Cover Story

The year of the employer

Following the rulebook was the survival route for employees in 2009. Work discipline must now continue to ensure rewards and stability.

'Employers have lower tolerance levels now'

Kris Lakshmikanth, founder CEO & MD of The Head Hunters India, says that employees can expect more jobs in 2010 but the terms of employment are set to be strict.
Shopping for value, in style

Inflation and zero increments meant less spending, but the consumer did not stay away entirely. He became a value hunter, a trait he must retain.
'Brand loyalty remained high'

According to Raghav Gupta, president, Technopak, the consumer was more cautious in 2009, but was unwilling to make too many compromises in his lifestyle and purchases.
Lessons re-learned in 2009

Always have an emergency fund. A stash of cash (or liquid investments) that will cover three to six months of expenses is absolutely essential, despite the low returns and tax inefficiency of cash holdings.
Lessons from 2009

An abundance of financial lessons got compressed in the 12 months of 2009. We look at what investors ought to have learnt from the year of mega surprises. Learn to keep the faith Patience always pays Staging a return to the basics
Watch out for the real deal

Customer was once again king as cash-strapped realtors tried to woo him, while speculators learnt the hard way the perils of leveraging.
The Tier II and III real estate story

In the current context, with limited capital available to real estate players, developers should focus on their core geographies.
Learn to keep the faith

The roller-coaster journey of the stock markets this year has taught the small investor never to give up on this asset class.
Don't even try to time the market

The year 2009 will be remembered as the year of revival. The Sensex, which had plunged to a low of 8,160 in March, bounced back and recouped most of the losses incurred after the fall from its all-time high of 21,200 in January 2008.
Patience always pays

The market volatility during the year underlined the importance of regular savings and diversification for the mutual fund investor.
'Asset allocation is crucial in downturns'

In October 2008, nobody was willing to touch equities when they were available at great values. Now, with the markets returning to some normalcy, investors have come back.
Staging a return to the basics

The leitmotif of the banking story this year has been that there are no free lunches. The onus of protecting your interest lies squarely on you.
Lessons from the financial meltdown

By far the most contentious debate triggered by the crisis has been about the flaws in the regulatory architecture.
Time to take on responsibility

Many investor-friendly measures have been introduced in insurance, but they come with a rider. To enjoy the benefits, policyholders must be proactive.
A mixed bag for insurance

For the life insurance industry in India, 2009 has been a year of transition.

Green getaways

Now you too can save the world, one eco-friendly holiday at a time. But to get your money’s worth, watch out for the faux green resorts.

Far from the wedding crowd

Lured by attractive pricing and the tag of exclusivity, more and more people are picking foreign locales and royal backdrops as wedding venues.

Right recipe for PSU IPOs

Don’t wait for an opportune time to launch IPOs. Private promoters can be greedy, the govt should not be.

The year of the pullback

We need to take a macro call on the economy and markets before we take bottom-up, stock-specific calls.

'A well-designed GST can boost GDP growth by 2%'

A flawless GST and the new Direct Taxes Code will put India’s fiscal system on the cutting edge of the world market economies.

Markets poised to surge ahead

The emerging markets have witnessed a strong pick up in employment and consumption.

The need for a strong base

The Sensex needs to come down and form a base close to the 15,500 zone for the uptrend to remain intact.

Winter weakness

Let’s not get carried away by the euphoria in the markets because bad news could be just around the corner.

The sales impact

Continuing the series on financial concepts, MONEY TODAY explains how the price to sales ratio can help an investor know if a stock is worth buying.

Less pain, less gain

Though the bull call strategy helps minimise losses, it has a limited profit potential and high commission costs.

Piping hot

The resurgence of economic activity is driving the demand for crude oil, which could translate to spillover benefits for the pipeline industry.

You don't always gain from a bonus issue

The announcement of bonus shares shows that a company is confident of the future and, therefore, the stock price moves up.

Raising the sales pitch

If you are looking to cash in your realty investment, now is the right time. Here are the things you should remember before doing so.

Is alimony taxable?

The compensation amount will be included in your total income under the head ‘Income from other sources’. It will be taxable as per the applicable tax rates based on your gross total income.

To buy or not to buy

In this series we review new products and services to help you sort the best buys from those that do not offer value for money.

Ready to tie the financial knot

With marriage on the cards, two couples want to know how it will change their financial planning and what they should do to achieve their goals.

Worth seeking a balance?

Hybrid funds may be the flavour of the season because of high returns, but go for them only if your asset allocation requires it.

Couched in excessive jargon and terminology, financial knowledge seems intimidating. However, good monetary management requires little more than common sense. Here’s how you can squeeze simple adages to derive economic ingenuity and explain financial rudiments.

'Portfolio Doctor is my favourite section'

Thank you for the critical input. Many readers have conveyed to us the difficulty they faced in navigating through three case studies.

From the Editor

By all accounts, this has been an eventful year. It hasn’t been bad enough for hacks to call it annus horribilis, but, to quote Queen Elizabeth, “It is not a year on which (we) shall look back with undiluted pleasure”.

'The crisis made investors take stock of their portfolios'

Vikas Agnihotri, CEO, Religare Macquarie Wealth Management, talks about the strategies and avenues to invest in the current situation.

'The changes will be good for the industry in the long term'

D. Swarup, the man behind the recommendation to eliminate insurance agents’ commissions, says that this is to safeguard customers.

Agents of discontent

The Swarup Committee recommendations have given rise to debate and controversy, with insurance agents pitted directly against the panel.

Will it help cut prices?

The new tax scheduled to replace all indirect taxes next year would benefit the industry and boost the economy. Here’s how it will affect you.

Smart switch

Taking up a brand new job in an unfamiliar field can be scary. It can also pay off handsomely, as some people have found after a successful swap.

In the write business

With its simple style and realistic approach to dealing with the challenges of a start-up, the book is a mustread for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Making the world go round

Did you know the legendary ‘Hebrew talisman’, supposed to be the secret behind the Rothschild fortune, is actually the bond market?

Lessons from past crises

History has an eerie way of repeating itself and memory of the pain of busts, according to economist John Kenneth Galbraith, is perhaps the best regulator.