Markets hit new milestones, robust surge in active traders as investor numbers soar

Indian stock markets are experiencing robust growth as the number of investors rapidly increases. However, despite this surge, the number of active participants remains relatively low compared to the total registered users, though it has been rising steadily since March.

According to a report by the National Stock Exchange (NSE), out of the 9.7 crore registered investors, only 1.5 crore are active. The report highlights that active investors on the NSE surged by 13.9 % month-on-month, reaching 1.5 crore in June. This marks the third consecutive month of growth in active market users.

The NSE report shows that the number of individuals trading at least once a month grew by 13.1% in June, compared to May, reflecting a strong trend in market participation.

"The number of individual investors who traded at least once in June increased across regions. This individual investor base rose by 13.9 % month-on-month to reach 1.5 crore in June 2024," the report noted.

It also points out that there has been a steady rise in active domestic investors after a decline earlier in the year, particularly in March. As of June, the number of active domestic market investors on the NSE from the top 10 states--Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana--stood at 1.2 crore. Maharashtra led the increase in June, significantly contributing to the new and active investor base in the stock markets.

"Following a decline in March 2024, the count of individuals who traded at least once has been on a steady rise, increasing by 13.1% month-on-month to 1.2 crore for the top 10 states in June 2024," the NSE report stated.

The report also noted a year-on-year growth in the number of registered investors. The total number of registered users reached 9.7 crore at the end of June, up from approximately 7.6 crore the previous year.

"The total number of registered investors stood at 9.7 crore at the end of June, up from around 7.6 crore at the same time last year," the report added.

Region-wise, Southern and Eastern India saw significant increases, with active investor bases rising by 16.8 % month-on-month to 29.1 lakh and 15.6 % month-on-month to 16.7 lakh, respectively. The Northern and Western regions also experienced growth, with investor bases reaching 55 lakh and 56 lakh, respectively, in June 2024.

Nifty on the rise

The Nifty 50 index began on April 22, 1996, with a starting value of 1136.28 points and has recently crossed 25,000 points, marking a growth of nearly 22 times.

In less than four years from its inception, the index climbed to 1592.90 points, showcasing early signs of its potential. By December 2, 2004, just before the start of 2005, the Nifty 50 achieved a historic milestone by crossing the 2000-point mark, setting the stage for further growth amid challenges.

The global financial crisis of 2008 tested the resilience of the Indian stock market. At the start of the year, the Nifty 50 was trading around 6,300 points, but by the end of 2008, it had plummeted to 2,500 points, reflecting the global economic turmoil. Despite this setback, India's financial sector demonstrated remarkable strength. By December 31, 2009, less than a year after the crisis, the Nifty 50 had rebounded to 5,200 points.

In September 2010, the Nifty index again reached the 6,000-point mark after a gap of over two years, marking a significant recovery. As 2014 began, the index was around 6,300 points, but by the end of the year, it had surged past 8,000 points, fuelled by optimism surrounding the new single-party majority government at the centre.

A major milestone was achieved on July 25, 2017, when the Nifty 50 hit the 10,000-point mark, coinciding with the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), a landmark reform in the Indian indirect tax structure. The market faced another significant challenge with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020.

The Nifty 50, which had been trading around 12,000 points in January 2020, fell dramatically to about 7,500 points by March 2020. This sharp decline was one of the most significant losses for the index in a short span. Nevertheless, the resilience of the Indian stock market was evident, as the Nifty 50 began its recovery as the pandemic subsided.

The recovery was swift and robust. By 2021, the Nifty 50 surpassed the 15,000-point mark, and the rally continued unabated. On August 1, 2024, the index achieved a new milestone, reaching 25,000 points. The Nifty 50 hit the 20,000-point mark for the first time on September 11, 2023, and took 221 trading days from that level to reach 25,000 points on August 1, 2024.

This journey from the early days of 1136.28 points to the recent milestone of 25,000 points underscores the evolution of the Indian financial sector and its integral role in the country's economic development.

Commenting on the Nifty's journey, Ajay Bagga, Banking and Market Expert, stated that "the journey of the Nifty reflects the growth of the Indian economy and various sectors. When the Nifty was created in the mid-1990s, the top companies were very different, from very different sectors. In these three years, IT, Pharma, Real Estate, Autoancillaries, and Telecom have emerged as new sectors with significant shares in the Nifty market cap. Going ahead, in the decades to come, there will again be a sectoral rotation as e-commerce, artificial intelligence, fintech and health tech companies rise to prominence."