What Do's and Don'ts should an investor bear in mind when investing in the stock markets?

1. INVESTMENT BASICS

2. SECURITIES

3. PRIMARY MARKET

4. SECONDARY MARKET

4.1 INTRODUCTION

• What is meant by Secondary market?
• What is the role of the Secondary Market?
• What is the difference between the Primary Market and the Secondary Market?

4.1.1 Stock Exchange

• What is the role of a Stock Exchange in buying and selling shares?
• What is Demutualisation of stock exchanges?
• How is a demutualised exchange different from a mutual exchange?
• Currently are there any demutualised stock exchanges in India?

4.1.2 Stock Trading

• What is Screen Based Trading?
• What is NEAT?
• How to place orders with the broker?
• How does an investor get access to internet based trading facility?
• What is a Contract Note?
• What details are required to be mentioned on the contract note issued by the stock broker?
• What is the maximum brokerage that a broker can charge?
• Why should one trade on a recognized stock exchange only for buying/selling Shares?
• How to know if the broker or sub broker is registered?
• What precautions must one take before investing in the stock markets?
• What Do's and Don'ts should an investor bear in mind when investing in the stock markets?

4.2 PRODUCTS IN THE SECONDARY MARKETS

• What are the products dealt in the Secondary Markets?

4.2.1 Equity Investment

• Why should one invest in equities in particular?
• What has been the average return on Equities in India?
• Which are the factors that influence the price of a stock?
• What is meant by the terms Growth Stock / Value Stock?
• How can one acquire equity shares?
• What is Bid and Ask price?
• What is a Portfolio?
• What is Diversification?
• What are the advantages of having a diversified portfolio?

4.2.2. Debt Investment

• What is a 'Debt Instrument'?
• What are the features of debt instruments?
• What is meant by 'Interest' payable by a debenture or a bond?
• What are the Segments in the Debt Market in India ?
• Who are the Participants in the Debt Market?
• Are bonds rated for their credit quality?
• How can one acquire securities in the debt market?

5. DERIVATIVES

6. DEPOSITORY

7. MUTUAL FUNDS

8. MISCELLANEOUS

9. CONCEPTS & MODES OF ANALYSIS

10. RATIO ANALYSIS

• Ensure that the intermediary (broker/sub-broker) has a valid SEBI registration certificate.
• Enter into an agreement with your broker/sub-broker setting out terms and conditions clearly.
• Ensure that you give all your details in the 'Know Your Client' form. Ensure that you read carefully and understand the contents of the 'Risk Disclosure Document' and then acknowledge it.
• Insist on a contract note issued by your broker only, for trades done each day.
• Ensure that you receive the contract note from your broker within 24 hours of the transaction.
• Ensure that the contract note contains details such as the broker's name, trade time and number, transaction price, brokerage, service tax, securities transaction tax etc. and is signed by the Authorised Signatory of the broker.
• To cross check genuineness of the transactions, log in to the NSE website (www.nseindia.com) and go to the trade verification facility extended by NSE at www.nseindia.com/content/equities/eq_trdverify.htm.
• Issue account payee cheques/demand drafts in the name of your broker only, as it appears on the contract note/SEBI registration certificate of the broker.
• While delivering shares to your broker to meet your obligations, ensure that the delivery instructions are made only to the designated account of your broker only.
• Insist on periodical statement of accounts of funds and securities from your broker. Cross check and reconcile your accounts promptly and in case of any discrepancies bring it to the attention of your broker immediately.
• Please ensure that you receive payments/deliveries from your broker, for the transactions entered by you, within one working day of the payout date.
• Ensure that you do not undertake deals on behalf of others or trade on your own name and then issue cheques from a family members'/ friends' bank accounts.
• Similarly, the Demat delivery instruction slip should be from your own Demat account, not from any other family members'/friends' accounts.
• Do not sign blank delivery instruction slip(s) while meeting security payin obligation.
• No intermediary in the market can accept deposit assuring fixed returns. Hence do not give your money as deposit against assurances of returns.
• 'Portfolio Management Services' could be offered only by intermediaries having specific approval of SEBI for PMS. Hence, do not part your funds to unauthorized persons for Portfolio Management.
• Delivery Instruction Slip is a very valuable document. Do not leave signed blank delivery instruction slip with anyone. While meeting pay in obligation make sure that correct ID of authorised intermediary is filled in the Delivery Instruction Form.
• Be cautious while taking funding form authorised intermediaries as these transactions are not covered under Settlement Guarantee mechanisms of the exchange.
• Insist on execution of all orders under unique client code allotted to you. Do not accept trades executed under some other client code to your account.
• When you are authorising someone through 'Power of Attorney' for operation of your DP account, make sure that:
  • your authorization is in favour of registered intermediary only.
  • authorisation is only for limited purpose of debits and credits arising out of valid transactions executed through that intermediary only.
  • you verify DP statement periodically say every month/fortnight to ensure that no unauthorised transactions have taken place in your account.
  • authorization given by you has been properly used for the purpose for which authorization has been given.
  • in case you find wrong entries please report in writing to the authorized intermediary.
• Don't accept unsigned/duplicate contract note.
• Don't accept contract note signed by any unauthorised person.
• Don't delay payment/deliveries of securities to broker.
• In the event of any discrepancies/disputes, please bring them to the notice of the broker immediately in writing (acknowledged by the broker) and ensure their prompt rectification.
• In case of sub-broker disputes, inform the main broker in writing about the dispute at the earliest and in any case not later than 6 months.
• If your broker/sub-broker does not resolve your complaints within a reasonable period (say within 15 days), please bring it to the attention of the 'Investor Grievances Cell' of the NSE.
• While lodging a complaint with the 'Investor Grievances Cell' of the NSE, it is very important that you submit copies of all relevant documents like contract notes, proof of payments/delivery of shares etc. alongwith the complaint. Remember, in the absence of sufficient documents, resolution of complaints becomes difficult.
• Familiarise yourself with the rules, regulations and circulars issued by stock exchanges/SEBI before carrying out any transaction.