Sensex, Nifty post mild gains as auto, metal stocks lead rally

India’s benchmark indices opened higher on Friday morning, buoyed by robust domestic macroeconomic indicators and stable market fundamentals.

At 9:30 AM, the Sensex rose 185 points (0.22%) to 85,374, while the Nifty climbed 61 points (0.24%) to 26,208.

Broader markets mirrored this upward trend, with the Nifty Midcap 100 advancing 0.42% and the Nifty Smallcap 100 increasing 0.30%.

Key gainers in the Nifty included Maruti Suzuki, ONGC, and Tata Steel. Notable losers were Titan Company, Tata Consumer, Dr Reddy’s Labs, Apollo Hospitals, and Bajaj Finance.

Sectorally, auto and metal indices led the gains, rising 0.89% and 0.79% respectively. All sectors traded positively except FMCG, IT, and pharma.

Market analysts identified immediate support at 26,000–26,050 and resistance near 26,250–26,300 levels.

Indian equity markets began 2026 with muted trading on Thursday, closing flat amid low transaction volumes.

Analysts highlighted that December’s 25.8% year-on-year surge in passenger vehicle sales signals sustained momentum in the auto sector and broader economy. They emphasized that continued growth—even at slower rates—could validate earnings expansion potential.

The consumer durables sector, though underperforming last year, may rebound according to experts. Anticipated benefits from interest rate reductions and GST cuts haven’t yet materialized in demand patterns, suggesting near-term opportunities.

Asian markets showed mixed performance: Hong Kong’s Hang Seng surged 2.29%, South Korea’s Kospi rose 1.37%, while Japan’s Nikkei dipped 0.37%. China’s Shanghai Composite edged up 0.09% as Shenzhen declined 0.58%.

U.S. markets closed lower on the previous trading day, with the Nasdaq falling 0.76%, S&P 500 retreating 0.74%, and Dow Jones decreasing 0.63%.

On January 1, foreign institutional investors offloaded ₹439 crore in equities, while domestic institutional investors purchased shares worth ₹4,189 crore.

(With inputs from IANS)