Street to see a tide of retail investors in next one year

India’s retail investment landscape may be on the cusp of change, with a surge of first-timers ready to enter the equity markets.

- Apoorva Ajith & Neha Joshi

Among the total households, only 32.1 million-or 9.5%-had invested in at least one securities market product

(REUTERS)

A fresh class of “intenders,” as identified by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) in a new study, is preparing to take the leap into equities in the next one year.

The number of intenders could be as high as 39.7 million, according to calculations by Mint based on data from the survey. The study found that 22% of non-investors who are aware of securities market products have expressed interest in investing in the future. This, it said, represents significant opportunities to expand the country’s investor base.