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Home > Business > Personal Finance



Personal Finance



February 25, 2005



An open letter to M Damodaran
In what is probably your first major decision since joining Sebi as its chairman recently, you have deferred the deadline for individuals to conform to the new regulations requiring them to quote a MAPIN number for all securities transactions over Rs

Investing? Better be cautious!
Initial public offerings have managed to catch the fancy of both asset management companies as well as investors. But the recent slew of IPOs is more of the 'unconventional' type vis-à-vis the plain vanilla ones.




February 24, 2005



Is your insurer making losses? Don't worry!
Policyholders need to focus on the capital infused by shareholders as this demonstrates the strength of the company and its ability to write more business.




February 22, 2005



The benefits of rupee cost averaging
There are many investors who like to park their money as a lumpsum into an asset class and forget about it. They don't want to worry about what's happening to it on a daily basis as long as the investment earns them some returns in the long haul.

Buying mutual fund IPOs? Careful!
Mutual fund IPOs have done very well in the last year and a half, garnering record subscriptions.

Is it wise to invest in pension plan?
Pension plans are a safety net for individual's retirement since India does not offer a social security net

Why should I buy insurance?
A term policy is a cheaper

Unit-linked insurance: All charged up
ULIPs provide insurance cover with investment potential but they seem to charge more for bundling benefits.

4 great tips on home loans & tax
A home loan helps you reduce your tax burden besides offering the pleasure of owning a house and living in it.




February 21, 2005



Check out the best small savings schemes
For those looking at simple tax saving instruments, small saving schemes continue to be an attractive option.

The less taxing options
It is that time of the year when everyone is looking for ways to save taxes. Small savings schemes, infrastructure bonds and insurance policies are among the most popular tax saving investments among marginal tax payers.




February 19, 2005



Is investing in gold a good idea?
Gold should ideally not account for more than 5 per cent of your long-term investment portfolio




February 18, 2005



All you want to know about Reliance equity fund
Reliance Equity Opportunities Fund (ROEF) is an open-end diversified equity fund that seeks to generate capital appreciation

Wanna save tax? 4 great tips
It's the tax-planning season and investors are busy making investments in public provident fund, National Savings Certificate and infrastructure bonds to claim tax rebates under Section 88 of the Income Tax Act.

Investing in ULIPs? Read the fine print
Unit linked insurance plans have been a rage over the past year. Individuals have been buying ULIPs like they were going out of fashion. But do these individuals really know where their premium money goes?




February 17, 2005



Investing in IPOs? A few tips
Taking advantage of this gung-ho environment in the stock markets, many companies are timing their initial public offers during this period

Personal loans: Read the fine print
Mahesh Palkar, a resident of Nerul in New Mumbai, was in dire need of about Rs 100,000. Taking a personal loan was the only option left for him. But he wanted the money at a very low interest cost.

7 golden investment rules!
Take a careful look at these investing rules before you venture into the stock market.




February 16, 2005



Sensex 7500? Media bulls are back!
Valuations are not outlandish yet and the India story is still very strong, but investing in shares just because FIIs will buy in a big way may not be the best move.

Property: Where to invest in 2005
The residential sector will continue to outperform other segments for next two to three years.

7 golden investment rules!
Take a careful look at these investing rules before you venture into the stock market.




February 15, 2005



You a woman? Banks have great deals for you
There is a one per cent reduction in interest rate for girls and a further one per cent reduction if the student/guardian starts repaying the loan during the study period.

Income tax: What may change in 2005!
Let us delve into an expert's mind as he dreams of brighter days of income tax in India.

Can mediclaim ensure free treatment?
Cases of customers, despite having paid additional premium for cashless treatment, failing to get the services promised are innumerable.




February 14, 2005



Keyman insurance: It pays to be insured!
Keyman insurance can be defined as an insurance policy where the proposer as well as the premium payer is the employer, the life to be insured is that of the employee and the benefit, in case of a claim, goes to the employer.

Markets continue northbound journey
Stock markets continued their northward journey this week. And mutual fund investors were not complaining!

What to do for low-risk investing!
2004 could have set the tone for 2005 and it may not be smooth sailing for risk-averse investors.




February 11, 2005



How to invest your money in 2005
As an investor, are you ready to benefit from the positives and to counter the negatives of 2005? Here's a guide to help you with your investment decisions.




February 10, 2005



How to get lowest home loan rate!
A 10-year home loan today can be available for 7 per cent from a leading housing finance firm. This means a retail customer can borrow at just 46 basis points more than the central government's 10-year bond rate of 6.54 per cent!

Why PF is your best investment
The Employees' Provident Fund continues to offer the best and assured interest rates in town -- jacked up to 9.5 per cent, with best wishes from the Leftists.

Open letter to the SEBI chairman
One only hopes that the SEBI will take measures to encourage participation from the retail investor.




February 08, 2005



Buying a home in wife's name? Wait!
When it comes to income tax, the husband and wife are not one mind and one soul.

How many photo ID cards must a man have?
Life would be a lot simpler if we had a competent government authority issuing a single photo identity card that could be used for multiple purposes.

Invest in ELSS and save tax
A query on the ways to save income tax often elicits standard responses: Invest in Post Office savings schemes. Invest regularly in the public provident fund. Or, buy some insurance policies.




February 07, 2005



What was January like for MFs
January 2005 was clearly a testing month for most investors; however, such times can often demarcate serious long-term investors from those who are looking to make a quick buck.

A profitable week for MF investors
Good times for mutual fund investors are continuing.




February 04, 2005



Can you claim tax cut on donations?
Individuals can claim tax benefits on eligible donations to charities. Deductions are available under Section 80G to any taxpayer i.e. individual - resident and non-resident, firm, HUF, company.

Tax sops on Mediclaim
An assessee is entitled to certain deductions from his taxable income under Chapter VI A of the Income Tax Act.

How good is Principal FA Fund?
If you are an investor who can handle the risks associated with investing in sector funds, PFAF could be a good fit in your portfolio.

Sector funds: Great returns at a price!
A lot of investors find the appeal of a sector fund irresistible, which is fine if you have understood the risk implications of investing in them.

6 ways to evaluate your fund manager
Analyse your fund manager well before taking a call on which fund to invest in. After all, it's your hard-earned money going into the scheme.




February 03, 2005



Why PPF investment is a great idea
Considering the current level of interest rates, the public provident fund (PPF), which offers 8 per cent tax-free interest, is indeed very attractive. Therefore, strive to invest the maximum permissible Rs 70,000 in it every year.

Don't miss this mutual fund scheme
Investors should, however, remember that in a bear phase, there might be fewer arbitrage opportunities available. This is a market reality.




February 02, 2005



FAQ: Income tax & real estate
What are the tax implications when you invest in real estate or any immovable property? Read on to find out.

FAQ: Income tax & gold
What are the tax implications of investing in gold bonds issued by the State Bank of India? Is there any tax liability associated with investing in gold? Read on to find out.




February 01, 2005



No Mapin ID? You can't buy stocks!
Investors entering into a securities market transaction of a value of Rs 1 lakh or more need to quote their unique identification number from April 1, 2005, says the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

Investing in bonds? What about tax?
What are the tax benefits investors get on investing in deposits and bonds? Read on to find out. . .

Insurance & income tax rebates
Many people invest in insurance with a view to saving taxes. So what are the tax rebates available to an individual in respect of premium paid on life insurance policies?




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