What happens when you purchase a share?
Once you buy a share of a company, you start owning some stake in the company. For instance, if a company has issued 2000 shares of which an investor owns 200 shares, that means he holds a 20% stake in the organization. This results in shareholders getting a say in the company’s governance and is eligible to vote on major decision-making policies of the company.
Even though this maybe beneficial for those who control a major portion of the company’s shares, from a retail investor point of view, they’ll only gain once there is a price appreciation in the share markets. Hence, investors try to make profits from share trading through the process of selling shares at a price higher than the buying price
How to start trading?
To start trading online, you need two accounts — a Demat account and a Trading account. Stock exchanges do not allow direct trading; all transactions must be routed through a SEBI-registered stockbroker.
Demat Account
Used to store shares electronically. These accounts are maintained through two depositories — National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) and Central Depository Services Limited (CDSL).
Trading Account
Used to place buy and sell orders of shares in the stock market. It also provides access to live market prices and order execution.
To open an account, follow these steps:
- Enter your mobile number and complete the OTP verification.
- Enter your email ID and complete the email OTP verification.
- Submit your KYC documents using DigiLocker.
- Provide personal details such as annual income, occupation, and marital status.
- Add a nominee and provide their details (optional).
- Enter your bank account number and complete the verification using a cancelled cheque or bank statement.
- Complete the on-screen signature or upload a scanned signature.
- Submit income proof (bank statement, salary slip, or ITR) for segment activation, if required.
- Capture a selfie for the liveliness check.
- Complete the account opening process using Aadhaar-based OTP e-sign.
- Keep the following documents ready:
- PAN Card
- Bank account details
- Address proof (Aadhaar, Passport, Utility Bill, etc.)
- Identity proof (PAN, Voter ID, Driving License, etc.)
Once verified, your Demat and Trading accounts will be activated for seamless investing and trading.
How Does Online Share Trading Work?
When a user places the buy order for any share, the order gets forwarded to the Exchange. If the price matches with another user’s order who placed a sell request, the order gets executed. The order is settled by the Clearing Corporation. It takes T+2 days for settlement where T is the day of trade. Post-settlement share is credited in the Demat account of the buyer.
Additional Read: How to Start Trading
How are share prices determined?
After the company goes public and the share of a company starts trading on the Stock Exchange, the share prices are determined by its demand and supply.
If the demand for shares is high due to any favorable factor, then the price will increase. Whereas, if the company’s future growth potential doesn’t look attractive, many investors holding the share might start selling it leading to fall in price.
Difference between Trading and Investing
There are basically two types of players in the share market- “Traders” and “Investors”.
Both are often considered similar since both participate in the share market to earn profit. However, there are a few key differences between the two.
Both use different approaches to make a profit in the share market. Let’s look at the two separately to understand how different Trading and Investing is:
| Basis | Trading | Investing |
|---|
|
| - The risk involved is higher as traders try to gain profit from short-term volatility which can be highly erratic.
| - The risk involved is lower as investors avoid making decisions in the short-term volatility and aim for long term gains, typically over the months or years
|
|
| - It is short-term, as the idea is to earn the slightest possible profit by investing.
| - It is long-term as the idea is to hold and grow the investments.
|
|
| - It focuses majorly on making short-term profits.
| - It focuses majorly on growing wealth over the long term through capital appreciation and dividend payout.
|
|
| - Technical Analysis is preferably used to make decisions
| - Fundamental Analysis is preferably used to make decisions
|
Share trading time in India
The National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) are the two primary stock exchanges in India. The share market trading time for the equity market in both exchanges is between 9:15 AM to 3:30 PM (Monday to Friday).
Additional Read: Understanding CFD Trading And Share Trading
Conclusion:
Online trading is trading through the digital platform using the internet.