Stock Market Live Updates 1 January 2026: Sensex, Nifty open higher; auto stocks in focus
Sensex, Nifty, Share Prices LIVE: India’s equity benchmarks opened 2026 on a positive note on Thursday, building on previous session gains. The BSE Sensex rose 209 points to 85,430, while the NSE Nifty added 54 points to 26,184. Auto stocks are likely to remain in focus ahead of December sales data, while trading volumes may stay thin as most global markets are closed for the New Year holiday.
The Nifty 50 rose 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 select steel products to curb cheap imports. The rebound helped the index pare December losses.
The Nifty ended 2025 with a 10.5% gain, emerging as the best-performing major NSE index, though it underperformed several global peers. Other indices delivered modest returns, while smallcaps declined.
Despite the rebound, foreign investors sold shares worth ₹3,597 crore, marking a sixth straight session of outflows. Brokerages remain optimistic on 2026, citing improving earnings, steady growth and reasonable valuations.