Technology

Digital & portable storage
Remember the days when you stored data in floppy discs and felt mighty pleased at your tech awareness? Take a look at some of what’s available today.

2008-04-03

Digital

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Stocks

Pharma stocks back on track

Pharma stocks have begun to rally again, on the back of some support in the Budget; read on to know more.

Stock watch as on March 7, 2008

The small-cap universe is a treasure trove of bargains - provided you can spot them. We tie up with Trisys Research to identify stocks that aren't in the limelight, but have the potential to give high returns.

Staying the course during slowdown

Weighing the prospects of a US recession with continuing growth in developing countries, Dipen Sheth suggests investing in stocks with sustainable profits.

Your Wallet

Bargain buy: Refrigerator

Price is not the same as value.The most expensive product isn’t always the best value for your money. This section highlights the least expensive model in a product category. If price is of no consequence, check out the most expensive model.

Mutual Fund

Mutual funds: What investors want

Money Today brings you excerpts from a McKinsey survey on the opportunities for asset management companies in India. The survey attempts to find answers on what investors really look for when choosing a fund.

Magnum Tax Gain performs well

SBI funds top both categories— equity diversified and tax planning schemes — proving that pedigree does count. Over a five-year time frame, Magnum Tax Gain has performed better than the top performing equity diversified scheme.

'Know risks and invest regularly'

Ritesh Jain, head of fixed income, Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund suggests small investors to invest regularly and know their financial goals.

Powerful growth, what next?

Infrastructure funds, unlike other sector funds, have so far given twin benefits of diversification and high returns. But it’s time now to pick and choose.

Riches from resources

Natural resource is a broad canvas and it could be a sure winner for the next three years or more. You can invest in this, especially now that the global meltdown has brought down prices.

Real Estate

Cost of ownership = Cost of capital + ...

Whether you can afford a house also depends on how the cost of finances (loan) and your income level have moved. Look around this story to understand the complete picture.

The best of both worlds

You have a house and the bank pays you to live in it. Reverse mortgages look like the perfect way to unlock your property’s value.

Which developer to bet on

You might not have the money or the inclination to invest in real estate. But you could capitalise on the boom in the property markets by picking up stocks of real estate developers. Money Today helps you in identifying decent developer from a fly-by-night company?

Brokers' verdict

We reached out to 37 real estate agents across 30 cities during the month of February to measure the ground feel. Read broker's verdict in the story.

Connectivity gains

The biggest value enhancer of your house is its location, which invariably means its access-or connectivity. A house 10 km away from the city centre, but connected by a metro line is as valuable as the one half the distance but with poor public transport.

Real estate 2008: Buy, sell, hold?

We decipher contrary market signals to tell you what’s in store for real estate this year. Brokers' verdictCost of ownership = Cost of capital + ...The rise of small townsThe best of both worlds

Why a crash won't happen

If housing prices are high today only because they will be higher tomorrow while fundamentals do not justify the rise, then a bubble exists. The measure of a real estate bubble is simple: property prices rise faster than incomes.

The reality behind realty

The supply overhang seems scary, even as IT and ITeS companies (the prime movers of the real estate space) scale down their growth plans. I fear that not many real estate companies will be able to hold their prices.

The rise of small towns

For investors, the entry price point should be the starting point. If you are looking for properties in big cities, focus on emerging corridors and not on established locations.

Now and Then

Boiling over

Food price inflation is generally associated with rising prices of food grains and vegetables. But these prices are cyclical—they rise and they fall. One food item, the price of which has risen steadily over the years, is milk.

Travel

The colour of savings...

...is green. By opting to stay in an eco-friendly hotel, you not only save a pretty penny but also earn brownie points for saving the planet.And you can also notch up green points that can be redeemed for attractive gifts.

Expert View

'I'm not sure of a price fall'

Real estate prices have been soaring for some years now, but there’s always the nagging fear that this is just a bubble. Rakesh Rai spoke to Renu Sud Karnad, executive director, HDFC, to find out what the country’s biggest home finance company thinks of the current environment.

Magic of stock picking

Following the benefits from the new Uttaranchal plant in 2008-9, Riddhi Siddhi Gluco Biols may report an EBITDA higher than Rs 100 crore for the coming financial year on a market capitalisation less than Rs 250 crore.

Upfront

Market driver

Looking for one central theme for Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign in 1992, political strategist James Carville had come up with a line that became a memorable slogan: ‘It’s the economy, Stupid”. For a few days after the announcement of January figures of Index of Industrial Production (IIP) this slogan reflected the mood and movements on the stock markets.

Portfolio Doctor

Juvenile investing

Our portfolio experts suggest that Gurgaon-based Bhanu Sharma must plan his investments and increase equity exposure. Read on to know all about Sharma's portfolio.

Sector Scenario

Financial Services: The growth merchants

Money Today examines the rather underresearched but promising brokerage industry and finds that some firms are financial services powerhouses in the making.

Tax

Can I claim the exemption for travel expenses of my parents?

An employee is entitled to leave travel concession from his employer for himself and his family for travelling to any place within India.

BASICS

Home loan: Hidden costs

Home loan is a great personal finance tool that helps you create your biggest financial asset—your house. But, it also comes with hidden terms and conditions, which if not checked can add to your borrowing costs. Money Today reveals 7 such less-known factors.

Query Corner