Know Stock Market Timings in India: Opening and closing time

Are you an aspiring investor in the Indian stock market? Then you must be aware of the stock market timings in India. Knowing the trading hours is crucial for making informed investment decisions. At Upmarket Academy, we understand the importance of timing in the stock market and offer courses that teach you the fundamentals and intricacies of stock trading.

So, let’s dive into the world of stock market timings in India!

During market hours, investors in India are eager to take advantage of the opportunity to buy and sell securities. However, they must adhere to the specific time window for trading when the stock market is open.

From 9:15 am to 3:30 pm on weekdays, retail customers can conduct transactions through a brokerage firm. The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE) are the two major stock exchanges where most investors buy and sell securities. Interestingly, both follow the same stock market timings, providing investors with a consistent and reliable trading experience.

Overall Stock Market Timings in India – Opening and Closing Hours

The bustling world of equity trading operates every day of the week, except weekends and trading holidays that have been announced by the Exchange beforehand. The stock market is governed by a tripartite timing system, which includes the Pre-opening, Regular Trading, and Post-closing sessions.

The equities segment follows a specific schedule, which is as follows:

Pre-Open Session:

The opening of the Indian stock market is crucial for investors looking to buy or sell securities. The pre-opening session starts at 9.00 a.m. and lasts until 9.15 a.m. During this time, orders can be placed for any securities transaction. However, the pre-opening session can be further classified into three sessions based on specific activities.

• 9.00 AM to 9.08 AM – The first session of the pre-opening timing, from 9.00 a.m. to 9.08 a.m., is crucial for investors to place orders for any securities transaction. Orders placed during this session are given priority when actual trading begins. This provides a significant advantage to investors as these orders are cleared off at the beginning, reducing the risk of delay in execution. Furthermore, investors can modify or cancel their orders based on their requirements during this period.
• 9.08 AM to 9.12 AM – The second session determines the security price from 9.08 a.m. to 9.12 a.m. The multilateral order matching system matches the demand and supply prices to determine the final price at which the security will be traded during normal market hours. Price-matching orders are vital in ensuring accurate transactions and maintaining market stability. However, investors cannot modify or cancel any order during this session.
• 9.12 AM to 9.15 AM – The third and final session, from 9.12 a.m. to 9.15 a.m., acts as a transition period between the pre-opening session and the start of normal trading hours. No new orders can be placed during this period, and any existing orders from 9.08 a.m. to 9.12 a.m. cannot be revoked.

In conclusion, understanding the different sessions of the pre-opening timing of the Indian stock market is essential for investors to make informed decisions while trading in securities. The pre-opening session provides investors a unique opportunity to place, modify, or cancel orders, making it a critical period for investors looking to trade in the Indian stock market.

Regular Trading Session:

• Normal/Limited Physical Market opens at 09:15 hours and closes at 15:30 hours.
• Transactions during these hours follow a bilateral order-matching system where prices are determined by the forces of demand and supply.
• The Bilateral order matching system is volatile and subject to several market fluctuations, which can impact security prices.
• The multi-order system was formulated for the pre-opening session to reduce risk and improve efficiency.

Post-Closing Session:

The stock market’s regular trading session in India ends at 3.30 p.m. After this time, no further transactions take place. However, the closing price of securities is calculated during this period, which significantly impacts the opening security price of the following day.

• 3.30 p.m. – 3.40 p.m. – The first one starts at 3.30 p.m. and ends at 3.40 p.m. During this time, the closing price of a security is calculated using a weighted average of prices at securities trading between 3 p.m. and 3.30 p.m. This calculation is essential in determining the closing prices of benchmark and sector indices such as Nifty, Sensex, S&P Auto, etc.
• 3.40 p.m. – 4 p.m. – The second time starts at 3.40 p.m. and lasts until 4 p.m. This period is the post-closing session, where investors can place bids for the following day’s trade. The bids placed during this time are confirmed, provided enough buyers and sellers are in the market. The following day, the transactions are completed at a stipulated price, irrespective of any changes in the opening market price.

The post-closing session provides a unique opportunity for investors to place bids at a predetermined price, which can be advantageous if market conditions change overnight. The closing price calculation, on the other hand, provides investors with a benchmark to evaluate their investments. Both timings play a crucial role in the Indian stock market, providing opportunities and benchmarks for investors to make informed investment decisions.

After Market Order (AMO):

• Refers to the facility that allows traders to place orders to buy or sell stocks for the next day’s trading before the market opens.
• Useful for those unable to monitor the market at opening or during the trading session.
• AMO timings are from 4:30 PM to 8:50 AM.

Muhurat Trading 

• Muhurat trading is a rare and special event in the Indian markets, held during the auspicious occasion of Diwali. During this hour-long session, traders hope to capture some of the festival’s good fortune and positive energy.
• The timing of Muhurat trading is carefully chosen to coincide with the most auspicious moment of the day. This makes it a unique and exciting opportunity for investors looking to maximise their returns and tap into the season’s good vibes.
• For many people, Muhurat trading is a chance to connect with the spiritual side of investing. By participating in this session, they hope to attract wealth and prosperity in the year ahead.
• Although the exact timing of the Muhurat session varies from year to year, traders can always find the information they need on the NSE and BSE websites. This makes planning and taking advantage of this special trading opportunity easy.
• Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just starting out, the Muhurat trading session is a chance to test your skills and see how well you can perform under pressure. With only one hour to make your trades, every decision counts!
• Despite its mystical associations, Muhurat trading is essentially the same as regular trading, with the same rules and regulations. This means investors can focus on making smart decisions and maximising their returns without worrying about special requirements or restrictions.

CONCLUSION

The Indian stock market has specific timings for trading sessions, including a pre-opening session from 9.00 a.m. to 9.15 a.m., a regular trading session from 9.15 a.m. to 3.30 p.m., and a post-closing session from 3.40 p.m. to 4 p.m. In addition, the closing price of securities is calculated between 3.30 p.m. and 3.40 p.m., and bids for the following day’s trade can be placed during the post-closing session. These timings provide opportunities and benchmarks for investors to make informed investment decisions.