Veteran fund manager Samir Arora has urged Indian regulators to reconsider demands for extended stock market hours during major economic announcements, arguing that a deeper comprehension of policy changes trumps the ability for traders to react immediately.
In a pointed social media post, Arora highlighted the pitfalls of real-time trading amid complex global developments, using recent US tariff announcements as a stark example.
The Helios Capital founder argued that constant calls to keep markets open during policy or trade-related developments overlook the reality that such announcements often lack immediate clarity.
He noted that even 12 hours after the news broke, involving new tariffs imposed and older ones scrapped, market participants remained uncertain about specifics for India, such as whether the applicable rate stood at 18%, 28%, or 10%, and if the measures were temporary or permanent.
“We should stop asking for stock markets to be open for every economic announcement so that traders can hedge their risks. Imagine if our market was open when these new tariffs were announced and old ones scapped- 12 hours later people are still asking whether the tariff for India is 18 pct or 28 pct or 10 pct now and whether this is temporary or final,” he posted on X.
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US President Donald Trump has said that the framework of the US–India trade arrangement announced on Feb. 2 remains unchanged, despite a setback in court to his tariff policy.
The clarification came after the US Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the President's “reciprocal tariffs” were illegal, holding that he had acted beyond his statutory authority. The court found that the tariffs could not be justified under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which had been used to introduce the measures in April 2025.
Under the finalised agreement, import duties on Indian exports to the US have been sharply lowered, with the overall tariff rate dropping from 50% to 18%. The earlier figure had included a 25% ‘penalty' linked to India's energy purchases from Russia.
According to Arora, opening markets in the middle of such uncertainty can lead to knee-jerk reactions rather than informed decision-making.
“Better understanding is more important than just open markets unless all traders feel they are above average in understanding and processing news and events faster,” he said.
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The post has generated several reactions. One user said, “Without facts, it's just expensive guessing. Better to have a closed market and a clear head than an open market and a 28%—wait, 18%?—hole in your portfolio. Speed
“Geopolitical shifts and tariff changes are complex macro events, not a T20 match to be traded instantly,” said another person.
Some also disagreed. “On the contrary, shouldn't the markets be open 24x7x365 due to tech evolution? What are the limitations or constraints for? Seems like historical baggage,” said one account.
Arora's comments come amid recurring demands from sections of the trading community to keep stock markets operational during major global or domestic economic announcements, allowing participants to hedge positions in real time.
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