NSE to Launch Electronic Gold Receipts, Revolutionizing Digital Gold Trading
Overview
National Stock Exchange (NSE) is preparing to introduce Electronic Gold Receipts (EGRs), enabling digital trading of gold via demat accounts. CEO Ashish Chauhan confirmed efforts to resolve Goods and Services Tax complexities. This move aims to enhance efficiency in gold holding and trading, similar to equity markets. Updates also cover electricity futures, social stock exchange, SME IPO reforms, and bond index futures.
Digital Gold Trading on the Horizon
The National Stock Exchange (NSE) is actively developing a system to introduce trading in Electronic Gold Receipts (EGRs), according to Managing Director and CEO Ashish Chauhan. This initiative seeks to dematerialize gold, allowing investors to trade gold digitally through their demat accounts, similar to how stocks are managed.
Navigating Regulatory Hurdles
Chauhan highlighted that the implementation of EGRs faces challenges primarily stemming from Goods and Services Tax (GST) complexities. Discussions are underway with stakeholders, including the Commodity Participants Association and the Central Board of Direct Taxes, to streamline these tax issues and facilitate smoother execution.
Broader Market Developments
Beyond gold, Chauhan provided updates on other exchange initiatives. Electricity futures are demonstrating robust performance, nearing parity with spot market volumes. The Social Stock Exchange, launched in 2019, has facilitated capital raising for social enterprises, with NSE already seeing significant prospects for upcoming projects.
Stricter SME Listing Norms
NSE has tightened regulations for its SME platform, NSE Emerge, now evaluating companies based on free cash flow instead of just profits. This has led to fewer but higher-quality listings, with a notable percentage of companies successfully transitioning to the main board, fulfilling the platform's objective of providing essential capital access.
