Stock markets prepared to open for the annual Muhurat Trading session on Sunday, November 8, coinciding with Diwali and marking the beginning of Samvat 2083, the Hindu financial year. The special trading session is traditionally considered auspicious by investors, who make symbolic investments to usher in the new year. The National Stock Exchange and the Bombay Stock Exchange scheduled the special session between 2:20 pm and 3:30 pm. Operations began with a block deal window from 1:50 pm to 2:05 pm, followed by the pre-open session from 2:05 pm to 2:20 pm. Equity derivatives trading extended until 3:40 pm, while the closing auction session ran between 3:20 pm and 3:35 pm, concluding with a post-close session from 3:50 pm to 4:00 pm. Market participants monitored movements in the Sensex and Nifty, key stocks in focus, sectoral trends, and expert commentary as Samvat 2083 commenced.

Ahead of the session, a sharp rally in stock markets over the preceding week was driven by a sudden shift in institutional flows, with foreign portfolio investors turning aggressive buyers while domestic institutional investors emerged as sellers, according to Dr V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments Limited. Vijayakumar noted that aggressive foreign buying, combined with a short squeeze, propelled the Nifty up 7.58% over the course of a week. Foreign portfolio investors recorded net investments of Rs 45,970 crore in the Indian market during November.

Vijayakumar attributed the transformation in foreign investor sentiment to a broader sell-off in artificial intelligence-linked stocks in the United States and other markets such as South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. Growing concerns over data center spending in the United States and potential tighter regulations for artificial intelligence weighed on those international markets, making India—largely regarded as a non-AI trade—more appealing to global capital. Additionally, robust earnings growth domestically and attractive valuations among large-cap stocks enhanced the country's allure, leading foreign investors to heavily acquire index heavyweights across the financial, IT, automobile, and telecom sectors.