Stock Market Holiday On Mahashivratri 2025: Is Trading On BSE, NSE Open Or Closed On Wednesday, February 26?

Stock Market Holiday: The Indian stock market is closed on Wednesday, February 26 due to the celebration of Mahashivratri across the country. In the previous session, while the Sensex ended on a positive note above 74,600 levels, the Nifty 50 was in red and holding around 22,545 positions. The performance was due to mixed global cues as concerns heightened over US trade policies.

Sensex, Nifty:

Sensex closed at 74,602.12, up by 147.71 points or 0.20%, while Nifty 50 closed at 22,547.55 down by 5.80 points or 0.03%.

Siddhartha Khemka, Head - Research, Wealth Management, Motilal Oswal Financial Services said, After being in the green for most of the trading session today, Nifty ended marginally lower by 6 points at 22,548 on the back of mixed global cues. Renewed concerns over U.S. trade policies weighed on global markets, with President Donald Trump reaffirming 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico to be implemented from March'25. He also announced fresh restrictions on Chinese investments in strategic sectors like tech and infrastructure. Selling continued in the broader market with Nifty Midcap and Smallcap indices losing between 0.4-0.6%, as investor sentiment remained cautious. Among sectors, Metals, Realty, Oil & Gas were under pressure, falling over 1% each. The IT index declined 0.8%, extending losses from the previous session due to concerns over slowing U.S. growth and an overnight decline of over 1% in the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite index. However, Auto, FMCG and consumer durable indices extended some support, limiting the market downside. "

Further, Khemka added, PSU Bank stocks were in focus following reports that the government is considering a stake sale in some of the public sector banks and financial institutions. Some of the Tata group companies gained momentum after Tata Capital board approved plans for an IPO including an offer for sale (OFS) for existing stakeholders.

"Amidst global uncertainty and persistent FII selling, we expect market to remain subdued until there is clarity/stability with regards to Trump's tariff policies and its implementation. Indian market will be closed on Wednesday on account of Maha Shivratri," Khemka said.

Stock Market Holiday:

As per BSE and NSE holiday list for February month, trading in equity, equity derivatives, derivatives, currency, bonds, and other market-related instruments are closed on February 26 due to Mahashivratri.

Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated annually in honour of the deity Shiva, between February and March. According to the Hindu calendar, the festival is observed on the fourteenth day of the first half of the lunar month of Phalguna, as per Wikipedia.

What Should Investors Do When Market Opens On Thursday, February 27?

As per Mandar Bhojane, Research Analyst at Choice Broking, given the current weak market structure, traders should remain cautious and wait for confirmation through price action and volume before taking fresh directional bets. The overall trend remains fragile, with sellers maintaining control, and any rebound will require strong buying momentum to sustain. Until a decisive move occurs in either direction, it is advisable to adopt a wait-and-watch approach with strict risk management.

While Ajit Mishra - SVP, Research, Religare Broking said, on Thursday, markets will take cues from global trends in early trade, followed by a shift in focus to the monthly expiry of February's derivatives contracts. We maintain our "sell on rise" stance on the benchmark while advising a balanced approach in stock positions. Meanwhile, investors can start accumulating quality stocks, available at attractive valuations.