Pre-Market Nifty/Sensex Analysis Today, Jan 02: Sensex and Nifty Set for Positive Open Amid Steady Global Cues; Gift Nifty Up 41 Points

On Friday, January 02, Indian equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty 50 are likely to open in green, supported by favourable global cues and steady domestic sentiment. Gift Nifty was trading higher by 41.50 points or 0.16% at 26,330 mark. 

GST Collection for December

India’s GST collections climbed 6.1% year-on-year to reach ₹1.75 lakh crore in December 2025, fueled by strong import revenues and domestic momentum.

Institutional Flows – FIIs and DIIs

To kick off the 2026 trading year on Thursday, January 01, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were net sellers, selling equities worth ₹3,268.60 crore. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) continued their positive stance, buying equities worth ₹1,525.89 crore, during the same session.

Thursday's Market Action

On Thursday, January 1, Indian equities began 2026 on a steady note, with benchmarks ending largely flat. The Nifty 50 edged up 0.06% to 26,146.55, while the Sensex slipped 0.04% to 85,188.60, led by gains in LT and Infosys.

India VIX closed near 9.2, its lowest level. 9 of 11 sectoral indices ended higher, with Nifty Auto rising 1.03% for its third straight session, while Realty, IT and Metal also advanced over 0.5%. Nifty FMCG was the key laggard, dropping 3.17% in its sharpest intraday fall since February 24, 2022.

On the broader markets front, Nifty Midcap 100 outperformed the general caution, ending the day up 0.44% while Nifty Smallcap 100 faced slight profit-booking, closing with a marginal loss of 0.05%.

Wall Street On Thursday

The US stock market closed on Thursday for New Year's Day.

US Dollar

The American currency entered 2026 on a weak footing, extending its downward trajectory after a difficult performance against global rivals last year. On Friday morning, the US Dollar Index (DXY) slipped 0.10% to 98.18, reflecting its value against a basket of major currencies including the Euro, Pound, and Yen. This decline coincided with a slight strengthening of the Indian rupee, which appreciated 0.09% to reach 89.96 per dollar by the start of January.

Market participants are seeking clearer signals regarding interest rate adjustments before committing to significant positions. This cautious atmosphere defines the current trading landscape, with investors closely watching to see if the greenback's early-year slump will persist throughout the month.

Gold and Silver Prices

Precious metals are experiencing a powerful surge as 2026 begins, with gold reaching unprecedented levels and silver showing strong upward momentum.

Spot gold surged 0.4% to $4,346 per ounce by early Asian trading, after touching an all-time high of $4,550.11. February gold futures in the US zoom 0.40% to $4,359 per ounce. March silver future jumps 2.13% to $72.1.

Oil Prices

The global energy market is showing signs of stability as it navigates the opening sessions of 2026 following a period of significant volatility.

On Friday morning, crude prices traded on a slightly higher note; WTI crude rose 0.08% to trade at $57.46 per barrel, while Brent crude for March delivery climbed 0.04% to reach $60.88. Despite these marginal gains, the benchmark WTI remains under the $58 threshold as traders weigh future supply adjustments against a cautious global demand outlook.

Disclaimer: The article is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.