Indian benchmark indices started the day with a flat opening and a slight negative trend on Friday. The Sensex dropped 83 points, or 0.09%, to 85,325, while the Nifty slipped 17 points, or 0.06%, to 26,124 by 9:30 am. Notably, broadcap indices like Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100 outperformed the benchmarks in terms of gains.
Cipla, Dr. Reddy’s Labs, and ONGC were among the top gainers in the Nifty Pack, whereas Shriram Finance, Bajaj Finance, Tata Steel, Max Healthcare, and TCS witnessed losses. Sector-wise, the Nifty Consumer Durables index showed the highest growth at 0.4%, followed by Nifty Metal and Nifty Chemicals, each gaining 0.3%.
Market analysts suggest that the Nifty may continue its upward movement towards resistance levels at 26,202 and 26,330, with 26,000 likely to act as a near-term support. As the year-end approaches, the absence of new triggers like a US-India trade deal seems to be impacting market movements, leading to a consolidation phase.
US GDP growth of 4.3% in Q3 2025 is strengthening the US market, with rising profitability of US companies, including AI firms, attracting investments from foreign institutional investors (FIIs). However, sustained buying by domestic institutional investors (DIIs) is expected to provide support and prevent sharp market declines. Analysts anticipate a market rally in early 2026, emphasizing the importance of considering valuations for investments.
