Indian stocks started the last trading day of 2025 higher, ending a four‑day slide as investors chased bargains and a new steel duty lifted key indexes.
Market Overview
The BSE Sensex rose 220 points (0.26%) to 84,895 and the NSE Nifty 50 climbed 77 points (0.30%) to 26,015. Mid‑cap and small‑cap indices each added about 0.6%.
Top Gainers
- Tata Steel
- Bharat Electronics
- Axis Bank
- Hindustan Unilever
- Adani Ports
These stocks moved up between 1% and 2%.
Steel Surge
Steel makers led the rally. Tata Steel and JSW Steel jumped up to 5% after the government announced a three‑year safeguard duty of 12% on selected steel imports. The duty aims to protect Indian producers from cheap overseas shipments, especially from China.
Institutional Flows
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) sold about ₹3,844 crore of shares, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) bought roughly ₹6,160 crore, providing net buying pressure.
Global Context
Asian markets were largely unchanged. AI‑linked chipmakers had earlier driven gains, but tariff worries faded. Silver slipped 1% on profit‑taking yet is up more than 160% year‑to‑date; gold remains higher, on track for a 66% rise in 2025.
The MSCI Asia‑Pacific ex‑Japan index fell 0.17% for the day but is up 27% for the year, its best performance since 2017. China’s blue‑chip index is up about 18% YTD, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng down 0.7% but still on course for a 28% gain, and South Korea’s Kospi leads globally with a 76% rise.
Currency & Commodity Moves
The Indian rupee weakened to ₹89.90 per U.S. dollar as foreign fund outflows continued. The dollar index edged up 0.04%.
Oil prices kept falling, with Brent crude down nearly 18% YTD, the steepest annual decline since 2018. Brent was trading around $61.27 a barrel.
What to Watch
Analysts point to upcoming December auto‑sales data, Q3 corporate earnings, and the 2026 budget as key drivers. Earnings growth will likely shape market direction and influence foreign fund flows in 2026.
Remember, this is just an overview, not a prediction. Do your own research before making any investment decisions.