Bulk Deals vs Block Deals: What's the Difference?
Bulk deals and block deals are both large trades that exchanges require to be reported, so the market can see when big players move. They sound similar but are defined differently.
Bulk deals
A bulk deal is a trade (or set of trades by one client in one stock on one day) that adds up to more than 0.5% of the company's listed shares. Bulk deals happen in the normal market during regular trading hours and are disclosed after the session, with the client name, quantity, and price.
Block deals
A block deal is a single large trade — typically a minimum value threshold set by SEBI — executed in a special, separate block-deal trading window (short sessions in the morning and afternoon). It lets two parties transact a big quantity at an agreed price without disrupting the open market.
Why they matter
Both reveal that a large investor is entering or exiting a stock — often an institution, fund, or promoter. Pairing them with insider disclosures gives a picture of smart-money activity. See how to track deals via API.