Stock markets to open for Diwali 'Muhurat' trading

The Bombay Stock Exchange announced a 75-minute special trading session, known as 'Muhurat' on Sunday Nov 3, on the occasion of Hindu festival Diwali, an official said here Friday.

The special session will begin 6.15 p.m. and end at 7.30 p.m., for equities, derivatives and SLB, in the presence of BSE Ltd chairman S. Ramadorai, and BSE Ltd managing director and CEO Ashishkumar Chauhan, a BSE spokesperson said.

The brief trading session is conducted annually on Diwali day to pay obeisance to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, in a tradition which is over a century old.

The day will also mark the beginning of the Hindu New Year, Samvat Year 2069, for traders which is based on the lunar calendar as per ancient Hindu traditions.

The 'Muhurat' will be preceded by the traditional Lakshmi Poojan for an hour at 2.15 p.m. the same day, and felicitation of the top performers in equities, derivatives, mutual funds, debt, IPO, OFS and SME.

Similarly, the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Ltd (NCDEX) has announced a special 'Muhurat' trading session Sunday Nov 3 for two hours, a spokesperson said.

The timings are 6-8 p.m. for all commodities, non-global agriculture and global non-agriculture.

The pre-session will begin at 5.30 p.m. and client code modifications would be permitted between 8 and 8.15 p.m.