NSE slashes lot sizes of 143 stocks; F&O volumes to rise

In a move that may give relief to retail participants in the market, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) has reduced the lot sizes for derivative contracts of 143 stocks. The move came after a nearly two-fold rise in stock prices of many companies in the past couple of months.

In February, the exchange had increased the lot sizes of 243 stocks, which had caused liquidity concerns in the derivatives segment as more margin was required for trading. The current revision was made to meet the previously set value of each contract at Rs 2 lakh.

The lot sizes of 19 stocks — including GVK Power, Jaiprakash Associates, LIC Housing Finance, Mahindra & Mahindra, Aurobindo Pharma, Bajaj Auto, Bajaj Hindusthan, Balrampur Chini, Dish TV, Financial Technologies, GMR Infrastructure, Maruti Suzuki, Nagarjuna Fertilizer and Steel Authority of India (SAIL) -- were reduced to one-fourth as their current underlying values have gone up to over Rs 8 lakh.

Similarly, the lot sizes of 122 stocks were halved after their underlying values crossed the Rs 4 lakh-mark. These stocks include Adlabs Films, Allahabad Bank, Alstom Projects India, Andhra Bank, Ashok Leyland, Asian Paints, Associated Cement, Axis Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bharat Earth Movers, Bharat Forge and Bhel.

These revisions will take effect from June 26.