New Delhi, May 15 -- Imagine a tightrope walker in a storm-that's akin to promoters of several BSE-listed companies in the March 2025 quarter. Buffeted by volatile markets, they sharply rejigged their pledged shareholdings, a tell-tale sign of rising financial pressure. A deep dive byMintinto 3,716 BSE entities reveals this dramatic churn, particularly highlighting the growing strain on smaller players as they navigate the unpredictable economic winds.

While the number of companies where promoter pledging exceeded 90% dipped slightly to 34 in Q4FY25 from 35 in the December quarter and 40 a year ago, the trend still highlights persistent stress. "Promoter pledging signals corporate finance stress and governance risk. A high pledge indicat...