Joydeep Ghosh, Somasroy Chakraborty And Dev Chatterjee

Stories by Joydeep Ghosh, Somasroy Chakraborty And Dev Chatterjee

Global funds shine amid market chaos

Global funds shine amid market chaos

Rediff.com   25 Jul 2008

In January this year, the stock market started falling. In the following six months, it has lost over 30 per cent. The data on open-ended equity funds show that only a small cluster has managed to wriggle out with very little loss (See table). From a thematic point of view, only global funds have given returns.

Equity-linked FMPs too complex for retailers

Equity-linked FMPs too complex for retailers

Rediff.com   18 Jul 2008

This product was first introduced by ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund (ICICI Prudential FMP Series 33) and Deutsche Mutual Fund in February. Recently, Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund has also floated a similar fund. The Nifty return, multiplied by the participation ratio (that is pre-decided by the fund) is the final returns. In Aviator, the participation ratio is 140-145 per cent, leading to returns of 43.14-44.5 per cent in our given example.

Wadias ignore offer to exit Britannia

Wadias ignore offer to exit Britannia

Rediff.com   11 Jul 2008

In the latest annual report posted on its website, Danone has said it is negotiating with its partner with a view to selling its 25.5 per cent indirect stake in Britannia.

Anil's men skip Mukesh peace meet

Anil's men skip Mukesh peace meet

Rediff.com   8 Jul 2008

A day before the deadline of exclusive takeover talks between Anil Ambani's Reliance Communications and South African company MTN expires, Reliance Industries has invoked the dispute resolution clause of the non-competition agreement against RCom. However, RCom plans to go ahead with its proposed merger with MTN without taking RIL's claim into account.

Here's some relief for home loan customers

Here's some relief for home loan customers

Rediff.com   4 Jul 2008

With rising interest rates and inflation taking a toll on home loan customers, banks are beginning to encourage them to partly prepay their loans. Many of them are doing so without charging them prepayment penalty.

After Esmark, Essar loses Kenya refinery

After Esmark, Essar loses Kenya refinery

Rediff.com   1 Jul 2008

The Kenyan government has dumped the Mumbai-based group in favour of a Libyan company for a 50 per cent stake in a refinery project in Mombasa. Essar officials said they are still negotiating with the Kenyan government so that they can invest in the project.

No escape from price hike: Holcim

No escape from price hike: Holcim

Rediff.com   30 Jun 2008

Swiss cement major, Holcim, promoter of two of India's biggest cement companies, ACC and Ambuja Cements, said there is no escape from increasing the cement prices in the country considering the high energy costs.

How are SIPs taxed? Here's help

How are SIPs taxed? Here's help

Rediff.com   23 Jun 2008

Investors in SIPs should be especially careful because the taxation is done according to the first-in-first-out basis

Ruias, L N Mittal cross swords over Bulgarian firm

Ruias, L N Mittal cross swords over Bulgarian firm

Rediff.com   21 Jun 2008

The Ruias of the Essar group have decided to get into yet another takeover battle. And this time they are taking on none other than Lakshmi Narayan Mittal, the owner of world's largest steel maker, ArcelorMittal, to take over the Bulgarian steel firm, Kremikovtzi AD, an ailing steel mill owned by Mittal's younger brother Pramod Mittal.

Idea: Spice minority owners to get sell

Idea: Spice minority owners to get sell

Rediff.com   14 Jun 2008

The Aditya Birla group's wireless telephony firm Idea Cellular has agreed to buy Spice Communications in a three-stage deal in which minority shareholders of Spice would be given an option either to swap their shares for the Birla group firm or sell them in an open offer.

Birla tower unit may steer Spice buy

Birla tower unit may steer Spice buy

Rediff.com   13 Jun 2008

Telecom to Telekom Malaysia in an attempt to complete the merger, sources involved in the negotiations said, declining to be identified. The group has hired Enam Financial as adviser to the transaction. Investment banking sources said the lawyers from both the parties are now busy structuring the deal so that the acquisition meets all the regulatory norms of the country and the Birlas retain control over Idea Cellular.

Don't exit SIPs in a falling market

Don't exit SIPs in a falling market

Rediff.com   11 Jun 2008

When the NAV falls, you are going to get more units of the fund. That means when the market turns around, you will get much more returns

Idea to invest in Spice network, tech upgrade

Idea to invest in Spice network, tech upgrade

Rediff.com   11 Jun 2008

Idea Cellular, the Aditya Birla group firm that is on the verge of taking over Spice Communications by buying out B K Modi's 41 per cent stake, is sounding out its bankers to raise funds to upgrade in the struggling telecom operator's network and technology.

Emami forces Zandu to drop preferential issue

Emami forces Zandu to drop preferential issue

Rediff.com   7 Jun 2008

Kolkata-based personal care products maker Emami, which made a hostile takeover bid for Zandu Pharmaceuticals, on Friday forced the latter to withdraw a plan to offer preferential shares to its promoters.Zandu had sent notice to the Bombay Stock Exchange late on Thursday evening saying its board would meet to discuss a preferential share issue to the promoters and directors.Emami lawyers swung into action and sent legal notice early on Friday to Zandu's board.

Valuation, low payout hit reverse mortgage

Valuation, low payout hit reverse mortgage

Rediff.com   22 May 2008

In the last couple of years, reverse mortgage (RM) has been touted aggressively as a product that will allow the elderly to unlock the value of their house. In fact, in the last two Union Budgets, the finance minister has made a special mention about it.

Reduced EMIs mean higher payouts

Reduced EMIs mean higher payouts

Rediff.com   16 May 2008

With ICICI Bank recently offering to reduce the equated monthly instalments of existing customers for high tenure loans, many may like to exercise this option because it would reduce their burden for the time being. Also, with the rise in the interest rates in the last couple of years, many have found their monthly EMIs rising by over 15 per cent.

Realty mutual funds only long-term play

Realty mutual funds only long-term play

Rediff.com   6 May 2008

However, financial experts are of the view that though REMFs are good for those who want to participate in the property boom, investors should not look at them as equity funds.

Loan terms get tougher for IIM aspirants

Loan terms get tougher for IIM aspirants

Rediff.com   30 Apr 2008

With the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) hiking their fees, many general category students will have to approach banks for educational loans. Most will also have to furnish collateral to get that all-important loan.IIM-Ahmedabad, for instance, has almost trebled its fees to Rs 4 lakh to Rs 11.5 lakh. IIM-Kolkata has hiked it from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7.5 lakh. Others like IIM Bangalore and IIM Lucknow have hiked it from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 8 lakh and Rs 4 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.

Home loans: Young borrowers have age on their side

Home loans: Young borrowers have age on their side

Rediff.com   21 Apr 2008

Young borrowers have the opportunity to get bigger loans because age is on their side.

Ulips give MFs a run for their money

Ulips give MFs a run for their money

Rediff.com   16 Apr 2008

In the last few years, unit-linked insurance plans (Ulips) have quietly become one of the largest players in the Indian stock market. With a total investment estimated at Rs 1.5 lakh crore to Rs 2 lakh crore, they are almost close to the investment made by equity mutual funds.