The catalytic activity of a series of indenylnickel(II) halides: (1-R-Ind)Ni(PPh 3 )X (R=ethyl, cyclopentyl and benzyl, while X=Cl, Br and I), towards styrene polymerization was studied in the presence of NaBPh 4 and PPh 3 . The catalytic property of these halides was related to the substituent group on the indenyl ligand and the halogen atom bonded to the metal atom. Among them, the (1-Et-Ind)Ni(PPh 3 )Cl/NaBPh 4 /PPh 3 system showed the highest activity for the polymerization of styrene, and the polystyrene obtained was a syndio-rich (rr triad) atactic polymer with M n values in the range of 10 3 -10 4 . The mechanism of the styrene polymerization initiated by the (1-Et-Ind)Ni(PPh 3 )Cl/NaBPh 4 /PPh 3 system was studied.