The Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd. (MCX), along with the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), has announced special trading sessions on Saturday, February 1, 2025, to accommodate real-time market reactions to the Union Budget presentation by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Earlier, NSE and BSE confirmed that they will operate full trading sessions on February 1, treating it as a special trading day for equity and commodity markets, in line with past precedents, including February 1, 2020, and February 28, 2015. Both exchanges issued circulars on Monday confirming live trading on Budget Day.
The equity markets will be open from 9:15 AM to 3:30 PM, while the commodity derivatives market on MCX will extend trading hours until 5:00 PM. However, the “T0” session will not be available for trading due to the settlement holiday.
Market Arrangements for Budget Day
- Pre-market trading: 9:00 AM – 9:08 AM (NSE and BSE)
- Regular equity trading hours: 9:15 AM – 3:30 PM
- Commodity market (MCX) trading: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Indices calculation: Throughout the day
- No “T0” settlement trading
The Union Budget is a significant event, shaping market trends, investor sentiment, and economic policies. Analysts will be monitoring key fiscal announcements, taxation changes, and sectoral allocations that may impact stock valuations and economic growth. With markets open, investors can react immediately to budget announcements, providing real-time insights into the market’s outlook for the upcoming fiscal year.
MCX’s decision to conduct a special full-day trading session aligns with its commitment to offering market participants uninterrupted access to hedge positions and manage volatility, particularly in commodities like gold, crude oil, and base metals, which tend to experience heightened price movements on Budget Day.
Budget Day Trading in Line with Past Trends
This is not the first time markets have remained open on a Saturday for Budget announcements. The exchanges had previously conducted special trading sessions in 2020 and 2015, ensuring investors and institutions could react promptly to fiscal policies impacting the economy.
