The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has experienced a remarkable fivefold increase in foreign investor participation, with the count rising from 100 to 520 within a year, primarily driven by the popularity of Sensex options. S. Ramamurthy, BSE's Managing Director and CEO, noted this growth during an investor call, highlighting that many foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) are adopting longer-term trading strategies, which could enhance market depth and increase the premium to notional turnover ratio of Sensex options.

In FY26, BSE's equity options turnover reached ₹48.2 trillion in premium terms, with the exchange's market share climbing to 25.3%, up from 12.6% the previous fiscal year. The rising FPI count is expected to further deepen the derivatives market, as many FPIs utilize longer-dated options for hedging their cash market portfolios. Additionally, the number of brokers registered with BSE grew to 557 in FY26, up from 446 the previous year, with plans to increase this number to 700 to broaden market participation.

Under Ramamurthy's leadership since January 2023, BSE's market capitalization has surged to ₹1.56 trillion, reflecting a significant re-rating in its valuation. The exchange reported a 61% year-on-year increase in net profit, reaching ₹797.3 crore for the March 2026 quarter, driven by higher transaction fees resulting from increased trading volumes.