Sujata Agrawal

If it’s investment options you want, coupled with experience and advice, welcome to Tata TD Waterhouse Securities Limited, the leading Indian trading house that offers you broking services on the Bombay Stock Exchange as well as the National Stock Exchange.

The company has a basket of services to suit different needs of individuals and institutional investors. These include equity trading, investment advisory services for mutual funds, IPOs, fixed deposits and bonds and trading in government securities. The company has tied up with channel partners such as Sify, Rediff and Moneycontrol to offer their products. Customers can avail of services at commissions that are among the most competitive in the industry.

Among the many value-added services, the company brings out a monthly newsletter called Market Tracker and publishes research reports regularly. Tools such as the personal investment planner (available, both online and offline) offers detailed analysis of various investment options to enable you to determine your optimum investment mix and allocation of funds.

The company started their online trading business just a year ago in May 2001. According to Avijit Bhattacharya, chief marketing officer of Tata TD Waterhouse Securities, the interest has been quite good and they have received many registrations. "We are the only broker who give an auto switchover facility," he adds. This essentially means that the customer is not constrained to either the off-line or on-line channel. He can switch between the net and the phone to trade.

However the response for net trading has been low comparatively. "90 per cent of our customers use the phone." Net connectivity and security reservations are the primary issues that people have, according to Bhattacharya. He adds that Bombay has the most net users but it is slowly picking up. However he feels that even in the future, the focus will be on off-line trading.

The company’s strength lies in the fact that it is a Tata Group company and the technology, processes and control measures are provided by TD Waterhouse, the JV partner of the company, one of the world’s largest retail brokerage houses. A dedicated team of tele callers, business development people and sales representatives ensure that an interested customer is met and an account signed up within 5 days.

For institutional customers, the company offers tailor-made solutions depending on the need and requirements. It also organises seminars on different financial topics to inform and educate customers of investment options available in the market currently.

Equity trading products

EasyTrade

A retail equity trading product, it enables buying and selling of shares on the NSE and BSE with ease and convenience on the trading website, www.tata-tdw.com. No security deposit is required when opening the account but customers are expected to make the payment using the online banking gateway with HDFC Bank when executing a buy order or transfer the requisite shares using the online share transfer facility when executing a sell order.

FasTrade — Regular
It enables buying or selling shares on NSE and BSE either on-line at www.tata-tdw.com or off-line by calling up the dealer at the company’s investment centre or branch office. The customer is required to place a security deposit at the time of opening the account based on which an exposure of upto 4 times the value of the security deposit is allowed.

FasTrade — Premium
Tailored for the active trader, it gives the advantage of lower brokerage rates and a higher exposure (upto 6 times) on the security deposit amount. Customers enjoy special access to dealing rooms at investment centres, where business is conducted through dedicated dealers.

Derivatives Trading
The company offers broking services on the futures and options segments of the NSE and BSE.