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The market’s response to the Union Budget in recent years has been a rollercoaster ride, marked by diverse reactions and significant fluctuations in key indices. As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman prepares to present her sixth budget on February 1, 2024, anticipation looms over the potential impact on the financial landscape.
In the Budget for 2023, the BSE Sensex initially soared, witnessing a robust increase of over 1,100 points, reaching a peak of 60,773.44. However, the positive momentum was short-lived, and post-Sitharaman’s speech, the indices experienced a rapid decline, dropping nearly 1 percent.
The Budget for 2022 painted a mixed picture, with the Nifty closing the day with a 1.4 percent increase. Despite this initial optimism, the overall sentiment turned negative, resulting in the Nifty’s fourth-worst month between 2011 and 2022, with a decline of 4.5 percent.
In stark contrast, the Budget for 2021, presented during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, garnered a highly positive response from the market. Nifty closed the day with a robust increase of 4.7 percent.
The Budget for 2020 received a negative response, with Nifty closing 2.5 percent lower on the day. Similarly, the interim budget for 2019, presented by Sitharaman as the first full-time female finance minister, failed to impress the market, resulting in a loss of 1.1 percent on budget day and an 8 percent decline in the month following the announcement—the worst month between 2011 and 2022.
Sitharaman’s upcoming budget for 2024, scheduled as an interim one due to the impending Lok Sabha elections, will be closely watched. The tradition of presenting an interim budget in an election year ensures continuity in government functions and financial commitments during the transition period. As investors brace for potential impacts, the market remains poised for yet another chapter in its intricate dance with the Union Budget.
