Indian shares surged on Friday, pushing the Nifty 50 to a fresh all‑time high of 26,340.
Market Overview
The Nifty 50 jumped as much as 193.45 points, closing at 26,328.55, up 0.7%. The BSE Sensex also rose, gaining 573 points to end at 85,762, a 0.67% increase.
Key Gainers
- NTPC – up about 3%
- Trent – up about 4%
- Bajaj Finance – up about 5%
- Power Grid – up about 2%
- Maruti Suzuki – up about 5%
Sector Performance
- Banking: The bank index rose 0.7%, with private lenders up 0.5% and state‑run banks up 1.2%.
- Auto: Auto stocks outperformed, lifting the sector index 1.2%. Hero MotoCorp gained 1.6% and TVS Motor rose 1.5% on strong December sales.
- Metals: Metal stocks climbed 1.4% as global metal prices firmed.
- FMCG: ITC fell 4% after tax‑increase concerns, pulling the FMCG index down 1.2%.
Global Market Mood
European markets opened the year at record levels, with the FTSE 100 breaking the 10,000 mark and the STOXX 600 hitting new highs. Asian markets such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore also posted record gains.
Currency and Commodity Updates
The Indian rupee slipped past the 90‑per‑dollar line, closing at 90.20, pressured by soft domestic data and a firmer US dollar. Oil prices were largely unchanged, with Brent at $60.81 and WTI at $57.39. Spot gold rose 1.6% to $4,384 per ounce, while silver jumped 4.3% to $74.37.
Expert Take
Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Investments, said the strong domestic auto sales and positive earnings outlook helped the market reach the new high. He added that supportive fiscal policies and gradual monetary easing are likely to shape 2026, with investors favoring large‑cap stability and selectively picking mid‑cap opportunities in cyclical, domestic‑driven sectors.
Disclaimer
Remember, this is perspective, not a prediction. Do your own research before making any investment decisions.