Edition: January 2013

Cover Story

Sowmya Kamath

How to build and protect wealth in 2013

The investment scenario has been buoyant in 2012. The domestic stock market is going strong. Commodities and debt, too, have given decent returns to investors. Money Today tells you what to expect in 2013.

Tips to make the most out of a stock market rally Market analysts are positive on retail, media and aviation sectors in which the government allowed more foreign direct investment in September 2012.
Liquidity may remain tight in 2013 High fiscal expenditure on account of early general elections may push up the real interest rates in the economy and further delay the much-needed recovery, says Kotak Mutual Fund CEO Sandesh Kirkire.
What will drive the stock market in 2013 Aditya Birla Money Head of Research Vivek Mahajan talks about what will drive the stock market movement in the new year.
Top commodities likely to give good returns in 2013 Year 2012 ended on a happy note for commodity investors. Till December 6, agricultural commodities, precious metals, spices and base metals have returned 20 per cent, 17 per cent, 10 per cent and 9 per cent, respectively. The rally is expected to continue in 2013.
Falling interest rates: Invest in debt to gain With all likelihood of interest rates falling, debt mutual funds are expected to give handsome returns if past instances are anything to go by.
Best places to buy a house in 2013 If you are looking to buy a house for investment in 2013 and not sure where you can earn the best returns, don't worry. We bring you what experts say about real estate destinations that will give good returns over the next three-five years.
Insurance sector set for big growth in 2013 The life insurance sector is expected to grow at a compounded average growth rate (CAGR) of 15-20 per cent over the next 15-20 years.

Mutual Fund

Long-term Choice: SBI Magnum Equity

SBI Magnum Equity has outperformed its category in the past five years -

Technology

Top 10 apps to enhance your driving experience

Access to information is increasingly mobile. Here is a list of some Android and iOS apps to enhance your motoring life.

Stocks

Dipak Mondal/Money Today

How to find bargain stocks in the current mkt

Low-priced stocks are not always cheap. A stock's value is not gauged by its price alone but depends on its ability to give higher returns in the future.

Changes in promoter holding a cue for your stocks According to experts, any change in promoter holding is important from the investor's point of view. However, it should not be the only basis for investment decisions.
Best performing stocks in past 6 months JK Lakshmi Cement is among the top gainers in the past six months with return of 108 per cent.

Query Corner

Tips to invest in tax-saving instruments

Money Today experts answer your financial queries -

Editors Note

From the Executive Editor: January 2013

2013 could be a year where you might have to remain cautious, and selective, on equity investment, while you will do well to spread a generous portion of your investible surplus across debt instruments.

Savings

Chandralekha Mukerji

Things to keep in mind when lending money

A loan to a family member or a friend is usually unsecured. The terms and conditions are undefined or hazy and demanding payback is difficult. And if the loan goes bad, the relationship also sours. Moreover, such a loan is usually interest-free. Make sure lending to a family member does not become a headache.

Talk Back

Letters To The Editor

Money Today readers give their feedback on the magazine's coverage of the personal finance sector -

Smart Spending

Products that offer value for money

Sam Abraham introduces new products to help you zero in on those that offer value for money.

Perspective

Will EPF shrink your in-hand pay?

You might 'lose' a bigger chunk of your salary if the Employee Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) decides to expand the scope of salary for computing the EPF contribution.

No more 'unauthorised' debit card swipes The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked banks to issue only online debit cards that require you to type in your secret code for each transaction.
Now, disclose net worth for MF investments If you invest in mutual funds, get ready to disclose your annual income or net worth among other details in the new know-yourcustomer (KYC) form.
After NSE crash, regulatory norms to avoid repeat In order to prevent crash in stock exchanges due to uncontrolled trades and wrong orders, the Securities and Exchange Board of India has barred exchanges from accepting any order exceeding Rs 10 crore.
Old cheques to remain valid till March 2013 Your old cheques will remain valid till March 2013 as banks have failed to implement a new system proposed by the central bank.
Insurers may charge less premiums from FY14 Life insurers may charge you less premiums from the next financial year as the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (Irda) plans to release new mortality rates.
RBI attempts at popularising fixed home loans RBI has come up with draft guidelines to popularise fixed-rate home loans. The guidelines ask banks to encourage fixed rate long-term loan products with rate reset at 7-10 years.
Regulator Watch A look at recent rulings which can affect you -