A lower risk appetite among investors has driven gold, traditionally a safe-haven asset, to record highs so far this year. Fuelled by geopolitical tensions in West Asia, robust demand from central banks - particularly in Asia - and US President Donald Trump's tariff volleys, spot gold touched an all-time high of $2,956 per ounce on February 24 in the international markets.
rediffGURU Vipul Bhavsar answers readers' personal income tax queries.
The pre-sales volume of Godrej Properties (GPL) for third quarter of the financial year 2025 (Q3FY25) declined 6 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) -- down 21 per cent quarter-on-quarter (Q-o-Q) -- to 4.1 million square feet (msf), resulting in a pre-sales value of Rs 5,450 crore, down 5 per cent each Y-o-Y and Q-o-Q. About 77 per cent came from newly launched projects. For 9MFY25, pre-sales were up 48 per cent Y-o-Y to Rs 19,300 crore.
The value of the foreign portfolio investors (FPI) holdings in the domestic equities reached $592 billion in three months ended June 2021, a surge of 7 per cent from the preceding quarter, according to a Morningstar report. This was largely on the back of robust net inflows from FPIs, coupled with the strong performance of the Indian equity markets. "As of the quarter ended June 2021, the value of FPI investments in Indian equities stood at $592 billion, which was considerably higher than the $552 billion recorded in the previous quarter, a spike of around 7 per cent," the report noted. As of June 2020, the value of FPI investments in Indian equities had been $344 billion.
Inflows into equity mutual funds (MFs) continued their strong momentum in July, despite the market volatility triggered by the Union Budget.
Last week was unprecedented in the history of the Indian mutual fund industry-- the net asset values (NAVs) of nearly a dozen liquid-plus funds fell.
Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding net asset value-guaranteed products, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority is standardising the method of calculating NAV under the unit-linked plans of life insurance companies.
Ask rediffGURU and PF and MF expert Janak Patel your mutual fund and personal finance-related questions.
Sources said SBI Funds Management will distribute the proceeds to unitholders following liquidation of some securities held under the scheme.
'A 20 per cent equity allocation to ESG funds is a good start.' 'As more evidence on ESG performance builds, investors may increase allocations.'
These products contribute almost 20 per cent to the total premium collection of life insurers.
Most investors should have a 5% to 10% allocation to gold for diversification. They should stagger their investments to mitigate timing risk.
Defence stocks have been on a tear, with the Nifty India Defence index hitting all-time highs. Over the past week, the index jumped around 7 per cent, far outpacing the flat performance of the Nifty 50. Over the past month, its 12 per cent gain has trebled the benchmark's return.
The Union Cabinet has cleared disinvestment of the country's largest insurer LIC and a panel headed by the finance minister will now decide on the quantum of stake dilution, a senior official said on Monday. The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) had in January appointed actuarial firm Milliman Advisors LLP India to assess the embedded value of LIC ahead of the IPO (initial public offering), which is touted to be the biggest public issue in Indian corporate history. The Budget amendments to the LIC Act has been notified and the actuarial firm is expected to finalise the embedded value of the life insurer. Under the embedded value method, the insurance company's present value of future profit is also included in its present net asset value.
The mutual fund (MF) industry added a record Rs 10 trillion to its total assets under management (AUM) in 2023, taking the cumulative tally past the Rs 50 trillion mark for the first time, in December. This 20 per cent growth in AUM last year was fuelled by a robust rally in the equity markets and a record Rs 1.62 trillion net inflows into active equity schemes. In another first, the AUM linked to systematic investment plans, too, hit Rs 10 trillion by the end of 2023.
Dwaipayan Bose examines the seven important factors that investors about exchange traded funds must know before they start investing/trading in them.
When Deutsche Asset Management Company (AMC) listed its debt scheme - DWS Fixed Term Fund-Series 43 (growth option) - on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on April 4 this year, little did they know that within 24 days the scheme's net asset value (NAV) would double to Rs 20.
Don't buy mutual funds for these wrong reasons. Here's what you should be aware of while investing in mutual funds.
Capital markets regulator Sebi has amended norms to bring buying and selling of mutual fund units under the ambit of insider trading rules. At present, insider trading rules are applicable to dealing in securities of listed companies or those proposed to be listed, when in possession of Unpublished Price Sensitive Information (UPSI). The units of mutual funds are specifically excluded from the definition of securities under the rules.
The stocks are largely from sectors such as chemicals, finance and cement, which struggled earlier but the worse seems to be behind them.
Highest NAV guarantee products accounted for a fifth of Ulip sales after pension plan sales dried up following the stringent norms on Ulips from September 2010.
The last four years, the best for corporate profits in a long time, have not been as impressive for corporate capital expenditure. The combined net profits of India's top listed companies excluding banks, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) increased at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32.4 per cent since FY20, a sharp jump from the 7.4 per cent in corporate earnings between FY14 and FY19.
The Centre is considering relaxing some norms that led to the failure in attracting bids for assets of Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL) as they look to restart the auction for their non-core assets. The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) had listed six properties of BSNL and MTNL for sale through its new e-bidding portal, developed by state-run MSTC, but the auction failed to garner an adequate interest. DIPAM had asked government-appointed property consultants to identify issues in the bidding criteria for resolution.
The ranking is done on following parameters depending on the asset class.
Overseas investors questioned the difference between the net asset value of Unitech's Alternative Investment Market-listed Unitech Corporate Parks Plc fund and what the traded price of the units reflected. Company sources, however, maintained that investors were merely seeking information to understand the variance between the NAV of the fund, which was about 140 pence, and what its unit's trading price of 11.5 pence reflected.
The Monthly Income Plans (MIPs), which had invited a lot of investor ire last year when they skipped regular dividend payouts, are back in favour.
The value of foreign portfolio investors' (FPI) holdings in the domestic equities reached $584 billion at the end of December 2022, which was 11 per cent lower from preceding year, according to a Morningstar report. This was largely on low return given by the Indian equities and exodus of foreign money from the domestic stock market. Going by the report, the value of FPIs investments in Indian equities dropped to $584 billion as of December 2022 as compared to $654 billion at the end of December 2021.
Despite two interest rate cuts from the Fed, concerns about the strength of the economy and the persistence of the credit crunch have so far kept high-yield bonds -- or junk bonds -- under pressure. Look at the closed-end funds, in particular. The gap between the value of the bonds held by these funds -- their net asset values -- and their market price is at historic highs.
DIIs owned equities worth Rs 73.5 trillion, just 1.9 per cent less than FPIs. This marks a significant change from a decade ago.
After life insurance products, the sector's regulator is now turning its attention to unit-linked insurance products (ULIP) that guarantee the highest net asset value (NAV) over its term.
The key highlight Reliance Life Insurance Highest NAV Advantage Plan is that it offers guarantee on maturity with the highest net asset value per unit achieved during the entire 15 years policy term, Reliance Life Insurance said in a statement.
Analysts assert that Vedanta Group's plan to demerge India-listed Vedanta Limited into six listed entities will not resolve the debt problem of its promoter entity, Vedanta Resources (VRL). They suggest that additional asset sales or stake sales by promoters will be necessary to repay the debt. Vedanta is already considering the divestment of its iron-steel division and its copper plant.
UTI Mutual Fund recently launched Gold Exchange Traded Funds and many more companies plan to follow suit. Get the lowdown.
These are schemes launched by mutual fund houses, wherein, one can invest only during the new fund offer period.
The best deal for an investor will come from a mutual fund that has higher NAV appreciation and Sharpe Ratio and lower Standard Deviation.
Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) has increased its stake in Bharti Airtel, India's largest mobile service provider, to 32.15 per cent from 32.04 per cent.