Stock Market Holiday 2025: The Indian stock market is closed on Friday, April 18, due to the occasion of Good Friday, which is commemorated as the crucifixion of Jesus Christ by Christians across the globe. Good Friday is practiced all over India; hence, markets, banks, schools, and offices are closed. This week, Indian benchmarks like Sensex and Nifty witnessed a strong bullish performance. Will the buying trend continue next week?
Stock Market Holiday:
The market is closed on April 18 because of Good Friday. Hence, investors will not be able to buy or sell in equity, equity derivatives, derivatives, commodities, and other market-related instruments on BSE, NSE and other exchanges.
What Is Good Friday?
Good Friday, also known as Black Friday, Holy Friday, Great Friday, Great and Holy Friday, or Friday of the Passion of the Lord, is a solemn Christian holy day commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary (Golgotha). It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum, as per Wikipedia. Good Friday is a widely instituted legal holiday around the world. Some predominantly Christian countries, such as Germany, have laws prohibiting certain acts-public dancing, horse racing-in remembrance of the sombre nature of Good Friday.
Sensex, Nifty 50:
Sensex closed at 78,553.20, which recorded a strong upside of 1,508.91 points or 1.96% on April 17th. In 5 trading sessions, Sensex has skyrocketed by a whopping 4,720.93 points or 6.39%.
Meanwhile, Nifty 50 ended at 23,851.65, with remarkable gains of 414.45 points or 1.77% on Thursday. Overall, in 5 sessions, the benchmark has climbed by a huge 1,469.15 points or 6.56%.
As per Trading Economics, the BSE Sensex reversed early losses to close about 2% higher at 78,553.2 on Thursday, advancing for the fourth straight day. Gains were led by heavyweight financials on prospects of improved margins stemming from changes in savings deposit interest rates, following the RBI's rate cut. Optimism over US-India trade talks, an improving macroeconomic outlook, particularly on inflation, and fresh foreign capital inflows further lifted market sentiment. Of the 30 constituents on the index, 28 ended in the green. Top performers included Eternal, ICICI Bank, SBI, and Bharti Airtel, with gains of up to 4%. Tech Mahindra was the only stock to close in the red, slipping 0.39%, while Maruti Suzuki India ended the session flat. Markets will be closed on Friday for the Easter holiday and will reopen on Monday, April 21. For the week, the Sensex added about 4.5%.
Sensex, Nifty Monday Prediction:
Ajit Mishra - SVP, Research, Religare Broking said, "Investor sentiment remains positive, supported by strong domestic fundamentals and the absence of any major global concerns. With the Nifty now hovering around its previous swing high near 23,800, focus will shift to the earnings announcements from heavyweights like Infosys, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank on Monday. We continue to advocate a "buy on dips" strategy, with a preference for rate-sensitive sectors for long trades, while remaining selective in other segments."
While Satish Chandra Aluri, Lemonn Markets Desk said, "On technical, Nifty 50 closed above 23850 levels, close to day's high indicating strong near-term bullishness. On the upside, expect 24000 to act as immediate resistance zone while 23600-23700 acts as immediate support on the downside."
Stock Market Weekly Outlook:
On Nifty, Amol Athawale, VP-technical Research, Kotak Securities said, "We believe that the short-term market texture is bullish; however, due to temporary overbought conditions, we may see range-bound activity in the near future. For traders, the levels of 23,500/77400 and 23,350/76900 would act as key support zones, while resistance areas for the bulls could be found between 24,000/79000 and 24,200/79600. However, if the market dips below 23,350/76900, sentiment could change, prompting traders to consider exiting their long positions."
He further said, "For the Bank Nifty, it rallied over 6 percent last week and also formed a long bullish candle on the weekly charts, which is broadly positive. For trend-following traders, the important support levels would be 53,500 and 53,100. As long as these levels hold, the uptrend is likely to continue. On the higher side, the index could move up to around 54,500-55,000, with further upside potential that might lift it to 55,300."
Moreover, as per Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments, the domestic market experienced a strong resurgence during the holiday-shortened week. The rally gained momentum following a pause in US reciprocal tariffs, with exemptions granted to products such as smartphones and computers. Continued FII inflows and the forecast of an above-normal monsoon also contributed to the market's outperformance relative to other emerging economies. Bank Nifty led the rebound sharply, supported by a favourable monetary environment and a reduction in deposit rates by major banks, which is expected to enhance margins and benefit banking stocks. Amid global uncertainties, Bank Nifty remains a preferred investment choice and is now approaching its all-time high.
Nair said, "India has emerged as the first major market to fully recover from the losses triggered by the US tariff announcements earlier this month. Investor sentiment was buoyed by expectations that the US-China trade dispute may not harm, but rather benefit, India. At present, the domestic macroeconomic environment remains supportive, encouraging investors to increase their exposure to riskier assets for the long term. Additionally, the inflation outlook appears favorable, reinforced by forecasts of an above-normal monsoon and a decline in oil prices."
Lastly, Geojit expert said, on the flip side, the earnings growth for the fourth quarter of FY25 is likely to be insipid due to muted demand and margin pressures. Investors are advised to adopt a cautious stance, particularly with export-oriented stocks, and instead focus on pure domestic themes such as banking, consumer goods, healthcare, transportation, and infrastructure. In the week ahead, a sector- and stock-specific investment strategy is anticipated, driven by upcoming earnings releases and subsequent management commentary, which will play a key role in shaping market sentiment.
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