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Representatives of capital markets on Tuesday pitched for reductions in transaction tax and measures to deepen the financial sector in the upcoming Budget. Suggestions regarding improving efficiency of capital markets and increasing capital market inclusion were also made during the pre-Budget meeting with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, sources said. Representatives of the sector sought lower Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on cash market trade as compared to derivatives, sources said. This was the fourth pre-Budget meeting between the finance minister and representatives of capital markets, including BSE, Multi Commodity Exchange, Association of Mutual Funds in India, Association of Registered Investment Advisers, and Commodity Participants Association of India. Capital markets facilitated resource mobilisation of Rs 14.6 lakh crore in FY25, marking a 33 per cent increase over the previous year. The use of a broad spectrum of financial instruments -- ranging from equity an
With an increasing number of savers stepping into the capital markets, Sebi Whole-Time Member Ananth Narayan on Tuesday highlighted that cyber threats, market volatility, and a trust deficit in the financial ecosystem could pose significant challenges to this growing investor trend. Over the years, the number of unique investors in India's capital markets has risen sharply from 4.2 crore in March 2020 to 13 crore to date. Despite this remarkable growth, there remains considerable room for further expansion. While acknowledging the rise of domestic investors, Narayan stressed the importance of addressing the challenges to sustain the momentum. Among these challenges, he noted that risks such as cyber risk and digital frauds are a serious concern. Fraudsters-- often sophisticated and organized-- prey on unsuspecting investors, making cybersecurity a key area of focus. Alongside this, investors need to be fully aware of market volatility, he said, emphasising that market movements are