Indian equity benchmarks closed slightly in the red on Thursday, December 26, 2025, as weakness in financial and banking stocks weighed on overall sentiment. The Nifty 50 slipped below the 26,100 mark despite strong buying interest in select mid-cap and PSU stocks, indicating a mixed and cautious market mood ahead of the year-end.
Benchmark Indices: Modest Losses Amid Volatility
The Nifty 50 ended the session at 26,065.30, down 76.80 points (-0.29%). The index opened at 26,121.25, touched an intraday high of 26,144.20, and slipped to a low of 26,062.40, reflecting narrow-range but volatile trading.
Sectorally, the Nifty Bank closed at 59,072.55, declining 111.05 points (-0.19%), while Nifty Financial Services fell 77.20 points (-0.28%) to settle at 27,488.30. In contrast, Nifty Next 50 outperformed, rising 100.85 points (+0.15%) to 69,058.10, signaling selective accumulation beyond frontline stocks.
Top Gainers: PSU and Infra Stocks Shine
Broader markets witnessed strong buying in several stocks, particularly in PSU, infrastructure, and metals-related counters:
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Prakash Steelage (PRAKASHSTL) surged 16.79% to ₹4.87, backed by steady volumes.
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Panacea Biotec rallied 16.02% to ₹416.70, with significant value turnover, indicating institutional interest.
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RVNL jumped 12.18% to ₹387.80, supported by massive volumes exceeding 565 lakh shares, reflecting continued optimism in railway and infrastructure plays. -
MMTC gained 10.90% to ₹63.80, benefiting from strength in commodity-linked stocks.
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MCL advanced 9.98% to ₹59.05, rounding off the list of major gainers.
RVNL jumped 12.18% to ₹387.80, supported by massive volumes exceeding 565 lakh shares, reflecting continued optimism in railway and infrastructure plays.Top Losers: Sharp Cuts in Select Counters
On the downside, some stocks faced notable profit booking and selling pressure:
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TPHQ dropped 9.41% to ₹0.77, emerging as the top loser of the session.
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PKTEA declined 5.62% to ₹868.60, despite thin trading volumes.
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Dolphin Offshore slipped 5.36% to ₹416.15.
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MahaSteel fell 5.00% to ₹882.20.
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Sadbhav Engineering edged lower by 4.99% to ₹12.18, reflecting weakness in select construction stocks.
Dolphin Offshore slipped 5.36% to ₹416.15.Market Outlook: Cautious but Stock-Specific
Market participants remained cautious as heavyweight financial stocks failed to provide support, even as broader market pockets showed resilience. Analysts believe that near-term movements will continue to be stock-specific, with investors focusing on fundamentals, order flows, and sectoral cues rather than broad-based rallies.
Conclusion: December 26
The December 26 session underscored a divergent market trend, where benchmark indices ended lower due to financial sector drag, while select mid-cap and PSU stocks delivered strong gains on robust volumes. As the year draws to a close, investors are expected to remain selective, balancing profit booking with opportunities in fundamentally strong sectors.
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