Diwali Muhurat Trading 2025 Time Live Updates: The special one-hour Muhurat trading session on both the BSE and the NSE will take place between 1:45 pm and 2:45 pm on October 21, with a pre-opening session from 1:30 pm to 1:45 pm, as per exchange notifications. The new session also ushers in Vikram Samvat 2082, the Hindu New Year that begins on Diwali. Traditionally, trading during the ‘Muhurat’ session, the auspicious hour, is believed to bring prosperity and financial growth to investors.

According to official schedules, all trades executed during the Muhurat session will carry regular settlement obligations, meaning delivery and payment duties for buyers and sellers will be settled as on any normal trading day.

V K Vijayakumar, chief investment strategist at Geojit Investments Ltd, said, “The important takeaway from Samvat 2081 is India’s huge underperformance. Even though there are many reasons, including Trump tariffs, for this underperformance, the single major factor is the sharp decline in India’s earnings growth to 5 per cent in FY25 from average 24 per cent during the three years before that. Since ‘in the long run, the market is a slave of earnings’ the major trend, going forward, will depend on how earnings growth pans out. The fiscal and monetary reforms implemented this year has started showing results.”

Particularly, the sales of automobiles and white goods have shot up early this festive season and, if this trend sustains, earnings growth will be good at around 8 per cent to 10 per cent in FY 26, accelerating to around 15 per cent in FY27. If this expectation materialises, the market will rally in Samvat 2082 compensating for the underperformance of Samvat 2081. In the short run the market may get a leg up from a possible India- US trade deal, but the long-term trend will be dictated by earnings growth, he added.

Muhurat trading is a long-standing Diwali tradition first introduced by the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in 1957, and later adopted by the National Stock Exchange (NSE) in 1992.

Historically, brokers performed Chopda Pujan, a ritualistic worship of account books, during this auspicious hour to mark the beginning of the new financial year with prosperity and good fortune.

Technical View

Rupak De, senior technical analyst at LKP Securities, said, “The market started with a gap-up (in the previous session on Monday) and remained volatile throughout the day. On the higher end, Nifty touched a high of 25,926 before closing around 25,850. Though there was some profit-taking at higher levels, the overall sentiment is likely to remain strong, with the potential to reach 26,000-26,200 in the short term. The technical setup remains positive as long as the index stays above 25,700, below which it may move back into consolidation.”

Mumbai: Gold and silver prices fell on Tuesday as investors booked profits after both metals hit record highs in the previous session, even as festive jewellery sales during Dhanteras jumped 35–40 per cent across India.  

Silver Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), which had delivered stellar one-year returns of around 65–70 per cent, also saw a sharp correction as global prices cooled following improved physical supply and easing safe-haven demand.

Silver had turned hot earlier this month when global spot prices surged past $40 an ounce amid concerns of a physical shortage. The rally extended further, crossing $50 in mid-October.

However, by the end of last week, prices began to retreat as easing trade tensions reduced safe-haven demand. On October 17, silver prices in the US fell by over 6 per cent, and the correction soon spilled over into Indian markets.

According to the India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA), silver prices in India fell 7 per cent on October 20, slipping from Rs 1,71,275 per kg to Rs 1,60,100 per kg. The decline directly impacted silver ETFs, which mirror domestic silver prices.

Data from Ace MF shows that silver ETFs logged steep single-day losses, with most funds dropping up to 7 per cent on October 20.

Analysts noted that the ETFs are now trading at or below fair value — a sign that investor demand has started to cool after months of heavy inflows.

Meanwhile, in the international market, gold prices also softened after touching record highs on Monday. Spot gold was down 0.3 per cent at $4,340.29 per ounce as of 0248 GMT, after hitting an all-time high of $4,381.21 in the previous session.

US gold futures for December delivery eased 0.1 per cent to $4,356.40 per ounce, as investors booked profits amid expectations of further interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve.

The Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) will also observe special Muhurat trading today, October 21, with a pre-open session from 1:30 p.m. to 1:44 p.m., followed by the Muhurat trading window from 1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Despite the short-term correction, festive demand for gold and silver remains strong. The All India Gem & Jewellery Promotion Council, said that around 50 to 60 tonnes of jewellery were sold nationwide over the two days of Dhanteras, generating nearly Rs 85 crore in sales.

It added that while the sales volume was similar to last year, the overall value grew by 35–40 per cent due to higher prices and rising consumer interest.

“Silver, in particular, has seen a remarkable surge, with sales nearly doubling this season. With Dhanteras coinciding with the weekend and followed by Diwali and Bhau Beej, the five-day festive period is expected to deliver exceptional results,” it mentioned.

“We anticipate total jewellery sales reaching 100 to 120 tonnes, valued between Rs 1 lakh crore and Rs 1.35 lakh crore,” they said.