When Geojit tried to fix what the regulator couldn't

When warnings from the regulator and steep losses for clients failed to curb the retail frenzy for derivatives, Chenayappillil John George took matters into his hands.

- Ram Sahgal

Five months ago, the founder and MD of Geojit Financial Services put up hoardings at 180 spots across the broking company’s home state of Kerala, flagging the pitfalls of derivatives trading in which most retail traders lose money.

By his own admission, George wasn’t guided by "altruism" but "sound logic" that a business which resulted in "big-ticket losses" for his clients wouldn’t be sustainable in the long term. The funds for the campaign, came from the listed company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds of nearly ₹3 crore.

Geojit’s hoardings cite points from a Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) study highlighting the steep losses in derivatives trading and urge investors not to fall for fake claims of super-riches. The campaign will run till the end of March.