Where all can you invest?

Posted by Mehul Kothari | Published on 13 Mar 2019
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Where all can you invest?

“Make your money work so you don’t have to work all your life” – you probably hear this a lot. Everybody knows the importance of investing, but do you really know where all can you invest?

Here are your investment options:


 

Equity

As one of the popular investment options, equity or stocks is the probably the first investment product you can think of. Issuing shares to the public is one way companies raise money to grow their business. Known to be one of the best investment options, you can either buy shares directly from a stock exchange or indirectly by investing in an equity mutual fund.

Every share you buy gives you a tiny stake in the business. Share prices track company performance – they increase when the company does well and decrease when it performs poorly. Invest in companies that you expect to do well and you can profit by selling their shares in later.

Who should invest in stocks?

Stock prices are sensitive to market developments and don’t guarantee a minimum return or a periodic income. This makes them risky investments. They are an important investment product because they can jack up your portfolio returns. But only invest big sums if you are willing to take the extra risk.


Debt

Bonds issued by companies and the government are called debt instruments. They are issued for a fixed term and generally pay a periodic interest, called coupon. Unlike shares, bonds do not give you an ownership stake in the issuer. Instead, they make the issuer liable to repay your money and the coupon, as per the promised schedule. This is why bonds are called debt instruments.

Who should invest in bonds?

Bond returns are more stable and predictable than stocks because bonds are issued for a fixed term and they pay a regular coupon. However, a fixed coupon means that bonds don’t have the growth potential of stocks. Invest in bonds if you are looking for average but stable returns, without taking much risk.


Mutual Funds

These are pools of funds created by fund houses by raising money from investors like you. They are managed by professional fund managers and invested in shares, bonds, and other financial assets.
A fund house floats several funds at a time and each of these has a well-defined mandate and objective. For example, a fund may have the mandate of investing only in stocks. Some funds have even narrower mandates, such as investing only in bank or IT stocks. Mutual funds also have specific maturities, payment schedules, and risk levels. This helps you pick a fund that best suits your requirements.

Who should invest in mutual funds?

Mutual funds are an excellent investment option if you are new to the market or can’t devote enough time to picking stocks. Since they are managed by investment professionals, they increase your chances of earning good returns.


Real Estate

Property is the most favored asset for Indians. Owning land or an additional house gives more satisfaction than other assets because these are tangible. You can quickly sell the property or use it yourself in adversity. In addition, it generates stable and predictable income when you put it on rent.

Who should invest in real estate?

Real estate investments are ideal for those who are looking for stable, passive returns over the long term. It is also a great option if your investment objective is to secure your children’s future. The only catch is that investing in a house is not as easy as buying a stock. You’ll have to spend much more to buy a house than to buy a stock or a bond. You may even have to take a loan.


Alternative Assets

ETFs, derivatives, commodities, structured products, private equity, and hedge funds are some of the other products you can invest in. These are jointly called alternative assets. They are built on top of assets we discussed earlier and can, therefore, be complex to understand and invest in. Some of these also have a high minimum investment threshold. For these reasons, you need to be careful while investing in these. However, you can generate big returns by investing in these. We will discuss each of these in the detail in later chapters.

Who should invest in alternative assets?

Alternative assets are a good option if you are looking to diversify your portfolio. Retail investors actively invest in ETFs, commodities, and derivates. Structured products, private equity, and hedge funds are high-risk investments that are popular only among high net worth individuals. You can consider them if you are looking to invest some idle cash and don’t mind losing it if things don’t work out.


Conclusion
There are so many good investment options including short term investment options and long term investment options that you probably have a favorite by now. But investing is not only about picking the asset you like the most. To make investing work, you need a well-defined strategy. Build a portfolio that has several assets, in a proportion that is attuned to your unique circumstances and investment objectives.

  

 

Disclaimer: Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing.

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Real Estate Investment in India

Posted by Mehul Kothari | Published on 13 Mar 2019

What is real estate investment? Real estate is an alternative investment instrument, like the ones we discussed in the previous section. But it merits a separate mention because it is tangible. You can physically own a property and decide to use, rent, sell, or modify it. Other alternative investments are purely financial instruments. They pay returns in a predefined manner during their life and cannot be put to any other use.This piece will tell you all need to know about real estate investing and property investment in India.Types of real estate There are five major types of real estate investing in India:1. Residential – This is the most straightforward real estate investment in India. It includes houses and individual apartments that can be occupied by an individual or a family. It also includes apartment buildings where each unit is occupied by a separate tenant. Tenants pay you a pre-decided rent, usually each month. the duration of their stay depends on the lease agreement. These are generally made for eleven months and renewed on you and your tenant’s mutual consent.2. Commercial – This includes individual office locations, office buildings, and business parks. They usually require a significantly larger investment than residential real estate. But they also attract higher rents. Commercial properties frequently have multi-year leases, which stabilizes your cash flows and increases their predictability. The only challenge is that their rents are highly volatile. They fall more than residential real estate during downturns as businesses downsize or shut down. They increase considerably during upswings as companies hire more people. So, multi-year contracts keep you from taking in new tenants and earning more rent during upswings.3. Industrial – This includes any property that the tenant can use to produce, manufacture, assemble, store, or distribute tangible goods. Common examples are factory locations, industrial warehouses, garages, service stations, and cold storage facilities. Industrial real estate generally generates a large fee and creates opportunities to earn incremental revenue from additional services. For example, if you have rented out a car service station, you may set up a café or a convenience store on it for waiting customers. You may even offer the property on a revenue sharing basis and earn a share of the occupant’s revenues.4. Retail – This includes shopping malls and retail stores. These properties too can be let out on rent basis as wells as revenue sharing basis. In many cases, the landlord asks for a share in the tenant’s revenue, over and above a base rent.5. Mixed-use – This combines many of the above categories on a single piece of land. It is fit for investors who can invest in a large piece of land and develop its separate sections for different uses. it offers built-in diversification because your revenues are not tied to fundamentals that affect one type of real estate. This reduces risk.Income from real estate investments Most real estate investments generate income in two forms:1. Price appreciation: This refers to an increase in a property’s value when it becomes more desirable. This mostly happens because of developments in its surroundings. For example, when a new source of employment comes up in its neighbourhood or when its metro connectivity improves. Its price may also increase because of the upgrades and improvements you make to it. Price appreciation allows you to sell the property for more than you bought it, generating a profit in the process.2. Periodic cash flows: This is the rent you generate when you lease your property. To generate this, you must hold the property for some length of time after buying it.Benefits of investing in real estate 1. Convenience – real estate is not as technical as stocks, bonds, and other financial assets. Many aspects of real estate investing are intuitive.2. Tangibility – Property provides psychological comfort because it stays with you even when its price collapse. You can use it yourself or generate some bare minimum revenue by leasing it.3. Stability – Real estate does not always generate supernormal returns like stocks. But it pays stable rent that can be increased when you renew the lease.4. Insurance – Unlike financial instruments, property can be insured against damage and loss.5. Inflation hedge – Property prices and rents increase with the price level. So, inflation has a limited effect on your financial position when you invest in real estate.In conclusion Real estate is regarded as the simplest investment instrument because investing in a property is less complicated than financial assets. Knowing how to invest in real estate involves a straightforward exchange between the property owner and the tenant. However, properties are of different kinds and each kind has its unique characteristics. This makes real estate investment a skill that needs to be done with expertise in order to get the benefits of investing in real estate.     Disclaimer: Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing.

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Risk vs Return: The tradeoff

Posted by Mehul Kothari | Published on 13 Mar 2019

The risk return tradeoff is a principle of investment, which means that higher the risk in the portfolio, higher is the potential return possibility. However, high returns from a risk return trade off is not always guaranteed.To clarify the risk and return trade off and understand what is risk return trade off with an example, any investment with high risk may have a chance of high return, say, equity stocks. So, if the risk in an investment is high, then the possibility of return is also high, around 20-25% annually and may not be limited to just 6-8%. It basically means that the investment return is volatile and may fluctuate depending on market movements. However, the average return of equity would typically be 12-15% annually.On the other hand, if the risk in any particular investment is low, for instance in a fixed bank deposit, the chances of getting 20-25% annually may never happen. The returns will be more in the 6-8% bracket. However, it also means that the return can never become lower than 6%, especially negative. This is the trade off between risk and return. Hence, you need to take greater risks if you need a higher return on your investments. The concept of risk return trade off in finance is a widely accepted fact, but the associated risks with the portfolio are often neglected. Risk-return trade off in financeAs far as investing is concerned, each and every investment has an associated risk with it. When you are looking to choose an investment, you need to look into its risk too so that the overall risk of the portfolio is managed accordingly.   There are multiple risks associated with an investment product. Some of these include:1. Inflation risk reduces the purchasing power of cash reduces over time.2. There is credit risk because credit rating of bonds/papers, etc. determine the value of the productLiquidity risk arises when selling an investment product at the right time can be a hassle. 3. There is tax risk as governments usually make taxation changes every year. 4. Concentration risk occurs when you buy too many of a particular investment product.5. There is market risk because equity market is volatile. Risk levels of asset classesTo sum up You need to find the right blend of risk and return. This is quite an important task because the return needs to be in line with your long-term financial goal. However, it is equally important that you don’t ignore the risk factor. The investment option you choose should match your risk appetite.   Disclaimer: Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing.

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  • Share Buyback – Meaning & Upcoming Buyback of Shares
    Posted by Mehul Kothari | Published on 14 Nov 2019

    “XYZ company announces a buyback of its shares”. You must have seen or read this headline multiple times in the last couple of years. Especially by companies from the IT or technology industry. According to reports, in the financial year 2018, buyback offers worth Rs. 50,000 crores were made in the Indian markets. Have you wondered what is share buyback and what are the technicalities involved with it? Or if you should give up your shares during buyback offers? Then read on and get all your queries resolved. What is share buyback? Buyback of Shares – Meaning:       A share buyback is a process through which a listed company uses its money and repurchases its own shares from the market. It is the opposite of an IPO (Initial Public Offer). Stock repurchase is also seen as a way for the company to re-invest in itself. Once        the stock buyback is complete, they are absorbed and cease to exist. There are two ways in which stock buyback can take place: Tender Offer: In this buyback channel, the company offers to buy back a certain number of stock at a quoted price. The buyback is done directly from the shareholders. Open Market: The open market buyback takes place through the secondary market (stock exchange). The resolution (special or board) needs to specify the maximum price for the buyback.       2. Buyback of Shares – Regulations:       SEBI has laid down the following guidelines for buyback of shares: It cannot be more than 25% of the total paid-up capital value and free reserves held by the company. It needs to be approved by the shareholders through a special resolution. If the buyback value does not exceed 10% of the total paid-up capital value and free reserves held by the company, it necessitates only a board resolution. Why do companies offer stock buyback schemes?1. Surplus cash but lack of investible projects This is one of the primary reasons behind stock repurchase by companies. Idle cash reserves come with a cost. Matured businesses do not need to invest exorbitantly in research, development or other such aspects. Also, holding on to unused equity funding results in ownership dilution without any good reason. Hence, companies prefer to buy-back their own shares.2. Tax-efficiencies Buybacks usually happen at a premium as compared to the market price. Companies prefer this route to reward shareholders rather than paying our dividends due to the tax implications. Dividends attract 15% DDT (Dividend Distribution Tax) for the companies as well as 10% tax in the hands of shareholders if the dividend income exceeds Rs. 10 Lakhs. Hence, earnings through buyback become more tax efficient for both the parties, even after considering the taxes applicable.3. Enhanced valuations Buybacks are associated with enhanced share valuations as a result of an improved PE multiple. Stock repurchase leads to a reduction in the number of outstanding shares and hence, capital base. This, in turn, improves the value of EPS (Earning per Share) as the same amount of dividend is now divided between lesser shareholders. The ROE (Return on Equity) also goes up as the cash assets on the Balance Sheets come down.4. Signal to the market Stock buybacks are also used to send indicators to the market. It signals that the company has great confidence in itself. Hence it is ready to repurchase its own shares (mostly at a premium) as it feels that the company is undervalued currently in the market. For instance, when the company management is highly optimistic about the future prospects but the stock price still reflects bearish sentiments based on past performance only.  In some cases, promoters can also use the buyback channel to tighten their hold on the company. This is especially true when the shareholding is highly diluted or is in the hands of individuals or investors who do not have the best interest of the company in mind. How to evaluate stock buyback offers? Now you know what is share buyback and the reasons why companies offer them. But the fundamental question remains – what should be your stance in case of buyback offers? Should you hold your stock or give them up? These pointers can help you take the final decision:1. Offer Price and buyback quantum Buybacks are lucrative only when they are offered at a significant premium amount. The offer price must be substantially above the current market price to make it worthwhile for the investor. Also, the quantum of the share repurchase amount should be substantial.  2. Look at the tax implications Till recently, shareholders had to pay capital gains tax on their buyback earnings. However, with the introduction of buyback tax for listed companies, investors are now exempted from the same. Companies will now have to pay 20% buyback tax. This move has been done as the Government observed that more companies were distributing their profits through the buyback channel rather than dividend as the latter attracted DDT (Dividend Distribution Tax). Note: The buyback tax is not applicable to companies who had announced their buyback schemes prior to 5th July 2019.3. Promoter Participation Promoters cannot participate in the buyback process if it is being done through the open market. However, they are allowed in case of tender offer. In case of participation by the promoter, there is usually a positive movement for the stock price in the long-term.    Final Words Buyback can be rewarding for both parties (company as well as investors). As an investor, it is important for you to understand the implications of each buyback offer and decide wisely. You should keep an eye out for the upcoming buyback of shares in 2019 and corporate news around the same. In case you feel that you are not able to decide on your own, you can always reach out to an expert like IndiaNivesh. Indiaivesh has been providing excellent financial solutions to investors since the last 11 years. It offers a wide range of products – broking, distribution, equities, strategic investments, investment banking as well as wealth management. With its “client-first” approach, skilled and experienced team members and state-of-the-art research and technological capabilities, you can be rest assured that your financial interests are in safe hands.  Disclaimer: Investment in securities market / Mutual Funds are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.

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  • SIP vs. RD - Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) Vs Recurring Deposit (RD)
    Posted by Mehul Kothari | Published on 18 Oct 2019

    Financial planning plays an important role in today’s time. For your money to grow into wealth, it is required that you invest it in good avenues. Many individuals set aside a fixed amount every month for investment purpose. The two most popular investment avenues for investing a fixed sum of money every month are Systematic Investment Program (SIP) in Mutual Funds and Recurring Deposits (RD). In this article, you will learn about the difference between RD and SIP. Let us begin by learning the meaning of the two terms. What is SIP? Systematic Investment Plan or SIP is an investment scheme where you can invest a fixed sum of money on a monthly or quarterly basis. It is a disciplined approach of investing your money because you set aside a fixed amount of money for investment purposes. You can start SIP by selecting a mutual fund scheme. The best part of SIP is that you can start it with an amount as low as Rs. 500. Let us now learn the meaning of recurring deposit. What is Recurring Deposit? Recurring Deposit or RD is a term deposit scheme offered by the banks. In this scheme, you have to select the duration of time and amount of monthly deposit. Upon the start of the plan, you have to deposit a fixed amount of money every month during the tenure of the scheme. In general, the duration of the scheme is minimum 6 months and on completion, 3 months of addition can be made up to maximum tenure of 10 years. Recurring deposit schemes are easy on the pocket because in this scheme you get the option to select the amount and tenure for which you want to continue the scheme. Let us now learn about the SIP vs. RD. Scheme of Investment SIP is about investing in mutual fund plans where you have the option to select between debt or equity funds on the basis of your risk-taking capability. Whereas, RD is a deposit scheme that can give you a fixed rate of returns. If you are looking for more flexibility than you can opt for a flexible recurring deposit scheme.  Frequency of Investment SIP can be started with a small amount. It is your choice to invest in SIP on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis. In the case of recurring deposits, you can invest a fixed amount on a monthly basis. Choice of Investment SIP gives you the option to invest as per your risk appetite. Based on your risk-taking capability you can invest in different mutual fund schemes like equity, debt, hybrid, etc. On the other hand, a recurring deposit has no investment options. To earn a fixed return, you have to invest a fixed amount of money on a monthly basis. Tenure You can opt for SIP investment for any tenure or duration of time. The minimum period of investment is 6 months. Whereas, in the case of recurring deposits, they have a fixed maturity date. The minimum period of investment is for 6 months and the maximum period up to which you can do a recurring deposit is 10 years. Return The rate of return in SIP is not fixed because their performance is linked to the market. In general, over the past 10 years, the equity mutual funds have given return of 12% to 14% per annum and debt mutual funds have given a return of 8% to 9% per annum. On the other hand, when you start investing in RD, the rate of return is already known to you. Liquidity SIP is highly liquid in nature i.e. they can be withdrawn whenever you want. However, you must remember that you would be charged an exit load on redeeming within 1 year of investment. Just like SIP, RD is also liquid in nature. RD attracts pre-withdrawal charges in case you make a withdrawal before the end of the tenure. Risk Investing in mutual funds is risky because the performance of the fund is dependent on market performance. Poor market performance can even lead to capital erosion. However, in comparison to the equity mutual funds, the debt mutual funds are less risky. On the other hand, RD is a safe investment option. This is because the funds are directly deposited into the bank and they have a fixed rate of return. Hence there is no risk of capital loss in RD. Tax Benefit The SIP investments and returns generated on it are exempt from tax only if the investment is made in Equity Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS) funds. Whereas, an investment made in the form of recurring deposit or interest earned on it is not exempt from tax. Investment Goal SIP acts as a one-stop solution to all types of investment goals. In SIP, depending on the frequency of your investment and funds selected, you can invest for short, medium or long term. On the other hand, RD investment, in general, is done for short term purposes. It cannot generate wealth like SIP. The above mentioned are a few differences between the SIP vs. RD scheme. Now the next important question that would arise in your mind is, SIP or RD which is better? Well, the answer to it is very subjective and will vary from person to person. Both the investment schemes are very different from each other and have their own benefits. Depending upon your risk appetite and tenure of the investment, you can select the right scheme for you. You can also refer to the difference between the two schemes and understand which investment option is ideal for you. The beginners or inexperienced investors often find it difficult to take the investment decisions on their own. To assist them in financial planning, IndiaNivesh Ltd. is always at their assistance. We understand your financial goals and risk appetite before suggesting you any investment plan or scheme. We provide our clients with innovative and customised financial solutions. Our aim is to exceed the expectation of client in all our endeavours. You can even open a demat account with us and trade or invest in the stock market on the basis of our regular research reports.Disclaimer: Investment in securities market / Mutual Funds are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.

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  • Gold Exchange Traded Funds (Gold ETFs) - Overview & how to invest in it
    Posted by Mehul Kothari | Published on 16 Oct 2019

    Gold Exchange Traded Funds (or Gold ETFs) combine the two passions of many investors – stock trading and gold investments. They provide a channel through which you can be a part of the bullion (gold) market. The investor’s funds are invested in gold stocks but there is no physical delivery of the yellow metal. They are often referred to as open-ended Mutual Funds that invest the corpus in gold bullion. Key highlights of Gold ETFs: Gold ETFs in India started in the year 2007. Slowly but steadily they have started gaining momentum. Some of the key benefits offered by Gold Exchange Traded Funds are:1. Transparency: Transparent pricing is one of the USPs of Gold ETF. Like stock prices, information about gold prices are easily available to the general public. You can easily determine the value of their portfolio by checking the gold prices for that time or day.2. Ease of trade: Just like shares, Gold ETFs can be easily traded on the stock exchange. You need to buy a minimum of one gram of gold which is equivalent to one unit of Gold ETF. Investors can invest in Gold ETFs from any location in India. Moreover, the difference in price (due to GST) will not be applicable.3. Cost efficiencies: Unlike many investment avenues, there are no entry or exit loads with Gold ETFs. The only cost involved would be the brokerage fees. 4. Risk: Unlike physical gold, there are no storage hassles or theft fears with Gold ETFs. Additionally, gold prices are not prone to frequent fluctuations. This makes Gold ETFs a relatively safer choice. 5. Tax efficiencies: Gold ETFs do not attract any wealth tax or securities exchange tax. Also, if they are held for a period of more than one year, the gains are treated as long-term capital gains. For anyone interested in holding gold, these ETFs provide a tax-efficient alternative. 6. Diversification: Gold ETF investments can help to bring diversity in the investment portfolio. During volatile market conditions, they can help to stabilise or improve the overall returns for you.7. Collateral: Gold ETFs are accepted as security collaterals for loans or capital borrowings by many financial institutions. Why is investing in Gold ETFs better than traditional forms of gold? You do not need to worry about impurities or adulteration in the metal As ETFs are held in electronic form, there are no storage related issues or costs Easy trading on the stock exchanges and hence high liquidity Real-time tracking of investments No mark-ups costs such as making charges, wear and tear involved The price of Gold ETFs remains the same throughout the country. However, the gold prices can vary from one location to another.  How does Gold Exchange Traded Fund work? The investment is converted into unit of gold basis the cost applicable at the allotment time. For instance, the cost of gold (per gram) on a particular day is Rs. 3000. Ms. X wants to invest Rs. 60,000 in Gold ETFs. Her investment amount will get translated into 20 gold units. At the back-end, physical gold acts as security for these ETFs. For example, if you invest in Gold ETFs, the entity at the back-end purchases gold. They act as the custodian for the investment and also guarantee for the purity of the metal. The stock exchanges assign the responsibility of buying and selling gold to authorised members or participants which in turn can be used to issue ETFs. These are usually large companies. As a result, these authorised members ensure that there is parity between the gold cost and ETFs. How to invest in Gold ETFs? Gold ETF investments are a simple affair.1. Choose a broker or fund manager: Many financial institutions (including banks) offer Gold ETF products. Similar to the online share trading, you would need to reach out to a fund manager or a firm which will trade on behalf of you.2. Demat and Trading Account: In order to invest in Gold ETFs, you need to have a demat account and an online trading. You can apply for these accounts online with the broker or such service provider by providing details like PAN, Identity Proof, residential proof, photograph and a cancelled cheque (for bank account linkage).3. Online Order: Once the accounts are in place, you can select the desired Gold ETF and place the order through the broker’s online portal. You can also opt for Mutual Funds which have an underlying Gold ETF.4. Confirmation: The placed orders are then routed to the stock exchange. The purchase orders are matched with the corresponding sell orders and accordingly executed. A confirmation email or message is sent to you. Who all should invest in Gold ETFs? Gold is a relatively safe and stable investment. Its prices do not fluctuate as much as equities. Hence, Gold ETFs can be a good choice for you, if you do not want to take too much risk. Additionally, since these ETFs are tradeable easily on the stock exchange, they are useful if you are looking for an investment opportunity with high liquidity. Hence, it is a good option for you to diversify your portfolio. So, if you meet the requisite objective of investment, Gold ETF is a good option for you as well. Things to keep in mind while investing in Gold Exchange Traded Funds Here are some tips that you could use while investing in Gold ETFs Gold is generally considered as a stable asset. However, you should not forget that the Net Asset Value (NAV) of Gold ETFs can also fluctuate basis market volatility As an investor, you need to bear brokerage fees or commission charges for Gold Exchange Traded Funds. Hence, you should check these costs while deciding on the broker or fund manager However, you should not make the decision on the basis of price alone. Consider the broker/ fund house’s past track record, services provided, type of clients handled etc. before choosing the service provider Do not over-invest in Gold ETFs. It is usually suggested to restrict investment in these ETFs to 10% of the entire portfolio. Final Words A smart investor knows that all that glitters is not gold. A good fund manager or firm helps choose the best Gold ETF products in India. IndiaNivesh, a well-known financial services company can help in this regard. With their rich experience in the Indian market and in-depth understanding of the financial ecosystem, they have helped numerous customers to grow their wealth and fulfill their financial goals.Disclaimer: Investment in securities market / Mutual Funds are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.

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