The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), Asia's oldest stock exchange, has said that its second quarter net profit declined marginally despite a 35% jump in total revenues. According to media reports, BSE is preparing for a listing and expects to cut its dependence on revenues from cash trading over the next two years.

For the quarter to end-September, BSE said its net profit declined 4% to Rs55.50 crore from Rs57.80 crore while total revenues rose to Rs140.50 crore from Rs103.60 crore, for the same period last year.

For the first half of FY10, the exchange's total revenues increased to Rs256.20 crore. During FY09, BSE reported total revenues of Rs421.10 crore.

BSE said that during the second quarter, its average daily turnover rose to Rs6,024 core from Rs5,186 crore a year ago.

Revenues from BSE's trading members scaled up to Rs39 crore during the September quarter which in the corresponding previous quarter stood at Rs35.40 crore.

The Exchange spent more on IT-related expenses as its expenditure on computer technology more than doubled to Rs21.80 crore from Rs10.80 crore last year in the same quarter. The earnings per share for the quarter stood at Rs4.70 as against Rs5.37 last year.

During the second quarter, the Exchange's paid-up share capital stood at Rs10.30 crore as against Rs0.80 crore a year ago. The reserves of the Exchange stand at Rs1,717.95 crore as on March 2009.

The exchange, which earns almost all its revenue on the trading side from the cash equity market, is looking to win over investors by offering better technology and products across asset classes.
— Yogesh Sapkale