Why are Market Lots Different for Different Stocks? (2024)

Have you ever wondered why there are different stock lot sizes in futures and options trading? The idea is to standardize trading to a certain value, which is comparable so that you compare apples and apples rather than apples and oranges. Here we look at share lot size in much greater detail and its practical application as well as the modus operandi.

Markets lots different for different stocks

One of the unique features of exchange-traded futures in India is that they are standardized. One of the methods of standardizing futures and options contracts is through the prescription of minimum share lot size. A share lot size in futures is a minimum ticket size of shares that you can trade in futures. Remember that when trading futures and options, you can only buy and sell these products in a minimum of one lot or multiples of the share lot size. For example, the share lot size of Nifty is 75 units so you can only trade Nifty in multiples of 75. Similarly, Reliance has a lot size of 250 shares and you can only trade RIL futures and options in multiples of 250 shares only. The product of lot size and the price gives you the notional value of the futures contract.

How SEBI defines different lot sizes

Apart from standard expiries, another important method of standardizing futures contracts is through share lot size. SEBI defines share lot size for all the indices and stocks that are permitted to. Here is a quick sampler.

UnderlyingLot SizeCMP (16-Jun-2021)Lot Value
Nifty7515,768Rs.11.83 lakh
Bank Nifty2535,003Rs.8.75 lakh
ACCESS5002,020Rs.10.10 lakh
Asian Paints3003,018Rs.9.05 lakh
Britannia Industries2003,630Rs.10.96 lakh
Bharti Airtel1851536Rs.7.26 lakh
Reliance Industries2502,210Rs.5.53 lakh
Tata Steel8501,140Rs.9.69 lakh
Tata Motors2850348Rs.9.92 lakh

But how were these numbers decided by SEBI, or is it plain random? To understand this evolution, delve a bit into history. Initially, SEBI had fixed Rs.2 lakh as the indicative lot size value. The lot size is fixed at the relevant number of shares which if multiplied by the current market price would give a notional value of above Rs.2 lakh and that was in vogue till the year 2015.

In 2015, to check speculation by retail investors in futures and options, SEBI hiked lot sizes. SEBI modified indicative lot sizes to above Rs.5 lakh with new inclusions being included in the F&O list with a notional value in the range of Rs.7.50 lakh to Rs.10 lakhs. Today, if you look at the table, the lot size values vary between Rs.5 lakhs and Rs.10 lakhs. Only if the lot value diverges sharply from this range, SEBI initiate change in lot sizes.

Modification of lot sizes

Lot sizes are not static and they keep changing continuously. For example, a stock with a lot size of 1000 shares when the price is Rs.600 will have a notional value of Rs.6 lakhs per lot. Now if the stock rallies from Rs.600 to Rs.1,500, the lot value changes to Rs.15 lakhs, which becomes too expensive for most traders to pay margins and affects liquidity. Then, SEBI would decide upon reducing the lot size to say 500 so that the lot value can be brought to a more palatable level of Rs.7.50 lakhs. This is just an example.

The reverse logic applies in the case of stock price corrections. In such cases, SEBI revises the lot size upwards. Such lot size revisions are done on a routine basis. The point to note here is that since indicative lot values are fixed the individual lot sizes have to be continuously reviewed and modified based on the market price movements. That is why lot sizes differ across stocks and these lot sizes get modified over time. If you look at the table, the Bank Nifty with a unit price of 35,003 has a lot size of 25 shares, while Asian Paints with a price of Rs.3,018 has a lot size of 300 shares. However, the notional value of both stocks is almost equal and that makes them comparable for F&O trading.

What is lot size?

The lot size is the minimum size in which the stock futures or index futures can be traded. For example, RIL has a lot size of 250 shares and that will be the size of 1 lot. You can only buy and sell futures in a minimum of 1 lot and then in multiples of 1 lot. Similarly, for the Nifty, the lot size is 75 shares. This is part of the standardization of futures by the exchange.

How can we hedge the futures in the stock market?

You can hedge futures either by locking in your profits or by locking in your losses. For example, if you are long on a stock and you sell futures below the buy price then the difference is your maximum loss. Normally trades turn back and cover the short position and then use the profit to reduce the cost of holding the stock.

The other alternative is to lock in profits through hedging. For example, If you bought a stock at Rs.350 and if the futures price is now Rs.440, you can sell futures at Rs.440 and lock in the profit of Rs.90. Irrespective of how high or how low the price goes now, your profit of Rs.90 is locked into the hedge trade.


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Frequently Asked Questions Expand All

What is a lot in forex?

In forex trading, especially when you trade exchange traded currency futures, the lot size is decided in terms of currency amounts. For example, when you are trading long or short on USDINR futures, the lot size is decided at $1000 value. Since the current exchange rate is Rs.74/$, you are looking at a notional value of Rs.74,000 for the forex lot.

Who decides the lot sizes?

Lot sizes are decide das per the guidelines issued by SEBI. There is a derivatives review committed that regularly review lot sizes and lot values based on latest price movements and then determines the new lot sizes based on price movement. The effective date is decided and all contracts get adjusted to the new lot size.

Why are Market Lots Different for Different Stocks? (2024)

FAQs

Why are Market Lots Different for Different Stocks? ›

Such lot size revisions are done on a routine basis. The point to note here is that since indicative lot values are fixed the individual lot sizes have to be continuously reviewed and modified based on the market price movements. That is why lot sizes differ across stocks and these lot sizes get modified over time.

How is lot size decided in the stock market? ›

The lot sizes are essentially pegged to the indicative lot values but these lot values keep changing along with the stock price over time. For example, a stock with a lot size of 1000 shares with a price of Rs. 710 will have a lot value of Rs. 7.10 lakh.

Why some stocks are traded in lots? ›

Market lots are the minimum number of stocks you can purchase in a single go for a particular listing. It varies for different stocks due to a combination of factors, including tradition, liquidity, share price, exchange rules, corporate changes, regulations, and market evolution.

Is it good to buy a lot of different stocks? ›

The whole purpose of holding multiple stocks in a portfolio is diversification. That means holding enough securities so that a big drop in one won't cause your entire portfolio to take a big hit.

How many shares is 1 lot? ›

A board lot is a standardized number of shares defined by a stock exchange as a trading unit. In most cases, this means 100 shares. A board lot is what the exchange determines to be a round lot.

Who decides the lot size? ›

SEBI determines lot values. Initially, when futures and options trading started, the regulator had fixed the notional lot value at Rs.

What determines lot size? ›

The lot size is the number of units of securities/assets traded on the stock exchange. Trading in a single unit is not viable, so the shares or number of units are brought in a lot size. Calculating a lot size involves considering several variables, including risk percentage, stop loss and account balance.

Can you choose which stock lots to sell? ›

Along with choosing your own tax-lot relief method, you can designate a specific tax lot for a given transaction. In the example above, you could have specified that 20 of the shares you purchased in June be sold, even if your chosen method would have specified different shares be liquidated first.

Is having 100 shares a lot? ›

Stocks are most commonly sold in round lots, or lots of 100 shares or more. A lot of less than 100 shares is called an odd lot; odd lot transactions generally have greater commission costs associated with them. Financial professionals advise having enough money to buy a round lot of shares in one company.

What is 100 shares of stock called? ›

In stocks, a round lot is considered 100 shares or a larger number that can be evenly divided by 100. In bonds, a round lot is usually $100,000 worth. A round lot is often referred to as a normal trading unit and is contrasted with an odd lot.

Is owning 100 stocks too many? ›

It's a good idea to own a few dozen stocks to maintain a diversified portfolio. If you load up on too many stocks, you might struggle to keep tabs on all of them. Buying ETFs can be a good way to diversify without adding too much work for yourself.

How many stocks are in a 100K portfolio? ›

So I would recommend no more than 50 stocks and or ETF's. That's 2K each on a 100K portfolio or 10K each on 500K. And if you want to cheat and overload on your proven favorites, just pretend they represent 2 or 3 or 4 positions and then be sure to make them earn their keep.

Is 20 stocks a lot? ›

At 20-25 stocks, you've captured all the potential benefits of diversification with even the right stocks. Few people need this many positions but it's the maximum needed positions that will still be of any benefit to the stock investor.

Is a lot 100 or 1000 shares? ›

A lot in terms of options represents 100 shares of the underlying stock but forex is traded in micro (1,000 of base currency), mini (10,000 of base currency), and standard lots of 100,000.

What is 0.01 lot size in dollars? ›

This lot size accounts for 1,000 base currency units in every forex trade, determining the amount of a particular currency. Suppose you're trading the USDJPY (U.S. Dollar-Japanese Yen) currency pair, and the base currency is the USD. In that case, a 0.01 lot is equivalent to 1,000 U.S. dollars.

How do you calculate stock lot size? ›

Position sizing based on risk percentage

Once they have established the amount they are comfortable risking, they can calculate the appropriate lot size for a specific trade using the following formula: Lot Size = (Risk Amount / (Stop Loss in pips * Pip Value)).

What determines the size of a stock? ›

Market capitalization, or "market cap," represents the total dollar market value of a company's outstanding shares of stock. Investors use this figure to determine a company's size instead of sales or total asset value.

How do you determine lot size of options? ›

SEBI, as the apex body, is responsible for deciding lot size. At first, the indicative lot size was Rs 2 lakh. Later SEBI specified the lot size to determine the notional value. When multiplied by the current market price, the lot size should give a value above Rs 2 lakh.

How do you understand lot sizes in trading? ›

A lot is a standardized unit of measurement used to describe the volume or size of a particular trade in the forex market. Investors have four lots to choose from and the standard lot is the largest, representing 100,000 units of the base currency in a currency pair.

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