Indian Stock Markets End Week Higher Ahead of Muharram Holiday
Indian equity benchmarks concluded the week with modest gains, overcoming intense volatility during the monthly derivatives expiry session, while trading remained suspended on Friday in observance of Muharram.
Key Highlights
- The benchmark Nifty 50 advanced 0.80% over the five-session week to finish at 24,056.00.
- The BSE Sensex edged up 0.46% during the same period, settling at 77,100.47.
- Total market capitalization for Nifty 50 components stood at Rs 474.80 lakh crore as of June 25, 2026.
- Overseas indicators turned negative as the GIFT Nifty dropped 152 points, or 0.63%, to 23,963 during early Friday trade.
Domestic bourses experienced intense intraday fluctuations during the final session of the derivative series, starting on a bullish note before succumbing to expiry-linked liquidations.
Sustained downward pressure on global crude prices provided a strong macroeconomic tailwind for Dalal Street early on, pushing the Nifty 50 to an intraday peak of 24,261 and driving a near 790-point surge in the Sensex to a high of 77,803.18.
The afternoon trading window transformed into a intense battleground as monthly derivative settlements triggered widespread profit-taking, particularly across IT and metal counters, which severely erased early gains.
Consequently, the Sensex ended Thursday with a razor-thin gain of 109.25 points, or 0.14%, at 77,100.47, while the Nifty 50 ticked up by 34.35 points, or 0.14%, to close at 24,056.00.
Sectoral data revealed that banking counters spearheaded the weekly gains with a 0.25% advancement, followed closely by financial services, automobiles, and healthcare infrastructure.
Conversely, software services and IT infrastructure plummeted over 3%, while the metals and mining segment emerged as the worst performer, retreating more than 4% over the week.
High-flying automotive manufacturers, including Maruti and Mahindra & Mahindra, capitalized on declining raw material expenses, whereas broader market spaces struggled as midcap and smallcap gauges fell 0.5% each.
Market participants now head into an extended three-day weekend, allowing investors to evaluate global indicators while domestic exchanges remain dark on Friday for the Muharram public holiday.
In international commodities, precious metals faced persistent headwinds, with gold and silver tracking toward a fourth consecutive weekly contraction due to a robust US dollar and higher-for-longer interest rate projections.
During early Comex operations, silver slipped 1.96% to $56.95 per ounce, gold fell 18.74 points, or 0.46%, to $4,008.76, and Brent crude declined 2.05%, or $1.51, to $73.73 per barrel.
The trading suspension applies uniformly across all primary market categories, covering equity boards, equity derivatives, currency derivatives, and the Securities Lending and Borrowing platform.
The Multi Commodity Exchange will halt operations during its morning session from 9 am to 5 pm before resuming evening trade, while the National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange will remain fully closed.
| Market Index / Commodity | Closing Price / Value | Intraday / Weekly Change |
|---|---|---|
| Nifty 50 Index | 24,056.00 | +0.80% (Weekly) |
| BSE Sensex Index | 77,100.47 | +0.46% (Weekly) |
| GIFT Nifty | 23,963.00 | –0.63% (Friday Early) |
| Brent Crude Oil | $73.73 / barrel | –2.05% (Intraday) |
| Comex Gold | $4,008.76 / ounce | –0.46% (Intraday) |
| Comex Silver | $56.95 / ounce | –1.96% (Intraday) |
Future Outlook
Following the Muharram closing on June 26, 2026, Indian equity markets are scheduled to operate without any scheduled holiday disruptions for nearly three months. The next official trading closure is set for September 14, 2026, in observance of Ganesh Chaturthi.
Later in the final quarter of 2026, the exchanges will observe several statutory holidays. Trading will be suspended for Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, Dussehra on October 20, Diwali-Balipratipada on November 10, Guru Nanak Jayanti on November 24, and Christmas on December 25. Investors will closely watch international tech stock trends and moving global sentiments when domestic trading resumes on Monday, June 29, 2026.
FAQs
Why are the Indian stock markets closed today?
The National Stock Exchange and BSE are closed on Friday, June 26, 2026, to observe the public holiday for Muharram. Regular trading across equity, derivative, and debt segments will resume on Monday, June 29, 2026.
Which market segments are affected by the Muharram holiday?
The holiday closure applies to equity, equity derivatives, currency derivatives, and the Securities Lending and Borrowing segment. The National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange is closed all day, while the Multi Commodity Exchange suspends its morning session and reopens at 5 pm.
How did the Nifty 50 and Sensex perform over the week?
Despite significant volatility stemming from the monthly derivatives expiry, the Nifty 50 managed a weekly gain of 0.80% to close at 24,056.00. The BSE Sensex rose 0.46% over the five trading sessions to settle at 77,100.47.
What sectors led the market movements during the week?
Banking, finance, automotive, and healthcare sectors registered positive gains, supported by lower raw material costs for auto firms. On the flip side, IT services and metal stocks underperformed sharply, losing over 3% and 4% respectively.
