Circular Trading

Trading

Quick Definition

Circular Trading is a fraudulent practice where the same shares or goods are repeatedly bought and sold among a group to create artificial volume or price movement.

Detailed Explanation

In Circular Trading, a group of traders or entities coordinate transactions among themselves to give the illusion of high trading activity or rising prices.

There is no real change in ownership or value, but it misleads investors into believing there is genuine demand.

Such practices are illegal and strictly monitored by the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

How Circular Trading Works

  1. A group of traders agree to trade among themselves
  2. Shares are repeatedly bought and sold
  3. Artificial volume and price increase is created
  4. Retail investors are attracted and misled

Why Circular Trading is Dangerous

  • Misleads investors
  • Creates fake market trends
  • Leads to financial losses
  • Damages market integrity

Circular Trading vs Genuine Trading

  • Circular Trading: Fake, manipulated
  • Genuine Trading: Based on real demand and supply

Example

"A group of traders repeatedly buys and sells the same stock among themselves to inflate its price—this is circular trading."

← Back to Financial Dictionary