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.
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.
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.
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.
Young borrowers have the opportunity to get bigger loans because age is on their side.
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.
They are aggressive going through the financial details of the customers. All indications that life is going to get tougher for potential home loan borrowers.
The decline in stock values has created room for the issue of fresh participatory notes, but there are not many takers. P-notes are off-shore derivative instruments issued to foreign investors having securities as underlying. Sebi had banned the issue of derivative P-notes on October 25 last year. Brokers have started focusing on direct FII money rather than the P-note investments. New P-note regime & FII registration procedures are being implemented based on Sebi circular.
The Union Budget 2008-09 will leave more money in every pocket.
Move follows 26 per cent acquisition in Ahmedabad's NMCE.
C S Bhave has to work on the homework of his predecessor to speed up the processes in the market. He also has to contend with the bitter legal battle between Sebi and his organisation NSDL.
In spite of FM's assurance, experts feel that US recession will have definite repercussions on the Indian economy. But it will continue to enjoy a positive run.
Says Gul Teckchandani, investment advisor, "It is that time when you should have a shopping list ready. Look for large-cap liquid stocks that have fallen more than the index and invest 10 to 15 per cent of your cash in them. Also, continue buying if the market falls further."
Last year money-making hardly took any effort, this year you will need to pick and choose.
Fresh investments through participatory notes (P-notes) are flowing into the cash market in huge quantum. The rush of investments is because foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have enough headroom to invest through P-notes.
Stocks lead the chart with 50 per cent returns, followed by real estate and gold. The markets may be expecting a correction now, but the year has been a spectacular one for those who had put money in stocks. Equities gave a return of 49.64 per cent, the same as in the last three years.
For prospective buyers, the advice is simple. Go ahead and buy because there is no indication of where the interest rate will be in the next six months.
Foreign institutional investors, who are big players in the futures and options segment, are making a killing in the domestic market by using arbitrage as a weapon in the spot and derivatives trade as well as structured derivative deals. The arbitrage game is on despite the curb on the issue of P-notes or participatory notes by the Securities and Exchange Board of India recently.
The Indian markets look extremely stretched. The Sensex valuations have gone up 19.28 per cent to 26 per cent since the lows triggered by the sub-prime crisis two months ago. Taiwan and Kospi, on the other hand, have not changed much. A Citi group report suggested that the RBI might hike CRR rates to suck out excess liquidity from the system. An increase of one per cent would draw out $7 billion from the system.
You could invest if you have missed the earlier rally, you could churn your portfolio to move towards better quality stocks or funds and you could even clear your loans by some profit booking
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances