STT hike on F&O meant to curb speculation, protect retail investors: Sitharaman

February 2, 2026 8:54 PM

STT hike on F&O meant to curb speculation, protect retail investors: Sitharaman

A day after the Union Budget announcement, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said the hike in Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on futures and options (F&O) trading is intended to discourage speculative activity and protect retail investors from mounting losses. Speaking to reporters, Sitharaman said she had received calls from parents expressing concern that their children were losing money in derivatives trading. “F&O is a highly speculative market,” she said, adding th...

SEBI proposes expanding algo trading to retail investors

December 13, 2024 7:09 PM

SEBI proposes expanding algo trading to retail investors

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed a significant move to allow retail investors to engage in algorithmic (algo) trading, a system that utilizes computer algorithms to execute programmed orders on the stock market. This proposal, unveiled on Friday, invites public comments and feedback on the draft circular issued by the regulator. Algo trading is known for its ability to enhance efficiency in market transactions, offering benefits such as faster and more precise orde...