Remain patient: SEBI Chairman sends big message to investors amid market turmoil

Global markets have been under pressure due to escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Speaking at the second edition of the Moneycontrol Global Wealth Summit, Pandey said investors—particularly retail participants—should avoid reacting impulsively to short-term market movements during periods of global uncertainty.

“For many investors—especially retail investors—the best strategy during such periods of uncertainty is to remain patient,” he told Moneycontrol.

Pandey added that phases of extreme market turbulence do not last forever.

“The real test of a market is not whether volatility appears. The real test is whether the system continues to function smoothly, fairly and efficiently when it does,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dalal Street witnessed a sharp sell-off on Friday, extending losses for the week amid geopolitical tensions linked to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, according to media reports.

The Nifty 50 fell 5% this week, marking its worst weekly performance in four years. The last time the index recorded a similar 5% weekly decline was in June 2022.

During the week, companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) saw a ₹20 lakh crore erosion in market capitalisation.

Overall, BSE-listed firms have witnessed a total market-cap wipeout of around ₹33 lakh crore since tensions escalated between Iran, the United States, and Israel.