Stock Market Holidays: NSE, BSE to Remain Closed Due to [Insert Reason]

Indian Stock Exchanges to Remain Closed on Maharashtra Day

Trading on Indian stock exchanges, including the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), will be suspended on Friday, May 1, in observance of Maharashtra Day. Both exchanges will be closed for the day, with trading across key segments, including equities, derivatives, and securities lending and borrowing (SLB), remaining unavailable.

In addition to the NSE and BSE, other exchanges will also be affected by the holiday. The Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) will remain closed during its morning session (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM) but will resume operations in the evening session between 5:00 PM and 11:55 PM. The National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX), the country's leading agri-commodity bourse, will remain shut for both the morning and evening sessions.

Holiday Calendar for 2026

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The Indian stock market is scheduled to observe around nine more holidays in 2026. In May, there will be two trading holidays - May 1 for Maharashtra Day and May 28 for Bakri Id. This will be followed by one holiday on June 26 for Muharram, with no market holidays scheduled in July and August. September and December will each see one holiday, while October and November are expected to have two trading holidays each.

Indian Equities Witness Selloff on Thursday

Indian equities witnessed a broad-based selloff on Thursday, April 30, dragging benchmark indices lower. The BSE Sensex declined 583 points, or 0.75%, to close at 76,913.50, while the Nifty 50 fell 180 points, or 0.74%, to settle at 23,997.55. Broader markets also remained under pressure, with the BSE 150 Midcap index slipping 1% and the BSE 250 Smallcap index declining 0.50%.

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Investor wealth eroded sharply, with the total market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies falling to ₹464 lakh crore from nearly ₹469 lakh crore in the previous session, resulting in a loss of about ₹5 lakh crore. Despite the sharp fall, April turned out to be a strong month for equities, with the Sensex and Nifty 50 rising 7% and 7.5%, respectively, snapping a four-month losing streak.

Global Cues Weigh Heavily on Sentiment

Global cues weighed heavily on sentiment, particularly escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. Reports indicated stalled talks and fresh escalation, with the US stepping up pressure while Iran remained firm. Elevated crude oil prices added to concerns around inflation, with Brent crude easing 2% during the session but continuing to trade above USD 115 per barrel after briefly crossing $120 per barrel, its highest level in four years.

The Indian Rupee also came under pressure, falling 0.50% to a record low of 95.33 per dollar before recovering slightly to close at 94.91 per dollar. The Fed kept rates unchanged but maintained a firm policy stance, supporting the dollar and tightening conditions for emerging markets. Domestically, autos, banks, metals, and real estate led the decline, while IT and pharma saw selective defensive buying. A mild recovery toward the end of the session offered limited respite, and overall sentiment remained cautious ahead of the extended holiday weekend.