The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has proposed a new framework for calculating the networth requirement for stock brokers, moving away from the current method linked to client cash balances. The revised approach will factor in both client funds handled and the number of active clients serviced, aiming to strengthen brokers' financial buffers.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has significantly reduced the number of draft offer documents returned or rejected, dropping from 17 in FY25 to just two in FY26, thanks to a more facilitative and engagement-first regulatory approach.
Direct plans of mutual fund schemes added nearly 21 million individual investor folios in FY26 (as of February), surpassing regular plans' 15 million net additions, marking only the second time direct plans have outpaced regular plans in annual folio growth, despite turbulent equity markets.
Net inflows into equity mutual fund schemes moderated in FY26, falling by 27 per cent to about 3 trillion till February, as choppy markets and global uncertainties prompted investors to shift towards safer options like hybrid funds and gold ETFs.
Amidst heightened market volatility and muted investor sentiment, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has announced one-time relaxations for initial public offering (IPO) timelines and minimum public shareholding requirements, providing relief to numerous companies.
Indian equities trading activity saw a moderation in FY26, with cash market turnover declining and derivatives growth remaining subdued due to regulatory tightening and weak market performance. Further impacts are expected from new RBI norms and a hike in Securities Transaction Tax (STT).
Uncertainty stemming from the US-Iran conflict has significantly impacted India's mutual fund industry, leading to a sharp decline in new fund offers (NFOs) in March, despite numerous regulatory approvals. This geopolitical tension, coupled with existing market strain and distributor hesitation, has dampened investor sentiment and affected overall inflows.
Analysts say long-term investors may still benefit, but recommend limiting bullion exposure to around 10 per cent.
'The next phase of India's IPO cycle will be defined by quality, pricing discipline and investor selectivity.'
The tax is collected by brokers on behalf of the government and forms a key component of the Centre's tax revenues.
With domestic markets turning choppy, investors are increasingly scouting for opportunities overseas to diversify portfolios and hedge against a weakening rupee.
Nearly two-thirds of external commercial borrowings (ECBs) raised so far in the ongoing financial year (2025-26/FY26) have been routed through Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), a sharp jump from the 36 per cent recorded in 2024-25.
The highlight in January, with no surprise, has been flows into gold and silver ETFs.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has granted a no-objection certificate (NOC) to the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE), paving the way for the country's biggest exchange - currently valued at 5 trillion in the unlisted market - to file draft documents for its long-awaited initial public offering (IPO).
Sebi is working with other regulators to expand the CAS framework.
Among its 27 recommendations for the Union Budget is this: It has suggested that equity investments held for more than one year and up to three years should be taxed at 12.5 per cent on gains exceeding 2 lakh in a financial year.
The tribunal granted partial relief to the appellants by modifying Sebi's directions on trading restrictions and account freezes, making them conditional on the deposit of the said amount.
Domestic gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) saw their holdings jump 65 per cent to 95 tonnes in 2025, elevating Indian ETFs to sixth place globally, going by holdings of the yellow metal. At the end of 2024, they ranked eighth with 57.5 tonnes of holding, according to an analysis of data from the World Gold Council (WGC).
The Supreme Court's verdict directing Tiger Global to pay capital gains tax on its 2018 sale of Flipkart shares is unlikely to accelerate the selloff by foreign portfolio investors (FPIs). However, legal and tax experts say the ruling sharpens scrutiny around treaty benefits and could influence how offshore investors structure future India bets.
'Multi-asset funds have cornered 30 per cent of hybrid fund inflows in 2025, reflecting a growing preference for diversified portfolios that combine equity, debt and commodities.'
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