Welcome to the Year of Volatility

As we move ahead into 2024, the spectre of ‘leap year volatility’ looms over the financial landscape. History bears testimony to this trend. Each leap year in the past two decades has brought forth a unique set of challenges for investors. From the dotcom bubble burst to the global pandemic, leap years have seen significant market fluctuations. In 2000, the dotcom bubble burst led to a 14.65 per cent correction in the Nifty. The 2008 sub-prime crisis witnessed a staggering 51.79 per cent fall, while the 2004 unexpected union election results led to a 17.47 per cent tumble.