An IPO (Initial Public Offering) is when a company offers its shares to the public for the first time. You can invest in an IPO through brokerage accounts by applying for shares during the subscription period.

As a shareholder, you typically have voting rights in company decisions, such as electing the board of directors or approving major corporate actions. Voting rights allow you to have a say in the company’s direction.

Dividends are payments made by a company to its shareholders from its profits. They provide a steady income stream and are an indicator of a company's financial health and profitability.

Technical analysis involves studying historical price and volume data to identify patterns and trends. It can help traders make informed decisions on entry and exit points for stocks.

To build a diversified portfolio, allocate investments across various sectors like technology, healthcare, consumer goods, and finance. This diversification reduces risk by spreading exposure across different industries.

Consider factors like the company's financial health, growth potential, industry position, management quality, and valuation metrics. Diversification across sectors and geographies is also important.

Risk management involves strategies to protect your portfolio from significant losses, such as setting stop-loss orders, diversifying investments, and assessing your risk tolerance.

Bonus shares are additional shares given to existing shareholders at no extra cost, based on the number of shares they already hold. They increase your total shareholding, potentially enhancing future returns.

Over the long term, equity investments can offer significant capital growth, benefiting from compounding returns and the potential outperformance of stocks compared to other asset classes.