BSE

BSE - Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)

About the Bombay Stock Exchange :

As the first stock exchange in India, the Bombay Stock Exchange is considered to have played a very important role in the development of the country's capital markets. The Bombay Stock Exchange is the largest of 22 exchanges in India, with over 6,000 listed companies. It is also the fifth largest exchange in the world, with market capitalization of $466 billion.
The Bombay Stock Exchange uses the BSE Sensex, an index of 30 large, developed BSE stocks. This index gives a measure of the overall performance of the Bombay Stock Exchange, and is closely followed around the world. Based on the Sensex, the BSE equity market has grown significantly since 1990.

In addition to individual stocks, the BSE also has a market in derivatives, which was the first to be established in India. Listed derivatives on the exchange include stock futures and options, index futures and options, and weekly options.

The Bombay Stock Exchange is also actively involved with the development of the retail debt market. The debt market in India is considered extremely important, as the country continues to develop and depends on this type of investment for growth. Until recently, the debt market in India was limited to a wholesale market, with banks and financial institutions as the only participants. The Bombay Stock Exchange believes that a retail market will bring great opportunities to individual investors through better diversification.

BSE - History of the Bombay Stock Exchange :

The Bombay Stock Exchange is known as the oldest exchange in Asia. It traces its history to the 1850s, when stockbrokers would gather under banyan trees in front of Mumbai's Town Hall. The location of these meetings changed many times, as the number of brokers constantly increased. The group eventually moved to Dalal Street in 1874 and in 1875 became an official organization known as 'The Native Share & Stock Brokers Association'. In 1956, the BSE became the first stock exchange to be recognized by the Indian Government under the Securities Contracts Regulation Act.
The Bombay Stock Exchange developed the BSE Sensex in 1986, giving the BSE a means to measure overall performance of the exchange. In 2000 the BSE used this index to open its derivatives market, trading Sensex futures contracts. The development of Sensex options along with equity derivatives followed in 2001 and 2002, expanding the BSE's trading platform.

Historically an open-cry floor trading exchange, the Bombay Stock Exchange switched to an electronic trading system in 1995. It took the exchange only fifty days to make this transition.