Overview
- Indian equities ended the holiday-shortened week in a steady consolidation, with late-week softness after early strength.
- The Nifty settled at 26,042.30 and continued to respect support near the 26,000–25,900 zone, signaling a still-intact medium-term uptrend.
- Foreign institutional investors sold Rs 22,130 crore in December, taking 2025 equity outflows to Rs 2,31,990 crore, a continuing headwind to sentiment.
- The RBI used open market operations and a USD/INR buy–sell swap to steady the currency, while thin year-end volumes limited market follow-through.
- Traders are watching the December F&O expiry, India’s industrial production and manufacturing PMI, US FOMC minutes, currency moves, and crude and gold trends, with Brent near $62.48 and bullion firm.