Author name: Archana Chettiar

Festivals in India are more than just celebrations; they often influence various aspects of life, including the stock market. With Navratri, one of the most significant Hindu festivals, currently in full swing, it’s natural to wonder if it has any impact on the Indian stock market. To gauge the influence of festivals on investor sentiment, let’s analyze the market’s behavior during Navratri over the past few years.

The stock market saw a steep decline on October 3rd, wiping out over ₹11 lakh crore of investor wealth in just one trading session. The Sensex dropped by 1,800 points, with the Nifty also facing major losses. This sharp fall was triggered by escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, further intensified by rising oil prices, SEBI’s tighter F&O rules, and worries about fund outflows amid the resurgence of Chinese stocks.

Have you noticed how quickly gold loans are gaining momentum in India? In a notable shift, gold loans have now become the fastest-growing segment for Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs). According to the latest data from the Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC), gold loans surged by an impressive 26% year-on-year (YoY) in the first quarter of FY25, reaching a total of ₹79,218 crore. This rise comes even as personal loan sanctions—a historically dominant category—fell by 4% during the same period.

September was a month of mixed fortunes for Indian investors. While the market witnessed a strong upward trend, culminating in a high of 26,277 on Nifty, the month ended with a sharp sell-off.

The market ended the month’s last trading session with a series of losses against the backdrop of weak global cues,