Indian Stocks Rebound on Metal Rally, Steel Import Duties

Indian stock markets rebounded strongly on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, the final trading session of the calendar year, as benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty surged in afternoon trade following five consecutive days of losses. The rally was driven by robust buying in metal shares after the government imposed safeguard duties on select steel imports, alongside sustained purchases by domestic institutional investors.

By early afternoon around 1:35 p.m., the 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 654.73 points, or 0.82 percent, to 85,329.81. The broader 50-share NSE Nifty advanced 212.75 points, or 0.82 percent, to 26,151.60. Earlier in the session, the indices opened higher amid mixed global cues, with the Sensex gaining as much as 254 points to 84,929.46 in initial trade and the Nifty rising 89 points to 26,028. Market breadth remained positive, with about 2,455 shares advancing against 1,009 decliners and 170 unchanged among actively traded stocks.

Gains were led by heavyweight metal and consumer stocks. Among Nifty 50 constituents, JSW Steel, Tata Steel, and Titan Company rose up to 5 percent, fueled by the new import duties aimed at protecting domestic steel producers. Other notable...