Context:
Recently, The National Stock Exchange (NSE) placed Adani Enterprises, Adani Ports, and Ambuja Cements under the additional surveillance mechanism (ASM), Reuters reported. This means trading in their shares will require a 100% margin, which is aimed at curbing speculation and shortselling.
Relevance:
GS III: Indian Economy
Dimensions of the Article:
- Additional Surveillance Mechanism (ASM)
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Adani Group Companies
Additional Surveillance Mechanism (ASM)
- The ASM was introduced on March 26, 2018, to protect investors from market volatility and unusual changes in share price.
- It is a measure introduced by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and exchanges to address surveillance concerns in the market.
Purpose of ASM
- The ASM was introduced to complement the existing surveillance measures in place.
- The intention is to protect investors from unusual changes in share price and market volatility.
Shortlisting of Securities for ASM
- The shortlisting of securities for ASM is based on criteria decided jointly by SEBI and exchanges.
- The criteria include parameters such as price/volume variation, volatility, high/low variation, client concentration, PE, close-to-close price variation, market capitalization, volume variation, delivery percentage, and number of unique PANs.
Significance of ASM Shortlisting
- The shortlisting of securities under ASM signals to investors that the stocks have seen unusual activity.
- However, the shortlisting should not be construed as an adverse action against the concerned company/entity.
Note: SEBI has not announced any probe into the Adani shares crash as of yet.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Adani Group Companies
- The RBI has sought details from banks about their exposure to Adani group companies.
- This was in response to the sustained fall in the shares of Adani group companies and the withdrawal of the follow-on public offer of INR 20,000 crore.
Action by Banks
- Credit Suisse has stopped accepting bonds of Adani Group companies as collateral for margin loans to its private banking clients.
- Citigroup’s wealth unit has also stopped extending margin loans to clients against securities of Adani group companies.
Possible Reason for RBI Intervention
- The RBI’s intervention might have been prompted by the actions of Credit Suisse and Citigroup.
- A banking source suggests that this might have prompted the regulator to step in.
-Source: Indian Express