The Indian economy is ranked tenth in terms of nominal gross domestic product (GDP), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reports that it is the third largest economy in the world in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP). Kumar et al. (2023) have observed a significant increase in the quantity and volume of investments made in the Indian stock market both domestic and foreign investors in the past two decades. One of the key elements of an economy is the stock market. Its significance lies in its ability to propel a nation’s economy forward. The stock market serves as a gauge of the health of the economy and a vehicle for capital formation. An efficient economy can be inferred from the presence of a robust banking system and a stock market that is consistently increasing in value ( Kumari, 2011). The two primary functions of the stock markets are aiding in price discovery and offering liquidity. They facilitate firms in undertaking large-scale initiatives by enhancing the primary market. A strong stock market helps to stimulate the economy by facilitating efficient growth and saving, wise investment allocation, and the draw of foreign direct investment (FDI). Nevertheless, for the stock market to fulfil its vital role, it is imperative that it maintains a robust interaction with macroeconomic forces ( Tripathi, V., & Seth, R. 2014).

The study on stock market is important as it plays crucial role in economic stability, financial forecasting and investment decision making. Stock market volatility is a key element in asset pricing and portfolio management, making it crucial for investors and policymakers. A study conducted by Dai et al. (2020) revealed that stock market implied volatility can strongly predict stock market return volatility in developed economies. Hazman et al. (2018) emphasize that inadequate understanding of market dynamics and ineffective financial reforms can lead to systemic instability. Further a detailed review by Dhingra et al. (2024) indicate that most studies found oil prices, policy uncertainty and investor sentiments have a significant impact on market volatility. Therefore the investigation on stock market is important for scholars, investors and policymakers.

The impact of economic fundamentals on stock returns or prices has been a topic of much discussion among experts and scholars. The Efficient Market Hypothesis, initially introduced by Fama in 1970, asserts that in a market that operates efficiently, investors would not achieve exceptional profits as stock prices fully incorporate all pertinent information regarding fluctuations in macroeconomic variables. If the Efficient Market Hypothesis is assumed to be valid, any fluctuations in macroeconomic indicators should not exert a substantial influence on stock returns. Nevertheless, subsequent studies conducted by Fama and Schwert (1977), Nelson (1976), and other researchers have conducted a thorough assessment of the findings derived from the Efficient Market Hypothesis. These studies have verified that macroeconomic factors do indeed have an impact on stock prices, consequently influencing stock returns. A further theoretical contribution to the link between stock prices and the fundamentals of the economy is the Arbitrage Pricing Theory (APT) ( Ross, S.A. 1976; Chen et al., 1986).

The link between macroeconomic variables and the stock market has been extensively studied in recent studies, building on previously established theoretical groundwork. The relationship between macroeconomic variables, stock market returns, and development in Ghana was assessed by Asravor, R. K., and Fonu, P. D. D. (2021), offering insights that might be useful for developing nations like India. Luo, C., Qu, Y., Su, Y., and Dong, L. (2024) examine the transmission of risks from crude oil markets to China’s financial market, emphasizing the importance of crude oil prices, which are equally relevant for the Indian stock market.

Theoretically, the study contribute to asset pricing models by indicating how change in macroeconomic indicators affects the stock price in Indian stock market. The study extends the applicability of models such as Arbitrage pricing theory in emerging markets, where the effect of macroeconomic indicators on stock price may differ significantly from developed markets.

Previous research highlights the significance of GDP, inflation, crude oil prices, exchange rates, industrial production, and interest rates as key macroeconomic factors that impact the stock market. Fromentin, V. (2022), Bildirici et al. (2022), Ediriweera and Dissanayake (2022), and Katmas and Indarningsih (2022) documented the importance of macroeconomic forces in international markets over time, whereas Yadav et al. (2022), Shadab, A., and Sinha, A. K. (2022), Rao, V., and Jyotreddy, K. (2022), or Kumar et al. (2023) provide evidence from the Indian market. The hypothesis that portfolio holder expectations about the future values of macroeconomic variables can impact stock prices and that these variables become risk factors when stocks are substituted for other assets in the portfolio is supported by the studies listed above. So, it is very important to look into how much macroeconomic indicator affect the stock markets.

Many studies have looked at how the stock market is connected to macroeconomic elements. Previous studies indicate that macroeconomic variables and the stock market have an association. Fama (1981) sought to examine the link between stock returns, economic activity, inflation, and money in order to question preconceptions and offer new viewpoints on the dynamics of equities markets. While stock returns and real factors including output, capital expenditures, and the actual rate of return on capital show a positive link, the research results show a negative link between money growth rate and inflation.

Olowe, R. A. (2007) employed Johansen’s vector correlation model to examine the dynamic linkage between macroeconomic variables (Industrial production, Inflation, interest rate, money supply, exchange rate and oil prices) and stock price in Nigerian Stock Exchange and found that stock price is positively affected by inflation, money supply, Oil price and interest rate while negatively by exchange rate and industrial production. Baranidharan, S., and Alex, A. (2020) found that effect of changes in exchange rate on Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) was significant and negative. Neifar et al. (2021) studied the relationship between macroeconomic indicators (currency rate, consumer price index, and interest rate) and the stock market in the United Kingdom. The ARDL model shows that there is a long-term symmetric link between macroeconomic data and the price of stocks. Conversely, the ECM representation’s results indicate that the UK stock price is rapidly advancing toward long-term equilibrium as a result of all of the macroeconomic variables that were assessed. According to Pole, H., and Cavusoglu, B. (2021), money supply and aggregate industrial output positively and significantly affect stock return volatility, whereas inflation and currency rates negatively affect it. This study used ARDL bonds to investigate the impact of macroeconomic variables on Nigerian stock market returns. Asravor, R. K., and Fonu, P. D. D. (2021) examined the connection between Ghana’s macroeconomic variables, stock market returns, and development revealed that interest rates and foreign direct investment were favourable to S.M. Development, but human capital, inflation, and money supply were awful. Using Jordan and Philips’ dynamic ARDL simulation model, Khan et al. (2023) studied exchange rate, gold, oil, and Shanghai stock exchange return effects. Although gold and oil prices positively affected return, the exchange rate negatively affected it. Chinese stock exchange rate fluctuations do not, in the long term, have a Granger-cause on stock returns, but they do have a substantial spillover effect, according to research by Cuestas and Tang (2021). Okorie et al. (2021) investigated the correlation between Nigerian inflation, currency rates, and stock market returns by employing copulas. It has been determined that there is a minor positive correlation between Nigerian inflation and stock market returns, as well as a positive association between Nigerian inflation and the exchange rate of the Nigerian Naira against the US dollar. Hung (2022c) investigates the dynamic connectedness between macroeconomic data and the Chinese stock market through wavelet coherence analysis. Short-term macroeconomic variables affect the stock market, whereas long-term stock gains improve macroeconomic conditions. Javangwe and Takawira (2022) examined the South African stock market and currency rates using ARDL. The stock market is found to be adversely affected by exchange rate fluctuations in the long term. Using ECM, Katmas and Indarningsih (2022) investigated at how inflation, interest rates, and foreign exchange rates impacted the Indonesian Sharia Stock Index (ISSI) and found that BI interest has a long-term effect on the index, exchange rates have both short- and long-term effects, and inflation has no effect. Economic growth variables and the time valve of money were the two components identified by Ediriweera and Dissanayake (2022) using factor analysis. The Time Value of Money component substantially affects the Colombo Stock Exchange, but Economic Growth has little effect. Bildirici et al. established a complex link between VIX investor mood, gold prices, currency rates, oil prices, and stock market returns in 2022. Nevertheless, the Turkish lira and energy prices have a significant influence on stock market returns. Fromentin (2022) employed the time-varying Granger causality framework to identify asymmetric bidirectional causation, which implies that the lead-lag relationship between macroeconomic variables and US stock price is subject to change over time. Akanbi, A. (2025) found that GDP growth has a favourable, but negligible, impact on stock performance in Nigeria. Inflation, interest rate spread, and the macroeconomic environment as a whole, however, were found to have a negative but negligible impact on stock market performance. Thorbecke, W. (2025) found that throughout this time, the stock market was agitated by worries about inflation. The markets were further shaken by the Fed’s anti-inflationary measures. Rahmi et al. (2025) found that exchange rate has a significant effect on the green stock market, while effect of economic policy uncertainty, domestic interest rates, income, inflation, and oil prices is insignificant. Magnani et al. (2025) identified that macroeconomic variables are more predictable and stable and economic agents have more faith in the Brazilian stock market when the target set by the Brazilian Central Bank is credible. They further concluded that the stock market performs better when there is higher fiscal and monetary credibility.

Gay (2008) concluded that no significant link exists between exchange rates, oil prices, and stock market index prices in any BRIC country, so implying a weak form of market efficiency in Brazil, Russia, India, and China by using the Box-Jenkins ARIMA model to investigate the correlation between macroeconomic variables and stock market index prices in BRIC nations. Verma, R. K., & Bansal, R. (2021) discovered that while gold prices have a negative impact on stock markets in both established and emerging economies, GDP, FDI (foreign direct investment), and FII (foreign institutional investment) had a positive impact. Salisu et al. (2021) investigated the potential of stock return differentials to anticipate exchange rate fluctuations in the BRICS countries, thereby evaluating the validity of the uncovered equity parity (UEP) theory for these countries. For three BRICS countries—Brazil, India, and South Africa—the research found a positive association between stock return differentials and exchange rate returns; results for China and Russia were opposite. Hung (2022b) using the MGARCH-DCC and Wavelet Coherence Transform approaches investigated the temporal and frequency link between worldwide crude oil, gold prices, and financial markets in the BRICS countries. The BRICS stock and exchange markets have long-term influence on crude oil and gold variables; yet, in the immediate term, the international commodities market greatly influences the BRICS financial markets. Hung (2022a) investigated the dynamic relationship and volatility spillover effects between exchange rates and stock returns in five Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries (Hung Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Croatia) and identified bidirectional volatility spillovers between the two financial markets in Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Croatia during the pre-crisis period; a unidirectional spillover of volatility from the stock market to the foreign exchange market was observed. Atif et al. (2022) evaluated the correlation between stock returns, exchange rates, and crude oil in emerging markets. Panel Granger causality revealed that the relationship between stock returns and oil prices has grown stronger since COVID-19 was designated a pandemic. The oil market and currency rates are two other factors that have a beneficial impact on stock performance. Hashmi, S. M., and Chang, B. H. (2023) discovered the positive relationship between E7 stock market and macroeconomic variables. Lone et al. (2023) found that selected macroeconomic variables affect the stock markets of all BRICS nations except Brazil in the long term.

Singh, D. (2010) used granger causality test to study causal relation BSE sensex and macroeconomic variables. The result of Granger causality test depict bilateral causal relationship between BSE sensex and IIP, whereas unilateral causal relationship between BSE sensex and WIP. Pal, K., and Mittal, R. (2011) examined the relationship between Indian capital markets and macroeconomic indicators. The analysis found that inflation has a major impact on both the S&P CNX Nifty and the BSE Sensex, although only the former affects interest rates and the latter foreign currency rates. Kalra (2012) documented the Sensex and macroeconomic data link. The gold price, inflation rate, and foreign exchange rate have been regarded as the most important components in the development of Sensex forecast models. Singh (2014) found that while money supply and foreign investment favourably influence the Indian stock market, gold prices and currency values have a negative impact there. Gurloveleen and Bhatia (2015) discovered that the exchange rate and foreign institutional investors were significant factors after doing multiple regression analyses. Furthermore, there is no causal association between relevant factors and the average closing prices of BSE 500 manufacturing enterprises, according to the Granger causality test. Kotha and Bhawna (2016) found that money supply and inflation positively affect the Indian stock market return, whereas interest rates negatively affect it. Misra (2018) employed the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) to analyse the BSE Sensex’s relationship with various macroeconomic variables, concluding that these variables, including money supply, inflation, interest rates, gold prices, foreign institutional investment, exchange rate, and the Index of Industrial Production, exhibited a long-term causal relationship with the Sensex. Mohanty et al. (2021) used the Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to look into how macroeconomic factors affect stock market returns. While the unemployment rate and inflation have a negative effect, the Sensex is favourably influenced by the manufacturing to GDP ratio, debt to GDP ratio, US dollar, and GDP growth. Interest has a negative effect on share prices but a positive effect on consumer prices and industrial output, according to Syed (2021), who looked at how macroeconomic events affect Bombay Stock Exchange share prices. Bhattacharjee, A., and Das, J. (2021) employed the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach and the pair-wise Granger causality test to examine the long- and short-term relationships between domestic macroeconomic variables and the equities market. The exchange rate, wholesale price index, and money supply lag exert a considerable short-term effect, while the money supply and foreign currency exchange rate significantly influence the Indian stock market in the long run. Yadav et al. (2022) identified a substantial relationship between macroeconomic factors and the Indian stock market price using Johansen cointegration and sought long-run equilibrium using VECM. Using the GARCH model, Shadab, A., and Sinha, A. K. (2022) found a positive link between exchange rate and BSE Sensex. Rao, V., and Jyotreddy, K. (2022) investigated the relationship between stock price and macroeconomic variables using the ARDL model and found that, in the long run, the relationship is negligible; but, in the short run, foreign institutional investment and inflation positively influence stock prices while exchange rate has negative influence. Kumar et al. (2023) used the NARDL model to find that crude oil prices positively affect the Indian stock market and negatively affect the exchange rate, but gold prices had no effect. Keswani et al. (2024) found a positive long-term link of Indian stock market with GDP, disposable income, and FII engagement, while a negative correlation is found with inflation, interest rates, government policies, and currency rates. Hedau, A. (2024) Using logistic regression, researcher looked at macroeconomic factors influencing the performance of the NIFTY 50 index. They discovered that the Dow Jones index and changes in exchange rates are the primary drivers of the NIFTY 50 index. Experts, however, believe that predicting the movement of the NIFTY 50 index also requires consideration of other elements, such as political stability, the state of the developed, and India’s bilateral connections with other nations. Goel et al. (2025) found that Earnings per Share, Dividend Payout Ratio and Price-to-Book Ratio had a statistically significant relationship with stock returns. These variables indirectly get affected by change in macroeconomic variables due its effect on cost of production, demand of the products, financing pattern etc.

Though past studies have examined the relationship, opinions and clarity on how macroeconomic events influence the market are lacking. Previous studies yield contradicting findings; some revealed positive associations while others revealed negative or none at all. Bhattacharjee, A., and Das, J. (2021) discovered no correlation. Although Tripathi, V., and Seth, R. (2014) discovered that the Wholesale Price Index had a favourable effect on the Indian stock market. While Syed, A. A. (2021) found negative influence of interest rate, further Bhattacharjee, A., and Das, J. (2021) reported no association. Furthermore, displaying varying results is the gold price; Bhattacharjee, A., and Das, J. (2020) found negative influence and later in 2021 found no correlation. Studies on exchange rates yield inconsistent results with Ratanapakorn, O., and Sharma, S. C. (2007) noting positive influence while Syed, A. A. (2021) recorded negative impact. Different conclusions highlight the complexity of the link between macroeconomic factors and stock market.

It is necessary to offer unambiguous understanding on the link between macroeconomic variables and stock market. Few chosen variables have been used in past research at a time combined effect of all these variables is not investigated. To present unambiguous understanding on relationship between macroeconomic indicators and stock market and bridge this gap the study re-examins the relationship between macroeconomic indicators and indian stock market using ARDL approach combined with Granger causality test. Monthly data from April 2009 to March 2023 is used in the study.

In this paper we have used monthly data from April 2009 to March 2023 to study the impact of Wholesale price index (WPI), Consumer price index (CPI), Index of Industrial Production (IIP), Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Foreign Exchange Reserve (FER), Exchange Rate (ER), Silver Price (SP), Gold Prices (GP), Brent Crude Oil Prices (COP), Gross Fiscal Deficit (GFD), Value of Imports (IMP), Value of Exports (EXP), Foreign Institutional Investors (FII), Repo rate (REPO), Interest Rate (Long Term 10 yr) (INT), Call Money Rate (CMR), Balance of Payment (BOP), Broad Money (M3) on National Stock Exchange returns (RNSE) ( Table 1). This time period captures a broad range of macroeconomic conditions and market cycles, that includes post – global financial crisis recovery, major policy reforms (such as GST, demonetisation) and impact of the COVID – 19 pandemic. This data period provides more comprehensive investigation of how macroeconomic indicators influence stock price varying economic conditions. All the variables are converted into its logarithmic values for analysis. The autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach is used to investigate long-term correlations between variables. Pesaran et al. created it in 2001 and for Causality relationship Granger causality test is employed. Time series that are neither stationary nor have a fixed order of integration can be fitted using the ARDL model, which is based on ordinary least squares (OLS). Traditional econometric techniques Ordinary Least Squares regression (OLS) or vector autoregressive (VAR) model can be applied only when all variables are stationary I(0) and Johansen cointegration test can be applied in case all the variables are non stationary I(1). However ARDL model is abe to handle variables integrated at mixed orders (I(0) or I(1)) and provides strong findings even in a small sample size. This model can be used to study short term as well long term relationship. ARDL model is also used in Studies conducted by Bhattacharjee, A., and Das, J. (2021), Neifar et al. (2021), Syed et al. (2021), and Javangwe and Takawira (2022).

The current study applied Pesaran et al. (2001) Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model. This method is applied since it provides strong findings when the dataset is small and the variables show a mix of integration orders, that is, I(0) and I(1) variables. We must first make sure none of the variables are stationary at second difference before using the ARDL model. We investigate at which level variables are stationary using the Augmented Dickey-Fuller ( Phillips & Perron, 1988). The null hypothesis posits the existence of a unit root, while the alternative hypothesis suggests stationarity.

The augmented Dickey-Fuller test conducts the regression analysis described below. y t = a + β t + γ y t − 1 + ∑ i = 1 p δ i ∆ y t − i + e t (1) y( t-1) = lag 1 of time series and delta y( t-1) = first difference of the series at time ( t-1)

Fundamentally, it has a similar null hypothesis as the unit root test. That is, the coefficient of y( t-1) is 1, implying the presence of a unit root. If not rejected, the series is taken to be non-stationary.

ADF test results assist ARDL application to investigate co-integration among the variables. If the variables are stationery at level Johansen cointegration test is appropriate to investigate the long-term relationship among the variables. The equation used in the present study to specify the ARDL model is as follows: ∆ y t = α 0 + ∑ i = 1 p α 1 ∆ y t − i + ∑ i = 0 q α 2 ∆ x t − i + δ 1 y t − 1 + δ 2 x t − 1 + ε t (2)

Where x t vector of regressors, y t dependent variable; α 0 intercept; Δ is the first difference operator; α i represent short-run coefficient; δ i represent long-run coefficient; p and q represent restricted lags and ε t shows error term. The estimated F-statistic indicates that the variables are cointegrated, therefore assuming a long-term link between them, if it surpasses the upper bound critical value. The test is said to be inconclusive, on the other hand, if the F-statistic goes below the upper bound critical value but stays above the lower bound critical value. It follows from an F-statistic smaller than the lower bound critical value that the variables are not cointegrated. Should the ARDL limits test verify cointegration, the long-run coefficients and short-run parameters including the error correction term are next to be estimated ( Shrestha, M. B. & Bhatta, G. R., 2018). We then evaluate the model’s dependability with several diagnostic tests. The functional form of the model is checked using Ramsey’s RESET test; heteroscedasticity is tested using Breusch-Pagan–Godfrey test; serial correlation between the residuals is tested using Breusch-Godfrey serial correlation lag range multiplier (LM); and CUSUM test checks the stability of the coefficients. We investigated the direction of short-term causality using the pairwise Granger causality test ( Granger, C. W., 1969).

Time series analysis, ascertaining the stationarity status is a crucial step. This study employed the Augmented Dickey-Fuller test to ascertain the stationarity status ( Table 2). The ADF test results demonstrate that LnIIP, LnGDP, and LnFII are stationary at level, but the remaining variables in the study are stationary at first difference. At the level, the null hypothesis that the series possesses a unit root is rejected for LnIIP, LnGDP, and LnFII, while it cannot be rejected for the remaining variables in the study. Upon the initial differencing, all non-stationary series attain stationarity.

Subsequent to establishing the stationarity of the variables, we employed the ARDL bounds test to investigate the presence of a long-run relationship among the variables.

Table 3 presents the findings of the Autoregressive Distributed Lag Bounds Test for cointegration, indicating a significant long-term equilibrium link among the variables. The F-statistic of 7.117339, obtained from the test, exceeds the upper bound critical values at all conventional significance levels: 2.77 at 10%, 3.04 at 5%, 3.28 at 2.50%, and 3.61 at 1%. The null hypothesis of no cointegration is rejected, confirming a long-term link between the examined variables.

The long-run ARDL results shown in Table 4 show that money supply (M3), GDP, foreign institutional investment (FII), exports (EXP), exchange rates (ER), and crude oil prices (COP) has statistically significant effect on the stock price. LnM3, LnGDP, LnFII, andLnCOP have positive coefficients indicating that stock price rises follow from changes in these variables. Should M3, GDP, FII, and COP rise by 1% stock price, the respective increases will be 1.37%, 0.12%, 0.09% and 0.30%. By contrast, LnEXP and LnER have negative coefficients, meaning a negative effect on stock price. Regarding the money supply, the outcomes contradict Asravor, R. K., & Fonu, P. D. D. (2021) and are consistent with Olowe, R. A. (2007), and Pole, H., and Cavusoglu, B. (2021). For GDP results match Parab, N., and Reddy, Y. V. (2020) and Abu-Libdeh, H., and Harasheh, M. (2011). For exchange rate results are consistant with Khan et al. (2023), Baranidharan, S., & Alex, A. (2020) and Olowe, R. A. (2007). Findings regarding FII are consistant with Verma, R. K., & Bansal, R. (2021). Further crude oil price results contradict ( Abuoliem et al., 2019) but support Jain, A., and Biswal, P. C. (2016).

With coefficients of -0.306743, -0.7189 and -0.1094, respectively, the Silver Price (SP), repo rate (REPO) and consumer price index (CPI) show negative associations, significant at the 10% level. Other variables, such as the wholesale price index, long-term interest rates, imports, industrial production index, gold price, gross fiscal deficit, foreign currency reserves, call money rate, and balance of payments, do not have statistically significant long-term effects. The model’s constant term is significant, as indicated by its coefficient of -12.5241. These findings emphasize the significant influences on the future behaviour of the dependent variable, which include money supply, GDP, foreign institutional investment, exports, currency rates, and crude oil prices.

The error correction model results ( Table 5) reveal the short-term dynamics and the pace of adjustment towards the long-run equilibrium. The highly significant and negative error correction coefficient implies that approximately 22.74% of the deviation from the long-run equilibrium is rectified within one month. Lag of stock price, value of import, and exchange rate has significant negative impact on stock price. Impact of foreign exchange reserve is positive and significant. Furthermore, the model demonstrates strong explanatory power, with an R-squared value of 0.677981, highlighting its robustness in capturing the interrelationships among the variables.

To check reliability of the short run estimates Ramsey RESET and Breusch–Pagan–Godfrey Heteroskedasticity Test to check the reliability the short run estimates and CUSUM plot to test stability of the model. The Ramsey RESET test yields an F-statistic of 0.075087 with a p-value of 0.7845, indicating no evidence of model misspecification. The Breusch-Pagan-Godfrey test for heteroskedasticity provided an F-statistic of 0.953374 with a p-value of 0.5367, suggesting the residuals exhibit homoscedasticity ( Table 6). CUSUM plot presented in Figure 2 indicate that the model is stable and outcomes are reliable.

Granger causality examined the significance of the coefficients of lagged y t , which are used as the explanatory variables for x t in the regression context. For a simple bivariate model, one can test the following equation: x t = α 0 + ∑ i = 1 p α i y t − i + ∑ j − 1 q β j x t − j + u t (3) y t = α 0 + ∑ i = 1 p β i x t − i + ∑ j − 1 q α j y t − j + ε t (4)

Where Ho: y does not Granger causes x in the first regression equation and x does not Granger causes y in the second regression equation.

Results of pairwise Granger causality test ( Table 7) Indicate that there is bidirectional causality between IMP and NSE, FII and NSE, FER and NSE, COP and NSE signifying the presence of feedback mechanism between the variables. Unidirectional causality is identified between WIP and NSE, SP and NSE, GDP and NSE, EXP and NSE, ER and NSE. Result indicates No causality between REPO and NSE, M3 and NSE, INT and NSE, IIP and NSE, GP and NSE, GFD and NSE, CPI and NSE, CMR and NSE, BOP and NSE. Pairwise Granger Causality Test findings suggest that IMP, FII, FER, COP, WIP, SP, GDP, EXP and ER are helpful in stock price prediction in Indian stock market.

Response of stock market to a unit shock in macroeconomic variables is presented in Figure 3. It can be observed that NSE initially increases and start decreasing after some periods in response to one standard deviation shock created in REPO, IMP, IIP, ER and CPI. It initially Decreases and start increasing after some periods in response to one standard deviation shock created in GFD, GDP, FII, EXP, COP, BOP and WPI. NSE increases in response to one standard deviation shock created in M3, INT and FER, while decreases in response to GP, CMR and SP.

The ARDL bonds test validates the presence of an enduring connection between the variables. The ARDL model demonstrates that over a long period of time, the money supply (M3), gross domestic product (GDP), foreign institutional investment (FII), and crude oil prices (COP) have a substantial positive influence on the stock price. Conversely, exchange rates (ER) and exports (EXP) have a major negative impact. In the near term, there is a large negative correlation between the lag of stock price, value of imports, and exchange rate with stock price. However, the influence of foreign exchange reserves on stock price is positive. The diagnostic tests performed on the residuals to confirm the accuracy and consistency of the short-run parameters indicated no signs of serial correlation, heteroscedasticity, or misspecification. The findings of the paired Granger causality test indicate that the domestic macroeconomic variables have predictive value for stock prices in the Indian stock market. Therefore, it is important to closely watch these variables. It is important to note that granger causality test is a useful statistical tool however; it does not show true causality. It indicated that one variable contains information useful for predicting another variable, but this may be due to some underlying factor.

The study’s findings suggest that macroeconomic variables have an impact on the Indian stock market both in the short term and the long term. Hence, it is imperative for investors and portfolio managers to regularly monitor the prevailing macroeconomic conditions in order to optimize their returns and mitigate potential risks. Furthermore, the finding has significant policy consequences. A rise in the money supply has a beneficial impact on the Indian stock market by enhancing a firm’s capacity to produce and borrow. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) should strive to maintain an optimal level of money supply by utilizing open market operations and monetary policy. This is crucial because an excessive amount of money in circulation can lead to inflation, which has a detrimental impact on the Indian stock market. Targeted Long-Term Repo Operations (TLTRO), Open market operations, and policy rate adjustments are some measures that RBI could adopt to balance money supply without triggering inflation. Furthermore, the exchange rate has a detrimental effect on the Indian stock market. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) should implement measures to mitigate fluctuations in the exchange rate. During Taper tantrum of 2013, RBI sucessfully stabilized exchange rate through policy interventions. The Indian government should formulate policies to bolster the export sector and facilitate the import of diverse items. The Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan and Make in India initiatives are remarkable endeavours in this context; yet, the effectiveness of these initiatives relies on meticulous execution. Incentive for export oriented sectors, production linked incentives, Improve trade infrastructure, Enhance free trade agreements, Promote R&D, Trade facilitation for small exporters, expanding access to export credit facilities are some steps that can strengthen Indian export eco system and align with broader objectives of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. The positive impact of GDP underscores the significance of continuous economic expansion, necessitating policies that focus on improving productivity, developing infrastructure, and creating a favourable business environment. Enhancing the inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Foreign Institutional Investment (FII) can significantly enhance economic performance. This necessitates the establishment of a stable and conducive regulatory framework that is attractive to investors.

The study has some limitations. First, The does not consider variables like Invertor sentiment, Global economic events, unemployment rate and economic policy uncertainty that may affect return in Indian stock markets. Secondly, Their may be existence of reverse causality in case of some macroeconomic variables. Further, Structural changes in Indian economy such as Demonetization, GST implementation and COVID-19 may have affected Indian stock market during the study period. These structural changes can not be captured using ARDL model, future studies may use structural break test to study effect of these structural changes.

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