Indian stock exchanges will maintain regular trading operations on January 1, 2026, while most major global markets observe the New Year holiday. BSE and NSE will remain open for normal trading activities on Thursday, providing investors with continued market access as the new year begins.

Trading Operations on New Year's Day

The commodity exchanges will follow a modified schedule on January 1. The Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) and National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange (NCDX) will operate during their first session from 9 am to 5 pm but will remain closed for evening trading sessions.

Meanwhile, major international markets will observe the holiday closure. Stock exchanges in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, France, Germany, UAE, UK, and the US will remain shut on the first day of 2026. China and Japan bourses will extend their New Year break through Friday, January 2.

Market Performance at Year-End

The benchmark indices concluded 2025 with strong performance, breaking their four-session losing streak. Market activity showed broad-based buying across most sectors, with metals, auto, and financials leading the rally while IT remained subdued.

Technical Analysis and Market Outlook

Rupak De, Senior Technical Analyst at LKP Securities, highlighted the Nifty's recovery above its 21-day exponential moving average as a positive technical development. The analyst noted that while the trend lacks decisive bullish momentum, recent price action suggests potential for continued recovery.

The daily chart formation shows a doji pattern followed by a sharp rise, indicated by a prominent green candle. This technical setup suggests the possibility of additional gains in the near term. The analyst projects potential upside movement toward 26,315, with initial support expected around 26,100.

Official 2026 Holiday Calendar

The exchanges have released their comprehensive trading holiday schedule for 2026, providing early visibility for market participants. The calendar includes 15 full trading holidays across equity, equity derivatives, and currency derivatives segments, representing one additional holiday compared to the current year.

First Half Holiday Schedule

Second Half Holiday Schedule

The latter part of 2026 will see trading halts for Muharram on June 26, followed by Ganesh Chaturthi on September 14 and Gandhi Jayanti on October 2. Additional closures include Dussehra on October 20, Diwali Balipratipada on November 10, and Guru Nanak Jayanti on November 24, with Christmas on December 25 marking the final holiday.

Notably, Diwali does not appear as a separate trading holiday since the festival falls on a Sunday in 2026. The holiday calendar covers all segments including cash and derivatives markets, providing comprehensive guidance for trading operations throughout the year.

Indian equity benchmark indices BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty ended Wednesday's session higher, snapping a four-day losing streak and closing 2025 on a positive note amid broad-based gains across sectors. The buying momentum was supported by heavyweight stocks and policy-driven sectoral rallies.

Market Performance Overview

The benchmark indices demonstrated strong recovery with significant gains across the board:

Market breadth remained positive throughout the session, with the advance-decline ratio standing at 2:1, indicating widespread participation across market segments.

Top Performers and Laggards

From the Sensex basket, several stocks emerged as major contributors to the day's gains:

Top Gainers:

• JSW Steel Ltd
• Oil And Natural Gas Corporation Ltd
• Tata Steel Ltd
• Titan Company Ltd
• SBI Life Insurance Company Ltd
• Reliance Industries Ltd

Major Laggards:

• Tata Consultancy Services Ltd
• Tech Mahindra Ltd
• Infosys Ltd
• Bajaj Finance Ltd

Sectoral Highlights

Steel Sector Rally

Steel stocks witnessed strong buying momentum after the government announced a safeguard duty for three years. JSW Steel and Tata Steel emerged as the top Nifty gainers, with both stocks rising in the range of 2.00% to 5.00%.

Oil and Gas Surge

Oil and gas stocks recorded sharp upward movement during the session:

Oil marketing companies moved particularly higher, with IOC, BPCL and HPCL advancing between 3.00% and 6.00%.

Auto Sector Optimism

Auto stocks moved higher on expectations of healthy December sales, contributing to the overall market momentum.

IT Sector Underperformance

In contrast to the broader market strength, IT stocks largely underperformed during the session. TCS and Tech Mahindra were among the top losers on the Nifty, dragging down the technology sector.

Individual Stock Movements

Several individual stocks witnessed notable movements based on company-specific developments:

• Vodafone Idea: Fell sharply after the Cabinet approved the restructuring of AGR dues
• Hindustan Zinc: Ended 2.00% lower, tracking a fall in silver prices
• Swiggy: Entered the futures and options segment and ended its first day in the derivatives market with losses of nearly 2.00%
• PB Fintech: Extended losses as insurance regulator IRDAI is set to release a draft paper on commissions
• L&T Finance: Closed with gains of over 3.00% ahead of its quarterly updates
• Wockhardt: Surged 6.00% after the European Union granted accelerated assessment to WCK 5222

The session demonstrated strong market resilience with broad-based participation across sectors, driven by policy announcements and positive sentiment heading into the new year.