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.
In delivery trading you buy shares and hold them — they are credited to your demat account and remain yours until you sell. In intraday trading you buy and sell the same day, closing your position before the market shuts. Delivery builds long-term wealth; intraday is short-term trading that needs skill, discipline and strict stop losses.
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.
A stop loss is an order that automatically exits your position if the price crosses a level you set, capping your loss. For traders it is essential — it turns an unlimited risk into a known, small one. Decide your exit level before you enter a trade, not after the price starts falling.
Yes, in most cases you can convert an intraday position to delivery before the market closes, provided you have the full funds for the purchase. The reverse is also possible subject to margins. Do note that conversion depends on the stock being available for delivery trades and on your available balance.
PCJ has a research desk that shares curated ideas, and your dedicated Relationship Manager helps you understand them in the context of your own goals. The final decision is always yours — SEBI registration and NISM certification do not guarantee returns, and no honest broker will promise them.
Opening an account with PCJ is 100% online and paperless. Keep your PAN card, Aadhaar (linked to your mobile number) and a cancelled cheque or bank statement ready. Fill the eKYC form at ekyc.pcjholdings.in, upload the documents, complete a quick selfie verification and e-sign with your Aadhaar OTP. The whole process takes about 15 minutes, and your account is usually activated within 24 to 48 working hours. A dedicated Relationship Manager is assigned to help you from day one.
You need just three things: your PAN card, your Aadhaar card linked to your mobile number (for OTP-based e-sign), and a bank proof such as a cancelled cheque or a recent bank statement. If you want to trade in futures and options, commodities or currency, you may also need an income proof such as a salary slip, bank statement of the last six months, or your latest ITR acknowledgement — this is a SEBI requirement for derivative segments.
The online form itself takes about 15 minutes. After you e-sign, our team verifies your documents and your account is typically activated within 24 to 48 working hours. You will receive your client code and login details by email and SMS as soon as the account is live.
Please see our Pricing page for the current account opening and annual maintenance charges — we keep the schedule transparent and updated there. Your Relationship Manager will also explain every charge before you begin, so there are no surprises later.
Yes, Non-Resident Indians can invest in Indian markets through the proper NRI route, which needs an NRE or NRO bank account and a few extra documents such as your passport and overseas address proof. The process has more steps than a resident account, so the easiest way is to request a call back — our team will guide you end to end.
Yes. You can open a new account with PCJ and transfer your existing holdings from your old broker. Shares move from demat to demat without selling, so there is no tax event on the transfer itself. Our team helps you with the closure-cum-transfer form of your old depository participant so the shift is smooth.
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.