Bombay Stock Exchange

The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), also known as the Stock Exchange Mumbai, is one of the oldest stock exchanges in all of Asia dating back to 1875 when it was known as the Native Share and Stock Brokers Association.  The exchange is home to about 4,900 listed companies with a total market capitalization of around 63 trillion Rupees or nearly $1.6 trillion.

The BSE is also one of the busiest stock exchanges in the world, currently ranking around number five in terms of annual transactions.  The exchange has experienced explosive growth with a four-fold increase in trading volume over the last 15 years.

Vision and Security of the BSE

The vision of the Bombay Stock Exchange is "Emerge as the premier Indian stock exchange by establishing global benchmarks."    That means the exchange is thinking big in terms of customer service and trading activity.  That being said, the market has not only experienced explosive growth in terms of trading volume, but also in terms of overall return to investors.

After compensating for inflation, the BSE has averaged a roughly 18% annual return when measured by Sensex - the most popular stock index in India - over the last 15 years.  Other important indices originating from the Bombay exchange include the BSE 100, BSE 500, BSEPSU, BSEMIDCAP, BSESMLCAP, and BSEBANKEX.

Protecting the interests of investors dealing in securities is one of the primary objectives of the exchange.  The exchange provides this additional security by ensuring remedy of grievances whether this is against member companies or member/brokers.  Overall guidelines for the marketplace are established by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

The Bombay Stock Exchange has a national reach in India, claiming a presence in over 400 towns and cities throughout the country.  The exchange is operated through a unique and propriety computer system known as the "BSE On Line Trading System" or BOLT.  The exchange has also received ISO 9001:2000 certification in the areas of surveillance and clearing / settlement functions.

BSE Facts and Figures

The follow are some of the facts and figures that can help you get a better feel for the volume of trading that occurs on the Bombay Stock Exchange:

• In 2007, the average volume of business conducted on the BSE was approximately $30 billion each month.
• The number of shares traded each month on the BSE is in the range of 40 - 50 million.
• The total market capitalization for the companies traded on the BSE is in the area of $1.6 trillion.  All of the above dollar values are stated in USD.

Bombay Stock Exchange Holidays

The BSE's list of holidays and trading holidays is a bit different than those found in U.S.-based stock exchanges such as the NYSE. The following table show the holidays that will be observed during the calendar year 2006:

BSE Holiday Schedule 2007

Please note that the official holiday schedule for 2008 has not yet been confirmed (December 2007) by the BSE.

BSE Trading Hours / Session Timing

The following is a table of the session timing / hours of operation for trading that occurs on the BSE.  These times apply to both the equities and derivatives markets.  They also indicate the schedule for the start and finish of electronic trading sessions on the BSE.

BSE Hours of Operation

The hours of operation for the BSE quoted above are stated in terms of the local time in Mumbai, India (also known as Bombay).  This translates into a standard time zone UTC/GMT +5:30.

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