The Bombay Stock Exchange, abbreviated as the BSE, is one of India’s oldest stock exchanges. It was established in 1875 and is headquartered in Mumbai. The BSE is a full-service exchange that offers a wide range of products and services to its members and participants. These include trading, clearing, settlement, and depository services. In this article, we will discuss the full form of BSE and what it means for investors!
A brief overview on Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)
BSE or Bombay Stock Exchange is the oldest stock exchange in Asia with a rich history dating back to 1875. It is currently the world’s 11th largest stock exchange by market capitalization. The BSE is headquartered on Dalal Street in Mumbai, and its S&P BSE Sensex index is widely regarded as the benchmark gauge of Indian equities markets.
Some key facts about BSE
- BSE was founded in 1875 by a group of eminent businessmen from Mumbai
- The first-ever trade on the exchange took place on 22nd July 1875
- The BSE S&P Sensex index was launched in 1986
- In 1995, BSE became the first stock exchange in India to be recognized by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
- BSE is home to over 5000 listed companies with a market capitalization of over US$ two trillion
- BSE has a strong global presence with its indices being tracked by leading global index providers like MSCI, S&P Dow Jones Indices, FTSE Russell, and Morningstar
History Of BSE
- The origins of the Bombay Stock Exchange can be traced back to 1875 when a group of eminent businessmen from Mumbai came together to form the Native Share and Stock Brokers Association. This association later became known as the Bombay Stock Exchange. The first-ever trade on the exchange took place on 22nd July 1875
- In 1886, the BSE introduced a new system called “the open outcry system”. Under this system, traders would gather in an auction-like environment to buy and sell securities. This was a major improvement over the earlier telephone-based trading system which was prone to errors and delays
- In 1995, BSE became the first stock exchange in India to be recognized by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). SEBI is the independent regulator of India’s securities markets
- In 2000, BSE transformed from a membership-based organization into a public limited company. This enabled wider participation in the exchange and helped it raise funds for its growth initiatives
- In 2004, BSE launched its equity indices called the S&P BSE Sensex. The S&P BSE Sensex is widely considered as the benchmark indicator of Indian equity markets. It comprises 30 stocks representing various sectors of the economy
- In 2006, BSE entered into a strategic alliance with Dow Jones Indexes to develop, distribute, and license Dow Jones’ global indexes in India. As part of this alliance, Dow Jones started licensing the S&P BSE Sensex as the “Dow Jones S&P BSE India 30 Index”
- In 2007, BSE launched an online trading platform called “BSE On-Line Trading System” or “BOLT”. This was a major milestone in the history of the exchange as it helped to ensure faster and easier trade execution
- In 2012, BSE became the first stock exchange in India to launch a mobile trading app called “BSE Mobile Trading App”
- In 2014, BSE launched an innovative new product called “BSE Star MF” which is an online platform for investing in mutual funds
- Today, BSE is one of the leading stock exchanges in Asia with a strong global presence. It is home to over 5000 listed companies with a market capitalization of over US$ two trillion. The BSE S&P Sensex index is widely considered as the benchmark indicator of Indian equity markets
Conclusion
The full form of BSE is the Bombay Stock Exchange. It is one of the oldest stock exchanges in India and was founded in 1875. The exchange is located in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It has over 2500 listed companies and a total market capitalization of over $500 billion. The BSE offers to trade in equity, debt, derivatives, and currency. It is the world’s ninth-largest stock exchange by market capitalization.