U.S. markets closed the week lower on renewed Federal Reserve policy uncertainty, while Indian indices snapped a three-day rally in pre-Budget caution. Today, Sunday, February 1, 2026, Indian equity markets are open for a unique live trading session that coincides with the Union Budget announcement, an unprecedented action.
Indian Markets: Special Sunday Session After Pre-Budget Dip
Indian benchmarks ended lower on Friday, January 30, as investors turned cautious and secured profits ahead of the Union Budget.
Index Performance Summary (Previous Close, Jan 30)
| Index | Last Price | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSE Sensex | 82,269.78 | -296.59 | -0.36% |
| Nifty 50 | 25,320.65 | -98.25 | -0.39% |
Today’s Historic Session:
- Markets are open today (Sunday, Feb 1) for a special trading session from 9:15 AM to 3:30 PM IST.
- This allows for a live market reaction to the Union Budget 2026 announcements by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
- The session is a rare event, marking only the second time since independence that markets have opened on a Sunday for the Budget.
U.S. Market Snapshot (as of Jan 30 Close)
U.S. indices fell as news of a new Federal Reserve chair nominee stirred concerns about future interest rate policy.
| Index | Last Price | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dow Jones Industrial Average | 48,655.88 | -415.68 | -0.85% |
| S&P 500 Index | 6,932.61 | -36.40 | -0.52% |
| Nasdaq Composite | 23,527.62 | -157.51 | -0.66% |
| NYSE Composite | 22,621.66 | -253.80 | -1.11% |
Dow Jones: Broad-Based Decline Led by Financials
The Dow Jones declined 0.85%, weighed by sharp falls in financial shares. Investors are reviewing the likely impact of a shift in Fed leadership on monetary policy, which directly affects banks and industrial companies.
S&P 500: Mixed Earnings and Sector Rotation
The S&P 500 declined 0.52%. The drop was driven by sector rotation, with materials, communication services, and technology stocks acting as the main drags. Mixed corporate earnings reports contributed to the lack of a clear market direction.
Nasdaq: Tech Stumbles on Hawkish Fed Sentiment
The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.66%. The nomination of a perceived hawkish candidate for Fed chair strengthened the U.S. dollar and cooled investor appetite for high-growth technology stocks, as the sector is sensitive to future interest rate expectations.
NYSE: Broad Market Weakness Evident
The NYSE Composite fell 1.11%, lagging behind other major indices. The sharper decline indicates that Friday’s selling was broad-based, pointing to a general “risk-off” mood among investors.
Did the Gold and Silver Crash Impact Stocks?
Yes, but indirectly. The steep fall in gold and silver prices was not the direct cause of the equity sell-off. Instead, both markets reacted to the same root cause: expectations of tighter U.S. monetary policy under a new Fed chair.
A stronger U.S. dollar, supported by these expectations, led investors to book profits in equities and precious metals. The effect was most visible in mining stocks, as shares of leading gold producer Newmont Corp. fell more than 6.6%.
