As many as 70 companies are expected to sign up with the CDSL to meet the requirement of the Sebi directive ahead of the compulsory dematerialised trading beginning November 29. Sebi has said that all the companies in the dematerialised list have to compulsorily sign up with the National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL) and the CDSL. Registrars and other intermediaries are also required to do so with both the depositories.

Sebi has expanded the list of compulsory trading for retail investors by 96, to add up to a total of 200 scrips. This will be implemented in two phases-- 56 scrips beginning November 29, and the remaining on January 17.

According to a source, 70 companies have to sign up with the CDSL before the November 29 deadline.

Months after its launch, the CDSL was languishing without much business. With the push from Sebi, it will be in a position to capture a share of the market. The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has also instructed its brokers who are also depository participants to ensure that all the companies in the A group are signed up with both the depositories.

Meanwhile, the BSE has announced the programme for compulsory dematerialised trading. In its circular to the members, it has fixed November 22, the first day of settlement No. 36/99-2000, as the effective date for compulsory dematerialised trading.