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UNIT IV - Securities Market

4.1 Brief History of Stock Exchange, Study of Functions of BSE & NSE

Stock markets are fascinating entities and not for the least because they help investors make money! They are interesting institutions in themselves and those in India have a rich history.
The Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act of 1956defines a stock exchange as “anybody of individuals, whether incorporated or not, constituted before corporatization and demutualization” or “a body corporate incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 whether under a scheme of corporatization and demutualization or otherwise,” for the purpose of assisting, regulating or controlling the business of buying, selling or dealing in securities.
Just to clarify, “corporatization” means the succession of a recognized stock exchange, which was a body of individuals or a society, by another stock exchange, which is an incorporated company. Meanwhile, “demutualization” means the segregation of ownership and management from the trading rights of the members of a recognized stock exchange in accordance with a scheme approved by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

A deep history

Security trading in India goes back to the 18th century when the East India Company began trading in loan securities. Corporate shares started being traded in the 1830s in Bombay (now Mumbai) with the stock of Bank and Cotton presses. The simple and informal beginnings of stock exchanges in India take one back to the 1850s when 22 stockbrokers began trading opposite the Town Hall of Bombay under a banyan tree. The tree still stands in the area which is now known as Horniman Circle.
The venue then shifted to banyan trees at the Meadows Street junction, which is now known as Mahatma Gandhi Road, a decade later. The shift continued taking place as the number of brokers increased, finally settling in 1874 at what is known as Dalal Street. This as yet informal group known as the Native Share and Stockbrokers Association organized themselves as the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in 1875. The BSE is the oldest stock exchange in Asia and was the first to be granted permanent recognition under the Securities Contract Regulation Act, 1956.

SENSEX (BSE)

Meaning and concept

          The Bombay Stock Exchange's Sensitive Index, also called Sensex or BSE Sensex, is one of the leading stock market benchmark indices in India. It tracks the movement of stock prices on the exchange and functions as an indicator of market sentiments.
Launched by BSE in 1986, Sensex consists of 30 components (stocks) that represent, broadly, the composition of the entire market. Each of the scrips is assigned a weightage on the index that is linked to its market capitalization. It measures a particular stock's ability to influence movements in the index. The base year of the Sensex is 1978-79 with the base index value taken as 100 points.
While the number of components has remained the same since its inception, the composition of the Sensex changes periodically as scrips are inducted or removed depending on their market capitalization, frequency and volume of trading and volatility among other parameters.
For a long time the BSE Sensex was the only benchmark index in India for the stock markets until the National Stock Exchange was launched in the early nineties. Its S&P Nifty Index is a much broader index, but the Sensex is still followed as a barometer of market sentiment in India.
Process of Calculation of Sensex:
1) First the market capitalization is taken into account.
2) This is done by multiplying all the Shares issued by the Company with the Price of its Stock
3) BSE determines a Free-float Factor that is the Multiple of the Market Capitalization of the company
4) This helps in determining the Free-float Market Capitalization based on the details submitted by the Company.
5) Ratio and Proportion are used based on the Base Index of 100 This helps to determine the Sensex.

NIFTY (NSE)

Meaning and Concept

The term Nifty is derived from the combination National and Fifty as Nifty consists of 50 actively traded stocks. Nifty is primarily an equity benchmark index which was introduced on April 21, 1996 by National Stock Exchange. Nifty is an abbreviation of National Stock Exchange Fifty, it is the broad index of the National Stock Exchange (NSE). NSE is a leading stock exchange in India.
On June 12, 2000, NSE commenced trading in derivatives with index future. The futures contracts are based on Nifty 50. Later on, the exchange introduced trading in index options on June 4, 2001.
The term Nifty is derived from the combination National and Fifty as Nifty consists of 50 actively traded stocks. Nifty is primarily an equity benchmark index which was introduced in April 21, 1996 by National Stock Exchange. Nifty is an abbreviation of National Stock Exchange Fifty, it is the broad index of the National Stock Exchange (NSE). NSE is a leading stock exchange in India.
On June 12, 2000, NSE commenced trading in derivatives with index future. The futures contracts are based on Nifty 50. Later on, the exchange introduced trading in index options on June 4, 2001.

Process of Calculation of NIFTY

Nifty is also calculated through the Free-float Market Capitalization Weighted Method. Just like Sensex, Nifty also follow Mathematical Formula to know the Market Capitalization,
1) It multiplies the Equity Capital with the price to derive the Market Capitalization.
2) In order to determine the Free-float Market Capitalization Equity capital is multiplied by the Price which is further multiplied by Investible Weight Factor (IWF), It is the factor for determining the number of shares available for trading freely in the market.
3) The index is determined on a Daily Basis by taking into consideration the Current Market Value divided by Base Market Capital and then multiplied by the Base Index Value of 1000,

FUNCTIONS OF BSE & NSE

The Share Market or Stock Exchange performs the following Economic Functions
1. It provides a ready market for buying and selling of securities,
2 It performs an 'act of magic' as il enables long-term investments to be financed by funds provided by individuals who are otherwise interested in short-term or medium-term investment,
3. It directs the flow of capital in the most profitable channels,
4. It induces corporate enterprises to raise their standard of performance,
5. It offers an easily understood evaluation of the financial condition and prospects of listed firms
6. It facilitates speculation,
7. It promotes the habit of saving and investment among the general public and thereby helps capital formation, and
8. It promotes industrial growth and economic development of the country by encouraging industrial investment rather than hoarding or investing in gold.

4.2 Stock Exchange and its Importance

MEANING OF STOCK EXCHANGE

A Stock Exchange is a market where the Securities, i.e. Shares, Debentures, and Government Securities, are bought and sold. The Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, I1956, defines a Stock Exchange as "an association, organisation, or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not, established for the purpose of assisting, regulating and controlling business in buying, selling and dealing in securities". A Share Market exists because certain owners of Securities wish to sell them, others wish to buy them, and the titles to the Securities are transferable. A Securities Exchange does not itself engage in the purchase or sale of securities, Rather, its function is to make such trading as smooth and efficient as possible.

Role of stock exchanges

Raising capital for businesses
Besides the borrowing capacity provided to an individual or firm by the banking system, in the form of credit or a loan, a stock exchange provides companies with the facility to raise capital for expansion through selling shares to the investing public.
Corporate partners
Another alternative source of cash for a private company is a corporate partner, usually an established multinational company, which provides capital for the smaller company in return for marketing rights, patent rights, or equity. Corporate partnerships have been used successfully in a large number of cases.
Mobilizing savings for investment
When people draw their savings and invest in shares (through an initial public offering or the seasoned equity offering of an already listed company), it usually leads to rational allocation of resources because funds, which could have been consumed, or kept in idle deposits with banks, are mobilized and redirected to help companies' management boards finance their organizations. This may promote business activity with benefits for several economic sectors such as agriculture, commerce and industry, resulting in stronger economic growth and higher productivity levels of firms.
Facilitating acquisitions
Companies view acquisitions as an opportunity to expand product lines, increase distribution channels, hedge against volatility, increase their market share, or acquire other necessary business assets. A takeover bid or mergers and acquisitions through the stock market is one of the simplest and most common ways for a company to grow by acquisition or fusion.
Profit sharing
Both casual and professional stock investors, as large as institutional investors or as small as an ordinary middle-class family, through dividends and stock price increases that may result in capital gains, share in the wealth of profitable businesses. Unprofitable and troubled businesses may result in capital losses for shareholders.
Corporate governance
By having a wide and varied scope of owners, companies generally tend to improve management standards and efficiency to satisfy the demands of these shareholders and the more stringent rules for public corporations imposed by public stock exchanges and the government. This improvement can be attributed in some cases to the price mechanism exerted through shares of stock, wherein the price of the stock falls when management is considered poor (making the firm vulnerable to a takeover by new management) or rises when management is doing well (making the firm less vulnerable to a takeover).
Creating investment opportunities for small investors
As opposed to other businesses that require huge capital outlay, investing in shares is open to both the large and small stock investors as minimum investment amounts are minimal. Therefore, the stock exchange provides the opportunity for small investors to own shares of the same companies as large investors.
Government capital-raising for development projects
Governments at various levels may decide to borrow money to finance infrastructure projects such as sewage and water treatment works or housing estates by selling another category of securities known as bonds. These bonds can be raised through the stock exchange whereby members of the public buy them, thus loaning money to the government. The issuance of such bonds can obviate, in the short term, direct taxation of citizens to finance development—though by securing such bonds with the full faith and credit of the government instead of with collateral, the government must eventually tax citizens or otherwise raise additional funds to make any regular coupon payments and refund the principal when the bonds mature.
Barometer of the economy
At the stock exchange, share prices rise and fall depending, largely, on economic forces. Share prices tend to rise or remain stable when companies and the economy in general show signs of stability and growth. A recessiondepression, or financial crisis could eventually lead to a stock market crash. Therefore, the movement of share prices and in general of the stock indexes can be an indicator of the general trend in the economy.

4.3 Primary Market & Secondary Market:

Components of Primary Market
Stock exchange refers to the market for shares and bonds of the existing companies as well as those of new companies. This market is further divided into New Issue Market (NIM) and old issue market. The New issue market is also called the primary market. Likewise, the old issue market is also called the secondary market.
1) Primary Market: The Primary Market is concerned with the flotation of new issues of Shares or Bonds. The firms floating new issues to raise funds may be new companies or existing companies planning expansion. The Stock Issuing Company Approaches the Institutional underwriters like LIC, UTI, ICICI and IDBI, to ensure the marketability o an issue. The underwriters like LICUTI and Commercial Banks purchase securities from the new issue market to hold these in their own asset portfolio. The Equity Capital may be raised through Initial Public Offer (IPO). IPO is the first issue of share by a corporate company to the general public to raise capital for expansion of its business. IPO is followed by a listing of its shares in the Stock Market. The Issue of IPO by the Indian Companies and the Price of Share that is fixed is regulated by SEBI. IPOS may be issued through the "Fixed Price Method" or through the book-building procedure.
2) Secondary Market: The Secondary Market deals in existing securities. This Market Provides both Liquidity and Marketability to such securities. It implies that it is a market where security can be bought or Sold at Small Transaction Cost. Although the Secondary Market deals with the purchase and sale of Old Securities, the firms Issuing new securities get themselves registered on s Stock Exchange by applying for listing of shares. Listing offers the Investor a Market for the Sale of His Stock. Listed securities are those securities which appear on the approved list of Stock Exchange. Only listed securities are traded on the floor of the Stock Exchange. It is to be noted that an Organised Stock Exchange is an ‘auction’ type of market. Where the Prices of Traded securities are settled by open bids and offers on the floor of the exchange.

4.4 D-Mat Account: Definition and Procedure

Demat Account is an account that is used to hold shares and securities in electronic format. The full form of Demat account is a dematerialised account. The purpose of opening a Demat account is to hold shares that have been bought or dematerialised (converted from physical to electronic shares), thus making share trading easy for the users during online trading.
In India, Free Demat account service is provided by depositories such as NSDL and CDSL through intermediaries / Depository Participant / Stock Broker such as Angel Broking. The charges of Demat account vary as per the volume held in the account, type subscribed, and the terms and conditions laid by the depository and the stockbroker.

What is Demat Account?

Demat Account or dematerialised account provides the facility of holding shares and securities in electronic format. During online trading, shares are bought and held in a Demat account, thus facilitating easy trade for the users. A Demat Account holds all the investments an individual makes in shares, government securities, exchange-traded funds, bonds and mutual funds in one place.
What is dematerialisation?
Dematerialisation is the process of converting the physical share certificates into electronic form, which is a lot easier to maintain and is accessible from anywhere throughout the world. An investor who wants to trade online needs to open a Demat with a Depository Participant (DP). The purpose of dematerialisation is to eliminate the need for the investor to hold physical share certificates and facilitating a seamless tracking and monitoring of holdings.
How to open a D-mat Account:
Decide on a Depository Participant (DP), which is any authorized bank, financial institution or broker, with who you want to open a Demat Account with. The choice of a DP should ideally depend on the brokerage charges, annual charges &leverage provided.
Submit a duly filled account opening form and KYC form. Along with this, you will need to attach copies of –

  1. PAN Card
  2. Residence Proof
  3. ID Proof
  4. Passport-sized photographs
Do carry original copies of all for verification purposes. You will also need to give a cancelled cheque for dividend bank details.
You will then need to sign an agreement that will mention all the rules, regulations and rights associated with holding a D-mat Account. Read them carefully and do not hesitate to clear all your doubts. When this is submitted to the DP, it will be signed by an authorized person and a copy of the same will be given to you.
When the account is opened, you will receive a unique Client ID from the DP. This, along with other details, will help you get access to your D-mat Account online.
You will also be given instruction slips by the DP, which will be of use for depository services like transfer, purchase, etc.
Note that a D-mat Account does not require any ‘minimum balance’ of shares or financial securities to be held in it. Also, you can hold more than one Demat Accounts linked to a single PAN. However, not with the same DP.


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