SEBI has introduced new norms to be followed in case of listing of all new IPOs. The recently concluded MCX IPO would be the first one to be subjected to the new regulations on the listing day. Let's try to understand how these regulations may affect the listing price movements of MCX and future IPOs in the Indian market

According to the new norms mandated by SEBI for IPOs, investors must note that the shares offered under the IPO on the listing day, would initially go through a pre-open session period which will last for an hour between 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM. During this period, investors would be allowed to punch in orders, modify them and/or cancel them during the first 45 minutes, i.e. upto 9:45 AM. The rationale behind such a move is aimed at protecting the interest of the retail shareholders from artificial price-rigging on the bourses.

According to the new norms mandated by SEBI for IPOs, investors must note that the shares offered under the IPO on the listing day, would initially go through a pre-open session period which will last for an hour between 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM. During this period, investors would be allowed to punch in orders, modify them and/or cancel them during the first 45 minutes, i.e. upto 9:45 AM. The rationale behind such a move is aimed at protecting the interest of the retail shareholders from artificial price-rigging on the bourses.

However, the crux of the new norms introduced by SEBI states that all the IPO listings on the bourses would be controlled by circuit limits right from the listing day. According to SEBI regulations, in case the equilibrium price (price at which the bid rate matches with the ask rate) is discovered during the pre-open session, the price band for normal trading session shall be 20 per cent of the equilibrium price. In case the equilibrium price is not discovered, then the 20 per cent circuit limit would be applicable on the issue price. While the above mentioned rules are in place for companies with issue sizes in excess of Rs 250 crore, the ones with issue size up to Rs 250 crore would have set circuit limits of 5 per cent either on the equilibrium price or the issue price as stated above

MCX IPO, which will list its Equity Shares on the exchanges on Friday, March 9, 2012, will also be the first company to list its shares under the new SEBI regulation of having a mandatory call auction session in the first hour

According to the new regulation envisaged by the market regulator SEBI, there would be a price discovery mechanism in place for IPO listings through a call auction in the first hour of trade. Based on the price arrived at through the call auction between 9:00 am and 10:00 am, there will be a 20% circuit filter on the stock for the rest of the session.

Thus, for instance, if in the first hour of trade, MCX gets a base price of Rs.1400, then the stock price can hover 20% on either side, i.e. in the range of Rs.1120 to Rs.1680 during the rest of the trading session. If the base price is discovered at Rs.1500, then the stock price can roam around in the range of Rs.1200 to Rs.1800 and so on. Check back Indian IPO Blog for the latest updates on listing price and other info on MCX IPO!