Cover Story

Buying concerns
Do you feel confident enough to purchase a car or laptop or would you rather save because of the slowdown? We look at recent surveys to discern consumers' attitudes on spending.

2009-04-30

Digital

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Insight

Pharma stocks, the best bet

Pharma stocks have fared well in the past year due to the relatively defensive nature of their business.

Stocks

Bear markets often witness sudden upswings and the investors mistakenly believe them to be the return of a bull run. The graphs below show that such short-term rallies are much steeper in Indian markets than those in the US.

How robust is the rally?

Markets have rebounded by over 2,000 points, or 25%, from their recent lows. We analyse whether the uptrend is sustainable in the long term.

The rebirth of Wealth Zoom

Although our fund manager has taken tentative investment steps, he is convinced there will be aggressive churning — stock changes as well as trading in and out of the same stocks.

Smart Spending

How to be a smart spender

You don't have to give up all the good things in life just because the economy is down. All you need to do is make small, but long-term, changes. Where to cut costs? Buying concerns

Where to cut costs?

Spending right is also about slashing costs at the right places. Here are simple strategies to help trim monthly expenses without compromising on your lifestyle.

Let there be light

Be prepared to tackle power outages this summer. Here are some back-up options that will ensure you are never in the dark.

Expert View

Focus on big spenders

What is really important is that hidden behind the consumer statistics of most marketeers is a segment that is largely ignored.

How consumers react

There has been a clear change in the consumer spending pattern in India, with various socio-economic classes (SECs) responding differently.

Is it time to invest?

Another bear run in an already battered global economy is not only likely — given the largescale failure that might result from misguided attempts to shore up the banking system — but it can also prolong the pain, where investing today will seem like putting good money after bad.

Financial Planning

Ladies' special

Women are being courted with select financial offerings, but some may not be worth their cost.

Insurance

To exit a life insurance policy or not?

If you want to surrender a policy that neither offers enough protection nor high growth, here are the things you should consider.

Upfront

Scanning insurance rights

In case of health insurance policies, much of the disgruntlement and many disputes have risen from lack of transparency.

Travel

Why travel in the summer of 2009?

A holiday this season might be the cheapest in two years as hotel rates and air fares plummet to suit recession-hit travellers.

Technology

Cool contraptions

If the thought of summer has you sweating, chill. While some of these gadgets are powered to help you keep your cool, literally, others will eat into the long hours by keeping you sufficiently entertained.

Tax

Can I claim deduction on interest earned from NSCs?

The investment made by an individual in an NSC qualifies for deduction under Section 80C. The maximum amount that can be claimed as deduction under this section is Rs 1 lakh.

What if you miss March 31

Don't panic if you have overshot the tax payment deadline. We tell you how to put your taxes in order.

Mutual Fund