The top-up policy is cost effective for both users and companies.
Banks are willing to help cardholders to settle dues.
Weighed down by mounting outstandings and non-performing assets (NPAs), credit card companies are taking strong measures that include slashing new card issuances and credit limits for existing customers.
Investors globally have found solace in gold in the last one year when major world economies slipped into recession. Sample this: According to World Gold Council data, investment by exchange traded funds in gold was 150 tonnes in the third quarter
Both property prices and interest rates have fallen sharply.
A market-savvy investor can also use this opportunity to make a quick buck. That is, purchase the share at a lower price from the market and sell it back to the company at a higher price.
With the rising cost of health cover, insurance companies are looking at innovative products to attract customers. The latest offering is top-up insurance that comes at almost half the premium.
For instance, in early December, SBI was offering 10.5 per cent on a 1,000-day FD. This was lowered to 10 per cent in mid-December. A fortnight later, in January, the bank is offering only 9 per cent for the same tenure. For investors, who missed the bus in October and November, this is certainly bad news. However, all isn't lost. There are some segments still where the rates on offer still look interesting.
According to sources, the family has pledged majority of its shareholding and real estate assets to various institutions. Two institutions, Maharashtra government's financial arm, Sicom, and IFCI, confirmed that Maytas promoters had pledged shares around a year ago to raise resources. IL&FS too has similar exposure to Maytas, said sources. However, this could not be confirmed.
In the last six months, things have changed for the better for the home buyer. Most of the cities are witnessing a sharp drop in prices, almost back to where they stood in December 2006. While most developers and brokers are unwilling to admit this, sit across the table to negotiate and you just might be surprised.
If you are sitting on idle cash, it's better to invest the same in income funds and earn over 10 per cent returns, say investment advisers. They believe that falling interest rates will jack up returns from bonds and investors can earn high returns if they deploy the money with a horizon of six months to a year.
An official of one of the biggest travel agencies in the country said that internationally, exchanging currency at the airport is most expensive as they charge higher rates. This is because travel agencies have to pay higher lease rentals at the airport. Also, the authorities share revenues.
Experts explained that normally, the IT department sends notices to only those people whose yearly credit card transactions cross Rs 200,000.
However, the norms have become extremely stringent. The overall tight situation in the credit market has hit consumers quite badly.
Security experts say the first rule to avoid falling into a hacker's trap is to never give out passwords, pin and other personal details to anyone or any website. Never respond to emails that seek personal information. When you access your net-banking facility, check for security certificates. Change your password often.
When EMIs exceed your salary, it means trouble. Here's some help.
Regular investments in Section 80C instruments earn better returns as well as reduce the pressure on your funds. Instead, most of us end up in a last-minute scramble to invest to save tax in the month of February or even March. "This is why tax-saving products such as equity-linked saving schemes and unit-linked insurance product have the highest sales in the month of March," says Vikas Vasal, executive director, KPMG.
The four-day property exhibition, which concluded on Sunday, saw prospective home buyers returning 'disappointed'as they found the property prices 'unaffordable' and discounts 'meaningless'.The sales were down more than 60 per cent at the 13th Real Estate and Housing Finance exhibition, which was organised by the Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry.
The strategic portfolio should be tinkered with only once in two or three years. Ideally, the trading part should not be more than 5-10 per cent of your total portfolio.
Gold exchange-traded funds are back in the limelight. After a dull three-month period, a sudden slump in the US stock market last week has investors flocking to buy gold. In the past one week alone, gold prices have increased nearly 15 per cent in the international market.
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