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Our Bureau

Mumbai , Jan. 16

AN overwhelming 95 per cent of the women investors in equity markets only lend their names to open trading accounts with broking firms, but the investment decisions are taken by the male members of their families, says a survey conducted by retail broking firm Geojit Financial Services Ltd (Geojit) among its 2,000 women clients, most of them from Mumbai.

On a positive side, 59 per cent of those polled said they wished to get involved and participate in the investment decisions, if given proper education and training on the stock market nuances, according to Mr C.J. George, Managing Director, Geojit, while sharing the findings of the survey, ahead of opening its first all-women branch in Vile Parle, Mumbai, on Monday.

This is the second all-women branch by Geojit, after it opened a similar branch in Kochi, about three months ago. Mr George said the company planned to open eight more all-women branches in Ahmedbad, Bangalore, Chennai, among other cities, in one year.

Mr George said of the 59 per cent, above 49 per cent were employed women.

The survey found that women investors, who did not wish to get involved in the decision making process and wanted themale members to do everything, constituted 30 per cent.

Mr George said the company's attempt was a "hand-holding exercise" aimed at educating the prospective women investors on the advantages and risks of stock markets and other investment avenues such as mutual funds and exchange traded funds.

"Investment holds the same benefits for both men and women, but the degree of involvement in this field is heavily skewed towards men. There is a great need to correct this disparity," he told presspersons here.

Ms Jaya Jacob, Chief of HR, Geojit, said the company's first initiative proved to be very encouraging with about 200 clients doing transactions at the all-women branch in Kochi.

Like in its Kochi branch, the Mumbai branch would also hold investor classes on Saturdays to educate women on the stock market operations. It hoped to attract 1,000 clients in a year, Mr George said.

Mr Satish Menon, Chief Operating Officer, Geojit, said the company planned to open 50 full-fledged branches in the next fiscal, across the country. The Kochi-based broking firm currently has about 325 branches.

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