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Cold markets, sizzling properties
Money Today brings you a list of cities where you can find realty bargains which fit your budget and which offer tremendous scope for price appreciation in the near future.

Zeroing in on a second home, abroad
The global downturn has brought down prices abroad; they are lower than rates in many Indian cities. Here’s a look at the best locations and how one can invest there.

2008-10-16

Digital

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Mutual Fund

Protect your capital

Capital protection funds aim to protect your initial investment besides letting you benefit from any surge in the markets. Here’s how they do it.

'Sell at the right time'

Look for opportunities that will pay over the next few years. Infrastructure is still attractive, considering the projects planned and their gestation time, says R K Gupta, Managing Director, Taurus Mutual Fund.

Think before you pick a fund

It could be financially hazardous to randomly pick a mutual fund. The five worst performers in the equity diversified category lost a third of their value in the past year.

Global gains

Money Today-Plexus Management evaluate Birla Sun Life Commodities Equity Fund: go through all the investment options and put your money in the one that you understand the best.

Building a fund portfolio

Don’t invest in mutual funds at random. Money Today lists out a simple three-step process to help you choose the right funds that would will your investments with your financial objectives.

Picking a fund

Mutual fund market has moved from traditional equity and debt schemes to specialised products like fund of funds, arbitrage funds and asset allocation funds. This variety often confuses the people to select a fund that suits their needs.

Stocks

Why Wall Street quaked

We take a look at the reasons behind the latest turmoil in the US and its impact on global markets.

India: tighten your seatbelt

We may not be directly affected by the current crisis in the US. However, FII inflows will be hit and that is bound to hurt the equity and debt markets.

PSU banks doing well

PSU banks have gained in the past 3 months as they don’t have substantial exposure to the US crisis.

Ready with a shopping list

With the stock markets beginning to crack, Dipen Sheth identifies some shares that may be included in the two portfolios and explains the reasons for his choices.

BASICS

Land a good deal

There is uncertainty in the real estate market as prices dip and demand slackens. We tell you why this is still right time to buy and where you can get good bargains.Cold markets, sizzling propertiesZeroing in on a second home, abroad

Market cycles

A bull run or a bear market means at least a 20% change in the index value. Nobody can accurately predict stock market movements, but they can be explained. Here’s what moves the stock markets.

Investment

A goods way of investing

Commodities have outperformed stocks, their returns aren’t linked to other asset classes and they do well when inflation is high. R. Sree Ram assesses the potential of this avenue.

'Currency Futures is an important step towards full convertibility'

NSE managing director & CEO Ravi Narain tells Shruti Kohli that individuals account for nearly two-thirds of the volumes in Nifty futures and believes they will be active in currencies also.

Talk Back

How to compute emoluments payable from CTC

The 'emoluments payable' includes only the basic pay and the allowances (special allowances, HRA, conveyance and telephone) which are paid every month.

Real Estate

What property investors must know

Entering into a real estate investment without any clue about how to go about it is a dangerous thing indeed. Like any other market, real estate has its own peculiarities.

Expert View

Interest rates will come down

My advice to buyers is to purchase a house if they get a good deal and not wait for a correction. Investors should be patient and not panic. Don’t resort to a distress sale of property.

The fall of the giants

By creating instruments that enabled superfast trading out of loans, a huge supply push for mortgage lending was made. But it worked only as long as house prices were rising and interest rates were low.

Careers

Idea that clicked

When Tarun Khiwal chose a predictable career path, he decided to ignore Denis Waitley. The one-time design engineer is now an established photographer. 'Chase your passion, not pension,' he says.

Editor's Note

From the executive editor

The American financial meltdown and its impact on the Indian banking system may force the UPA government to postpone crucial financial sector reforms, which it hoped to pursue in the run-up to the national elections next year.

Portfolio Doctor

Let your money work more

The monthly investment required to meet the goals of Raipur-based Thakur is higher than his current monthly income. So he must maximise the earning potential of his surplus.

New Business

Wise move, winning team

Compelled by a common vision, five friends quit their jobs to launch an IT firm. Five years on, the Rs 4 crore Pennywise is offering cost-effective tech services.

Tax

Can I get tax deductions for repayment of home loan?

You are entitled to two types of deductions. One, on repayment of the principal amount, and the other on the interest paid on the loan.

Technology

Sound bytes

Before you start arguing about the merits of MP3 and AAC, you’d do well to check the three types of digital audio files: uncompressed, lossy and lossless compression.

Upfront

LIC: L&T, ITC, Cipla

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority has decided that LIC and private insurance players must work on a level playing field. The move will reduce LIC’s equity exposure in a company from 30% to 10%.

Now and Then

Cereal killer

While the prices of many food grains and cereals have doubled in the past two decades, those of baby food have increased nearly four times. But most young parents don’t mind paying more for this “essential” item.

My Idea

Sold on robots

Machines proved more than a childhood fancy for Pulkit Gaur, 27, who quit his job and borrowed money from parents to set up Gridbots.

Books

Catching the bear by its horns

The book provides a comprehensive view of how markets become over-valued creating a bubble. It also gives insights into investor behaviour in the bull and bear phases of the markets over the last century, says R. Sree Ram.

Query Corner

What is the real interest charged on credit cards?

Sukumar Chatterjee wants to know how much he will be charged for rolling over the balance on his credit card. Here’s a ready reckoner on the various fees and charges levied on credit cards.

Banking

5 FAQs on online money transfer

RTGS (real-time gross settlement system) and NEFT (national electronic funds transfer) enable instant fund transfer with security.

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