According to managing director & CEO, SHCIL, BV Goud, the company has alsoapplied to the BSE and the NSE for their permission to act as clearingmember for derivatives trading as and when the required regulatory frameworkis put in place. The company also has plans to go for marketing of variousmutual funds and government securities through its retail chain ofoffices.

Under its online services, a beneficiary account holder with SHCIL canregister on SHCIL's website online.stockholding.com as a member. The membercan then get access to view his latest holding and transactions statementsover the Internet. According to the company, this will virtually eliminatethe problem of delays associated with receiving such staements throughordinary mails or through fax and also reduces the cost of receiving suchreports.

Another important feature is the facility for downloading beneficiaryaccount opening forms and demat request forms for investors. SHCIL also hasplans to make available relevant information and opening manual through theinternet for investors. Termed as Infopack, according to the company, thiswill also enable first-time entrants to operate without the need fortelephonic queries and personal visits.

SHCIL has also introduced loan against demat shares facilities to itscustomers. Under this facility, the company gives its customers thedifferent options that are forwarded by the banks which currently havesinged up with SHCIL to offer this facility through its offices. Under thisfacility, all the documentation and loan processing fomalities would behandled by SHCIL for a nominal charge.

During the first eight months of fiscal 2000, SHCIL has already handledbusiness worth double the sum it handled in fiscal 1999. During the currentyear SHCIL has already handled business worth Rs 51,761 crore of whicharound 37 per cent, in value terms, was from the retail segment. In absoluteterms while the retail segment accounted for business worth Rs 19,106 crore,that from the institutional segment was at Rs 32,655 crore.