India’s equity benchmarks are likely to start 2026 on a positive note on Thursday, building on the previous session’s gains, with auto stocks in focus ahead of December sales data.
The Gift Nifty futures were trading at 26,335 points, as of 7:36 a.m. IST, indicating that the Nifty 50 would open above Wednesday’s close of 26,129.6.
Liquidity is expected to be thin, with most global markets closed for the New Year holiday.
The 50-stock index jumped 0.7% on Wednesday, snapping a four-session losing streak in a broad-based rally led by metal stocks after the government imposed tariffs on some steel products to curb cheap imports.
This helped the Nifty trim losses for December. It closed 2025 with a 10.5% gain, but underperformed most emerging and developed-market peers.
Brokerage firms expect stronger returns in 2026, underpinned by an improving earnings outlook, steady economic growth and more reasonable valuations.
Meanwhile, foreign investors sold Indian shares worth 35.97 billion rupees ($400.33 million) on Wednesday, as per provisional data, marking their sixth consecutive session of selling.
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