Bhubaneswar: Stock market investments have grown significantly in recent years, with approximately 3 crore Demat accounts being opened annually since 2021. This reflects a growing focus on wealth creation through financial markets. Interestingly, women are a major part of this trend, with one in four new investors being female.
The number of women investors has shown steady growth since 2021-22. According to a State Bank of India Ecowrap report, 19.4% of stock market investors in Odisha are women, compared to the national average of 23.9%. Delhi leads the way with 29.8%, followed by Maharashtra (27.7%) and Tamil Nadu (27.5%). On the other hand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have 15% and 18.2% women investors, respectively. By March 2024, Demat accounts nationwide totaled 15.02 crore, increasing to 17.76 crore in the current financial year.
More than 4 crore new Demat accounts are anticipated this year. These accounts are essential for stock market transactions. Notably, young investors under 30 years old are a growing demographic, indicating heightened awareness and interest in wealth creation among the youth. Simultaneously, traditional savings methods, such as bank deposits and cash holdings, are declining.
Investments in life insurance, mutual funds, PPF, EPF, and small savings schemes have grown, with mutual funds emerging as the most preferred option. A 1% increase in the market capitalisation of listed companies contributes to a 0.06% growth in GDP, underlining the stock market’s influence on the economy.