The Indian stock market opened on a negative note on December 26, 2025, with benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty both trading lower. The early morning trade was subdued due to foreign fund outflows, low holiday trading volumes, and the absence of any significant domestic triggers.
Market Performance: Sensex and Nifty Decline
In early trade, the 30-share BSE Sensex fell 183.42 points, reaching 85,225.28, while the 50-share NSE Nifty dipped 46.45 points, settling at 26,095.65.
Among the major laggards, Bajaj Finance, Sun Pharma, Tata Steel, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and Bharti Airtel were among the worst performers. However, Bharat Electronics, Titan, Infosys, and UltraTech Cement showed positive movement, providing some support to the market.
Impact of Foreign and Domestic Funds
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) continued their selling trend, offloading equities worth ₹1,721.26 crore on December 24, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) were active buyers, purchasing ₹2,381.34 crore in stocks during the same period. This mixed activity has kept the markets in a consolidation phase without any strong momentum.
Market Sentiment and Global Influences
Despite some positive movement in Asian markets, including South Korea’s Kospi and Japan’s Nikkei 225, the SSE Composite Index in Shanghai was down, adding to the global uncertainty. The U.S. markets were closed on Thursday (December 25) for Christmas, which also contributed to the muted market action.
Market Outlook
V.K. Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments, suggested that in the absence of fresh market catalysts, such as a U.S.-India trade deal, the market would likely consolidate and remain range-bound. Prashanth Tapse, Senior VP of Research at Mehta Equities, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the fragile market mood due to the FII selling and low holiday volumes.
Crude Oil and Other Indicators
On the commodities front, Brent crude inched up by 0.11%, reaching $62.31 per barrel, providing a mild boost to the energy sector. However, the overall stock market sentiment remains volatile as investors await new market triggers.
Conclusion
With a lack of significant triggers in the market, the Sensex and Nifty are likely to remain range-bound and volatile. The ongoing FII outflows and low holiday trading volumes have created a fragile market sentiment, and it will take fresh developments, such as a U.S.-India trade deal or other positive news, to give the markets a decisive direction.
