Last year budget!

Last Budget had been a little harsh on the stock market from the taxation side. But I would still like to look at the positives from a small retail investor point of view: Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG) Exemption limit has increased from Rs.1,00,000 to Rs.1,25,000. Owing to increase in Short Term Capital Gains (STCG), there will be hopefully less volumes in trading and more in investments. Owing to increase in STT on F&O, there will be hopefully less volumes in Futures & Options trading and thereby less losses for the small retail traders. This will hopefully influence small retail investors to go for long-term value & growth investing where they can create substantial wealth over the long run. Long-term investing has a horizon of minimum 3-5 years, so LTCG comes into the picture only then not before. That too if you sell. If you continue to hold a high-quality stock, then there is NO LTCG, and you enjoy the compounding effect.