{"id":343410,"date":"2026-11-11T10:35:57","date_gmt":"2026-11-11T05:05:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/?p=343410"},"modified":"2026-11-11T10:35:57","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T05:05:57","slug":"why-retail-fo-traders-lose-money-sebi-data-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/why-retail-fo-traders-lose-money-sebi-data-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Retail F&O Traders Lose Money: What SEBI’s Own Data Reveals About Options Trading"},"content":{"rendered":"

SEBI data: about 91% of individual F&O traders lost money in FY25, with net losses of Rs 1.06 lakh crore. FY26 losses were Rs 91,685 crore. Average loss per trader above Rs 1 lakh.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Quick Answer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Why retail F&O traders lose money comes down to cost, gearing and time decay working against the buyer. SEBI studies found that about 91% of individual F&O traders recorded net losses in FY25, with total losses of about Rs 1.06 lakh crore, and FY26 data again showed losses of Rs 91,685 crore. Transaction costs, short-dated options that decay quickly, oversized positions and emotional exits explain most of it.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Why retail F&O traders lose money is no longer a matter of opinion, because the market regulator has measured it every year with broker data. The numbers are consistent: retail traders lose money in large numbers, and a large majority of individual traders end the year with a net loss, and the average loss is bigger than many people’s monthly salary.<\/p>\n

This article walks through the SEBI figures, explains the five main reasons the pattern repeats, and ends with practical steps if you still want to trade derivatives.<\/p>\n

Click Here – Get Free Investment Predictions<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n

Table of Contents<\/p>\nToggle<\/span><\/path><\/svg><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n