Can I Short Sell In Delivery Trading (2024)

Before we understand short selling in delivery, let us spend a moment understanding the rolling settlement system in India. Indian markets currently operate on a T+2 rolling system. That means if you buy or sell a stock in the morning and do not square off before the end of trade on the same day, then it compulsorily goes into delivery. If you sell and don’t square off before the end of trading on the same delivery, you need to give delivery of shares. If you cannot give shares, it becomes short delivery. Short selling in delivery can have a steep cost as in such cases the stock could be for auction and you may end up bearing a huge loss. But that is another matter.

Short selling in delivery

Intraday traders are OK in the Indian market, either it can be bought and sold or sell and buy. But if you sell and don’t give delivery, it becomes short selling in delivery. This system means that if shares are purchased the client must pay the full amount and take delivery in Demat account. More importantly, if shares are sold for delivery, the client has to deliver shares to the exchanges to be transferred to the corresponding buyer. Failure to do so becomes short delivery or short selling in delivery.

Let us quickly go back to our rolling settlement system. Since our focus is on short-selling delivery, we will only look at the sell-side of an equity transaction. For example, if you sold shares on T day, then your trade is settled on T+2 day i.e., after 2 working days. If you don’t give delivery of shares by then, it is short selling in delivery. The buyer has already bought and paid for the stock, so the exchange will auction these shares and buy from the highest bidder and give them to the buyer. The auction loss will be borne by you, the person who is responsible for short delivery.

Let us now understand short delivery with a live example. You sold 500 shares of Tata Motors believing you already have shares in your Demat account. In case you sold without having delivery, it becomes short delivery. In such cases, the buyer will have to get the delivery so the buyer will get it from the auction. The auction losses are debited to the seller who is guilty of short delivery. Even if you did short delivery of shares by mistake, you still need to compensate the exchange for auction losses, since the exchange clearing corporation guarantees every trade in the market. It must be remembered that in the event of short delivery, exchange delivery to the buyer will only be on T+3 day.

Of course, there are in-built checks and balances to prevent short delivery. For example, online trading platforms will not allow you to sell the stock unless there is clean delivery available in the Demat account. But one area where such short delivery risk does arise is from BTST transactions. When traders buy on T day and sell on T+1 day, the assumption is that the stock they buy gets delivered on T+2 day. If that stock is short delivered to the buyer, then they may end up with short delivery. That is the risk you run.

Delivery trading strategies

Short delivery is more of a procedural problem. It is also instructive to look at what are the delivery trading strategies. For taking delivery trading, traders can adopt a trader strategy or an investment strategy that is long-term in nature. Alternatively, traders can adopt a growth approach to delivery or a value approach to delivery. The choice is huge and the choice is entirely in the hands of the trader.

What are charges for delivery trading

Delivery trading entails brokerage and a host of statutory levies like STT, GST, stamp duty, exchange charges, SEBI turnover tax, etc. Normally, most brokerages charge higher brokerage for delivery trading and lower brokerage for intraday trading. However, of late the discount brokers have turned the model on its head. They are charging for intraday trading and F&O trading but keep delivery trading free of cost.

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As an enthusiast deeply immersed in the intricacies of financial markets, particularly in the context of the Indian market, I bring a wealth of firsthand expertise to the table. Having closely followed the evolution of trading systems and practices, I can confidently delve into the topic at hand—short selling in delivery.

The article touches upon the rolling settlement system in India, specifically operating on a T+2 basis. This means that trades executed in the morning must be squared off before the end of the trading day, or else they automatically transition into a delivery-based settlement. If one sells without squaring off and fails to deliver the shares by the end of T+2, it results in short delivery, potentially leading to substantial losses.

Let's dissect the key concepts introduced in the article:

  1. Rolling Settlement System (T+2):

    • In the Indian markets, trades are settled on a T+2 basis, meaning the settlement occurs two working days after the transaction.
  2. Short Selling in Delivery:

    • This occurs when an investor sells shares without delivering them within the specified timeframe. The article emphasizes the potential risks, including the stock going for auction, leading to significant losses for the seller.
  3. Auction Process for Short Delivery:

    • If a seller fails to deliver shares by T+2, the exchange conducts an auction to buy shares from the highest bidder, with the losses incurred in the auction borne by the seller responsible for short delivery.
  4. Example of Short Delivery:

    • An illustrative example involving the sale of Tata Motors shares without proper delivery is presented. This highlights the consequences of short delivery, with the buyer obtaining shares through an auction process.
  5. Short Delivery Risk in BTST Transactions:

    • The article mentions the risk of short delivery in transactions where traders buy on T day and sell on T+1 day, assuming the bought stock will be delivered on T+2. If the stock is short delivered, it leads to short delivery.
  6. Delivery Trading Strategies:

    • The article briefly touches on delivery trading strategies, suggesting traders can adopt either a short-term or long-term strategy, growth or value approach, based on their preferences and goals.
  7. Charges for Delivery Trading:

    • Delivery trading involves various charges, including brokerage, STT, GST, stamp duty, exchange charges, and SEBI turnover tax. The article notes that while most brokerages traditionally charge higher fees for delivery trading, some discount brokers are offering free delivery trading.

By understanding these concepts, traders can navigate the complexities of the Indian market, particularly in the context of short selling in delivery, and make informed decisions to mitigate risks and optimize their trading strategies.

Can I Short Sell In Delivery Trading (2024)

FAQs

Can I Short Sell In Delivery Trading? ›

Short selling is only available under intraday trading. In delivery trading, short selling is not available. In delivery trading, share is bought first, and the delivery of share takes place in T+2 days, where T is the day of transaction.

Can short selling be done in delivery? ›

If you sell and don't square off before the end of trading on the same delivery, you need to give delivery of shares. If you cannot give shares, it becomes short delivery. Short selling in delivery can have a steep cost as in such cases the stock could be for auction and you may end up bearing a huge loss.

What is the penalty for short delivery? ›

This can lead to extra payment by the Exchange to purchase the shares of the sellers. The extra expenses are to be paid by the person who has defaulted by short delivery. Apart from the extra expenses, the defaulter also has to bear the penalty of . 05% of the value of the stock on per day basis.

Is short selling possible in swing trading? ›

Short selling stocks overnight is risky, difficult, and costs more than going long because of fees and interest. To go short for days, weeks, or months seems insanity based on overnight news causing big gap-ups in the price of the stock.

What is short selling not allowed? ›

Existing Indian rules do not allow so-called naked short trades, where an investor sells short without having already borrowed or located the shares or securities to be sold.

What are the rules for short selling? ›

Generally speaking, investors cannot short a stock unless they can borrow the necessary shares, or prove that they can obtain the shares within the clearing time of the short sale (the day of the trade plus two business days).

What is the new rule for short selling? ›

First proposed in late 2021 and early 2022, the rules will require investors to report their short positions to the agency, and companies that lend out shares to report that activity to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), a self-regulatory body that polices brokers.

Is failure to deliver illegal? ›

The process involves selling shares one does not own and later buying them back to cover the position. This exposes the seller to significant financial risks, including “failure to deliver” if the shares cannot be procured. In terms of legality, naked short selling is generally banned.

Can you short without buying? ›

Money can be made in equities markets without actually owning any shares of stock. The method is short selling, which involves borrowing stock you do not own, selling the borrowed stock, and then buying and returning the stock only if or when the price drops. The model may not be intuitive, but it does work.

What is bad delivery in stock market? ›

: a tender of securities on a stock exchange that are not in proper transferable or negotiable form or not in compliance with the terms of a contract or the rules of an exchange.

What is the maximum gain when you short sell a stock? ›

The maximum profit you can make from short selling a stock is 100% because the lowest price at which a stock can trade is $0. However, the maximum profit in practice is due to be less than 100% once stock-borrowing costs and margin interest are included.

Which type of trading is most profitable? ›

The defining feature of day trading is that traders do not hold positions overnight; instead, they seek to profit from short-term price movements occurring during the trading session.It can be considered one of the most profitable trading methods available to investors.

How profitable is short selling? ›

However, a stock can't go lower than zero, so downside on a long position is capped at a 100% loss. For short sellers, that dynamic is reversed. If a stock goes to zero, a short seller makes a 100% return. However, a short seller's potential losses are theoretically unlimited.

How many times can you short sell? ›

This is the opposite of a traditional long position where an investor hopes to profit from rising prices. There is no time limit on how long a short sale can or cannot be open for. Thus, a short sale is, by default, held indefinitely.

Can you lose money short selling? ›

Losses for short-sellers can be particularly heavy during a short-squeeze, which is when a heavily shorted stock unexpectedly rises in value, triggering a cascade of further price increases as more and more short-sellers are forced to buy the stock to close out their positions.

Can you short sell without margin? ›

Short selling is an advanced trading strategy involving potentially unlimited risks and must be done in a margin account. Margin trading increases your level of market risk.

How do you take delivery of short sell in equity? ›

To short in Equity (EQ) segment, the order must be placed using intraday order type, i.e. MIS (Margin Intraday Square Off) or CO (Cover Order). This is because short positions in the equity segment cannot be carried or held overnight.

What is short delivery in trading? ›

Short delivery is an event when a trader fails to deliver the required number of shares on the settlement date. There are various reasons why this scenario might occur. One can be the loaned shares' inaccessibility or errors committed during the settlement process.

When can I sell in delivery trading? ›

Delivery Trading

In delivery transactions, an investor is not required to buy and sell shares within the same day. In such transactions, the individual can hold the shares for a longer-term depending on his/her willingness. The duration can range from two days to even two decades or more.

Can you short sell in after hours? ›

There are, though, several differences between regular session trading and after-hours trading. For example, in the after-hours session, not all order types are accepted. Traders can only use limit orders to buy, sell, or short.

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