General Budget 2025: Stock Market Operations on Saturday Under Question
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): With less than a month left for the presentation of the General Budget 2025, anticipation is building around this significant financial event. The budget which outlines key decisions on schemes, policies and taxes impacts not only the common man but also the nation’s economy and elite. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has been consulting with industry leaders and stakeholders to ensure the budget fosters economic growth.
For several years now, the general budget has been presented on February 1 and it is widely expected that the 2025 budget will follow the same schedule likely at 11 am. Although no official announcement has been made yet, Sitharaman who has previously presented six full budgets and two interim budgets is set to deliver her eighth full budget this year.
Since February 1, 2025 falls on a Saturday questions have arisen about whether the budget can be presented on the weekend. Historical precedents indicate that budgets have been presented on Saturdays before making it likely this year will follow suit.
The stock market will remain open on budget day. According to a circular from the National Stock Exchange (NSE), a special trading session has been scheduled for Saturday, February 1, 2025 aligning with regular trading hours. The pre-open session will occur from 9 am to 9:08 am, followed by the normal trading session from 9:15 am to 3:30 pm.
There is precedence for markets operating on budget Saturdays such as February 1, 2020 and February 28, 2015. The budget day is a critical event for the stock market with traders reacting to announcements by opening new positions or exiting existing ones. It also presents opportunities for traders to capitalize on market fluctuations.
On February 1, 2024 the interim budget saw the markets closing with a 0.13% decline. Similarly, on July 23, 2024 when the full budget was presented after the Lok Sabha elections the Nifty closed 0.12% lower. This demonstrates the market’s keen sensitivity to budget announcements and their potential impact on trading activity.
