What is the Role and Importance of Brokers
in the Stock Market?
If you
wish to participate in stock market trading, you have to do it through the
stock exchanges. Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE)
are the two most prominent stock exchanges in India. But, you cannot buy and
sell stocks directly from the exchange. You need an intermediary to carry out
the trade on your behalf, and this intermediary is known as a ‘stock broker’.
Let us
learn more about stock
brokers and their role and importance in the stock market.
Who are stock brokers?
Stock
brokers are licensed and regulated financial firms that facilitate buying and
selling transactions in various financial instruments such as stocks,
derivatives and bonds.
In
simple words, stock brokers are an intermediary between you and the stock
market. They facilitate in buying and selling of stocks and securities in the
stock market.
They
are one of the most important stock market participants and play a vital role
in online trading. Since you cannot interact directly with the stock exchange,
they open demat and trading accounts in the depository on your behalf. In lieu
of the services provided, they charge you a brokerage.
Stock
brokers in India are monitored and controlled by the Securities and Exchange
Board of India (SEBI).
Role and Importance of Stock Brokers
Apart
from buying and selling stocks for clients, the role of stock brokers has
evolved in a big way over the last decade.
They
help investors wade through the whole investment process, provide research-based
advice on stocks to facilitate decision making, offer assistance to invest in
alternative investment assets, IPOs and mutual fund schemes.
In the
modern era of FinTech, stock brokers are striving to make stock market
investments simple and easy by introducing new-age technologies. Like for
example, today most stock brokers offer a mobile application that enables you
to buy or sell shares in a single click within seconds, keep a track of your
investments, create watch lists, interact with the community and do so much
more.
In
fact, few brokers also extend financing facilities for investors to take
leverage positions. We can say that today stock brokers have transformed
themselves to become a one-stop investment solution provider.
Also read - Difference Between Discount Broker And Full-Service Broker In India
Types of Stock Brokers
Based
on the services provided, there are two main types of brokers for stock market.
· Full-Service
Stock Brokers
Full-service
stock brokers also known as traditional stock brokers offer a wide range of
services and products to their clients including advisory services, research
reports, stock recommendations, financial and retirement planning, investing
and tax advice, regular portfolio updates, etc. apart from assisting in buying
and selling shares. These brokers have a physical presence.
· Discount
Stock Brokers
Discount
stock brokers mainly focus on buying and selling services only and they do
not provide any advisory services or research facilities. They provide an
online trading platform for their clients and have very less to no physical
presence.
Services Offered by Stock Brokers
Stock
brokers offer a gamut of services such as:
· Buying
and Selling of Securities
One
of the primary functions of a stock broker is to buy and sell securities on
behalf of the clients based on the order placed by them through the broker’s
terminal.
· Advisory
Services
Stock
brokers are well-versed with the working of the stock market and possess
expertise related to the performance of stocks, market trends and so on.
Furthermore, they have access to valuable databases and research findings. This
helps them offer outstanding investment advice to their clients.
. Limited
Banking Services
Stock brokers also provide limited banking services such as
interest-bearing accounts, electronic deposits and withdrawals, etc.
· Other
Investments
Apart from securities, stock brokers also offer different investment
products such as mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, bonds, commodity trading,
futures, options, etc.
In Conclusion
Just
like any other stock market participant, brokers for stock market are an integral part of
the stock market investment ecosystem. They not only facilitate buying and selling of stocks but
also offer valuable investment advice to
their clients. Therefore, it is crucial to select the right stock broker
for your trading and investment journey.
Indira
Securities is a renowned stock
broker in India that offers
extraordinary stock trading services to its clients. Open a demat account with
Indira Securities and opt for a smarter way to trade in the stock market.
Indira Securities Brokerage Calculator - Calculate and Compare Brokerage Charges Online, GST, STT Charges, SEBI Charges for equity delivery and intraday.