Is Stock Market Open On February 1, 2025 Budget Day? It's A Saturday

The stock market in India is expected to remain open on Saturday, February 1, 2025, when Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget for the financial year 2025-26. Both the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) are reportedly in discussions about the special trading session, which is being planned to align with the Union Budget announcement.

The Union Budget is one of the most important financial events in India, and the stock market’s reaction to the budget can be swift and impactful. To ensure that investors have the opportunity to immediately respond to the budgetary proposals, the Indian exchanges are preparing for a trading session on the day of the announcement.

Timings for Budget day

According to reports, if the special trading session goes ahead, the market will follow regular timings, operating from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm, including the standard 15-minute pre-opening session. The move is designed to provide an avenue for investors to assess the budget's potential impact across various sectors and companies, with particular focus on key economic changes.

This is not the first time the Indian stock market will open on a Saturday for the Union Budget. A similar special trading session was held on February 1, 2020, when the budget was presented on the same day. Additionally, markets were open on February 28, 2015, to coincide with that year's Union Budget presentation.

Budget impact on markets

The Union Budget, which outlines the government’s planned spending and revenue targets for the upcoming financial year, is eagerly anticipated by investors and industry professionals alike. With significant sectors likely to be impacted by the budget’s proposals, the market’s performance on February 1, 2025, will be closely watched.

For investors, traders, and analysts, the special Saturday session will provide an immediate opportunity to react to the financial announcements, helping them make timely decisions based on the latest economic direction set by the government