Friday 23 December 2011

BMA Gyaan: Stock Market of India, a brief historical account.

Introduction
Stock markets refer to a market place where investors can buy and sell stocks. The price at which each buying and selling transaction takes is determined by the market forces (i.e. demand and supply for a particular stock).

Let us take an example for a better understanding of how market forces determine stock prices. ABC Co. Ltd. enjoys high investor confidence and there is an anticipation of an upward movement in its stock price. More and more people would want to buy this stock (i.e. high demand) and very few people will want to sell this stock at current market price (i.e. less supply). Therefore, buyers will have to bid a higher price for this stock to match the ask price from the seller which will increase the stock price of ABC Co. Ltd. On the contrary, if there are more sellers than buyers (i.e. high supply and low demand) for the stock of ABC Co. Ltd. in the market, its price will fall down. 

In earlier times, buyers and sellers used to assemble at stock exchanges to make a transaction but now with the dawn of IT, most of the operations are done electronically and the stock markets have become almost paperless. Now investors dont have to gather at the Exchanges, and can trade freely from their home or office over the phone or through Internet. 

History of the Indian Stock Market - The Origin
One of the oldest stock markets in Asia, the Indian Stock Markets have a 200 years 

old history. 
18th CenturyEast India Company was the dominant institution and by end of
 the century, busuness in its loan securities gained full momentum
1830'sBusiness on corporate stocks and shares in Bank and Cotton presses 
started in Bombay. Trading list by the end of 1839 got broader
1840'sRecognition from banks and merchants to about half a dozen
 brokers
1850'sRapid development of commercial enterprise saw brokerage 
business attracting more people into the business
1860'sThe number of brokers increased to 60
1860-61The American Civil War broke out which caused a stoppage of 
cotton supply from United States of America; marking the 
beginning of the "Share Mania" in India
1862-63The number of brokers increased to about 200 to 250
1865A disastrous slump began at the end of the American Civil War 
(as an example, Bank of Bombay Share which had touched
 Rs. 2850 could only be sold at Rs. 87)


Pre-Independance Scenario - Establishment of Different Stock Exchanges

1874With the rapidly developing share trading business, brokers used
 to gather at a street (now well known as "Dalal Street") 
for the purpose of transacting business.
1875"The Native Share and Stock Brokers' Association" (also known
 as "The Bombay Stock Exchange") was established in Bombay
1880'sDevelopment of cotton mills industry and set up of many others
1894Establishment of "The Ahmedabad Share and Stock Brokers' 
Association"
1880 - 90'sSharp increase in share prices of jute industries in 1870's was
 followed by a boom in tea stocks and coal
1908"The Calcutta Stock Exchange Association" was formed
1920Madras witnessed boom and business at "The Madras Stock 
Exchange" was transacted with 100 brokers.
1923When recession followed, number of brokers came down
 to 3 and the Exchange was closed down
1934Establishment of the Lahore Stock Exchange
1936Merger of the Lahoe Stock Exchange with the Punjab Stock
 Exchange
1937Re-organisation and set up of the Madras Stock Exchange
 Limited (Pvt.) Limited led by improvement in stock market 
activities in South India with establishment of new textile 
mills and plantation companies
1940Uttar Pradesh Stock Exchange Limited and Nagpur Stock
 Exchange Limited was established
1944Establishment of "The Hyderabad Stock Exchange Limited"
1947"Delhi Stock and Share Brokers' Association Limited" and 
"The Delhi Stocks and Shares Exchange Limited" were established
 and later on merged into "The Delhi Stock Exchange Association Limited".

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