7, LYONS RANGE

CALCUTTA – 700 001

Ph : 2220-9366/1488/6957/6928, 210-2221/2219/2205

Fax : 033-2220-2514, 2210-4486/4492, 2221-4664

CALCUTTA STOCK EXCHANGE

From a get together under a “Neem Tree” way back in 1830s, the Calcutta Stock Broking fraternity has come a long way. Though the once famous shelter for Calcutta Stock brokers no longer exits, the roots laid in the last century have dug deep into the city and the region. The region today plays a crucial role in the country’s capital market. While Calcutta Stock Exchange has emerged as the second largest house in the Country, the investors from the eastern zone are also at the forefront today. The origin of Stock Broking in India goes back to a time when shares, debentures, and bonds representing titles to property, were first issued on the condition of transfer from one person to another. The earliest record of dealings in securities in India is that of East India Company’s loan securities. The advent of the Companies Act in 1850 and the subsequent introduction of limited liability, made investment in stocks and shares, popular. In the daily money market report of January 2, 1864, published by M/s Roussac & Company, Calcutta, we find quotations of nearly 91 joint stock companies, of which the largest section comprised tea companies, followed by a few coal and miscellaneous companies.

Though stock broking was practiced in Calcutta as early as 1836, the members of the broking profession had neither a code of rules for their guidance, nor a permanent place for congregation. The center of their activity was near a ‘Neem’ tree where at present, stand the offices of the Chartered Bank and James Finlay and Company Limited, on Netaji Subhas Road, Calcutta. In 1894, James Finlay constructed their premises while in 1905, Chartered Bank also began to build their operations in the neighbourhood of the present Allahabad Bank. The brokers had no shelter and business was carried on in the Street. The inconvenience of trading in a public place, prompted the brokers to organize themselves and in May 1908, an association was formed under the name and style of THE CALCUTTA STOCK EXCHANGE ASSOCIATION at 2, China Bazar Street (now known as 2, India Exchange Place). The building at 7, Lyons Range, Calcutta-700 001, which was constructed in 1928 and which has been the office of the Stock Exchange for the last 66 years, has become absolutely incapable of accommodating the enormous increase not only in the number of members of the Exchange but also in regard to the phenomenal growth in the volume of business, being handled by the members of the Exchange. On June 7, 1923, the association was registered as a limited liability concern with an authorized capital of Rs. 3,00,000/- divided into 300 shares of Rs. 1000/- each. The shares were subdivided into 4 shares of Rs. 250/- each in 1959. The Golden Jubilee of the Association was celebrated in 1958, the Diamond Jubilee in 1968 and the Platinum Jubilee in 1983.

Prior to February 1957, the Calcutta Stock Exchange was operating as an autonomous institution. With the enactment of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956, no stock exchange can operate in the country without being recognized by the Government. The Act came into force on and from February 20, 1957. Under the provisions of this act, the Calcutta Stock Exchange came to be recognized on and from October 10, 1957. The Central Government had granted permanent recognition to the Calcutta Stock Exchange with effect from April 14, 1980 under Section-4 of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956.

The Calcutta Stock Exchange organizes a training course since 1982 for imparting training to persons who are interested in taking up stock-broking as a career. The training program is now spread over a period of nine months and about 40 lectures are delivered in each term. The program is free of any tuition fee. No charge is levied on the students for the supply of study materials which are prepared according to the syllabus. At the end of each term, an examination is held on subjects covered by the syllabus and lectures and a certificate is given to the successful candidates. With the introduction of the training program, Calcutta Stock Exchange has made a stipulation that any one, other than those having professional qualifications like Chartered Accountants, interested in becoming a member and/or assistant to a member, should complete the training course and obtain a certificate after duly passing the examination conducted by the Calcutta Stock Exchange.

At the time of its incorporation in 1908, the Stock Exchange had 150 members. Today, the total membership has risen to nearly 800.

TYPES OF MARKET TRANSACTIONS

There are many ways by which an investor can perform the market transactions at the CSE. Few of the ways are:

A. Buy Orders: Are used by the investor when he anticipates a rise in prices. When the investor feels the right time for purchase, he enters a buy order.

B. Sell-long Orders: When the investor determines that the securities held by him for a long period of time are going to experience a fall in prices, he enters a sell-long order.

C. Sell-short Orders: It involves selling shares that are not owned but borrowed, in anticipation of a price decline.

D. Market Order: Is operated at the prevailing market price. In case of a buy order, the best price is the lowest available selling price. In case of a sell order, the best price is the highest available market price.

E. Limit Order: Aids in setting the boundaries of the risk, the investor wishes to assume. When using the limit order, the investor specifies in advance, the limit price at which he wants the transactions to be carried out.

MEMBERSHIP OF CSE

Individuals as well as companies can become a member of the stock exchange of India. A member can function as a broker or as a principal. The members operating on the CSE are:

A. Brokers: they buy and sell securities as agents of their clients on the floor of the exchange for a commission which is not more than 1.25% of the value of transactions. Sub-brokers are authorized assistants of the brokers.

B. Taravaniwalas: They operate as principals to make profits from the buying and selling of securities on their own account.

C. Arbitrageurs: They buy and sell shares in more than one stock exchange, to take advantage of the price differentials in such exchanges.

D. Odd-lot Dealers: An order for less than the unit of trading, is considered an odd lot. A lot consisting of shares, other than 10 or 100 (say 132), is an odd-looted-lot. Dealers buy odd-lots at a lower price, convert them into marketable lots and sell at a higher price for profits.