Who Can Trade and How to Trade in the Stock Market?

Who can trade? This is the one question we’ve all asked at some point in time of our lives. The answer is simple: Anyone with a trading account can trade.

Here are some points to ponder over if you want to make money from stock trading:

• Make up your mind about choosing stock trading as a profession
• Use technology to trade, learn and grow
• Like any other profession, trading requires hard work and patience
• Always be hungry for knowledge and success
• Work towards becoming profitable in the long run

How to start trading in India

Spend time to know prospective brokers just as brokers do the KYC exercise before opening accounts. Thanks to SEBI’s strict net worth and margin requirements for a broker, a prospective client need not worry much about the chances of default and consequent losses.

The first step to trading is choosing the right broker for you. Here’s how you can get started:

Ask these questions before opening a trading account:

How user-friendly is the broker's trading platform?

Today, most brokers have online trading platforms, but your enquiry should be towards efficiency, as the time taken to place orders (buy/sell) is crucial, especially in day trading. Some trading platforms score over others by being user-friendly, executing orders quickly, offering advanced features, assisting in building your trading strategy by providing access to technical analysis and quality in-house research, and, most importantly, the cost of the transaction.

Brokerage commission is an important element to consider while picking your broker, as it directly impacts the cost of your transaction. The broking industry is competitive, so there isn’t much variation in commissions.

Espresso’s trading platform is one of the finest in the business, offering a wide array of features built after taking into account feedback from real traders. Our brokerage plans are not just among the lowest in the industry, they are also unique – you pay brokerage only when you profit.

Does your broker have a mobile app?

Be sure your broker has an easily usable mobile app so you can trade on the move. Make a note of whether the broker’s website is supported by knowledge-enhancing material and has scope for technical analysis. Access to real-time information, like moving average crossovers, also comes in handy while trading.
You can check out the features of the Espresso mobile app here.

How to open a demat account and how to trade in Stock Market?

You will need a demat account, especially if you plan to do short-term delivery-based trading. Also, check the demat and trading account opening charges and the annual maintenance charges.

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List of documents needed for trading:

Here's how to start trading in India. To begin with, you need to arrange for the following documents.  

• Residence proof
• Proof of date of birth
• Bank account

To start trading in India, Aadhaar card, PAN card and voter identity card are the basic documents that will help you with opening a demat account.

If you have apprehensions, stick to online trading. Most leading brokers have introduced several security and authentication measures to thwart online threats. Online trading will also allow you the comfort of trading from any place and at any time.

Opening a demat account also indicates your intent to take trading on a serious note. So, once you’ve familiarised yourself with your demat account, you need to start doing your homework before you place trades and make a success out of them.
To take a step further, you can also choose to decide if you want to be a retail or institutional trader. Before we take a deep dive into stock trading, let us understand more about institutional and retail trading.

Retail trading

According to SEBI, a retail individual investor is an investor who applies or bids for securities of or for a value of not more than Rs 2,00,000 in an IPO and buys or holds shares worth less than Rs 2,00,000 in a stock. 

• Anyone with a demat account can be a retail trader
• Retail trading is less cumbersome than institutional trading, but you will be risking your own capital
• Income will be irregular but comes with the freedom to experiment with strategies
• In case of success, returns will be huge, with the potential to offset initial hardships
• Has a place for everyone regardless of educational and financial background. You can start with capital as low as, say, Rs 1,000

Institutional trading

Institutional traders are part of trading organisations that trade on behalf of their clients. They manage accounts on behalf of institutions or a group of investors, and they invest in various financial instruments, including stocks, bonds, MFs, and pension funds, among others.

You will need a professional degree or charters like MBA in Finance, CFA or CMT to become an institutional trader.

• Institutional trading is like a job with a fixed salary. If you’re successful, you could also make hefty bonuses
• You will get support and assistance from the in-house research reports
• Education and experience will matter

You will be restricted to one place and just execute orders.

Points to remember:

• Selecting a right broker can make your trading journey better.
• Make sure to consider the various factors and services of a broker before opening an account.
• You need a demat account for short-term delivery-based trading.