
BSE Ltd. shares fell for five straight sessions, closing at Rs 3,308, down 0.7%, after brokerages downgraded the stock citing the STT hike, RBI bank guarantee norms, and the new Closing Auction Session (CAS). The stock has fallen 9% in August. Jefferies downgraded the stock to underperform, the first sell rating since October, while Nuvama cut it to hold and slashed its price target by 20%.

The Hindu reported that Jefferies cut FY27-29 earnings per share estimates by 5-12% due to slower growth expectations and higher clearing costs. Livemint reported that BSE's average daily premium turnover declined 18% for early August expiries compared to July, and the number of contracts traded fell 20%. Jefferies expects ADTO to recover in the second half of FY27 after CAS issues are resolved.
Meanwhile, the Hindu Business Line reported that SEBI barred two entities, Copthall Mauritius Investment and Mansi Share and Stock Broking, for prima facie manipulation of the Sensex close during the CAS on August 13. SEBI ordered Copthall to disgorge Rs 2.96 crore and Mansi Rs 71.65 lakh. The regulator said the CAS is here to stay and warned that any manipulation would invite strict action. A detailed examination is ongoing.
The three sources together tell a coherent story: regulatory action over manipulation has collided with market anxiety about the CAS. The Hindu and Livemint focused on the brokerage downgrades and volume drop, framing the CAS as a headwind BSE must navigate. The Hindu Business Line went deeper into the SEBI order, detailing the specific manipulative trades and the regulator's tough stance. The middle ground is that the CAS has caused disruption, but SEBI's swift enforcement may restore confidence and eventually stabilise volumes. Watch for the August 20 expiry outcome and any further regulatory action.
Coverage: 3 sources, 3 neutral
Sources (3): thehindu.com (neutral report), livemint.com (neutral report), thehindubusinessline.com (neutral report)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above. Methodology and corrections.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.