Stock market closing time changes from 7 December 2026: SEBI's new closing auction timings
From 7 December 2026, normal trading in F&O stocks runs until 3:30 pm again, the closing auction moves to 3:30 to 3:40 pm and F&O trades until 3:45 pm.
SEBI has changed how the stock market closes each day. The new timings start on 7 December 2026, under a SEBI circular dated 15 October 2026. If you only invest through SIPs or hold shares for the long term, very little changes for you. If you trade near the close or trade futures and options, read on.
What the closing auction is
Since 3 August 2026, the closing price of shares in the futures and options (F&O) list has been set by a short auction at the end of the day, called the closing auction session. Buyers and sellers put in orders, and the exchange finds one price that matches the most shares. Shares outside the F&O list kept trading normally until 3:30 pm, as reported by Outlook Business.
Today, normal trading in F&O shares stops at 3:15 pm, the auction runs from 3:15 pm to 3:35 pm, and F&O contracts trade until 3:40 pm. Traders complained about sharp price jumps and thin trading in the auction, so SEBI asked for comments in September 2026 and received over 20,000 suggestions, as reported by Business Standard.
New timings from 7 December 2026
All times are IST, on every trading day.
- 9:15 am to 3:30 pm: normal trading in all shares, including F&O shares.
- 3:30 pm to 3:31 pm: the exchange works out the auction's starting price.
- 3:31 pm to 3:36 pm: you can place limit and market orders.
- 3:36 pm to 3:40 pm: only limit orders; market orders cannot be changed or cancelled.
- Between 3:38 pm and 3:40 pm: order entry closes at a random moment, then the closing price is set.
- Until 3:45 pm: index and stock futures and options keep trading.
- 3:50 pm to 4:00 pm: post-close session, where shares trade at the closing price.
The auction's starting price is the volume-weighted average price of the last 15 minutes of normal trading, from 3:15 pm to 3:30 pm. If a share did not trade then, its last traded price of the day is used.
Expiry day for futures and options
- Expiring index contracts stop trading at 3:30 pm on their expiry day. Other index contracts trade until 3:45 pm.
- Stock futures and options trade until 3:45 pm on all days, including expiry day.
- Settlement price: expiring index contracts will settle on the index value worked out from the volume-weighted average prices of its shares from 3:00 pm to 3:30 pm. Expiring stock contracts will settle on the volume-weighted average price of the share from 3:00 pm to 3:30 pm across all exchanges. They no longer settle on the auction's closing price. Exchanges will show an indicative value live during those 30 minutes.
Your orders in the auction
- Only limit and market orders can be placed in the auction. You cannot place a new stop-loss order or a new iceberg order there.
- From 8 February 2027, limit orders still pending at 3:30 pm will be carried into the auction on their own. Stop-loss orders, and orders priced outside the auction's price band, will not be carried in.
- Iceberg orders, which show only part of their size, will be carried in as full limit orders from 8 February 2027, unless you choose not to when you place the order.
- Carried orders keep priority over orders placed during the auction. If you change one, it loses its place in the queue.
Special sessions
From 7 December 2026, the closing price on a special trading day will also be set by a 10-minute auction. F&O will close 5 minutes after the auction, and a 10-minute post-close session will start 5 minutes after that. Muhurat trading on 8 November 2026 comes before this date, so the exchanges' own circular for that day will set its timings.
What it means for you
- Long-term investors and SIPs: nothing to do. You may see the final closing price a few minutes later than before.
- Traders in F&O shares: you get normal trading until 3:30 pm again, 15 minutes more than now.
- Stop-loss users: a stop-loss order does not work in the auction. Check with your broker how it handles your open orders after 3:30 pm.
- F&O traders: the expiry settlement goes back to a 30-minute average, and non-expiring contracts get 5 more minutes, until 3:45 pm.
Your broker and the exchanges will publish their own notes before 7 December. SEBI has asked NSE, BSE and the clearing corporations to update their procedures within 7 days of the circular.
Before you decide
Saifu is not a SEBI-registered investment adviser. This guide explains a market rule. It is not advice to buy, sell or trade. Investments in shares and derivatives are subject to market risk.
Sources: SEBI: Review of certain aspects of the Closing Auction Session, market timings and settlement methodology for derivatives contracts, 15 October 2026, Business Standard: CAS review, SEBI announces last 30-minute VWAP method for settlement, Outlook Business: closing auction session and new market timings from 3 August, Angel One: SEBI revises closing auction rules.
Rules, rates and limits change. Check the official source linked above before you rely on a figure here. Posts never contain referral or affiliate links from the writer.
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