U.S. equities ended the year lower but posted strong annual gains, led by AI stocks. Indian markets closed 2025 on a positive note, with Nifty showing bullish momentum, strong derivative support, and a favorable near-term outlook.
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U.S. equities ended Wednesday on a weak note, with all three major indices closing lower, even as markets wrapped up a third consecutive blockbuster year. Despite the muted finish, 2025 marked another strong chapter for global equities, driven largely by technology and artificial intelligence-led optimism.
The S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq Composite all delivered double-digit gains for the year, extending a rare three-year streak of positive returns last seen during 2019–2021. For 2025, the S&P 500 advanced 16.39%, the Nasdaq surged 20.36%, and the Dow climbed 12.97%. The Russell 2000 small-cap index also posted healthy gains of 11.26%, reflecting broad-based participation in the rally.
Investor appetite for artificial intelligence-related stocks remained the key catalyst, pushing all three major indices to fresh record highs during the year. Looking ahead, market participants are closely watching the Federal Reserve’s policy trajectory, as expectations of a dovish new chair and cooling economic data continue to fuel bets on further rate cuts in 2026.
On the day, the S&P 500 slipped 50.74 points (–0.74%) to close at 6,845.50. The Nasdaq Composite declined 177.09 points (–0.76%) to 23,241.99, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 303.77 points (–0.63%) to end at 48,063.29. Trading volumes remained light amid the holiday-shortened week, with U.S. markets closed on Thursday for New Year’s Day.
Bond yields edged higher, with the benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury yield rising 3.5 basis points to 4.163%. The dollar index (DXY) traded slightly firmer near 98.25.
Commodities saw some pressure, as U.S. crude oil slipped 0.91% to settle at $57.42 per barrel, while Brent crude declined 0.78% to $60.85 per barrel. Precious metals were also weak, with spot gold falling 0.78% to $4,312.39 per ounce, and spot silver witnessing a sharp decline of 7.1% to $71.04 per ounce.
Most Asian equity markets will remain closed on Thursday in observance of the New Year holiday, resulting in limited regional cues for global investors.
Gift Nifty indicates a positive start for Indian equities. Nifty spot is expected to trade within the range of 26,000–26,300 during today’s session, supported by improving domestic sentiment.
Indian Markets: Previous Session Recap
Indian equities ended the final trading session of 2025 on a positive note, with the January series opening on a firm footing. Despite weak global cues and persistent concerns around foreign institutional investor (FII) selling, improved sentiment and value-driven buying supported the market.
On December 31, the Sensex gained 545.50 points (+0.64%) to close at 85,220.60, while the Nifty advanced 190.75 points (+0.74%) to settle at 26,129.60.
Sectoral performance was encouraging, with Nifty Oil & Gas leading the rally. PSU Banks, Private Banks, Metals, and Auto stocks also saw strong buying interest, indicating a clear rotation toward cyclical and value-oriented sectors. Nifty IT was the sole underperformer, weighed down by cautious global technology trends.
Broader markets outperformed frontline indices, with the Nifty Midcap index rising 0.95% and the Small-cap index gaining 1.11%, highlighting improving market breadth and risk appetite.
The Nifty opened marginally higher and moved toward the 26,200 level during the session. However, profit booking in the latter half of the day trimmed gains, and the index eventually closed at 26,129.
From a technical perspective, the daily chart shows the formation of a strong bullish candle following a doji in the previous session, signaling a potential higher-bottom reversal. Additionally, the index has rebounded from its rising trendline support, reinforcing a positive short-term setup.
The broader trend remains bullish. In the near term, the Nifty may advance toward the resistance zone of 26,250–26,350, where some consolidation cannot be ruled out. On the downside, the 26,000 level remains a key immediate support.
Intraday Levels for Nifty
Resistance: 26,240 | 26,300
Support: 26,080 | 26,000
Bank Nifty Intraday Levels
Resistance: 59,840 | 60,000
Support: 59,480 | 59,200
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