence. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq Composite also posted double-digit annual gains.
Outlook for the Day
With limited global participation and steady domestic support, analysts expect Indian markets to remain range-bound during the session. As the new year begins, investors are likely to adopt a cautious approach while awaiting fresh global cues and economic triggers.
About The Author
