SMAR Daily Industry News

Diwali Muhurat Trading 2026: Session Details and Stock Picks

The Indian stock market will hold its ceremonial Diwali Muhurat Trading session on Sunday, 8 November 2026, from 2:20 PM to 3:30 PM after a seven-day rally. Investors are watching whether the Nifty 50 and Sensex will continue their recent streak of closing higher in the special session.

Historical data from HDFC Sky shows the Nifty 50 closed lower than its previous close on only five occasions between 2006 and 2025 (2007, 2009, 2012, 2016, 2017) and has risen in every session since 2018. The Sensex recorded four lower closes in the same period (2007, 2012, 2016, 2017) and has finished higher for the last eight straight Muhurat sessions. This translates to an 80 % decadal strike rate for both indices, with market observers projecting a rise to 90 %.

Choice Broking’s Executive Director Sumeet Bagadia said the broader market bias remains positive, though some profit-booking or consolidation could follow the sharp rally. Anand Rathi’s AVP of Equity Research Ganesh Dongre noted that buying typically dominates the early minutes of Muhurat sessions, with profit-booking later, suggesting an upside opening gap but a possible dip before the close, while global sentiment remains supportive.

For equity investors, Dongre highlighted three Samvat 2083 picks: Ashok Leyland (buy at ₹172, target ₹190, stop-loss ₹160), Swiggy (buy at ₹191, target ₹220, stop-loss ₹180) and Punjab National Bank (buy at ₹126, target ₹134, stop-loss ₹122). Bagadia also recommended three stocks priced under ₹100: Suzlon Energy (buy at ₹38.80, target ₹43, stop-loss ₹36.50), NHPC (buy at ₹82.08, target ₹90, stop-loss ₹77.50) and South Indian Bank (buy at ₹57.75, target ₹63.50, stop-loss ₹54.50).

The Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) will run a parallel special session. The pre-session starts at 2:05 PM, followed by limit-order acceptance (2:10-2:15 PM), order matching (2:15-2:17 PM) and a buffer until 2:20 PM. The main trading window mirrors the equity session, running from 2:20 PM to 3:30 PM, with additional block-deal, pre-opening, continuous, call-auction, and closing-auction periods detailed in the exchange circulars.

Why it matters

Understanding the session schedule and expert stock picks helps investors position themselves for potential gains during the high-visibility Diwali Muhurat Trading day.

FAQ

When does the Diwali Muhurat Trading session start and end?
The session runs from 2:20 PM to 3:30 PM on 8 November 2026.

What has been the historical performance of the Nifty 50 and Sensex in Muhurat sessions?
Both indices have closed higher in eight of the last ten Muhurat sessions, giving an 80 % strike rate over the past decade.

Which stocks were recommended for the Muhurat session?
Ashok Leyland, Swiggy, Punjab National Bank, Suzlon Energy, NHPC and South Indian Bank were highlighted with specific entry, target and stop-loss levels.

What are the key timings for the MCX special Muhurat session?
MCX pre-session is 2:05-2:10 PM, limit orders 2:10-2:15 PM, order matching 2:15-2:17 PM, and the main trading window 2:20-3:30 PM.

Source: Mint Markets. See the original source for full details.