Cover Story

Untangle your financial mess
We take you through the problems in seven areas of personal finance and offer solutions. A common thread that runs through these solutions is your need to understand the product.

2009-05-28

Digital

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Economy

Start up in a slowdown

If your idea is feasible and the sector is right, venture capitalists will be ready to fund you, even in a downturn.

Insight

FIIs' stake in Indian markets

Despite the weak fourth quarter results of MindTree, FIIs increased their stake in it because of its better-thanexpected revenue guidance for 2009-10.

Technical analysis of the Sensex

Technical analysis does not help make absolute predictions, but like weather forecasting, it enables the investors to be better prepared for the future. Forecasts for the Sensex depend on the five trends listed below.

Pharma firms fare well

Pharmaceutical companies have fared well in the past year, with four figuring in the top 10 stock list.

When a Ulip is better than a mutual fund

If the tenure is over 15 years and the investor is proactive in switching between debt and equity, Ulips can be a rewarding option.

Portfolio Doctor

Buoyed by chance

Bengaluru-based Vijay Shukla has profited from advice, but must improve his financial acumen to sustain the good run.

Upfront

Rights time

With stock markets on an upswing in the past month, there are signs of the effect rubbing on to the primary market as well.

Travel

What is your travel IQ?

Be it a business trip or an annual summer holiday, it pays to know how to avoid costly surprises. Take this quiz to learn how to save while travelling.

Technology

Vista tricks and treats

Windows Vista may not have inspired a fan following because of its size and operational problems, but on standalone machines it can be stable, even fun.

Stocks

High five: Sectoral gains

Analysts are optimistic about select sectors and stocks that have gained from the recent rally. Here are five picks and why they are likely to do well in the future.

Taking a little more risk

Our fund manager short-sells another stock in Wealth Zoom and explains why. Readers, however, are sceptical.

Real Estate

Look beyond projects

If investing in realty, consider more than a proposed project in the area.

Rites of succession

Ensuring that your assets benefit desired members of the family after your death is neither a complex nor an expensive exercise.

Query Corner

How can one invest in a gold exchange-traded fund (ETF)?

Gold ETFs can be bought and sold like any other share or security on the stock market through a broker. You need to have a demat account in a bank or a depository partner, and a trading account with the broker.

My Idea

Winning service

The desire to nurture sporting talent led Joseph Ollapally, 29, Hakimuddin S. Habibullah, 30, and Nandan Kamath, 32, to start GoSports, a Bengaluru-based firm that manages and grooms athletes.

BASICS

Understanding technical analysis

In the current uncertainty and despite the surprising rally in the market, technical analysts continue to forecast specific target levels for stocks and indices.

Mutual Fund

Striding forward

Tata AMC picked up pace after April 2003 when it launched the Tata Infrastructure Fund and the Tata Dividend Yield Fund.

Vital statistics

A mutual fund’s returns should not be the only criterion for selecting a scheme for investing. Investors also need to evaluate how these returns are generated.

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