Which is a good product to take? Mutual fund + term insurance or unit linked insurance plans? Well it depends on the knowledge level of the buyer, and the smartness of the salesman (in India calling people who sell also financial planner is a regrettable fashion statement). Well, let us take a case of you […]

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Ben Bernanke, Alan Greenspan, P Chidambaram – all three are men with above average intelligence, and reasonably competent in their jobs. However, one thing common to all 3 of them is all of them are trying to play with the rules of economics. They do not let market forces play to the fullest extent. Alan […]

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Yesterday a simple question in the parliment made Icici bank scrip lose about 10% of its value – and recovered 5%. What really happened is a simple accounting necessity for marking down the investment. Let us take an example, I have “bought” a CDO (collatarised debt obligation)- this is  a bunch of borrowers of a bank securitised […]

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There are many companies which have given fantastic, scorching returns. Microsoft, GE, Berkshire Hathway….are some examples. Berkshire Hathway, well er is a fund..or so you thought. Let me tell you, it is not. Mr. Buffet is a brilliant businessman, fantastic stock picker, (fantastic bargain picker – look at the recent offer to pick good bonds […]

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I have been in the markets for a real long time. As a friend says when we entered the market flying was considered dangerous and sex was considered safe! I started learning about something called PRICE-DIVIDEND RATIO. I was told dividends are the only thing that a small investor knows for real, so he should […]

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What a sensational rumour! The sensex is down because a big group which was holding a lot of share across various counters today continued selling! There was a vested interest for a lot of people – a big power IPO has many stakeholders you see. So all the kings men and all the kings horses […]

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