Indian investors showed a stronger preference for owning stocks over quick intraday trades in FY26, even as markets faced foreign outflows, geopolitical shocks and a correction from record highs. According to Sebi Annual Report 2025-26, the delivery-to-traded quantity and value ratios in the cash market rose to around 30% during the year. The shift is similar to many market veterans including Warren Buffett, who often argued that real wealth is usually made by owning good businesses through volatility, not by chasing every short-term move.
Sebi said this pointed to an improvement in the quality of market participation and showed a growing preference for asset ownership over speculative intraday activity. The shift came in a difficult year for Indian equities. The Nifty touched a record high of 26,328 in early January 2026, but later corrected 15.2% from its peak due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
