Indian benchmark indices opened lower on December 26, 2025, resuming trade after the Christmas holiday closure on December 25, as investors adopted a cautious stance amid mixed global cues and a lack of strong domestic triggers. The NSE Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex traded in the red shortly after the market opened at 9:15 AM IST, with early declines led by select heavyweight stocks in financial services and other sectors. Pre-open indications from GIFT Nifty pointed to a muted start, trading around 26,130 levels (down about 41 points from the previous close), reflecting subdued sentiment following the previous session's marginal losses on December 24, when Nifty settled at 26,142.10 and Sensex at 85,408.70. Asian markets showed mixed performance, with some regional exchanges closed for Boxing Day, contributing to the overall cautious tone.
Key losers in early trade included Eternal (Zomato) and Bajaj Finance, which emerged as major drags on the indices amid sector-specific pressures and broader profit-booking in consumer and financial stocks. The Nifty Bank index also faced downward pressure, while broader market breadth remained tilted toward declines in the initial minutes. Other stocks in focus included Ola Electric, which received positive news on a government incentive payout under the PLI scheme, and L&T, benefiting from a significant infrastructure order win. Gig economy platforms like Swiggy and Eternal continued to draw attention due to ongoing worker strikes impacting quick-commerce operations in select cities.
A notable corporate development in the morning session involved Yes Bank, which received a GST demand notice, adding to sentiment in the banking space. This news, alongside ongoing monitoring of global commodity trends and foreign institutional investor flows, kept trading activity measured in the post-holiday resumption. Analysts noted that the market is likely to remain range-bound in the near term, with Nifty support near 26,000 and resistance around 26,200, as participants await upcoming quarterly earnings and year-end positioning.
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Overall, the session highlighted the typical post-holiday thin volumes and cautious outlook prevalent at the tail end of 2025. Market participants are closely watching for any fresh catalysts, including global economic data and domestic policy signals, to determine the direction ahead. Investors are advised to monitor real-time index levels on NSE/BSE platforms, as conditions can evolve rapidly in live trade. As always, consult financial advisors for investment decisions amid ongoing market volatility.