Aathira Varier, Abhishek Kumar

Stories by Aathira Varier, Abhishek Kumar

Mishaps push up helicopter insurance premiums

Mishaps push up helicopter insurance premiums

Rediff.com   27 Jun 2025

Additionally, rates in the aviation sector are also expected to increase due to huge claim outgo in the Air India crash.

Mutual Fund Cash Exposure Declines For The First Time In Six Months

Mutual Fund Cash Exposure Declines For The First Time In Six Months

Rediff.com   27 Jun 2025

The top 20 fund houses held 6.8 per cent of their portfolios in cash as of May 31, down from a record high of 7.2 per cent in April 2025.

$150 Million Insurance Claims Loom After AI 171 Crash

$150 Million Insurance Claims Loom After AI 171 Crash

Rediff.com   23 Jun 2025

The claims will include three kinds of liabilities: Damage to the aircraft; loss of lives who were aboard the aircraft; including the crew members; and third-party liability because of loss of lives where the aircraft crashed; and cargo liability.

'The demand for health insurance is fine'

'The demand for health insurance is fine'

Rediff.com   22 Jun 2025

'The retail industry is still growing in double digits.'

Will ATMs Dispense Rs 100, 200 By September?

Will ATMs Dispense Rs 100, 200 By September?

Rediff.com   18 Jun 2025

Filling of Rs 100 and Rs 200 notes result in faster depletion and more frequent cash replenishment. This will cost banks and managed service providers more.

Debt funds now look to accruals as interest rate cut cycle peaks

Debt funds now look to accruals as interest rate cut cycle peaks

Rediff.com   17 Jun 2025

With the interest rate cut cycle nearing its end, several debt fund managers are shifting their focus towards interest income rather than betting on duration in anticipation of capital gains.

'Bharti AXA's First Goal Is To Achieve 3x Revenue'

'Bharti AXA's First Goal Is To Achieve 3x Revenue'

Rediff.com   11 Jun 2025

'Our new business premium is around Rs 700 crore, which we want to take to Rs 2,000 crore.'

Equity MF inflows hit 13-month low in May despite market recovery

Equity MF inflows hit 13-month low in May despite market recovery

Rediff.com   11 Jun 2025

Inflows into equity mutual fund (MF) schemes declined in May, logging their lowest tally in 13 months at Rs 19,013 crore. It came even as the gross systematic investment plan (SIP) inflows surged to a record high of Rs 26,688 crore.

Market volatility slows MF investor additions

Market volatility slows MF investor additions

Rediff.com   5 Jun 2025

New investor additions by mutual funds (MFs) have slowed dramatically in recent months, indicating that market correction and a rise in volatility are somewhat dimming the appeal of equity schemes. MFs have onboarded 300,000 new investors in April 2025, the lowest in 22 months.

Equity MF inflows down 3% at Rs 24,269 cr in April

Equity MF inflows down 3% at Rs 24,269 cr in April

Rediff.com   17 May 2025

Inflows into equity mutual fund (MF) schemes declined for a fourth consecutive month in April, even as systematic investment plan (SIP) inflows reached a record high of about Rs 26,632 crore.

Most active equity funds beat benchmarks

Most active equity funds beat benchmarks

Rediff.com   29 Apr 2025

Majority of equity fund managers were able to squeeze in some extra returns over their benchmarks in 2024-25 (FY25). While some managed to do so by delivering outsized returns during the equity market rally in the first half of the year (H1FY25), others succeeded by limiting the downside during the market downturn.

Equity MF inflows drop to 11-month low of 25,082 crore in March

Equity MF inflows drop to 11-month low of 25,082 crore in March

Rediff.com   12 Apr 2025

Inflows into equity mutual fund (MF) schemes declined for the third month in a row in March even though the equity market recovered sharply. Equity MF schemes raked in a net Rs 25,082 crore in March, down 14 per cent from February.

RBI's draft circular seeks to standardise gold loan regulations

RBI's draft circular seeks to standardise gold loan regulations

Rediff.com   10 Apr 2025

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday came out with comprehensive draft guidelines to harmonise and regulate gold loans across all financial entities, including putting a cap of 75 per cent on loan-to-value (LTV) ratio. The draft guidelines also aim to address concerns related to certain lending practices, provide clarity on specific aspects, and strengthen the conduct-related standards in the sector.

Motor Insurance Growth Slows Amid Weak Vehicle Sales

Motor Insurance Growth Slows Amid Weak Vehicle Sales

Rediff.com   2 Apr 2025

'The slowdown in motor insurance premium growth is due to slower growth in vehicle sales. Also, there has been minimal hike in third-party rates in the past three years which is affecting the growth rate of third-party premiums.'

Terrorism Premiums To Drop 15% From April 1

Terrorism Premiums To Drop 15% From April 1

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2025

'India has not faced a major terrorism loss since the Mumbai terrorist attacks in 2008.'

Equity mutual funds cash rich even as inflows decline

Equity mutual funds cash rich even as inflows decline

Rediff.com   25 Mar 2025

Equity mutual fund (MF) schemes were flush with cash at the start of this month, even as fresh investments shrank in February. As of February 28, equity schemes from the top 20 fund houses held 6.8 per cent of their portfolios in cash, up from 6.1 per cent in January and 5.9 per cent in December 2024, according to a report by Motilal Oswal Financial Services.

Meet India's first private reinsurer

Meet India's first private reinsurer

Rediff.com   15 Mar 2025

In Debasish Panda's last board meeting as chairperson of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai), the regulator approved the "R2" licence for Kamlesh Goyal and Prem Watsa-backed Value Attics Reinsurance, making it the first private-sector Indian reinsurer after GIC Re, the public-sector reinsurer. "The authority reviewed and approved the R2 application of Value Attics Reinsurance, making it the first private-sector reinsurer after GIC Re, the public-sector reinsurer.

Why health insurance premium growth is in slow lane

Why health insurance premium growth is in slow lane

Rediff.com   11 Mar 2025

Health insurance premium growth has slowed after touching record highs during the Covid-19 pandemic due to tapering demand from retail consumers amid affordability issues. According to General Insurance Council data, health insurance premiums grew by 10.44 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) in the Apr-Jan period of FY25 in comparison with 20.79 per cent in the year-ago period. It was around 23.57 per cent in FY23, and 25.89 per cent in FY22.

An insurer can now effectively manage market volatility

An insurer can now effectively manage market volatility

Rediff.com   10 Mar 2025

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India's (Irdai's) decision to allow insurers to hedge risks through equity derivatives will help them manage market volatility and protect policyholder returns. However, this move is unlikely to alter their investment strategies.

'Insurance companies will need more capital'

'Insurance companies will need more capital'

Rediff.com   3 Mar 2025

'I now see rates rising again, particularly after recent losses - especially the January wildfires in Los Angeles.'