Infrastructure development news uplifts markets

Like most things, the way people have traded stocks has also gone through drastic changes over time. If you’ve read our previous posts, you would know that there was a time when stock prices were actually quoted in fractions, and not decimals like we see today. Moreover, before electronic trading became ubiquitous, floor trading was the norm. This week, let’s take a look at a little bit of stock trading history…

Matter of Fact

The present-day Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) was established in 1875. However, trading in stocks started even before that – under a banyan tree in erstwhile Bombay. Believe it or not, this tree still exists in the Horniman circle (very close to present-day BSE) in Mumbai. Imagine the brokers and traders hawking and shouting out stock prices under a Banyan Tree back then! BSE is the oldest stock exchange in not only India but the whole of Asia. Do you know which place is home to the oldest stock exchange in the world?

Amsterdam! The Amsterdam Stock Exchange was established way back in 1602!

The BSE was established in 1875. However, trading started even before that, under a banyan tree – which still exists! While the BSE is the oldest stock exchange in Asia, any guesses about the oldest stock exchange in the world? Click To Tweet

Markets Update

Nifty 50

11,371.60

1.73% ▲

Sensex

38,434.70

1.47% ▲

Nifty 500

9,423.55

2.27% ▲

Bank Nifty

22,299.60

2.86% ▲

Enthused by PM’s push for infrastructure development, benchmark indices ended the week in green.

The Big Picture

During his Independence Day address to the nation, PM Modi announced that the Government would focus on providing a new direction to the overall infrastructure development of the country
A total sum of ₹100 lakh crore would be spent via the National Infrastructure Pipeline Project

Investing Insights

Share Pledging 101

Share pledging, much like pledging any other asset, refers to when someone takes loans against the shares of a particular company that you own. These shares serve as collateral, and in case you are unable to repay the loan/interest on loan, the shares that have been pledged can be forfeited by the loan provider.

This article dives into the minutiae of share pledging, and how pledging of shares by the promoter of a company might affect you as a shareholder. Just for some context, the Yes Bank downfall resulted in massive capital losses for its investors even though the promoter, Rana Kapoor, extracted much of the value of the shares held, by pledging the shares. Read more, here.

Inside smallcase

SIPs with smallcase

SIP stands for Systematic Investment Plan. As the name suggests, it helps the investor allocate funds in a smart and disciplined manner. Timing the markets is a difficult task, but SIP eliminates that worry. With SIP, you can invest fixed amounts at regular intervals. You, then, stand to have an advantage over market volatility and do not need to monitor the markets constantly.

Buy more when the price is low, less when the price is high. If on the SIP date, the stock price is high, you will be able to buy a lesser number of shares. And vice versa. This ensures that you invest more at lower prices and less at higher prices, and hence your overall cost of acquisition gets averaged out. Try out investing with SIPs in smallcases for passive, long-term wealth creation. Read more about SIPs, here.

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Abhishek Jadon

VP, Investment Products at Windmill Capital.