Global Market Data 30Sep2026

Global Market Data 30Sep2026

 
Follow @vrk100
 

(This is my 542nd blog since 2010. Over the years, I have covered global financial markets, with a focus on India, and continue to share insights to help readers understand complex topics in simple language.

The views expressed here are for information purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation or investment advice. While the author is a CFA Charterholder with nearly 25 years of experience in financial markets, this content is intended to share general insights and does not constitute financial guidance. 

Please consult your financial adviser before taking any investment decision. Safe to assume the author has a vested interest in stocks / investments discussed if any.) 

This blog serves as a quarterly archive of financial market data as at 30Sep2026, compiled from primary and reputed sources such as BSE India, NSE India, Value Research, Bloomberg, CNBC and other data providers. 

It presents QTD (Quarter to date) and YTD (Year-to date) performance across equity indices, bonds, commodities and currencies. Screenshots and data tables are preserved to maintain a record of market movements. 

The objective is to create a reliable historical reference for future research, comparison and posterity.

Here are the data tables and screenshots:

(click on the images to view better)

Quarter to date (QTD) global market data of stocks, bonds, currencies and commodities:

Year to date (YTD) global market data of the same:

QTD:

Bond yields have gone up across the nations, as there is no end to US Iran war and crude oil prices have gained the most during the Jul-Sep2026 quarter. There are also concerns about bulging national debt, especially in the US. 

Bitcoin has outperformed other asset classes, whereas currencies have remained stable, though Japanese Yen weakened against the dollar. The US - India 10-year bond yield spread is down 41 basis points (one percentage points equals 100 basis points). 

YTD:

Bond yields have soared across the globe in the US, Europe as well as Asian nations.

The biggest gainers, so far, are crude oil prices during 2026. The US dollar index too has surged. Among equity market, Nikkei 225 and Nasdaq Composite are the winners, with Indian stocks underperforming global markets a lot. 

Other screenshots >

CNBC markets 

CNBC commodities  

Trading Economics  GDP macros

Trading Economics global government bond yields 

MSCI EM Index (net returns)

BSE market cap of all companies

RBI one year deposit rate data; and other data of rates and ratios RBI GetKeyWords

Value Research BSE Indices - annual and trailing returns 

Value Research Mutual Fund Monitor - annual and trailing returns 

BSE 500 sector wise free float market cap 

BSE 1000 sector wise free float market cap 

Bitcoin CoinMarketCap  - Data on crypto currencies

Companies Market Cap - Top companies in the world by market cap 

Past performance does not guarantee future returns. Please do your own research or consult a qualified financial adviser before making investment decisions.

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References:

Market Data quarter end:

BSE market cap of all companies

RBI one year deposit rate data; and other data of rates and ratios RBI GetKeyWords

Value Research BSE Indices - annual and trailing returns 

Value Research Mutual Fund Monitor - annual and trailing returns  

VR liquid funds returns  - annual and trailing returns  

BSE 500 sector wise free float market cap 

BSE 1000 sector wise free float market cap  

IBJA rates gold and silver - IBJA PDF as on 30Jun2026

Nifty 500 data quarter tend from Screener.in 

CNBC markets 

CNBC commodities  

Trading Economics  GDP macros

Trading Economics global government bond yields 

CCIL India

Bitcoin CoinMarketCap 

Companies Market Cap - Top companies in the world by market cap 

Bloomberg Commodity Index

USD RMB 

DXY US dollar index - USDX

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For Global Market Data between 30Sep2024 and 30Jun2026, check various reports in my blog Forex Data Bank 09Jun2024

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Related blogs:

Global Market Data 30Jun2024

Global Market Data 31Mar2024 

Global Market Data 2013 to 2023 (11-year data) 

Global Market Data 2012 to 2022 (11-year data)

Global Market Data 31Dec2023

Global Market Data 30Sep2023

Global Market Data 31Mar2023

Global Market Data 31Dec2022 

Global Market Data 30Sep2022

Global Market Data 30Jun2022

Global Market Data 31Mar2022

Global Market Data 31Dec2021

Global Market Data 30Sep2021

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Nifty Smart Beta Indices Review – September 2026 10Oct2026

Nifty Smart Beta Indices Review – September 2026: Nifty Smart Beta Indices Performance and Valuation at a glance 10Oct2026

 
Follow @vrk100
 

(This is my 540th blog since 2010. Over the years, I have covered global financial markets, with a focus on India, and continue to share insights to help readers understand complex topics in simple language.

The views expressed here are for information purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation or investment advice. While the author is a CFA Charterholder with nearly 25 years of experience in financial markets, this content is intended to share general insights and does not constitute financial guidance. 

Please consult your financial adviser before taking any investment decision. Safe to assume the author has a vested interest in stocks / investments discussed if any.) 

(check Update 25Oct2026 at the end of the blog with portfolio overlap of smart beta funds with Nifty 50; and Trendlyne ETF Dashboard with ETF volumes)

This is a follow-up to my September 2026 article on factor investing and smart beta indices in India. This monthly review tracks how selected Nifty Smart Beta indices are performing against the Nifty 50 and Nifty Midcap 150. 

It also looks at their trailing returns and valuations. 

The aim is to see which factors are doing well and whether the earlier trends are continuing. 

(article continues below)

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Related articles:

Nifty Indices Broad Market and Sector Review – September 2026 08Oct2026

Nifty Indices Broad Market and Sector Review - August 2026 06Sep2026 

Nifty Smart Beta Indices Review - August 2026 06Sep2026

Nifty Indices Broad Market and Sector Review – July 2026  02Aug2026

Factor Investing in India: Do "Smart Beta" Indices Outsmart Nifty 50 and Midcap 150?  24Nov2025

Nifty Midcap 150 Quality 50 Index: Has Quality Lost Its Edge? 10Aug2025

Decoding the Nifty Midcap 150 Quality 50: A Midcap Strategy Built on Fundamentals 07Aug2025 

Passive Titans of India: The Top 10 Equity Indices by Fund Size 17Jul2025

India Flagship ETFs with Low Fees and Fair Trading Volumes 12Jun2025 

 

Low Expense Ratios, High Returns: Why Passive Equity Funds Matter 06Jun2025 

 

How to Buy Nifty Midcap 150 Index (passive funds) 03May2024

Analysis of Nifty 100 Low Volatility 30 Index 12Sep2023

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The following analysis is based on the charts attached below. 

 

1. Calendar year returns of smart beta indices

Calendar-Year Returns Show the Risks:

Calendar-year returns highlight the cyclical nature of smart beta strategies: momentum indices surged in 2021 and 2024, but suffered losses in 2022 and 2025.

No strategy leads every year; strong performance in one period can give way to sharp falls in the next.

In 2025, the Nifty 50 gained 11.9 per cent, while the Nifty 500 Momentum 50 lost 7.6 per cent. In 2024, the Nifty 500 Momentum 50 index gained 27.2 per cent, compared with just 10.1 per cent for the Nifty 50 (see chart 1 below for data).

The Nifty Midcap 150 Momentum 50 rose 78.3 per cent, while the Nifty 500 Momentum 50 gained 78.9 per cent in 2021. Such strong years can be followed by weak ones. 

Momentum investing is therefore not a smooth ride.

2. Trailing returns of smart beta indices

Nifty Smart Beta Indices: Momentum Holds Up Better, compared to Low Volatility and Quality, Amid Market Weakness:

The Indian stock market had a difficult September 2026. Most Nifty indices fell over the month and the three-month returns were also negative. Yet, longer-term returns remained positive across all the indices shown. 

The performance of smart beta indices offers some useful lessons for investors.

September and Recent Performance:

The Nifty 50 fell 6.4 per cent in one month and 4.9 per cent over three months. The Nifty Midcap 150 did worse over the month, losing 7.0 per cent, though it gained 4.6 per cent over one year.

Among the smart beta indices, the Nifty 500 Momentum 50 performed relatively well. It lost 5.8 per cent in one month and 1.7 per cent over three months. Its one-year return was 5.1 per cent. The Nifty Midcap 150 Momentum 50 also delivered a positive one-year return of 4.1 per cent.

Low volatility and quality strategies had a tougher year. The Nifty 100 Low Volatility 30 fell 4.7 per cent over one year, while the Nifty 200 Quality 30 lost 5.4 per cent.

Long-Term Returns Tell a Different Story:

Despite recent weakness, the longer-term picture remains encouraging. The Nifty Midcap 150 Momentum 50 delivered annualised returns of 13.5 per cent over three years, 15.1 per cent over five years and 19.7 per cent over ten years.

The Nifty 500 Momentum 50 also performed strongly, with annualised returns of 11.4 per cent over three years, 12.4 per cent over five years and 18.3 per cent over ten years.

The broad Nifty 50 returned 6.1 per cent annually over three years (one of the worst in recent years) and 11.5 per cent over ten years. These figures suggest that momentum strategies have rewarded patient investors over longer periods, although they can still suffer sharp falls in shorter time periods.

3. Valuations and Dividends Matter

Valuations offer another reason for caution. As at the end of 30Sep2026, the Nifty 500 Momentum 50 had a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.4 and a price-to-book ratio of 5.8. Its dividend yield was only 0.50 per cent.

By comparison, the Nifty 50 had a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.4, a price-to-book ratio of 2.8 and a dividend yield of 1.22 per cent.

The Nifty 200 Quality 30 had a relatively high price-to-book ratio of 7.9, while the Nifty Midcap 150 Quality 50 had a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.7. Investors should remember that strong past returns do not automatically make an index attractive at its current valuation.

Charts numbered 1 to 3 > 

all data as at end-30Sep2026 >

 

Chart 1: Calendar year returns of Nifty "smart beta" indices (from 2018 to 2026) (2026 data till 30Sep2026) >

Chart 2: Trailing returns of Nifty "smart beta" indices  >

Chart 3: Nifty "smart beta" indices valuation data  >

Click on the charts to view better >

4. Action button

Smart beta indices are cyclical (as shown by calendar and trailing returns above) and strategies that lead in one period can lag sharply in another, so past returns should not be taken as a guide to future performance. 

Investors should look beyond the latest returns. Valuations, investment costs, risk tolerance and the time available to stay invested all matter. 

Smart beta indices follow specific rules to select and weight stocks. They are not guaranteed to outperform the broader market.

For most individual investors, a diversified portfolio is more sensible than chasing the best-performing strategy of the past. Smart beta strategies may have a role, but they should be chosen carefully and with a long-term view.

Limited ETF trading volumes and low assets under management in many passive funds tracking the smart beta indices also warrant caution, particularly over liquidity, trading costs and ease of exit.

Past performance does not guarantee future returns. Please do your own research or consult a qualified financial adviser before making investment decisions.

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P.S.: Update 25Oct2026: This update is added after the above blog was published on 10Oct2026:

Key insights from what can be observed from the six combinations (check the six screenshots below) of Nifty 50 and smart beta / factor indices:

a. Nifty 50 + Momentum 30 + Quality 30 looks the most attractive combination for a 3–5 year equity portfolio view.

b. Equal rupee allocation means one-third each. This gives Nifty 50 the role of the core, while Momentum and Quality provide distinct factor exposures.

c. Nifty 50 and Momentum have very little overlap: only 5 common stocks. Nifty 50 overlap is just 6.76%, making Momentum a genuine diversifier rather than another version of Nifty 50.

d. Nifty 50 and Quality have more overlap: 10 common stocks. About 15.97% of Nifty 50 overlaps with Quality, so Quality is less independent than Momentum but still adds a meaningful tilt.

e. Quality and Momentum overlap very little: only 3 common stocks, with 8.44% and 9.10% portfolio overlap. This is particularly attractive when combining the two factors.

f. Low Volatility is very different from Momentum. Only 2 stocks are common, with just 7.11% and 7.55% portfolio overlap. So Low Vol and Momentum are highly complementary to each other.

g. Low Volatility and Quality have substantially more overlap: 8 common stocks, with 25.81% and 33.61% portfolio overlap. This suggests that both factors can create a meaningful common exposure to established, relatively defensive companies.

h. The weakest combination from a diversification perspective is Nifty 50 + Low Volatility 30. There are 25 common stocks, representing 65.57% of Nifty 50 and 83.75% of the Low Vol portfolio. Much of the Low Vol exposure is therefore already present in Nifty 50.

i. Quality is not simply redundant with Nifty 50. Although it overlaps with Nifty 50, it imposes a different selection discipline based on business and financial characteristics. It therefore makes more sense as a complement than Low Vol does.

j. For a 3–5 year horizon, the main attraction of Nifty 50 + Momentum + Quality is not short-term performance. It is the combination of three different return drivers: broad-market exposure through Nifty 50, business-quality exposure through Quality, and price-trend exposure through Momentum.

k. Overall, Nifty 50 + Momentum 30 + Quality 30 as a coherent long-term equity strategy rather than three unrelated bets (but this could go wrong in future when portfolio overlap changes -- which is bound to happen over time). Equal allocation is simple and avoids trying to predict which factor will work next. The main requirement is patience: Momentum and Quality can each go through periods of significant underperformance, so this combination should ideally be judged over five years rather than one year.

l. For a Nifty 50 + Momentum + Quality combination, Nifty 500 Momentum 50 offers an interesting alternative among the two key momentum indices, i.e., Nifty 200 Momentum 30 and Nifty 500 Momentum 50

m. Between the two Momentum indices, which one to choose? The choice depends on how a specific momentum index blends with the other two parts, Nifty 50 and Quality. So, we need to see how the combination of the three looks like.

n. So, we need to compare the two; 1) Nifty 50 + Momentum 30 + Quality 30 versus 2) Nifty 50 + Momentum 50 + Quality 30. 

o. As of 30Sep2026, Momentum 30 is more balanced across sectors; lower current valuation; ~6 years of live index history; whereas, Momentum 50 has Higher Capital Goods and Healthcare exposure; higher current valuation; only ~2.3 years of live history. 

p. From a portfolio construction perspective, both use momentum-based tilt weighting, but the eligible universe differs — Nifty 200 vs Nifty 500.  

q. For Nifty 50 + Momentum + Quality, one needs to focus on complementarity, sector/risk characteristics and construction, not back-tested returns.

1) Portfolio overlap between  Nifty 100 Low Volatility 30 and Nifty 200 Momentum 30 as on 30Sep2026 >

2 common stocks with overlap of 7.1% and 7.6% respectively

2) Portfolio overlap between  Nifty 100 Low Volatility 30 and Nifty 200 Quality 30 as on 30Sep2026 >

8 common stocks with overlap of 25.8% and 33.6% respectively 

3) Portfolio overlap between  Nifty 200 Quality 30 and Nifty 200 Momentum 30 as on 30Sep2026 >

3 common stocks with overlap of 8.4% and 9.1% respectively

4) Portfolio overlap between  Nifty 200 Momentum 30 and Nifty 500 Momentum 50 as on 30Sep2026 >

23 common stocks with overlap of 77.5% and 74% respectively

5) Portfolio overlap between  Nifty 50 and Nifty 100 Low Volatility 30 as on 30Sep2026 >

25 common stocks with overlap of 65.6% and 83.8% respectively

6) Portfolio overlap between  Nifty 50 and Nifty 200 Momentum 30 as on 30Sep2026 >

5 common stocks with overlap of 6.8% and 23.9% respectively

7) Portfolio overlap between  Nifty 50 and Nifty 200 Quality 30 as on 30Sep2026 >

10 common stocks with overlap of 16% and 45.8% respectively

8) Portfolio overlap between  Nifty 50 and Nifty 500 Momentum 50 as on 30Sep2026 >

3 common stocks with overlap of 3.8% and 13.8% respectively

9) Trendlyne ETF Dashboard - ETF volumes: 3-month daily average highst volumes as of 23Oct2026 > Chart showing 3-month daily average volumes >

Nifty 200 Momentum 30 ETFs - ETF volume data  

Check NSE ETF marketwatch for historical ETF volumes

Trendlyne all ETFs volumes 3-month daily average (select volume column to see volumes of all kinds of ETFs by descending order)

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References and notes:

Nifty indices factsheets (choose Strategy indices)

Nifty 50

Nifty Midcap 150

Nifty 200 Momentum 30 

Nifty 100 Low Volatility 30 

Nifty 50 Equal Weight 

Nifty Alpha Low Volatility 30 

Nifty Midcap 150 Momentum 50 

Nifty 500 Momentum 50 

Nifty 200 Quality 30

Nifty Midcap 150 Quality 50

Nifty Return profile

Nifty Index Dashboard monthly - Sep2026 PDF 

Nifty indices methodology document

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YTD returns / year to date returns (on a daily basis) can be obtained from (other data, like, absolute trailing returns index levels PE and PB ratios, Top 5 gainers, Top 5 losers, heatmap, index movers, all constituents, corporate actions, shareholding pattern, corporate results, factsheet, list of constitutent, methodology, setc, too are available): Index tracker of NSE Indices:

Nifty 50
Nifty Midcap 150

Nifty 200 Momentum 30 
Nifty 100 Low Volatility 30 index 
Nifty 50 Equal Weight 
Nifty Alpha Low Volatility 30
Nifty Midcap 150 Momentum 50 
Nifty 500 Momentum 50 
Nifty 200 Quality 30 
Nifty Midcap 150 Quality 50 

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Value Research - Compare funds:

VR comparison of index funds:

Nifty 50 - specicifi index fund weblink 

Nifty Midcap 150 - specicifi index fund weblink 

Nifty 200 Momentum 30 - specicifi index fund weblink 

Nifty 500 Momentum 50  - specicifi index fund weblink 

Nifty 200 Quality 30 - specicifi index fund weblink 

The following Tables / data images, pertaining to the above five Nifty indices, are included here on 23Oct2026 as additional data >

Table B: Marketcap Data

Table C: Valuation / Risk Data

Table D: Top 10 Stocks

Table E: Top 10 Sectors 

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Chart showing Index Reconstitution of NSE / Nifty Indices  - Nifty Smart Beta Indices Rebalancing Frequency >

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Rupee Vest screenshots comparing four ETFs (data as at end-09Oct2026) > This is just for illustration purposes only >