If you’re new to the stock market, understanding Market Hours & Weekly Expiry is essential for making informed trading decisions. Market timings define when you can trade, while weekly expiry plays a crucial role in derivatives trading, impacting options and futures contracts.
Table of Contents
In this guide, we’ll break down the stock market hours in India and how weekly expiry affects traders and investors.
Stock Market Hours in India
The Indian stock market operates under a structured schedule regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
1. Regular Market Hours (Equity Trading)
- Pre-Open Session (9:00 AM – 9:15 AM)
- 9:00 AM – 9:08 AM: Order placement and modification.
- 9:08 AM – 9:12 AM: Order matching and volatility control.
- 9:12 AM – 9:15 AM: Buffer period before the main market opens.
- Normal Trading Session (9:15 AM – 3:30 PM)
- This is when most stock trading takes place on NSE (National Stock Exchange) and BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange).
- Post-Close Session (3:30 PM – 4:00 PM)
- From 3:30 PM to 3:40 PM, a closing price is determined.
- From 3:40 PM to 4:00 PM, traders can place “after-market orders” (AMO).
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2. Commodity Market Hours
If you trade in commodities (gold, crude oil, metals, etc.), the MCX (Multi Commodity Exchange) has extended hours:
- Morning Session: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Evening Session: 5:00 PM – 11:30 PM (or 11:55 PM for international-linked commodities)
3. Forex Market Hours in India
For currency trading, the market operates from:
- 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (NSE/BSE currency derivatives)
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What is Weekly Expiry in the Stock Market?
Expiry refers to the last trading day of a derivative contract (options & futures). After this, contracts are either settled or become worthless.
1. Weekly Expiry Days for Options & Futures
- Nifty 50 & Bank Nifty Expiry: Every Thursday.
- Fin Nifty Expiry: Every Tuesday.
- Stock Options & Futures Expiry: Last Thursday of every month.
Why is Weekly Expiry Important?
- High Volatility: Expiry days see major price swings as traders close positions.
- Time Decay in Options: As expiry nears, options prices drop due to theta decay.
- Trading Opportunities: Traders use straddle and strangle strategies to profit from expiry volatility.
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How Expiry Affects Traders
- For Options Traders
- Sellers benefit from time decay as options lose value.
- Buyers need strong price movement to profit.
- For Stock & Index Traders
- High volumes and volatility can lead to sudden breakouts or crashes.
- For Investors
- Short-term fluctuations on expiry day don’t impact long-term investments.
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Conclusion– Market Hours & Weekly Expiry
Understanding Market Hours & Weekly Expiry helps traders make better decisions and avoid unnecessary risks. Whether you’re trading stocks, commodities, or options, being aware of market timings and expiry cycles can significantly impact your success in the stock market.
For beginners, start by trading in the regular market hours, then explore derivatives trading as you gain experience. Always manage risk and trade wisely! 🚀