What Is Share?

If you own a share of a company, you own a part of that company. A share is a unit of ownership that represents how much of the company's capital you have invested in exchange for your share. Companies issue shares to raise money from investors who want to participate in the company's growth and profits.

There are two main types of shares: common shares and preferred shares. Common shares give you voting rights and dividends, which are payments from the company's earnings. Dividends are not guaranteed and depend on the company's performance and decisions. Common shares also have potential for capital appreciation, which means your share price can go up or down depending on the market demand and supply.

Preferred shares do not give you voting rights, but they have priority over common shares when it comes to dividends and liquidation. This means that preferred shareholders get paid first before common shareholders if the company distributes dividends or goes bankrupt. Preferred shares usually have fixed dividends that are paid regularly regardless of the company's performance. Preferred shares also have less risk of losing value than common shares, but they also have less chance of gaining value.

Shares are traded on stock exchanges, where buyers and sellers meet to exchange shares at an agreed price. The price of a share depends on many factors, such as the company's earnings, growth prospects, reputation, industry trends, market sentiment, supply and demand, etc. The price can change quickly and unpredictably due to these factors.

Owning shares can be rewarding but also risky. You can earn income from dividends and capital gains if your share price goes up, but you can also lose money if your share price goes down or if the company fails. You should do your research before investing in any company and understand the risks involved.

What is Listed Companies?

 What is a Listed Company?

A listed company is a company that has its shares traded on a stock exchange. A stock exchange is a platform where buyers and sellers can trade shares of different companies. A listed company has to comply with certain rules and regulations of the stock exchange and the securities market regulator.

Why Invest in Listed Companies in India?

India is one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world, with a large and diverse market. Investing in listed companies in India can offer several benefits, such as:

- Exposure to various sectors and industries that are driving India's growth, such as IT, banking, energy, consumer goods, etc.

- Access to some of the world's leading companies that have global presence and reputation, such as Reliance Industries, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, HDFC Bank, etc.

- Potential for high returns and dividends as many Indian companies have strong fundamentals and growth prospects.

- Diversification of portfolio as Indian stocks can provide exposure to different regions and currencies.

How to Find Listed Companies in India?

There are over 5,000 listed companies in India across two major stock exchanges: Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE). To find listed companies in India, one can use various sources, such as:

- Stock market websites that provide information on listed companies, such as Moneycontrol.com, Sharetradingguru.com, Mapsofindia.com, etc.

- Business magazines and newspapers that publish rankings and reports on listed companies, such as Forbes, Business Today, Economic Times, etc.

- Stock market apps that allow users to track and trade stocks of listed companies on their smartphones or tablets.

- Stock brokers or financial advisors that can help investors choose suitable stocks based on their goals and risk appetite.

Some Examples of Listed Companies in India

Here are some examples of top listed companies in India by market capitalisation (as of March 2021):

- Reliance Industries: The largest private sector company in India with interests in oil and gas, petrochemicals, telecom, retail, digital services etc. It has a market cap of Rs 15.04 lakh crore ($205 billion).

- TCS: The largest IT services company in India with clients across various industries and geographies. It has a market cap of Rs 11.63 lakh crore ($158 billion).

- HDFC Bank: The largest private sector bank in India with a wide network of branches and ATMs. It has a market cap of Rs 8.77 lakh crore ($119 billion).

- Infosys: The second-largest IT services company in India with expertise in digital transformation solutions. It has a market cap of Rs 5.89 lakh crore ($80 billion).

- ICICI Bank: The second-largest private sector bank

What is stock market?

 Stock Market in India: A Brief Overview

The stock market is a place where buyers and sellers of shares or stocks trade with each other. Shares represent ownership of a company and give investors a claim on its profits and assets. The stock market is also a platform for raising capital for businesses and providing liquidity for investors.

The Indian stock market is one of the largest and most dynamic in the world, with a market capitalization of over $3 trillion as of December 2021. It consists of two main exchanges: the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE). Both exchanges are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), which is responsible for protecting the interests of investors and promoting orderly development of the market.

The BSE is the oldest stock exchange in Asia, established in 1875. It has more than 5,000 listed companies across various sectors, such as banking, IT, pharma, auto, etc. The BSE's benchmark index is called the SENSEX, which tracks the performance of 30 blue-chip companies. The BSE also offers derivatives trading, mutual funds, debt instruments, currency futures and options, etc.

The NSE is the leading stock exchange in India, founded in 1992. It has more than 1,800 listed companies across diverse industries, such as energy, telecom, infrastructure, FMCG, etc. The NSE's benchmark index is called the NIFTY 50, which tracks the performance of 50 large-cap companies. The NSE also offers derivatives trading, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), index funds, gold ETFs, sovereign gold bonds, etc.

Both exchanges operate on an electronic trading system that allows fast and efficient execution of orders. They also have nationwide networks of brokers who facilitate trading for retail and institutional investors. Trading hours are from 9:15 am to 3:30 pm on weekdays (except public holidays).

The Indian stock market offers various opportunities for investors to diversify their portfolios and earn returns based on their risk appetite and investment objectives. However, investing in stocks also involves certain risks,such as market volatility,company-specific issues, macroeconomic factors, political uncertainty, etc.

Therefore,investors should do their own research before investing and follow sound financial principles such as asset allocation, risk management, long-term horizon, etc.