Mumbai, Dec 27: Indian equity markets ended the week in a positive terrain, buoyed by expectations of stronger domestic demand, a favourable liquidity outlook and optimism over potential Fed policy easing in 2026, analysts said on Saturday.

The holiday-shortened week opened with a bullish undertone; however, momentum tapered off as the days progressed.

On Friday, Sensex closed at 85,041.45, slipping 367.25 points or 0.43 per cent. Nifty also ended in the red, falling 99.80 points or 0.38 per cent to settle at 26,042.30.

According to market watchers, the year-end lull kept trading largely range-bound, with hopes for a Santa Claus rally diminishing amid the absence of fresh catalysts, limited progress in US–India trade talks, and caution ahead of the upcoming earnings season.

“Sectoral trends were mixed, marked by selective profit booking across most segments, while metals, FMCG, and media stocks offered notable resilience,” said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Ltd.

Nifty 50 ended the week at 26,042, continuing to respect its long-term rising channel on the daily chart. The index remains comfortably above the 20-day EMA cluster, preserving the medium-term bullish structure, said analysts, adding that as long as Nifty sustains above the 26,000–25,900 support zone, the overall bias remains positive.

On the domestic front, RBI’s liquidity interventions, such as open market operations and a USD/INR buy–sell swap, helped stabilise the rupee, though persistent FII outflows continued to weigh on sentiment.

Meanwhile, gold advanced on safe-haven demand, while crude prices hovered near multi-year lows, though U.S. steps to tighten pressure on Venezuelan oil shipments could exert upward pressure in the near term

Looking ahead, market sentiment is likely to stay cautious as investors brace for the upcoming earnings season while remaining attuned to global developments and currency movements, said analysts.

Attention will also turn to next week’s data releases, including India’s industrial and manufacturing output figures, manufacturing PMI, and the US FOMC minutes, said Nair.

Mumbai: witnessed a crisp and relatively cool start to Saturday, offering residents a brief break from the city’s usual humidity. Clear skies, mild winds and lower temperatures made the morning pleasant, encouraging many to step outdoors during the early hours. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature was expected to hover around 18°C, while the maximum could touch 33°C, making it one of the more comfortable winter days this season.

However, the seemingly ideal weather masked a persistent environmental concern. A thin haze hung over several parts of the city, signalling continued deterioration in air quality. Data from air quality monitoring platform AQI.in showed Mumbai’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 246 on Saturday morning, placing it firmly in the ‘unhealthy’ category. Such levels pose health risks, particularly for children, senior citizens and people suffering from respiratory ailments.

The sustained pollution, largely due to Mumbai’s ongoing infrastructure boom. Dust and fine particulate matter released from multiple large-scale government projects, including metro corridors, coastal road construction, bridge works and extensive road widening, continue to significantly impact air quality. In addition, numerous private real estate developments across the city add to the pollution burden, especially during winter months when dry conditions allow dust to remain suspended in the air for longer periods.

AQI readings across Mumbai revealed stark contrasts between different areas. Chembur emerged as the most polluted location, recording an alarming AQI of 326, categorised as ‘severe’. At such levels, even healthy individuals may experience breathing discomfort and other health effects. Sion followed closely with an AQI of 308, while Santacruz East recorded 303, both also falling in the ‘severe’ category. Charkop and Colaba reported AQI levels of 293 and 287, respectively, remaining dangerously close to the severe threshold.

Suburban areas fared slightly better, though air quality remained far from satisfactory. Jogeshwari East recorded an AQI of 130, while Govandi and Kandivali East stood at 160 each, all classified under the ‘poor’ category. Pollution levels worsened in other suburbs, with Borivali East registering an AQI of 200 and Malad West 217, both categorised as ‘unhealthy’.

For perspective, AQI values between 0 and 50 are considered ‘good’, 51–100 ‘moderate’, 101–150 ‘poor’, 151–200 ‘unhealthy’, and readings above 200 fall into the ‘hazardous’ range. Despite the pleasant winter weather, Mumbai’s air quality continues to be a pressing concern, underscoring the need for stricter dust-control measures and sustained environmental interventions.

Mumbai, Dec 26: Mumbai’s BMC-run KEM Hospital has strengthened its advanced healthcare infrastructure with the commissioning of ultra-modern steel modular operation theatres (OTs) designed for heart transplants and other complex surgeries. Following the completion of sterilisation protocols, cardiac surgeries have already commenced in the new facility.

The newly installed modular OTs feature steel walls, ceilings, frames and panels, making them resistant to dust, moisture and water. This design significantly improves cleanliness and simplifies sterilisation, thereby reducing the risk of post-operative infections.

“Equipped with laminar airflow systems and HEPA filters, the operation theatres ensure a continuous supply of clean, controlled air by filtering out bacteria, viruses, dust particles and other airborne contaminants,” said hospital officials, adding that the advanced setup will support not only heart transplants but also other organ transplants, surgeries for congenital disorders and complex paediatric procedures.

To further enhance efficiency, especially in emergency organ transplant cases, the hospital has developed special internal connectivity and separate entry points. These allow donor organs to be transported directly to the designated operation theatre, minimising time delays and reducing associated risks.

With this upgrade, KEM Hospital is expected to play a more significant role in organ transplantation and advanced surgical care in Mumbai and across Maharashtra.