Bombay Stock Exchange Ltd is the oldest stock exchange in Asia. Known as the “BSE”, it was set up in 1875 as the “The Native Share & Stock Brokers Association" and the country’s first bourse to be recognized under the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act of 1956.

Its role of guide and promoter of development on the Indian market is widely recognized and its SENSEX index is followed worldwide.
Previously a co-operative, it is now a company regulated by the 1956 Companies Act and is registered with the “Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Bombay”.
Having become a company, trading activities and ownership rights are totally separate, thus eliminating all conflict of interest. The Exchange is managed by a board comprising independent directors, broker representatives and a general manager.
An internal ethical code disciplines the activities of all the board members and the management, which is also monitored by means of periodical checks.
Its market capitalization is now over US$1,005 tr and it lists over 5,000 companies, the main ones being ONGC Corporation, Reliance Industries Ltd., National Thermal Power Corporation, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., Wipro Ltd., Bearti Televentures Ltd., Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., ITC Ltd. and ICICI Bank.
Securities traded include shares, corporate bonds, treasury bonds, futures and options on indexes and shares.
The BSE SENSEX (SENSitive indEX), also called the BSE30 and widely used both in India and the rest of Asia, accounts for around 1/5 of total capitalization and is a weighted index comprising 30 equities (base value = 100 at April 1979) and it has only had to be adjusted a few times in the last 20 years.
In addition to the SENSEX, there are also the BSE100, BSE200 and BSE500 indexes, the latter accounting for about 90% of total capitalization.
Trading is automated (BOLT system) and integrated with the clearing, settlement, depositing and registration systems. Buying and selling is by way of orders based on best price and time of entry. The Exchange has a protection fund as required by ministerial regulations.