How is Bombay Stock Exchange recent development as the oldest Stock Exchange in Asia?

Answer 1

The recent decision of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to allow foreign investment up to 49 percent in stock exchanges, depositories and clearing corporations is hailed as a good development for the securities industry. Reflect on these recent developments: - Deutsche Boerse, Europe's top stock exchange and transaction service provider has signed an agreement to buy 5 percent equity in the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) for $43 million. BSE is the oldest bourse in Asia. The deal values the exchange at $910 million on an expanded equity base. - Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX) says its short listed for BSE stake. It claimed that it has been short listed to buy a 5 percent stake in the bourse. BSE is understood to have finalized its plans to have SGX as its second foreign partner. - US major, NYSE, bought 5 per cent in the National Stock Exchange for $115 million. This values NSE at $2.3 billion. - Few weeks back Goldman Sachs acquired five per cent in the National Stock Exchange. - Goldman Sachs has proposed to buy a stake in the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), India's largest commodity bourse. - London Metal Exchange and The Tokyo Commodity Exchange have also initiated talks with MCX. - NASDAQ Stock Market Inc., London Stock Exchange Group PLC and NYSE Group Inc. have also been touted as bidders for a stake in BSE. - NASDAQ has reportedly expressed its keenness to pick up stake in BSE. - Foreign stock exchanges are now eyeing equity stake in the Over the Counter Exchange of India (OTCEI). Recently, officials from the China Shanghai Stock Exchange visited the OTCEI and it is learnt that the Chinese may be willing to buy 5 per cent in the exchange as permitted under current guidelines. - Sources say that London's AIM and the South Korean stock exchange may be willing to buy stakes in the OTCEI exchange -According to sources, the Inter-connected Stock Exchange of India (ISE), an exchange floated by a group of small exchanges, is attracting global peers like the London Stock Exchange (LSE), Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX) and some top private equities players. Indian exchange business is becoming increasingly global. The consolidation and alliance wave has reached Indian shores as well. India is currently growing at the rate of 8% per annum and has been doing so for a few years. Third, India is now the 4th largest country in the world in terms of purchasing power parity. If the current growth rate continues it will soon be the third largest, overtaking Japan and just behind the US and China. The fast growing stock markets in India are attracting major global investors. The international bourses feel that investments in India's Stock Exchanges (SEs) compliment their global growth strategy. Through a mutually beneficial partnership, the foreign groups will extend their global reach. Major global stock exchanges have been merging and forming alliances in recent years. As companies spread their global operations, such merged entities and alliances can offer listing possibilities in multiple markets. Regulatory controls in select markets like the US have also furthered this consolidation wave. After completing a round of domestic consolidation, US stock exchanges have stepped out and are acquiring exchanges in Europe besides forming alliances in Asia where outsight acquisitions may not be possible. Though RBI said it will allow up to 49 percent foreign investment in stock exchanges, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) may say no to foreign players from becoming strategic investors in domestic stock exchanges. The Sebi may allow a foreign player to invest not more than 5 per cent in an exchange. According to the de-mutualisation plan laid out by the government, all corporatised stock exchanges are expected to divest 51per cent of their equity to public investors. The internal group suggested that of the 51per cent to be divested, 25 per cent could be offered to an Indian strategic partner. The rest could be offered to others, including foreign players and resident Indian investors, with no investor holding over 5 per cent each. In other words, the capital market regulator has capped the individual investment, direct or indirect, in such exchanges at five per cent. This means many investors need to join together to have a strategic control. Under the new rules, foreign direct investment would be limited at 26 percent, while foreign portfolio investments would be capped at 23 percent in all these entities, the central bank said. It, however, said portfolio investments would be allowed only through buying in the secondary market. NSE is now one of the top-10 stock exchanges in the world in terms of number of daily transactions or trading volume, even though the Indian market is only the fifth largest in Asian in terms of total market capitalization. Trading volumes have been going up steadily over the last many years as the Indian stock market has attracted considerable investment flows from overseas investors. India has become one of the most widely tracked emerging market with nearly 1,000 foreign institutional investors (FII) registered with market regulator SEBI. The BSE, which lags behind the NSE in trading volume though the number of listed companies on the BSE is much higher than NSE, is also planning to offload shares to investors in the near future. The BSE was turned into a company last year after existing as an association of persons for more than a century. According to sources, the BSE is said to be looking for foreign investors. It plans to offload the stake held by some of the brokers to strategic investors (26%) and to the public (23%) through an IPO. The greater investment participation will incentivise foreign institutions to share technology and trading expertise with the Indian exchanges. For instance, Indian exchanges will have to explore the scope for creating alternative electronic trading platforms to ensure that institutional interest for 24X7 trading is serviced in the long run. According to the Federation of Indian Stock Exchanges (FISE) there is a need for regional stock exchanges (RSEs) to consolidate, as it would not be viable for 19 exchanges to go to the market. If RSEs come together they would be in a better position to go public. The capital market regulator had approved the demutualisation schemes of 19 stock exchanges. To this extent, nine exchanges have come together and signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Stock Exchange seeking to extend its trading platform onto the regional stock exchanges. The nine exchanges include, Interconnected Stock Exchange of India , Ahmedabad Stock Exchange, Ludhiana Stock Exchange, Madras Stock Exchange, Cochin Stock Exchange, Bangalore Stock Exchange and Calcutta Stock Exchange. The proposal is awaiting approval from SEBI. The RSEs are, however, pushing for access to both BSE and NSE's trading platform.