Unit 2
Unit 2
2.1 INTRODUCTION
Market is a place where buyers and sellers meet and exchange products. This
definition is universal and applies to all markets. In this course, we will discuss
more about the market called capital market. It is a place, where capital of
different types is exchanged. Often individuals, like you, are the lenders or
the suppliers of capital. Companies and various other institutions are the
borrowers or the receivers of capital. The market is organized or divided into
different ways. At a very broad level, the market is divided into (a) Short-
term Capital Market (money market) and (b) Long term capital market (also,
called stock market). Another way of classifying the market is (a) Institutional
Market and (b) Direct Market. As an investor you can deal with the market in
different ways. Let us understand the market from individual’s perspective.
If the surplus money you have can be spared only for a short period, you have
to look for savings of short-duration. Since the amount available is fairly
small in such cases, you have to look for some institutional support for such
savings. In other words, individuals don’t directly deal with the money market,
which specialize in short-term capital.
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Often, individuals approach an institution for this purpose. You can save your Securities Market
short-term surplus in a bank deposit or a mutual fund, which offer money
market schemes. If the surplus money you have can be spared for a long-
term, you have to look for investments of longer duration. Again, you can go
to an institution, which offers long- term products or you can directly
participate in the market. That is, you can deposit your money in a long-term
fixed deposit or invest in a mutual funds scheme or directly buy securities in
the market. When you intend to deal with the market on your own, you can
deal with the market in two ways. The markets are accordingly classified into
primary and secondary market.
Primary market is the one in which the organization approaches investors to
raise capital. They can approach for debt capital or equity capital or
combination of both. Dealing in primary market is fairly simple today. Like
fixed deposit opening, you have to take up an application form of the issue
and deposit the amount after filling up the form. Brokers and sub-brokers
will normally help you to get forms and guide you to fill up the forms. What
is important is you have to make sure that investments fit with your objective.
The uncertainty of getting allotment forces many investors, who are directly
willing to deal with the market, to turn into secondary market. It is a place
where an investor sells to another investor. Since there are large number of
sellers and buyers, the market is dynamic. Securities prices change depending
on the demand and supply of the securities.
Secondary market exists for different types of securities like debt, equity and
others. Investment in secondary market has also become easy, thanks to
developments in Information and Computing Technologies. You have to open
an account with the members of any stock exchanges of your choice. The
procedure to open an account is fairly simple and it is somewhat similar to
opening a Savings Bank Account with your banker. You can place your buying
and selling orders over phone and often you get immediate confirmation of
your purchase or sale. Today, it is also possible for you to buy and sell securities
through internet. In this Unit, we will discuss more on how the stock market
is organized and how investors can transact in buying and selling of securities
in the market.
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Securities Market
2.4 SECONDARY MARKETS
The secondary market is the segment in which outstanding issues are traded
and thus provide liquidity. Investors, who seek both profitability and liquidity,
need both primary and secondary markets. There is thus a direct and
complementary interface between the primary and secondary markets.
Secondary market exists both for short- term (money market) securities and
long-term securities. It exists for debt, equity and a variety of hybrid securities.
While the secondary market activities in money market securities are
conducted over phone or through market makers, the trading is more organized
for long-term securities and conducted through stock exchanges. Buying and
selling securities in secondary market is fairly simple. Investors have to open
an account with a member of stock exchange and then place orders through
the member.
For an orderly functioning of market, a set of institutions is required. The
role of institutions assumes importance in securities market because the market
deals with high value financial assets. Institutions connected with securities
markets are Stock Exchanges (http:// www.bseindia.com and http://
www.bseindia.com), Members of Stocks Exchanges (popularly called brokers),
Clearing Corporation, Depository (http://www.nsdl.co.in and http://
www.centraldepository.com) Transfer Agents and Securities and Exchange
Board of India (SEBI) (http://www.sebi.gov.in).
Technology has converted stock exchanges into a virtual institution. Earlier,
there was an importance for the physical location of stock exchange because
it was a place where brokers or their assistants negotiate the prices (outsiders
can hear only some noise but brokers understand the meaning) and enter into
transactions on behalf of their client-investors. Since the telecommunication
was very poor in India, one or two stock exchanges have been opened up in
every state to cater to the needs of the investors of the region. India is one of
the few countries with a large number of stock exchanges. Thanks to
development in telecommunication and information technology, the physical
constraint was removed during the last few years. National Stock Exchange
today has its presence everywhere in the country. Bombay Stock Exchange
has also expanded its network. Many other stock exchanges are finding it
difficult to compete with these two principal stock exchanges and trying to
come together and create new business. This new development has improved
transparency of operations and brought down the cost. Today, stockbrokers
are operating from their office through computer network and investors can
see the price at which the transactions are settled.Competition has brought
down the brokerage from 2% to in India around 0.5% and today the brokerage
rate in India is one of the lowest in the world. This transformation has taken
place in a matter of few months.
Members of stock exchanges, called stock brokers, are intermediary between
buyers and sellers. Buying and selling securities through members of stock
exchange is beneficial, legally and functionally. Entry of major institutions
like ICICI, Kotak Mahindra, into brokerage services and development in
technology including intenet based broking service have improved the quality
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An Overview of service. Many of these brokerage houses offer a number of facilities to the
investors at no extra cost.
Clearing corporation enables the members to settle the transactions entered
among themselves on behalf of their client-investors. It operates something
similar to cheque clearing service offered by RBI for the banks. Earlier when
securities are traded in physical form, a large number of securities have to be
exchanged between members and clearing corporation had a major work on
this part. Today, after depository facility was introduced, the workload of the
clearing corporations has come down significantly. Clearing corporation today
facilitates the members to transfer (or receive) securities to (or from)
depositories and also settle monetary part of the transactions. It is an institution
exclusively serving the brokers.
Depository service is another major development in the Indian stock market.
It allows investors to hold securities in electronic form (like you are holding
cash in your bank account) and transfers electronically when they sell the
shares. The operation is fairly simple. Investors have to open a depository
account with a member of depository service provider (we have two depository
service providers in India - National Securities Depository Ltd and Central
Depository Services (India) Limited). Investors can give physical securities
that they are holding for cancellation (provided depository facility is available
for the securities/company) and convert them in to electronic holding. A large
number of companies have depository holding facility and SEBI has put it
compulsory to trade certain stocks only under depository mode. When an
investor apply new shares next time in the primary market, they can ask the
issuer to credit the depository account in the event of successful allotment.
Any new purchases in the secondary market can also be credited in the
depository account. Investors will get periodical statement on their holding
from the member with whom the depository account is maintained. Many
depository participants allow the investors to see their account through
Internet. There was some resistance from retail investors for this change but
today everyone started seeing the benefit of this service. A significant part of
volume traded today is settled through depository mode.
Apart from holding the stocks electronically, there are other benefits from
depository services.- There is no need to apply for transfer of shares after the
purchase of shares. If an investor buys securities in physical form and desire
to transfer the shares in her/his name, s/he has to fill-up the transfer deed,
affix transfer fee (0.5% of market value of stock) and then send the same to
transfer agent. There is a cost, time and uncertainty involved in the transfer.
Under depository mode, the shares are transferred in a short period of time
without any further action from your side. For more details about depository,
visit one of the web sites (http://www.nsdl.co.in or http://
www.centraldepository.com) of depository service providers or the members
of depository service providers.
Transfer agents maintains the members register of the companies. On the
instructions of the company, they transfer the shares from the existing members
to new member. When an investor buys a share in a physical mode and intend
34 to transfer the share in her/his name, s/he has to send the transfer deed along
with share certificate to the Transfer Agent. There are many transfer agents Securities Market
like Karvy Consultants Ltd (http://www.karvy.com) and MCS Ltd. After initial
verification, they will place the shares received for transfer for the approval
of company’s Board. The shares are transferred in the name of investors after
the approval of the Board and investor will receive communication to this
effect along with share certificates from the Transfer Agent. Some companies
perform this transfer of shares internally whereas many leading companies
have outsourced this service by appointing one of these transfer agents. The
process of verification and other formalities connected with transfer has been
simplified after the introduction of depository services.
Activity 1
i) Write brief note on a recent public issue of a company. The note may
include the size of the issue, type of security offered, price, justification
of premium, registrar, banker to issue, underwriter, etc.
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ii) Visit any one or more of the web sites and describe your additional
learning on the regulation of Primary and Secondary Markets.
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1990s liberalization Securities Market
In the 1990s, India started opening up its economy and embracing economic
reforms. This led to a surge in foreign investments in the stock market, and
the government introduced measures to encourage more participation in the
stock market.
Introduction of NSE
In 1994, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was established, which
introduced electronic trading in India. This helped to bring more transparency
and efficiency to the stock market.
Dematerialization
In 1996, the process of dematerialization of shares was introduced, which
allowed investors to hold and trade shares in electronic form, eliminating the
need for physical share certificates.
Online trading
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, online trading platforms were introduced,
which made it easier for investors to trade in the stock market from anywhere
in the world.
Derivatives trading
In 2000, the government allowed derivatives trading in the stock market, which
provided investors with more investment options and helped to increase
liquidity in the market.
Introduction of SEBI
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) was established in 1992
as the regulator of the Indian securities market. SEBI has been instrumental
in regulating and developing the Indian stock market.
The Indian stock market has evolved significantly over the years, with the
introduction of new technologies and regulatory measures to ensure
transparency and efficiency in the market. The stock market has become an
important avenue for investment and wealth creation for millions of investors
in India.
There are several stock exchanges in India, but the major ones are:
National Stock Exchange of India (NSE): It is the largest stock exchange in
India in terms of market capitalization and trading volumes. It is located in
Mumbai and offers trading in equities, derivatives, mutual funds, and currency
futures.
Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE): It is the oldest stock exchange in Asia and
the first in India, established in 1875. It is also located in Mumbai and offers
trading in equities, derivatives, mutual funds, and currency futures.
Metropolitan Stock Exchange of India (MSEI): It is the third-largest stock
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An Overview exchange in India and is located in Mumbai. It offers trading in equities,
currency derivatives, and debt instruments.
Indian Commodity Exchange (ICEX): It is a commodity futures exchange
and is located in Mumbai. It offers trading in commodity futures such as
gold, silver, and crude oil.
Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX): It is another commodity futures
exchange located in Mumbai. It offers trading in commodity futures such as
gold, silver, and crude oil.
National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX): It is a
commodity futures exchange located in Mumbai. It offers trading in
commodity futures such as agricultural products, metals, and energy.
These are some of the major stock exchanges in India.
Role and Functions
Stock exchanges play a crucial role in modern economies by providing a
platform for buying and selling securities, such as stocks, bonds, and
derivatives. Some of the key roles of stock exchanges include:
Facilitating trading: Stock exchanges provide a centralized marketplace
where buyers and sellers can come together to trade securities in a
transparent and regulated manner.
Price discovery: The stock market helps to determine the price of securities
through the forces of supply and demand. The prices of securities on the
exchange reflect the collective judgment of all the buyers and sellers
participating in the market.
Liquidity: By providing a platform for trading, stock exchanges enhance
the liquidity of securities. This means that investors can easily buy and
sell securities at any time, making it easier for them to manage their
portfolios and adjust their positions as needed.
Transparency: Stock exchanges provide transparent pricing and reporting
of trades, which helps to promote market efficiency and fairness.
Capital formation: Stock exchanges play a critical role in raising capital
for companies by facilitating the initial public offerings (IPOs) of new
companies and providing a platform for companies to issue additional
shares or bonds to raise more capital.
The stock exchanges are essential to the functioning of modern economies,
providing a vital platform for trading securities, setting prices, and
promoting transparency and liquidity in the market.
Market Types
NEAT system
NEAT stands for National Exchange for Automated Trading, which is a
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fully automated screen-based trading system that was introduced by the Securities Market
National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) in 1994. The NEAT system has
several different market types that are used for trading different types of
securities. These market types include:
Normal Market: This is the most commonly used market type, where
securities are traded in a regular manner based on their market price.
Odd Lot Market: This market type is used for trading securities in lots
that are less than the standard trading lot. This market is designed to
facilitate trading for small investors who cannot afford to buy or sell in
the standard trading lot.
Retail Debt Market: This market type is used for trading debt securities
such as bonds, debentures, and government securities.
Wholesale Debt Market: This market type is used for trading debt
securities in large quantities. It is primarily used by institutional investors
such as banks, mutual funds, and insurance companies.
Call Auction Market: This market type is used for trading securities at a
predetermined price. Orders are collected for a specific period, and the
system matches the buy and sell orders at the predetermined price.
Block Deal Market: This market type is used for trading large quantities
of securities. It is primarily used by institutional investors to trade in large
blocks of shares.
Overall, the NEAT system of market types provides a range of options for
investors to trade securities in a manner that suits their specific needs and
preferences.
Stock Market Information System
A stock market information system is a computer-based system that
provides investors and traders with real-time information about the stock
market. It allows users to access a variety of data, such as stock prices,
trading volumes, news articles, financial statements, and other market-
related information. Some of the key features of a stock market information
system include:
Real-time data: The system provides real-time information about the stock
market, allowing investors and traders to make informed decisions in a
timely manner.
Customizable dashboards: Users can customize their dashboards to
display the information that is most relevant to their needs, such as stock
prices, news headlines, and financial ratios.
Charting and technical analysis: The system provides advanced charting
and technical analysis tools that allow users to analyze market trends and
patterns, and make informed trading decisions.
News and analysis: The system provides access to news articles and
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An Overview market analysis from a variety of sources, allowing users to stay up-to-
date on market developments and make informed decisions.
Portfolio management: The system allows users to manage their
investment portfolios, track their holdings, and monitor their performance
over time.
A stock market information system is a powerful tool for investors and
traders, providing them with the real-time data, analysis, and insights they
need to make informed decisions in the stock market.
Activity 2
1) Take a look at the Bombay Stock Exchange quotations published in
Economic Times and write out hereunder price quotations for five
Shares and five Debentures.
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2.8 SUMMARY
In this Unit, we have discussed two segments of Indian securities market
namely primary market or new issues market and secondary market or stock
market. We have highlighted recent trends in the primary market and discussed
various types of market players and trading arrangements which exist in the
Indian stock market. Different aspects of the Indian stock market and stock
market information system have been explained so that you are able to clearly
visualise the environment in which investment and portfolio management
decisions are made. The unit also discusses various types of stock markets
and the role of SEBI as a regulatory body.
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Secondary Market : The secondary market is the segment in Securities Market
which outstanding issues are traded and
thus provide liquidity.
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