New demat account openings in India fell to 2.3 million

New demat account openings in India dropped to 2.3 million in February 2025, the lowest since May 2023. This decline reflects negative investor sentiment and regulatory changes affecting market participation, down from 2.8 million in January. Trading activity also decreased, with Average Daily Turnover falling 4% month-on-month to Rs 289 lakh crore. Retail cash trading dropped 12%, while retail futures and options trading fell 6%. Despite these declines, commodity trading volumes increased, reaching a new peak. The mutual fund industry saw a 1% drop in total assets under management, but systematic investment plan inflows remained steady at Rs 26,000 crore.