Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Dec 4: India’s benchmark equity index Nifty 50 is gearing up for a powerful start to 2026, with global brokerage CLSA forecasting the index to rise up to 28,800 points in the coming year. The projection comes soon after Nifty scaled new lifetime highs following a long gap of 189 trading sessions.

Laurence Balanco, Technical Analyst at CLSA, said seasoned market strength in December is expected to give a solid head-start to the New Year. “We expect the market to continue its upward momentum and work its way to 28,800 in 2026,” he said in a market outlook shared with NDTV Profit.

While Balanco anticipates some volatility in the second and third quarters of 2026, he believes the weakening US dollar will significantly favour emerging markets, including India. He added that the improving performance ratio of emerging markets compared to developed ones is another positive sign for sustained equity inflows.

Balanco noted that commodities could regain centre stage in 2026. With the Bloomberg Commodity Index confirming a breakout and aiming for higher levels, he said the trend is poised to support India’s core sectors.

“The Nifty metals index is likely to lead the market gains once again through 2026,” he observed, highlighting the strong resurgence seen in the latter half of this year.

On the precious metals front, he maintained a bullish stance, expecting the current consolidation in gold to pave its path towards USD 5,100 per ounce levels. Copper prices, he added, could also witness a major rally if they break above the USD 11,000 mark, pushing the metal towards USD 16,200 levels.

As global market conditions continue shifting, analysts believe India remains among the most resilient and promising investment destinations. With robust economic fundamentals and improved global sentiment, market watchers say investors may look forward to a potentially rewarding 2026, driven particularly by metals and commodity-linked sectors.