Amid a booming initial public offering (IPO) market, banks are pursuing short-term gains. A recent report from markets regulator Sebi has revealed that nearly 80% of banks offload their allotted shares within the first week of listing. Banks’ strategy of quickly selling shares appears to be profit-driven, taking advantage of immediate post-listing price surges, experts said. The report showed that between April 2021 and December 2023, 75% of IPOs delivered positive returns on the listing day. Around 26 IPOs even delivered more than 50% returns on Day 1, enticing investors to book profits early. The trend of quick selling isn’t limited to banks. Retail investors offload more than half of their shares within the first week, reflecting a broader appetite for short-term gains. But why are banks, institutions often perceived as stable, playing the short game? “Banks usually like to churn their portfolio and book profits for equity exposures where they are not strategic investors.