ASM in the Stock Market
ASM is a regulatory framework implemented by stock exchanges like the NSE (National Stock Exchange) and BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) in India. It protects investors from volatility and irregular trading activity in certain stocks.
Additional Surveillance Measure is an initiative by the Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and exchanges to safeguard and secure the interests of investors and enhance market integrity.
Stocks under ASM are divided into two categories, Long-term ASM and Short-term ASM.
Long-Term ASM- Applied to stocks showing consistent unusual activity over a longer period.
Short-Term ASM- Imposed when a stock shows sudden sharp movements in price/volume over a short duration.
ASM Full Form – Additional Surveillance Measure
Table of Contents
Purpose of ASM in the Stock Market
- To alert and protect investors about potentially risky stocks.
- To maintain market transparency and integrity.
- To curb manipulation, speculative trading, and abnormal price movements.
- Safeguarding market integrity and enhancing regulatory surveillance.
ASM does not reflect a company’s fundamentals. A good company can still be included in Additional Surveillance Measure due to speculative trading. Stocks may enter and exit the ASM list regularly depending on trading patterns. Investors must evaluate fundamentals, news, and risk tolerance before investing in such stocks.
ASM in Stock Market
The stock market is a platform where buyers and sellers trade shares of listed companies. It mainly works on:
- Transparency
- Liquidity
- Fair price discovery
- Investor confidence
At certain times, certain stocks experience unusual behavior—sudden price spikes and fluctuations, heavy volumes, or suspicious trading patterns—that disturb the balance of the stock market. This is where Additional Surveillance Measure steps in.
SEBI- Securities and Exchange Board of India
SEBI is the regulatory body for the securities and capital market in India. It was regulated in 1988 and got its legal rights through the SEBI Act of 1992. Its purpose is to protect investors, develop the securities market, and regulate its functioning so that it runs fairly, transparently, and efficiently.
- It protects investors from fraud, malpractices, and insider trading, and it imposes penalties for violating market rules.
- Introduces measures like ASM, GSM, price bands, etc.
How ASM Helps Manage Market Volatility
Market volatility refers to the degree of variation in stock prices over a short period. It reflects how fast or unpredictable price movements are.
High Volatility = sharp ups and downs
Low Volatility = more stable, steady price changes
ASM acts like a circuit breaker; when a stock becomes highly volatile without any logical reason, SEBI/exchanges place it under ASM to cool it down. It does that by imposing price limits, trade-to-trade settlements, and increasing margin requirements.
Stock Monitoring and ASM
Stock monitoring is the continuous process by which regulators, exchanges (NSE/BSE), and systems keep an eye on price movements, trading volumes, patterns of buying and selling, news, and company announcements. ASM is a direct outcome of stock monitoring. When the monitoring systems detect unusual or risky trading activity, the stock may be placed under ASM.
Monitoring ⇒ Detection ⇒ ASM listing ⇒ Control
For example:
- Stock jumps 70% in 4 days
- No news, earnings, or announcements
- Monitoring flags it ⇒ ASM short-term Triggered
Regulatory Framework in the Stock Market
A regulatory framework is the set of rules, laws, systems, and bodies that govern the stock market to ensure:
- Fairness
- Transparency
- Investor protection
- Market integrity
ASM is a preventive surveillance tool within SEBI’s regulatory framework. Its position in the regulatory framework is critical to detect, control, and correct potential abuse of the capital market system.
Stock Price Manipulation
Stock price manipulation is a serious issue in financial markets, and understanding how it works is key to avoiding traps and appreciating the role of tools like ASM. Stock price manipulation is the artificial inflation or deflation of a stock’s price to mislead investors and profit from the price movements. It’s illegal, unethical, and damaging to market integrity.
Takeaway for Traders
- Stay away from stocks with hype but no fundamentals
- Check for ASM/GSM status on NSE/BSE before buying
- Don’t trust tips on social media or Youtube
- Study volumes, promoter holding, and news sources carefully.
Trading Restrictions
Trading restrictions are rules or limits imposed by regulators (like SEBI) OR EXCHANGES (NSE/BSE) on certain stocks or traders to control excessive volatility, prevent manipulation, protect retail investors, and maintain fair and orderly markets.
Market Surveillance
Market surveillance and ASM are both regulatory mechanisms used in financial markets to ensure transparency, prevent market manipulation, and protect investors. Market surveillance involves monitoring trading activity on stock exchanges to detect and prevent:
- Insider trading
- Price manipulation
- Abnormal volume or price movements
- Fraudulent activities
- Market surveillance systems use algorithms and data analytics to flag suspicious trading patterns for further investigation by regulators or exchanges.
Purpose of Market Surveillance
- Maintain market integrity
- Ensure investor confidence
- Enforce fair trading practices
Indian Stock Exchange
India has two major stock exchanges:
- NSE (National Stock Exchange)
- BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange)
These exchanges are regulated by SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India). Their primary functions include
- Facilitating buying and selling of listed securities
- Ensuring transparency and fair price discovery
- Protecting investor interests
Both BSE and NSE are places where you can buy and sell stocks. BSE is the oldest, whereas NSE is the largest and most traded.
They help companies raise money and give investors a place to invest and trade their money.
In conclusion, the Additional Surveillance Measure is a crucial regulatory tool implemented by Indian stock exchanges like BSE and NSE, under SEBI’s guidance, to ensure market integrity and protect investors. By identifying and monitoring stocks showing unusual price or volume behavior, ASM helps reduce speculative trading and potential market manipulation.
Overall, ASM plays an important role in maintaining transparency, stability, and investor confidence in the Indian capital markets.
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Who imposes ASM?
ASM is implemented by NSE and BSE under the supervision of SEBI.
How long does a stock stay under ASM?
There is no fixed duration. It depends on the stock’s behavior and review by exchangers.
Why is a stock placed under ASM?
- Unusual prices
- High volatility
- Sudden surge
Disclaimer – This article is for educational purposes only and does not intend to substitute expert guidance. Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks. Please read the scheme-related document carefully before investing.
Assistant Vice President – Research & Analysis
Akash Gupta heads the Research & Analysis department at BFC CAPITAL, where he combines in-depth market insights with strategic analysis. He holds multiple certifications, including:
- NISM-Series-XIII: Common Derivatives Certification
- NISM-Series-VIII: Equity Derivatives Certification
- NISM-Series-XXI-A: Portfolio Management Services Certification
- IRDAI Certification
With his expertise in equity, derivatives, and portfolio management, Akash plays a key role in providing research-backed strategies and actionable insights to help clients navigate the investment landscape.
