Frequently Asked
Questions

Downstox is a free platform for Indian retail investors to compare MTF (Margin Trading Facility) margin rates across brokers like Upstox, Zerodha, Groww, and Dhan. It also offers NIFTY PE ratio tracking, mutual fund analysis, world market monitoring, and AI-powered trading strategies.

Yes, Downstox is completely free. You can compare MTF margins, track PE ratios, analyse mutual funds, and monitor world markets without any charges or subscription. Trading features require a free Upstox account connection.

Yes. Downstox uses Upstox's official OAuth 2.0 for authentication — we never see or store your Upstox password. All data is transmitted over HTTPS. We do not sell or share your personal data with third parties. You can revoke access from your Upstox account at any time.

No. Downstox is not a SEBI-registered investment advisor, research analyst, or stockbroker. It is a free tool that displays publicly available data and facilitates order placement through your own Upstox brokerage account. All investment decisions are your own.

Downstox compares MTF margin data from Upstox, Zerodha, Groww, and Dhan. For trading, order placement, and live price data, it currently supports Upstox via their official API. More broker integrations may be added in the future.

MTF (Margin Trading Facility) allows you to buy stocks by paying only a fraction of the total value — the broker funds the rest. For example, if a stock has 20% MTF margin, you only need to pay ₹20 to buy ₹100 worth of shares. The broker charges interest on the funded amount. MTF is useful for leveraged positions but carries higher risk.

Intraday margin is for positions opened and closed on the same day — no interest is charged. MTF positions can be held overnight or for multiple days, but the broker charges daily interest (typically 0.03%–0.05% per day or ~12–18% annually) on the funded amount. MTF margins are usually higher than intraday margins.

Different brokers offer different MTF margin percentages for the same stock. A lower margin means you can take a larger position with less capital. For example, Upstox might require 25% margin while Zerodha requires 40% for the same stock. Comparing helps you choose the most capital-efficient broker.

Interest rates vary: Upstox charges ~18% p.a., Zerodha ~18% p.a., Groww ~18% p.a., and Dhan ~15–16.99% p.a. The interest is calculated daily on the funded amount. Always check the latest rates on your broker's website as these can change.

PE (Price-to-Earnings) ratio divides the current stock price by earnings per share. For an index like NIFTY 50, it's the weighted average PE of all 50 constituent stocks. A high PE suggests stocks are expensive relative to earnings (potentially overvalued), while a low PE suggests they may be undervalued. The historical average NIFTY PE is around 20–22.

Compare the current NIFTY PE to its historical average (~20–22). PE above 25 is generally considered expensive, while PE below 18 is considered cheap. However, PE should be used alongside other factors like interest rates, GDP growth, and earnings growth. Our PE tracker shows 20+ years of data with valuation zones marked.

World stock markets are exchanges like NYSE, NASDAQ, LSE, and HKEX where stocks are traded globally. Indian investors should track them because US market movements (S&P 500, Dow Jones) directly affect NIFTY and SENSEX through FII flows. GIFT Nifty serves as an overnight indicator for how Indian markets will open. Downstox tracks 25+ exchanges live for free.

GIFT Nifty (formerly SGX Nifty) is a Nifty 50 futures contract traded at GIFT City, Gujarat from 6:30 AM to 11:30 PM IST. It trades much longer than NSE (9:15 AM – 3:30 PM) and acts as an overnight indicator — if GIFT Nifty is up before market open, NIFTY 50 is likely to gap up. Downstox shows GIFT Nifty live on the World Markets Dashboard.

Key timings in IST: NSE/BSE 9:15 AM – 3:30 PM | GIFT Nifty 6:30 AM – 11:30 PM | Tokyo 5:30 AM – 11:00 AM | Hong Kong 7:00 AM – 11:30 AM | London 1:30 PM – 10:00 PM | Frankfurt 2:30 PM – 11:00 PM | NYSE/NASDAQ 7:00 PM – 1:30 AM next day. Downstox shows all timings in IST automatically.

When S&P 500 or Dow Jones closes sharply down overnight, FIIs (Foreign Institutional Investors) adjust their India positions, often causing NIFTY and SENSEX to open lower. A 2% drop in NASDAQ typically impacts NIFTY IT stocks. GIFT Nifty reflects this sentiment before Indian market opens. Track all this on Downstox World Markets Dashboard for free.

Scalp trading is an ultra-short-term strategy where traders profit from small price movements (₹0.50 – ₹5 per share), holding positions for seconds to minutes. Scalpers make 20–100+ trades per day. It requires fast execution, real-time charts, and one-click orders — which is what the Downstox Scalper Terminal provides for free.

The Scalper Terminal is a free, professional-grade trading interface with live candlestick charts (1m/5m/15m/30m/1D), real-time WebSocket price feed, one-click buy/sell, keyboard shortcuts (B=Buy, S=Sell, Enter=Execute), market depth (Level 2), positions panel, and order book. It runs in your browser — no installation needed. Trades execute through your Upstox account.

Scalpers hold for seconds–minutes targeting ₹0.50–₹5/share with 20–100+ trades/day. Day traders hold for minutes–hours targeting ₹10–₹100/share with 2–10 trades/day. Both close positions before market close. Scalping requires a faster terminal with one-click execution, while day trading can work with standard platforms.

Click the "Connect" button on Downstox. You'll be redirected to Upstox's official login page. After you log in and authorize Downstox, you'll be redirected back with access to trading features. Your Upstox password is never shared with Downstox.

Paper trading (virtual mode) simulates real trades without using actual money. The AI strategy tracks virtual positions using live market prices, calculates P&L, and maintains trade history — exactly like real trading but with zero risk. It's perfect for testing strategies before going live.