Bombay Stock Exchange

The oldest stock exchange in Asia (established in 1875) and the first in the country to be granted permanent recognition under the Securities Contract Regulation Act, 1956, had Bombay Stock Exchange Limited (BSE), an interesting rise to prominence in the last 133 year.

While BSE is now synonymous with Dalal Street, it was not always so. The first places in the earliest broker meetings in the 1850s was quite natural surroundings - Banyan trees - in front of city hall, where Horniman Circle is now situated. A decade later, the brokers moved their location to a second set of leaves, this time under the Banyan Tree at the junction of Meadows Street and what is now called the Mahatma Gandhi Road. As the number of brokers grew, they had to move from place to place, but they always took to the streets. Finally, in 1874, brokers had a fixed location, and one they could, literally, to call their own. The new place was, aptly called Dalal Street (Brokers' Street).

In 2002 the name was "The Bombay Stock Exchange" was changed to Bombay Stock Exchange. Subsequently, 19 August 2005, the exchange turned into a legal entity from an association of persons (PDO) and renamed the Bombay Stock Exchange Limited.

BSE, which were introduced for trading in securities in India, replaced open outcry trading in 1995, with a fully automated trading through BSE Online Trading (BOLT) system. Bolten network was expanded nationwide in 1997.

Prominently displayed:

Journey of BSE is as eventful and exciting as a story of India's securities market. As India's largest Bourse, in the form of listed companies and market BSE played a prominent role in developing the Indian market in securities. It is certainly BSE's pride that almost all the leading companies in India has sourced BSE services in the capital increase, and is listed with BSE.

Even in the form of a controlled growth, long before the actual legislation was adopted, the BSE had developed a comprehensive set of rules and regulations for securities markets. It had also identified best practices, which were subsequently adopted by 23 exchanges, which was created after India gained its independence.

BSE as a brand has been and is synonymous with the capital market in India. Its Sensex is the benchmark stock index, which reflects the health of the Indian economy.

Several firsts:

In line with international standards, BSE has actually been a pioneer in several areas. It has several firsts to its credit, even in a highly competitive environment.

First in India to introduce Equity Derivatives

First in India to launch a free float Index

First in India to launch U.S. $ version of BSE Sensex

First in India to launch Exchange Enabled Internet Trading Platform

First in India to obtain ISO certification for a stock exchange

'BSE On-Line Trading System (Bolt) has been awarded the globally recognized

Information Security Management System standard BS7799-2: 2002.

First to get an exclusive opportunity for financial education

Only in India in the financial sector to launch its website in Hindi and Gujarati

Switched from open outcry to electronic trading within just 50 days

First bell-ringing ceremony in the history of the Indian capital markets (listing ceremony in Bharti Tele Ventures Ltd.on February 18, 2002)

Investor Education:

An equally important provision of BSE is the country-wide investor awareness campaign - 'Safe Investing in the Stock Market "- which campaigns and information dissemination through printed and electronic media are being implemented throughout the country. BSE is also actively promotes the securities market awareness of the Securities and Exchange Board of India.