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Do you constantly hear the terms Sensex, BSE, NSE, and Nifty? They form the foundation of the Indian stock market. Here’s a guide that explains what these terms mean.
The oldest stock exchange in Asia is the Bombay Stock Exchange. It started in Mumbai in 1875. Here, people can trade shares, bonds, mutual funds and other things. Its primary index, Sensex, reflects the performance of its top 30 companies.
The National Stock Exchange began in Mumbai in 1992. It is modern and uses computers for trading. Its main index is called Nifty 50, which shows how the top 50 companies are performing. At NSE, people can trade shares, currency, mutual funds, and more. NSE is looked after by SEBI, which makes sure investors are safe.
You already know the BSE meaning. We will now talk about its main index. Sensex shows the performance of 30 big and important companies listed on the BSE. It started in 1986. If these companies do well, the Sensex goes up. If they do badly, the Sensex goes down.
You will hear about Nifty while discussing the NSE meaning. This one shows the performance of 50 big companies listed on the NSE. It started in 1995. Like the Sensex, if these companies do well, Nifty goes up. If not, it goes down.
Multiply each company’s share price by its free-float factor, sum the totals, and divide by a base value. This shows how the combined value of 30 BSE companies changes over time.
Multiply each company’s share price by its free-float factor, sum the totals, and divide by a base index value. Nifty reflects the performance of 50 NSE companies and helps benchmark funds and portfolios.
| Feature | Sensex | Nifty |
| Full Name | Sensitive Index | National Stock Exchange Fifty |
| Stock Exchange | Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) | National Stock Exchange (NSE) |
| Number of Companies | 30 | 50 |
| Calculation Method | Free-float market capitalisation | Free-float market capitalisation |
| Base Year | 1978–79 | 1995 |
| Purpose | Represents the performance of the top 30 BSE companies | Represents the performance of top 50 NSE companies |
| Use | Tracks the overall market trend and investor sentiment | Tracks market trend and is widely used as a benchmark for funds and portfolios |
Sensex includes 30 of the largest and most actively traded companies on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). These companies come from various sectors like finance, IT, energy, pharmaceuticals, and FMCG. Examples include:
Nifty represents 50 major companies on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). It covers multiple sectors such as banking, IT, energy, FMCG, and automobiles. Examples include:
There are a variety of stock market indices in India. Some of them are:
It indicates the whole market and is a comparative measurement displaying the amount earned by the average fund on the market versus the amount it should have earned. eg: BSE Sensex, NSE Nifty (Nifty 50).
They are benchmark indices with bigger groups of stocks. eg: BSE 100. BSE Sensex aggregates the movements of the 30 biggest financially sound Indian companies listed on BSE. The BSE 100 aggregates the top 100 biggest companies.
An index where companies are measured according to the total market value of their outstanding shares. eg: BSE Smallcap, BSE Midcap.
It gives a performance summary of stocks in certain industries like healthcare, energy, industrial goods, technology, etc. CNX IT, Nifty FMCG Index.
Stock market indices like Sensex and Nifty depict the condition of the market briefly. They help investors discover patterns in the market. The following reasons are why the stock market index is necessary for investors:
One share market has thousands of companies listed, making it intimidating and tedious to discover the right stock to invest in. Without a benchmark index, differentiating between stocks is easier. It classifies the shares of companies based on industry type, size, financial impact etc.
Equity investing can be a high risk, especially for beginners. While learning about the stock market is recommended, it might prove impractical for some people as it is time-consuming. Here, the stock market indices like BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty bridge the knowledge gap with simple depictions of trends in the market.
These indices summarise the daily sentiments of investors trading on them. For example, during a political change, certain stocks start underperforming, indicating uncertainty or nervousness about new reforms. Understanding the underlying sentiments shows investors whether a trend is short-term or long-term.
Passive investment is when an investor duplicates the stocks in a high-performing index by investing in a similar portfolio of securities. It is called passive investing because it is quicker, requires less research, and multiple stocks in a portfolio are bought in a single click. The replica portfolio’s returns should resemble the returns shown by the index.
Indexes like Sensex and Nifty show how the stock market is doing. Their movement depends on many factors that shape company value and investor mood. Knowing these helps in making smarter investments.
When the economy grows, companies earn more, and the index rises. In slowdowns or recessions, the index usually falls.
Strong earnings and growth from listed companies push the index up. Weak results pull it down.
Global events, oil prices, or political issues abroad affect Indian markets. They change investor behaviour and market movement.
High interest rates and inflation raise costs and reduce profits. This often leads to lower index levels.
Supportive tax, trade, or industry rules lift investor confidence and the index. Uncertain or negative policies drag it down.
BSE and NSE are the places where investors have the right to trade securities in India. Deals are made by licensed brokers who match buyers and sellers on the exchanges.
BSE provides a platform for smooth and efficient trading, using the Bombay Online Trading System (BOLT). It deals with both IPOs and trading on the secondary market; its settlements are cleared in two business days (T+2).
NSE is regarded as the fastest and most advanced technology stock exchange in India, laying claim to being able to handle high-frequency trading. It also uses a T+2 settlement cycle and provides equities, derivatives and commodities.
Both are SEBI-regulated, which keeps your money safe and the market transparent. Combined, these two create investment opportunities in India that are for capital appreciation and objective.
BSE has sectoral indices that track specific parts of the Indian economy. Key BSE sectoral indices include:
NSE also has sectoral indices for different sectors of the economy. Key NSE sectoral indices include:
Sensex and Nifty are essential to buy and sell stocks on the BSE and NSE. There are a variety of indices that summarise stock performance based on sector, company size, and other features. Indices, often tracked with the assistance of a Stock market app, help to pick stocks faster, discover investor sentiments, and aid in convenient passive investing.
It consists of 30 well-performing companies across a wide range of sectors to reflect the health of the Indian economy. This small number eases the tracking and analysis of the market in an effective manner.
Nifty includes 50 companies and offers broader market coverage. Sensex has 30 large, well-established stocks. Your risk appetite and investing objective will decide the best option for you. Nifty offers higher diversification, and Sensex offers exposure to top companies.
Sensex often appears higher because it includes 30 mega-cap companies with more weightage in the calculation. Nifty has 50 stocks with a more balanced approach, so index values differ based on stock performances and market capitalisation.
Nifty 50 includes 50 companies to cover different sectors while keeping the index manageable. Selection is based on market capitalisation, trading volume, and sector representation to reflect overall market performance.
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