Every listed company has a short code called a ticker symbol (or just a 'symbol'). It is how the exchange identifies the company in its systems — much easier to type than a full legal name.
| Fictional company | Possible symbol | Exchange |
|---|---|---|
| Nimbus Technologies Ltd | NIMBUS | NSE |
| GreenLeaf Foods Ltd | GREENLEAF | BSE |
| Bharat Widgets Ltd | BWIDGET | NSE and BSE |
Illustrative symbols for fictional companies only.
Symbols are decided by the exchange and are unique within it. The same company may have a slightly different symbol on each exchange where it is listed.
When does the market trade?
As a standard convention, Indian equity markets trade on weekdays, roughly from 9:15 am to 3:30 pm India Standard Time (IST), with a short pre-open session before the normal session begins. Markets are closed on weekends and on declared public holidays.
- Pre-open session — around 9:00–9:15 am: orders are collected and an opening price is discovered.
- Normal session — roughly 9:15 am to 3:30 pm: continuous trading.
- After hours — the closing price is finalised and post-market settlement continues.
How a share reaches you
Click each step to see what that part of the chain actually does.
Company
A business that decides to raise money by selling shares to the public. Once its shares are admitted to trading, it is 'listed'.