The Stock Market, Exchange And Shares Explained

A stock market is a place where you can buy and sell shares, stocks, bonds etc.  We call people who buy or sell small numbers of shares, small investors. Organizations, which buy and sell large numbers of shares, are large investors or institutional investors.
Why the need for a Stock Exchange?

A stock exchange is the place where companies can raise money to make their business bigger and better. Companies raise this money by selling shares or stocks to investors. At the same time, the stock exchange gives investors an opportunity to invest in these companies and benefit from any profits they may make. Government can also raise money from stock exchange especially through sale of development stocks, bonds etc.
WHAT IS A SHARE
A share is what one has to become a member of a company.

When you buy a share of a company you become a member (a share holder) of that company.
Being a member or shareholder means that you share in the profits of the company Companies issue shares.
These shares represent the money which shareholders (as members of the company) put down when they first invested in the company.
Owners of shares (shareholders) are presumed to own the company.
If the company makes a profit, the shareholders have the right to a share of the profit which is declared for distribution. 

We call such a slice of the profit a dividend.             
A dividend is not a fixed amount.
Each year the directors of the company make two important recommendations about profits made by the company.

1. First, they recommend what slice of the profit the company should keep in reserve for future expansion.

2. Second, the recommend what slice of the profit the company should pay out to its shareholders as dividend.

The profit that the company makes for the year determines how big each slice will be. Shares are traded on the Stock Exchange during every working day of the year.
FINDING A STOCKBROKER

A stockbroker is a dealing member of The Stock Exchange. He provides services to anyone (an investor) who wants to buy and sell shares.

 A stockbroker provides a personal service. So, before you begin, talk to a few stockbrokers. Find out what services they offer.
What do you do if you don't know any stockbrokers?
You simply contact The Stock Exchange's Corporate Affairs/Research & Information Technology (RITS) Department. They will give you the names of stockbrokers.
There are many shares on the market. Let your stockbroker advise you on which shares you should buy.
Talk to him.

Discuss the merits? (Worth) of the company you want to buy or sell shares in.
BUYING SHARES
You normally buy shares in lots of 100. When you give your stockbroker the order to "buy", he will buy your shares.

He will buy them at the best price in the market at that time through The Stock Exchange's trading floors. 

You become the owner of the shares form the time the deal is done.

When you give your order to buy your stockbroker must tell you whether he is acting either as an `agent' or as a `principal'.


 If he acts as an agent your stockbroker will go out to the market place and let other stockbrokers know that you wish to buy shares form their customers if they are willing to sell. 


If, on the other hand, he tells you he is acting as a principal, you will be buying shares that the stockbroker has bought and is holding for his firm's account and which he then can sell directly to you.

You will, however, still have to pay the Government's charges (VAT) according to the value of the shares you buy Within a few days, you will receive a contact note from your broker.

This contract note is an important document. It shows the details of the deal that the stockbroker has carried out for you. It also tells you how you. Keep it safely for your records.

The share certificate will arrive later if the investor chooses to get one. 


If otherwise, he will receive a certificate of stock holding which serves the same purpose. 

But for primary issues, share certificates are issued once in a year. 

Your share certificate or certificate of stock holding shows how many shares you own.

 It is also an important document, so keep it in a safe place. 

You will need the share certificate or certificate of stock holding if you want to sell the shares at a later date. 

You can also use it as collateral for loans in a bank or any financial institution.

WHEN DO YOU PAY?

You must pay for the shares you have brought within four business days from the date of the confirmation of the trade (Transaction Day or a maximum of three days after).


Trading Accounts of broker are debited or credited within three days by the settlement bank.


WHAT DOES IT COST?


You will have to pay the cost of the shares you have bought, PLUS, The negotiated brokerage +VAT+ Withholding Tax on Dividend when a company declares dividend PLUS A stamp duty or other charges by statutory bodies.

Your stockbroker will tell you about these charges. You will find the total amount you need to pay on the broker's note.


You will get this broker's note from your stockbroker.

SELLING SHARES


When you want to sell your shares, contact your stockbroker. Tell him which shares you want to sell. 


He will sell them at the best price in the market. 

Remember, you will have to give him your share certificate or certificate of stock holding for authentication at the depository of The Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS).
Your broker will pay you with a crossed cheque for the shares you have sold.

UNDERSTANDING MORE ABOUT SHARES.

  Many daily newspapers publish the Daily Trading Summary of The Stock Exchange or you can check online.

The format includes names of quoted companies, public quotation price, current market price, information on dividend, business done daily, the price and quantity, the highest and lowest price of the share in the year, Earnings Per Share (EPS) and Price Earnings Ratio (PER).
Business Times publishes weekly the whole content of the Daily Official List. But majority of the daily papers publish The Stock Exchange's daily trading summary.

THE STOCK EXCHANGE.

HOW TO READ THE SHARE PRICE IN THE DAILY OFFICIAL LIST.
Please note that all prices are expressed in per share Column Explanation SHARE Name of Security for the Country's Market.

CURRENT MARKET PRICE:  The current market price which means the price on Board or the ruling price
EX-DIVEX-SCRIP:  After payment of dividend and after issuing bonus shares
BUSINESS DONE: This means the price,date, and quantity at which a share Was last traded
BUY : The price at which the buyer is prepared to purchase
SELL:  The price at which a share is offered for sale
HIGH:  The highest price attained by the share or stock during the year
LOW:  The lowest price attained by the share or stock during the year
EPS:  Earnings per share, which indicates how much income after Tax a unit of share has generated.
P/E:  The price/earnings ratio is the ratio of the price to the earnings,Indicating how long it would take an investor to recoup his Investment if he/she were to buy the stock at current price to Earnings.


Happy Investing.

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