Broker Association survey flags tech surge among brokers; algos, AI drive spend push

Broker Association survey flags tech surge among brokers; algos, AI drive spend push

• 91 percent of brokers plan to boost tech spending by 2026
• Algorithmic trading and AI hiring are key industry trends
• Compliance and cybersecurity remain top concerns for brokers

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Broker association Association of NSE Members of India (ANMI) has highlighted a key shift towards a technology-led broking ecosystem, with 91 percent of firms planning to increase technology spending in 2026, according to its StockTech 2026 survey released today, in Mumbai.

The report highlights aggressive modernisation across the broking industry, with nearly half of surveyed brokers (46 percent) planning a significant jump in tech budgets. Algorithmic trading is emerging as a focus area, 36 percent of firms have already deployed algo systems, while 40 percent plan to prioritise advanced trading strategies in 2026.

The digital pivot is also fuelling hiring, with 66 percent of respondents actively recruiting IT talent to support AI and algorithmic integration. At the same time, compliance remains a key concern, with 51 percent of firms citing regulatory requirements as the biggest hurdle in scaling algo trading. Real-time risk surveillance (21 percent) and cybersecurity (17 percent) are also key priorities.

API-led infrastructure is rapidly becoming foundational, with about 64 percent of brokers using APIs extensively or to some extent for functions such as risk management and reporting.

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Unveiling the StockTech 2026 survey report at the event, Sunil Kadam, Executive Director at the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), said the regulator is increasingly deploying AI-driven tools for investor outreach and verification processes, including pilot initiatives linked to the SEBI Check facility. He added that AI could enable multilingual investor engagement and reshape market business models. Kadam said, “As an industry and a regulator, we are constantly working together. We have adaptable technology for reaching out to the masses and for investor education and investor awareness. We are using technology for authentication and verification of funds transfer and we will constantly work towards protecting the interest of the investors”.

Ashish Chauhan, Managing Director and CEO of the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE), also highlighted the exchange’s focus on technology. Chauhan said the exchange is preparing for nanosecond-level response times in equities and derivatives. Chauhan said, “In less than two months on April 11, 2026, our response time in equities and equities derivatives will move to nanoseconds — one second equals 100 crore nanoseconds. Our currency segment is already operating at that level and equities will soon follow. We are building the capability to handle 10 crore transactions in a single second”. He also flagged the growing importance of compliance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act and said the exchange is exploring agentic AI collaborations with global academia.

The report emphasises the democratisation of advanced tools but notes that retail adoption of algorithmic trading remains early. Only 8 percent of brokers reported high retail uptake, though 32 percent are planning or considering client-facing APIs to meet rising demand. ANMI WIRC chairman Arjun Shah said the industry is evolving from “gatekeepers to enablers”, with technology simplifying market access while integrity remains central to innovation.

ANMI, which represents nearly 900 stockbrokers across exchanges including NSE, BSE and MCX.

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