MCX revises trading hours from March 10 due to US daylight saving time

The Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) announced a revision in trading hours, effective March 10, 2025, due to changes in U.S. daylight saving time.

This update follows SEBI’s directive under Circular No. SEBI/HO/CDMRD/DMP/CIR/P/2018/146, dated November 30, 2018, and is in continuation of MCX's earlier circular issued on September 27, 2024.

Non-Agri Commodities: 9:00 AM – 11:30 PM (Client code modification allowed until 11:45 PM)


Select Agri Commodities (Cotton, Cotton Oil & Kapas): 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Modification until 9:15 PM)

All Other Agri Commodities: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Modification until 5:15 PM)

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Meanwhile, Indian benchmark indices ended in the red on Friday, dragged down by financial stocks after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cut interest rates for the first time in nearly five years. The widely expected move aims to revive economic growth.

The BSE Sensex fell 197.97 points, or 0.25%, to close at 77,860.19, while the Nifty 50 declined 43.40 points, or 0.18%, settling at 23,559.95.

The RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), led by newly appointed Governor Sanjay Malhotra, announced a 25 bps cut in the repo rate on February 7, lowering it to 6.25%.

"The MPC remains unambiguously focused on a durable alignment of inflation with the target while supporting growth," Malhotra said.

This marks the first rate cut since May 2020. Prior to this, the RBI had held the repo rate steady at 6.5% for eleven consecutive meetings. In its December policy review, the MPC had voted 5-1 to maintain rates, prioritizing inflation control while monitoring economic stability.

Additionally, the December policy included a 50 basis point reduction in the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), bringing it down to 4%, aimed at enhancing liquidity and supporting credit growth.

For the financial year 2024-25, the RBI has projected India’s real GDP growth at 7.2%, while the Economic Survey forecasts 6.4% growth, in line with the National Statistical Office (NSO) estimate.

Meanwhile, the central bank raised India's FY26 growth forecast to 6.7% from 6.6%, while the Sanjay Malhotra-led MPC projected inflation at 4.2% for the fiscal year. For the four quarters of FY26, the RBI MPC has projected inflation to be 4.5% in Q1, 4% in Q2, 3.8% in Q3, and 4.2% in Q4, with risks evenly balanced.

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