The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) is all set to kick off retail trading in government securities on Thursday after finance minister Jaswant Singh does the honours at the formal launch.
The National Stock Exchange is expected to take a few days to do so. But the big question in the market today is: will small investors flock to the trading ring to put money into the benchmark 10-year 9.81 per cent 2013 gilt which has seen a roller-coaster ride in recent times?
If the feedback from brokers is any indication, retailing of gilts has not enthused small investors. The government debt market will not be able to steal the thunder from the equity market, at least in the near future.