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Nifty -23.25% · best Pharma -5.28% · worst Media -37.75%
Published by The Retail Trader · MAR 31, 2020 · Monthly Audit
The March 2020 audit — what every major index and every sector did across the month's 21 sessions, all measured from the 2020-02-28 close to the 2020-03-31 close.
An account of 21 sessions, best to worst:
• Sensex — -23.05%, close 29468.49
• Nifty 50 — -23.25%, close 8597.75
• Nifty 500 — -24.25%, close 6996.75
• Midcap 100 — -30.28%, close 11703.75
• Bank Nifty — -34.32%, close 19144.00
Of the Nifty's 21 sessions, 10 were up and 11 down. The best day was 2020-03-25 (+6.62%), the worst 2020-03-23 (-12.98%). There were 7.0 points between the Midcap 100 and the Nifty — large caps were ahead of the broad market.
All eight of the eight sectors closed negative — such a month is rare, and in it sector selection offers no shelter:
• Pharma — -5.28%
• FMCG — -6.79%
• IT — -16.10%
• Metal — -29.39%
• PSU Bank — -31.91%
• Bank — -34.32%
• Realty — -37.44%
• Media — -37.75%
That spread is worth attention: the index recorded -23.25%, but Pharma was at -5.28% and Media at -37.75%. Within one and the same month, this was an entirely different month for two portfolios.
India VIX ranged between 23.25 and 83.61 during the month and closed at 64.41. The deepest peak-to-trough fall in the Nifty inside the month was -32.7% — so despite the month's net number of -23.25%, a decline of that depth was seen along the way.
All figures in this article were computed from The Retail Trader daily index database through 24 July 2026. Past performance does not indicate future performance. This analysis is educational only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell.