Uber driver’s Rs 2.5 lakh options trading loss sparks fresh debate over retail derivatives risk

Uber driver’s Rs 2.5 lakh options trading loss sparks fresh debate over retail derivatives risk

A viral social media video featuring an Uber driver’s Rs 2.5 lakh loss in options trading has reignited concerns over retail participation in India’s high-risk derivatives market. The video, posted on microblogging site X, captures the driver candidly recounting how he lost an amount equivalent to his entire annual income through options trading, a sobering … Read more

Jane Street saga: Nilesh Shah gives 3 reasons why no HFT will do it in China

Jane Street saga: Nilesh Shah gives 3 reasons why no HFT will do it in China

India’s capital markets may be vulnerable to sophisticated derivatives manipulation because, unlike China, they lack key deterrents that would dissuade high-frequency traders (HFTs) from attempting similar schemes, according to Nilesh Shah, managing director of Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund. In a sharply-worded opinion piece published in the Financial Express, Shah drew a stark contrast between Indian … Read more

Why are investors shying away from sectoral and thematic mutual funds in 2025?

Why are investors shying away from sectoral and thematic mutual funds in 2025?

Mumbai: Equity mutual fund schemes that bet on sector and focused themes – the hot picks of 2024 – are falling out of investor favour amid erratic returns and heightened risk. Net inflows into sectoral and thematic funds, which averaged ₹15,340 crore a month from June to December 2024, have dropped to an average of … Read more

Who controls India Inc.? The answer is starting to change: NSE report

Who controls India Inc.? The answer is starting to change: NSE report

In the latest edition of its “India Inc. Ownership Tracker” for March 2025, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) reveals that private Indian promoters continue to hold the largest stake in India Inc., commanding a 32.5% share in NSE-listed companies. However, the report also signals a shifting tide, with domestic mutual funds (DMFs) and retail investors … Read more

Why are retail investors betting on beaten-down stocks despite market weakness?

Why are retail investors betting on beaten-down stocks despite market weakness?

Mumbai: Retail investors were generally less gung-ho about equities in the March quarter in the wake of the market weakness in the period. But that did not stop them from lapping up some of the beaten-down names that were among the top performers for most of 2024, according to a study of retail shareholding of … Read more

Should F&O trading require a licence? Vijay Kedia slams retail frenzy for turning markets into a casino

Should F&O trading require a licence? Vijay Kedia slams retail frenzy for turning markets into a casino

Veteran investor Vijay Kedia has raised serious concerns about retail investors gambling rather than investing strategically in the futures and options (F&O) segment. His remarks come amid a surge in retail participation, with many newcomers entering the market without proper risk management strategies. “F&O was meant for hedging, not hoping — but retail is turning … Read more

Smart accumulation or euphoria? Retail investors hike stakes in 363 smallcap stocks in Q4

Smart accumulation or euphoria? Retail investors hike stakes in 363 smallcap stocks in Q4

Retail investors raised their stakes in 363 stocks within the BSE Smallcap index during the January–March quarter, while reducing holdings in 361 stocks, according to Ace Equity data analyzed by ETMarkets. This near-even split suggests a cautious return of risk appetite, with investors engaging in selective buying after a sharp correction, though without signs of … Read more

Even as equities bounce investors not ready to lower their guard

Even as equities bounce investors not ready to lower their guard

Mumbai: The rebound in equities has eased some concerns about the market prospects, but derivative traders are not in the mood to abandon their guard entirely. The long-short ratio, a widely-tracked indicator of traders’ bullish versus bearish positions in index futures, of foreign portfolio investors (FPIs), has risen from 25.4% to 29.5% in the past … Read more

Small cap funds: Comparing Nippon India Small Cap vs HDFC Small Cap Fund vs Bandhan Small Cap Fund — which one has given better returns  

Small cap funds: Comparing Nippon India Small Cap vs HDFC Small Cap Fund vs Bandhan Small Cap Fund — which one has given better returns  

Since the end of 2024 and the beginning of this year, small-cap and mid-cap mutual funds have experienced significant fluctuations. Small-cap funds have suffered significantly due to their exposure to small-cap stocks that are particularly vulnerable to market volatility. They get heavily impacted during market downturns. The small-cap mutual funds and the Nifty Smallcap 250 … Read more

Rs 250 SIP: Kotak Mutual Fund launches Choti SIP to help more investors in wealth creation

Rs 250 SIP: Kotak Mutual Fund launches Choti SIP to help more investors in wealth creation

Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company Ltd (KMAMC) has announced the launch of ‘Choti SIP’, a novel initiative to make mutual fund investments more accessible to Indians. This new offering allows individuals to start investing with a minimal monthly contribution of Rs 250, a move intended to broaden the reach of mutual funds in line with … Read more