Stock Market LIVE: Indian stocks opened flat in a special trading session prior to the federal budget by Nirmala Sitharaman scheduled for Sunday, as investors anticipate government capital spending will bolster growth and provide relief for export-driven sectors affected by U.S. tariffs.
The Nifty 50 index opened at 25,333.75, registering a marginal gain of 13.10 points or 0.05%, while the BSE Sensex opened at 82,445.97, up by 176.19 points or 0.21%.
The debt and foreign exchange markets are closed.
Twelve out of the 16 major sectors experienced declines. The metal index fell by 4.4%, reflecting a decrease in global metal prices due to a stronger dollar and profit-taking following a recent surge.
MCX silver price for March futures expiry slipped by ₹7,099, or 2.43%, to open at ₹2,84,826 per kilogram as against its previous close of ₹2,91,925 level.
MCX gold rate extended selloff. The yellow metal price fell by ₹13,711, 9%, to ₹1,38,634 per 10 grams level.
While market has low expectations from the Budget 2026, any positive surprise could trigger a rally in the Indian benchmark indices, Nifty 50 and Sensex.
Both the major stock exchanges, BSE and NSE, are open for a special trading session today on Budget day, 1 February 2026.
Market participants will closely track key policy announcements in the Budget 2026, with expectations remaining measured and largely centred on policy continuity. Investors will particularly look for signals on how the government intends to support economic growth and revive capital expenditure (capex), while preserving fiscal discipline amid heightened geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty.
This is just the second instance in the history of Indian stock markets where trading occurs on a weekend for a special budget session. The markets were previously opened on a weekend in 1999, when the Union Budget was announced on February 27, a Saturday.
Sector Watch
In the stock market today, high-growth sectors where government capex and policy shifts are expected may remain volatile. Key sectors to watch include Defense, Infra, Agriculture, Power, and Railways which often benefit from budgetary allocations, as well as Financials and Housing, which are sensitive to tax incentives and interest rate commentary.
Stay tuned to our Stock Market Today Budget 2026 Live blog for the latest updates.