The Indian stock market is poised for a bright start to the Hindu new financial year — Samvat 2082 — as the special 1-hour Muhurat Trading 2025 session opens today (Tuesday, 21 October 2025) from 1:45 pm to 2:45 pm .
Session timing and significance
For the first time in recent years the timing of the Muhurat session has shifted to the afternoon. The pre-open will run from 1:30 pm to 1:45 pm followed by trading till 2:45 pm.
Traditionally symbolic in nature, this hour is considered auspicious for initiating investments, accounting, and business openings on Diwali.
Unlike regular sessions, volumes may be muted and market direction less aggressive — expert investors view this as a time for long-term positions rather than speculative trades.
Global cues shaping the mood
Asian stock rally
Markets in Asia responded strongly to signs of easing trade tensions between the United States and China, along with optimism in global risk appetite. The MSCI Asia-Pacific index (ex-Japan) rose nearly 0.94 %.
The Japanese Nikkei 225 index advanced about 1.46 % to a fresh high, while South Korea’s KOSPI jumped 1.9 %. Markets in Hong Kong and China also climbed.
Precious metals and crude oil
The yellow metal continues its upward march: spot gold hovered near record highs, underpinned by safe-haven demand, central-bank buying and U.S. interest-rate cut expectations.
Crude-oil prices, in contrast, edged lower owing to supply concerns and trade-growth worries — adding to the mixed backdrop for energy- and commodity-linked sectors.
Trade and strategic developments
The U.S. and China signalled progress on trade talks, raising hopes of a fairly negotiated deal. Meanwhile, the U.S. signed a critical-minerals deal with Australia as part of its strategic pivot away from China.
Domestic market setup & outlook
On the previous trading day, Sensex rose by 411.18 points (+0.49 %) to 84,363.37 and the Nifty 50 gained 133.30 points (+0.52 %) to 25,843.15, marking the fourth consecutive session of gains.
Analysts suggest “buy-on-dips” remains a prudent approach, with emphasis on large-cap and high-quality mid-cap stocks showing relative strength.
Technical indicators hint at support levels around 24,500-24,000 for Nifty, while a range of 26,300-27,000 is cited as possible near-term upside.
Key take-aways for investors
- Enter the session with a longer-term mindset: the hour is more symbolic than speculative.
- Global tailwinds favour equities but also elevate precious-metal alternatives — balance your allocations accordingly.
- Avoid chasing high-volatility trades; focus on structurally strong names with earnings visibility.
- Keep an eye on global cues — U.S. rate policy, China trade updates and commodity flows remain key drivers.
