Indian equity benchmarks, the NSE Nifty and BSE Sensex, posted gains during the special Muhurat Trading 2026 session held on Sunday, November 8, coinciding with the Diwali Lakshmi Pujan celebrations. This positive opening further extended the domestic indices' remarkable winning streak to eight consecutive sessions.
At the close of the special session, the 30-share Sensex pack advanced by 321.29 points, or 0.40 per cent, to reach 81,349.31. Similarly, the Nifty index climbed 73.15 points, or 0.29 per cent, closing at the 25,103.50 level.
Top Performers in the Auspicious Session
Several prominent stocks contributed significantly to the market's upward movement. Among the top gainers on the Nifty were Tata Steel Ltd, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, BSE Ltd, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd (TMPV), and UltraTech Cement, with some shares rising by as much as 4.68 per cent.
Understanding Muhurat Trading
Muhurat trading is an annual tradition observed on Diwali, considered an auspicious time for investors and traders. This special 70-minute session, which concluded at 3:30 pm, marks the beginning of Vikram Samvat, the Hindu financial year. It serves as a symbolic gesture for wealth and prosperity in the year ahead.
Indian Markets Shine Amidst Global Pressures
Domestic benchmarks stood out as a beacon of strength in Asia, contrasting with other regional markets that have recently faced headwinds. These pressures arose from renewed concerns over investments in artificial intelligence (AI), particularly following setbacks for Republicans in US mid-term elections, which cast doubts on the future outlook for AI spending and technology infrastructure.
Upcoming Market Schedule
Following the special Sunday session, domestic equity markets will resume regular trading on Monday, November 9. However, the stock exchanges will observe a holiday on Tuesday, November 10, for Diwali Balipratipada. Beyond this, markets are scheduled for two more trading holidays in the calendar year: November 24 for Prakash Gurpurb Sri Guru Nanak Dev, and December 25 for Christmas.