What is a share?
A share is a small ownership slice of a company. When you buy a share of a listed company you become a part-owner — entitled to a share of its profits (dividends) and to any rise (or fall) in the value of the business. Companies list their shares on stock exchanges to raise capital from the public; investors buy them to grow wealth faster than traditional savings.
In India, the two main exchanges are the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) — PCJ is a member of both, plus MCX for commodities. Every listed share trades under a symbol (like RELIANCE or TCS) and its price moves continuously during market hours as buyers and sellers place orders.
How do exchanges and brokers fit together?
You cannot walk up to an exchange and buy shares directly — orders must be routed through a SEBI-registered stock broker like PCJ Holdings. Your broker gives you the trading platform, routes your order to the exchange, and settles the money and shares through clearing corporations and depositories.
Markets are open Monday to Friday, 9:15 am to 3:30 pm, with a pre-open session from 9:00 am. Since 2023 India settles equity trades on T+1 — shares you buy on Monday are in your demat account by Tuesday.
What are Nifty and Sensex?
An index is a basket of shares that represents the market. The Nifty 50 tracks 50 large NSE companies; the Sensex tracks 30 large BSE companies. When you hear “the market went up 1%”, it usually means these indices rose 1%.
Indices matter to investors because they are the benchmark — a mutual fund or your own portfolio is judged against them — and because index derivatives and index funds/ETFs let you invest in “the whole market” in one instrument.
Order types you must know
- Market order — buy/sell immediately at the best available price. Fast, but the exact price is not guaranteed.
- Limit order — you set the maximum buy (or minimum sell) price. Executes only at your price or better.
- Stop-loss order — an order that triggers when the price crosses a level you set, used to cap losses.
- CNC vs MIS — CNC (Cash & Carry) is for delivery; MIS (Margin Intraday Square-off) is for intraday and is auto-squared before close.
Key terms
Market capitalisation
Price per share × number of shares — the total value the market puts on a company. Large-caps (top 100) are steadier; mid & small-caps can grow faster but swing harder.
Dividend
A share of profits a company pays its shareholders, credited straight to your bank account.
Circuit limit
Daily maximum a stock may rise or fall (e.g. 5%, 10%, 20%) before trading in it is paused — protects against wild swings.
Bid & ask
The bid is the highest price buyers are offering; the ask is the lowest sellers will accept. The gap is the spread.
Test yourself
1. Shares you buy on Monday reach your demat account on…
India follows T+1 rolling settlement — pay-out happens the next working day.
2. The Nifty 50 is…
It is NSE’s benchmark index of 50 large companies.
3. A limit order…
Limit orders control price, not certainty of execution.
FAQs
No. You can start with the price of a single share or a ₹500 SIP. Consistency matters more than the starting amount.
Buying quality businesses for the long term is investing backed by earnings and growth. Blind tips, leverage and quick punts are where it starts resembling gambling.
Your shares sit in your own demat account with NSDL, not with the broker, and funds are settled through exchange-regulated channels. See our Safety & Security page.
There is no minimum. You can buy a single share, and many good companies trade at modest prices. If you prefer mutual funds, SIPs start from as little as ₹500 a month. What matters is starting early and staying regular — the amount can grow with your confidence.
Normal equity market hours on NSE and BSE are 9:15 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday to Friday, with a pre-open session from 9:00 to 9:15 AM. Markets are closed on exchange holidays — see our Market Holidays page for this year's full list and a live open/closed status.
No. PCJ does not run a research desk and does not provide any investment advice, tips or recommendations. We provide the trading platform, market data and execution only; your Relationship Manager assists with account and service support, not with what to buy or sell. Every investment decision is entirely your own — SEBI registration and NISM certification do not guarantee returns, and no honest broker will promise them.
Educational content for general awareness only — not investment, trading or tax advice. Investments in securities market are subject to market risks; read all related documents carefully. Figures/rates are indicative for FY 2025-26 and may change.