Date:04/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/04/stories/2008040456831900.htm

Business - Briefly

SEBI allows market access to institutional clients

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has decided to introduce Direct Market Access (DMA) for investors. Initially, this facility will be available only for institutional clients. However, a review of the working of this facility would be undertaken after six months from its introduction.

DMA is a facility which allows brokers to offer clients direct access to the exchange trading system through the broker’s infrastructure without manual intervention by the broker.

Some of the advantages offered by Direct Market Access are direct control of clients over orders, faster execution of client orders, reduced risk of errors associated with manual order entry, greater transparency, increased liquidity, lower impact costs for large orders, better audit trails and better use of hedging and arbitrage opportunities through the use of decision support tools and algorithms for trading.