Investment News · 25 October 2026 · 4 min read
In short: The Nifty 50 ended the week of 23 October 14.3% below its all-time high, and every major index is now at least 11% off its peak. Mid and small caps fell hardest this week. History suggests that stopping SIPs or waiting for “the bottom” rarely works, but money you need soon should not be in shares.
How far markets have fallen
| Index | Below its all-time high | This week |
|---|---|---|
| Nifty 50 | 14.3% | −2.4% |
| Nifty Next 50 | 15.5% | −4.6% |
| Nifty Midcap 150 | 12.9% | BSE Midcap: −5.1% |
| Nifty Smallcap 100 | 12.1% | BSE Smallcap: −6.2% |
| Nifty 500 | 12.8% | – |
Distance from peak as of 23 October 2026. In October alone, the BSE Midcap index is down about 6% and the BSE Smallcap index about 9%. The main reasons are oil prices above $114 a barrel, heavy selling by foreign investors and weak company results.
What past falls tell us
WhiteOak Capital looked at every fall of 10% or more in the Nifty 50 (including dividends) since 2000. Its findings:
- Falls often go deeper: of 18 falls of 10% or more, 61% went on to reach at least 15%.
- Bounces can fool you: 54% of rallies of 5% or more were followed by a new low.
- The bottom is hard to catch: markets spent only 1–7% of each fall within 5% of the eventual low.
- Recovery came every time: every fall of 20% or more recovered, with a median recovery time of 7.5 months.
What this means for you
- Keep your SIPs going if your goal is five years or more away. Each instalment now buys more units at lower prices, which is how SIPs are meant to work. Indian investors seem to agree: SIP inflows hit a record ₹32,490 crore in September.
- Invest a lump sum in parts: if you have spare cash to invest, spread it over a few months instead of trying to time the bottom.
- Rebalance, don’t switch everything: if shares now make up less of your portfolio than you planned, topping them up is reasonable. Moving everything to fixed deposits locks in the loss.
- Protect short-term money: money you need within about three years, and your emergency fund, should stay in safer options like FDs or liquid funds.
New to SIPs? Read what a SIP is and how it works, or see how regular saving adds up with our savings calculator.
Sources
- Business Today: Should I continue my SIPs? (25 October 2026)
- Kuvera: Top news and market movers this week
- IndiaIPO: Daily market updates, 25 October 2026
This is a news summary for education, not investment advice. Figures are as reported on or before 25 October 2026; check official sources before making decisions.