Indian equity markets ended the final trading session of the calendar year on a strong note, supported by broad-based buying across most sectors, even as information technology stocks remained under pressure.

At the close of trade, the Sensex settled at 85,220.6, gaining 545.52 points or 0.64 per cent.

The Nifty also finished higher at 26,129.6, up 190.75 points or 0.74 per cent. “Holding above the 26,000 mark remains crucial to sustain the ongoing uptrend and keep the possibility of a retest of the all-time high at 26,320 intact,” analysts said.

The launch of the Market Access Support Intervention scheme under the Export Promotion Mission by the government marks a strategic shift in country’s export strategy, aimed at strengthening international market access for India’s exporters, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and first-time exporters, the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) said on Wednesday.

The dividend payout to the Government from Central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) has jumped by 86.2 per cent from Rs 39,750 in 2020–21 to Rs 74,017 crore in 2024-25, reflecting the Centre’s efficient capital management policies, enhanced accountability mechanisms, and appropriate spacing of disinvestment transactions, according to a statement issued by the Finance Ministry on Wednesday.

Precious metals, especially silver, took a breather on the final trading day of the year on Wednesday, after a run‑up to record high followed by aggressive profit‑booking.

Silver futures for March 2026 on MCX tumbled 4.63 per cent to Rs 2,39,395 per kg and gold futures for February 2026 slipped 0.51 per cent to Rs 1,35,973 per 10 grams in morning trade.

The Indian benchmark indices traded in the green zone early on Wednesday on the final day of the trading year.

As of 9.30 am, Sensex advanced 167 points, or 0.20 per cent to 84,872 and Nifty gained 67 points, or 0.26 per cent to 26,005.

Main broad-cap indices performed in line with benchmark indices, with the Nifty Midcap 100 adding 0.55 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 gaining 0.58 per cent.

After a year packed with non-stop IPO launches and record-breaking fundraising, India’s primary market is now showing signs of a reality check.

While 2025 will go down as one of the most active years for initial public offerings, the performance of many newly listed stocks has failed to live up to the excitement seen on listing day.

Data shows that nearly half of the companies that went public this year are now trading below their issue prices.

India’s economic growth is expected to pick up pace in the current financial year, with GDP projected to grow at 7.4 per cent in FY2026, a new report said on Tuesday.

This would mark an improvement from the estimated 6.5 per cent growth in FY2025, according to a report by ICRA Limited.

The report said economic expansion may remain strong in the first half of FY2026, with GDP growth expected to be around 8 per cent.

The GST Council may consider cutting goods and services tax on air and water purifiers for domestic use from 18 per cent to 5 per cent, reclassifying them as essential items rather than discretionary consumer goods.

It could lower retail prices by about 10-15 per cent, improving affordability for lower‑income families at a time when air quality across the country worsens and access to safe drinking water remains uneven, multiple reports said, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Indian equity markets are expected to be on “firmer footing” in 2026, with domestic demand strongly supported by "macro front, lower inflation, healthy post-monsoon harvests, and the wealth effect of gold," a report said on Tuesday.

The report from Bajaj Finserv Asset Management Limited said corporate earnings should improve on government tax measures and RBI monetary easing, pointing to a broad‑based cyclical recovery.

The asset management firm forecasted sectoral leadership to be driven by domestic cyclicals and consumption, while exports could gain momentum as tariff-related uncertainties ease and the rupee stabilises.

Precious metals showed signs of reversal in domestic market on Tuesday after it retreated sharply, with gold and silver falling from record highs in the earlier session.

MCX gold February futures rose 0.59 per cent to Rs 1,35,744 per 10 grams, while MCX silver March futures jumped 4.08 per cent to Rs 2,33,700 per kg.

In global markets, spot gold fell 4.5 per cent on Monday to $4,330.79 an ounce, while US gold futures for February delivery settled 4.6 per cent lower at $4,343.60.

Indian benchmark indices traded in the red zone early on Tuesday, weighed down by negative global cues, tech sell-off at Wall Street and continued selling by foreign portfolio investors (FPIs).

Around 9.30 am, the Sensex moved down 115 points, or 0.14 per cent to 84,579 and the Nifty eased 30 points, or 0.12 per cent to 25,911.

Main broad cap indices performed in line with benchmark indices, with the Nifty Midcap 100 declined 0.03 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 lost 0.08 per cent.

Shares of Timex Group India fell sharply in early trade on Monday, after the company’s promoter launched a two-day offer for sale (OFS) at a steep discount.

The stock dropped nearly 10 per cent in the morning session -- reflecting selling pressure triggered by the OFS announcement.

The share price of Timex Group India slipped as much as 9.6 per cent to an intra-day low of Rs 318.

With GDP valued at $4.18 trillion, India has surpassed Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy and is poised to displace Germany from the third rank in the next 2.5 to 3 years with projected GDP of $7.3 trillion by 2030, an official statement said on Monday.

The growth momentum further surprised on the upside, with GDP expanding to a six-quarter high in Q2 of 2025-26, reflecting India’s resilience amid persistent global trade uncertainties.

Domestic drivers-led by robust private consumption-played a central role in supporting this expansion, according to the statement.

The silver market underwent a decisive structural shift in 2025, driven by prolonged physical supply deficits, inventory depletion and policy‑led supply constraints, a report said on Monday.

The report from Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd predicted that silver would touch Rs 2,46,000 per kg in the domestic market.

Silver prices in global markets retreated sharply after touching fresh intraday records of $84 per ounce in the spot market on Monday.

The white metal slipped as much as 8 per cent from its peak due to strong profit booking, snapping what could have been a seventh consecutive day of gains.

March silver futures on MCX was trading up 4.22 per cent intraday (as of 10.10 am), at Rs 2,49,282 per kilogram. Globally, the futures had surged to an intraday high of $82.67 an ounce in early trade, up 7 per cent on top of the 11 per cent jump on Friday — the strongest single‑day gain since 2008.

Indian benchmark indices traded flat with a mild positive bias early on Monday, tracking mixed global cues and subdued year-end participation.

As of 9.30 am, Sensex moved up 40 points, or 0.04 per cent to 85,081 and Nifty gained 14 points, or 0.05 per cent to 26,057.

Main broad-cap indices performed in line with benchmark indices, with the Nifty Midcap 100 advanced 0.14 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 added 0.18 per cent.

Tech Mahindra, Tata Steel and NTPC were among the major gainers in the Nifty Pack, while losers included Bajaj Finserv, Axis Bank, Bajaj Finance and Tata Consumer.

India’s real GDP growth is projected at 7.4 per cent for FY26, up from 6.5 per cent in FY25, a report has said, highlighting seasonal pick up in electricity, mining and construction sectors.

The report from ICRA said that growth is expected to ease below 7 per cent in H2 FY26 from 8 per cent in H1 because of an unfavourable base effect and moderation in exports.

Investors have poured over Rs 3 lakh crore into mutual fund schemes through systematic investment plans until November, for the first time in a calendar year.

The data from Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) said SIP inflows in the calendar year touched Rs 3.04 trillion (lakh crore) for the first time, up from Rs 2.69 trillion in 2024.

The rise in SIP inflows came as investors increasingly relied on the staggered investment route amid market volatility, which helped to offset a decline in lump‑sum investments.

With liquidity conditions remaining muted and key macro cues awaited, the Indian markets are likely to stay range-bound in the near term amid consolidation ahead of New Year, analysts said on Saturday.

Market sentiment this week was shaped by a combination of domestic macroeconomic indicators and global developments.

India concluded a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with New Zealand, strengthening its Indo-Pacific engagement and export diversification strategy. On the macro front, growth across the eight core infrastructure sectors slowed sharply to 1.8 per cent in November, highlighting near-term moderation in industrial momentum.

India’s long-term structural growth story remains intact, supported by favourable demographics, rising digital adoption, increasing financialisation of household savings and continued reform momentum, according to a new report.

The government’s ongoing policy initiatives will help reset the trajectory of corporate earnings over the medium term. Additionally, any resolution of the tariff stalemate with the US could act as an important external catalyst for markets, said Motilal Oswal Financial Services in its latest report.

Indian equity markets ended the week in a positive terrain, buoyed by expectations of stronger domestic demand, a favourable liquidity outlook and optimism over potential Fed policy easing in 2026, analysts said on Saturday.

The holiday-shortened week opened with a bullish undertone; however, momentum tapered off as the days progressed.

On Friday, Sensex closed at 85,041.45, slipping 367.25 points or 0.43 per cent. Nifty also ended in the red, falling 99.80 points or 0.38 per cent to settle at 26,042.30.

Aggregate small‑business credit exposure in India reached Rs 46 lakh crore, up 16.2 per cent year‑on‑year, a report said on Friday.

The report from CRIF High Mark and SIDBI said that active loan accounts grew 11.8 per cent to 7.3 crore, supported by policy measures and government credit schemes for micro, small and medium enterprises.

The number of beneficiaries under the government’s flagship Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, aimed to ensure universal access to clean cooking fuel, touched 10.35 crore as on December 1, 2025, according to Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Friday.

Affordability of LPG was supported through a targeted subsidy of Rs 300 per 14.2 kg cylinder for up to nine refills per year for PMUY beneficiaries. This intervention resulted in a steady rise in LPG consumption. Average per capita consumption increased from about three refills in 2019-20 to 4.47 refills in FY 2024-25 and further to a pro-rated level of about 4.85 refills per annum during FY 2025-26, indicating sustained adoption of clean cooking fuel.

The gold prices surged over 0.5 per cent to record highs on Friday, due to rising geopolitical tensions and expectations for more US rate cuts next year.

MCX gold February futures rose 0.72 per cent to a record Rs 1,39,091 per 10 grams, while MCX silver March futures jumped 3.56 per cent to a record Rs 2,31,759 per kg, as of 10.10 am. Earlier in the day, silver futures had touched an intraday high of Rs 2,32,741 per kg.

The foreign investors’ inflows in the Indian domestic equities is bouncing back and the long-term outlook for markets is robust, a report showed on Friday.

The weakness in the rupee may keep foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) away, with a return expected only after the currency stabilises for an extended spell (1-2 months), according to the note by Emkay Global Financial Services.

“However, we believe this is a temporary wobble. The long-term outlook for domestic flows is robust, in our view,” it added.

 Indian benchmark indices opened flat with a mild negative bias on Friday, as markets are apparently in the consolidation phase amid lack of major cues.

As of 9.30 am, Sensex edged down 83 points, or 0.09 per cent to 85,325 and Nifty eased 17 points, or 0.06 per cent to 26,124.

Main broadcap indices outperformed benchmark indices in terms of gains, with the Nifty Midcap 100 advanced 0.35 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 added 0.27 per cent.

The Indian primary market has raised around Rs 3.8 lakh crore through 701 IPOs over the last two years, significantly higher than the Rs 3.2 lakh crore raised between 2019 and 2023 through 629 IPOs, a new report said on Thursday.

The numbers highlight how quickly the IPO market has expanded, both in size and breadth, driven by growing investor confidence in Indian equities, data compiled by Motilal Oswal showed.

The report noted that 2025 has been another impressive year for the market. So far, more than 365 IPOs have raised about Rs 1.95 lakh crore, surpassing the previous record of Rs 1.90 lakh crore raised in 2024 through 336 IPOs.

Apex business chamber CII on Thursday proposed a four-pronged fiscal strategy ahead of the Union Budget 2026-27 that includes debt stability, fiscal transparency, revenue mobilisation and expenditure efficiency.

According to a CII statement, at the core of the roadmap is adherence to the government’s debt glide path targeting 50 per cent (plus or minus 1 per cent) of GDP by FY31. Maintaining Central debt at roughly 54.5 per cent of GDP and the fiscal deficit at 4.2 per cent of GDP in FY27 will preserve macro credibility while supporting growth. Strengthening public finances, however, must extend beyond the Centre to States and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), whose fiscal positions increasingly shape overall debt dynamics and the durability of macroeconomic stability.

India saw highest engineering exports of this fiscal at $11.01 billion in November, driven by a favourable base effect and a sharp jump in shipments to the US and EU, industry data showed on Thursday.

Exports to India's top two major destinations, the US and the EU, jumped significantly in November this year. Exports to the EU witnessed a hefty 39 per cent increase in November after declining in the previous two months.

During November this year, engineering exports achieved an impressive 23.76 per cent growth over November 2024 when shipment was recorded at $8.90 billion, according to EEPC India.

Over the past years, the government has undertaken a historic wave of reforms, abolishing over 40,000 unnecessary compliances and repealing more than 1,500 outdated laws, thus creating a modern, efficient, and citizen-friendly ecosystem. The GST rate rationalisation, which came into effect from September 22 this year, was one such ‘Big Bang reform’ towards building a 'Viksit Bharat'.

On the 79th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation and announced the introduction of next-generation GST reforms by Diwali, aimed at reducing taxes on daily-use items. “The government will bring Next Generation GST reforms, which will bring down the tax burden on the common man. It will be a Diwali gift for you,” he said, ensuring that these reforms directly benefit citizens and stimulate economic activity.

In a year marked by heightened global uncertainty, precious metals delivered exceptional returns for investors, with silver emerging as a surprise winner.

Silver prices surged by more than 137 per cent -- outperforming gold -- which also posted a strong gain of around 68 per cent this year.

With equity markets facing volatility, both metals strengthened their position as preferred safe investment options, but silver clearly outshone all traditional choices.

Gold’s strong performance was supported by geopolitical tensions, inflation concerns, and expectations of interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve.

The process for base revision of macro-economic indicators — CPI, IIP and GDP — has reached at an advanced stage, and the new series of GDP with base year 2022-23 will be released on February 27, 2026, according to the government.

Although 63 per cent of total market capitalisation appears overvalued, Indian market’s “inside” still offers rich opportunities for active investors, a report said on Wednesday outlining opportunities in 2026.

The report from OmniScience Capital said that 36 out of 100 large caps and 46 out of 150 mid-caps are undervalued or fairly valued despite Nifty 500’s valuation at over 24 times price‑to‑earnings appears elevated against 11 per cent growth.

With better earnings growth in FY27 and a potential trade deal with the US, a return of foreign institutional investors (FIIs) into India is expected in 2026, a report said on Wednesday.

"Overall, we remain constructive on the equity markets for 2026. Nifty valuations at 20.5x 1-year forward Price-Earnings ratio (PE) are in-line with its 5-year average and at a modest premium to 10-year average", according to the report from HSBC Mutual Fund.

The gold prices surged over 0.5 per cent to hit record highs on Wednesday, pushing above $4,500 an ounce due to escalating US‑Venezuela tensions and expectations for more US rate cuts next year.

MCX gold February futures rose 0.44 per cent to Rs 1,38,485 per 10 grams, while MCX silver surged 1.79 per cent to a record high of Rs 2,23,593 per kilogram (as of 10.05 am).

The dollar index had declined 0.20 per cent during the session, making gold cheaper in overseas currencies.