How to manage trading expenses with brokerage firms?

Trading costs start with understanding brokerage fees across segments. m.Stock charges ₹5 per order for intraday, F&O and MTF . Delivery trades, mutual funds and IPOs are free of charge. To minimise extra fees, users ought to monitor platform charges, pledging charges, and interest on margin. m.Stock does not charge platform or maintenance fees. In the case of margin trading, the interest rates begin at 6.99 per cent per year. No charges are imposed on pledging shares and the brokerage is limited on a per order basis as opposed to a per trade basis. This structure helps frequent traders control costs. It also ensures that long-term investors can hold positions without extra burden.

How to switch brokerage firms?

You can switch brokerage firms by following a simple and straightforward process. Once you have finalised a broker, visit their platform and fill out the application to open a new demat account . Complete the KYC process. Add funds to the new account with a minimal amount so that it becomes active. Decide whether you want to keep your old account for future use or want to close it permanently. Get a Client Master List from the new broker. It is an important document that contains your demat account details. Submit an online transfer request or a Delivery Instruction Slip (DIS) to the old broker. Track your transfer request with the help of daily account statements or via Central Depository tracking tools. Once your holdings are visible in the new demat, verify the quantity, prices, etc. Finally, notify the old broker if you want to close the old account.

What is zero brokerage trading?

Zero brokerage trading refers to the process of making trades without paying any broker commissionon eligible segments. Delivery trades, mutual fund orders, and IPO applications are free of brokerage on platforms like m.Stock. Zero brokerage is helpful for long-term investors who do not trade daily. There are still statutory charges such as STT or exchange fees, GST , stamp duty, and SEBI fees that still apply. The contract note allows users to monitor charges daily.

What to consider when choosing an online broker?

When choosing an online broker, start with the reputation of the platform and the regulation. Make sure the broker is SEBI-registered and follows all applicable rules and investor protection norms. Next, look at the platform itself; it should be easy to use, stable during market hours, and show real-time data without delays. Check the costs clearly. Apart from brokerage, see if there are any account, platform, or data charges that might add up. Look at customer support too, so you can get help when you need it. Finally, consider what you want to trade ( stocks , intraday, F&O , mutual funds ) and make sure the broker supports those options in a way that feels right for you.

What are DP charges in the stock market?

When you receive your contract note, you must have noticed various charges like brokerage, STT and others being debited from your sale proceeds. But there is one charge that isn't visible on the contract note, but is nonetheless charged. We are referring to DP charge or depository participant charge. Wondering who a depository participant is and what is a DP charge? Well, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will understand everything about DP charges in the stock market.

What is a depository and who are depository participants?

Depository is an institution where your shares are safely stored. In India, the two main depositories are - National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL) and Central Depository Services Ltd (CDSL). While your securities are held for safekeeping with the depository, as an investor you cannot directly deal with NSDL and CDSL. Your broker acts as the intermediary or depository participant and connects you to the depository.

What are DP charges?

Depositories, in collaboration with the depository participant (broker) provide a wide range of services, including processing of corporate actions, pledging and unpledging of shares etc. In exchange for performing these functions, they charge a small fee known as DP charges. DP charges are applicable on only sell transactions and are directly posted on your ledger. DP charges are deducted once per scrip per day and are not dependent on the quantity of shares sold.

How much DP charges are levied in the stock market?

At m.Stock, ₹18 per debit transaction + GST will be charged as DP charges for sell transactions. Let us consider the following examples to understand this better:

Suppose you sell 100 shares of Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. when the market opens and another 75 in the afternoon. In this case, the total DP charges for TCS Ltd. will be ₹18 + ₹18 + 18% GST.
Suppose you sell 100 shares of Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. in the morning and 100 shares of Infosys Ltd. in the evening. Then, the total DP charges for the day will be ₹18 + 18% GST for TCS Ltd. and ₹18 + 18% GST for Infosys Ltd. This is because multiple different scrips are being sold.

DP charge is an unavoidable expenditure when you sell shares. But you do have a say in paying brokerage. Yes, open m.Stock’s Demat account and trade free (at zero brokerage) across equity delivery, mutual funds and IPOs (except Intraday, F&O and MTF trades).

What Does Bear Market Mean?

April 17, 2026 | 10 mins read

Ups and downs are a constant part of financial markets, but when prices fall consistently for a longer period, you often hear experts saying the market has turned bearish. But what is a bear market exactly? Understanding the bear market meaning is essential because these phases are a normal part of financial markets. A bear market occurs whenever securities, especially stocks, drop by 20% or more from their recent highs and persist in a low for an extended period of time. It reflects pessimism, declining confidence, and widespread caution among investors. While it sounds alarming, it’s important to note that a bear market doesn’t always signal financial doom. These phases are part of the natural cycle of markets, balancing the optimism of bull runs with periods of correction and reality checks. Understanding how they work allows you to make smarter financial decisions.

What is Volatility? Decoding Market Volatility for Investors

April 17, 2026 | 13 mins read

Volatility is one of the most commonly used terms in the stock market, yet it is often misunderstood. New investors hear statements such as the market was volatile today or volatility is rising, but do not fully grasp what this movement means or how it directly impacts their investments. At its core, volatility describes how much and how quickly prices move. When the market is stable, price changes are small and gradual. When the market is volatile, prices swing sharply within short periods. These movements reflect investor sentiment, economic expectations, earnings results, global events, and future uncertainty. Understanding volatility is crucial because it influences everything from portfolio returns to risk management. It affects how stocks, indices, mutual funds, ETFs, and even derivatives behave. Whether you invest in equity, debt, or hybrid funds, knowing how volatility works helps you make smarter and more confident decisions.

What is the Physical Settlement of Futures & Options Contracts?

April 17, 2026 | 8 mins read

Futures and options (F&O) contracts are derivatives that derive their value from underlying assets such as stocks, commodities, or indices. Traditionally, many F&O contracts were settled in cash, meaning traders received or paid the difference in price instead of taking possession of the asset. However, in recent years, regulatory bodies like SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) have mandated physical settlement of stock derivatives to curb excessive speculation and improve market stability. In this article, we will explore physical settlement of F&O contracts, its working mechanism, margin requirements, advantages, and disadvantages, along with key differences from cash settlement.

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FAQ

When evaluating a ₹5 brokerage broker, you must check whether the cost applies across segments. Also, check if any hidden charges exist. m.Stock charges ₹5 per executed order across intraday, F&O, commodity, currency & MTF (Pay Later).

Delivery trades, mutual funds, and IPO orders carry zero brokerage and there areno monthly fees, no hidden conditions, no platform charges. That is why m.Stock is a viable option for both active and passive investors. Order execution speed, availability of order type and product coverage are also to be reviewed before selecting any low-cost broker to be used on a regular basis.