Budget: Rs 1 - Rs 1.5 croreBusiness Standard brings you a snapshot of average current rates and unit sizes in localities that offer property in a price range of Rs 1 to Rs 1.5 crore. If you are looking at buying a property and your budget falls within this range, an idea about prevailing rates would come in handy

Realty check

Business Standard

Today, Mohan Jayaraman, managing director, Experian Credit Information Company of India & country manager of Experian India, answers your questionsI am repaying two personal loans and one credit card loan. Will I have a low credit score? All past repayments are recorded on your credit report. If you pay your equated monthly instalments (EMIs) on time and as agreed, while staying within the agreed credit limits and making necessary credit card monthly repayments in full and on time, your report would reflect this. If lenders see a well-managed credit history, it would positively impact your credit score. In the long term, it is advisable to have minimal unsecured debt; and prefer secured debt as it acts as an indicator of financial discipline.Recently, RBI said it would label guarantors of many corporate borrowers as wilful defaulters, as the borrowers were not clearing their dues. Does this mean that if a borrower doesn't repay a loan, the credit record of his guarantor is impacted

Debt Counselling: Mohan Jayaraman

It will save your legal heirs the hassles of proving their claim on assets. You can distribute your assets the way you choose to

Why you should make a will

It has a tax advantage but can also land you in trouble with the tax department for booking capital loss, less liquidity and high premium in the futures market

Bonus stripping? Be careful

Lower crude oil prices should be good, despite a likely slowdown in FDI. If fundamentals get better at the same time, there will be a good opportunity for the long-term investor

Short-term fall, long-term gain

Avoid similar or large schemes. But if there is one that is beneficial from the tax or strategy perspective, consider investing in it

All NFOs aren't bad for the portfolio

Wading through your age-old investment documents to redeem your hard-earned money back can be quite a pain for your child. Hence, ensuring you've kept all your details and nomination in place can go a long way

Dealing with legacy investments

With health care costs rising 18 per cent annually, having a high cover has become a necessity

40 Years Ago...and now: Health insurance- From only govt to baby steps by the private sector

If the share price runs up, sell in the secondary market. Tax anomaly makes these offers unattractive

Why open offers aren't attractive for many investors

I am 29; my parents are 63 and 56. I want to buy health insurance plan(s) for my parents. Should I buy individual plans for both or a family floater that can cover all three of us? Also, what are the main features a health cover must have? Family floater health policies are preferred, given the convenience of managing a single policy for multiple members. However, they generally calculate the premium amount based on the age of the seniormost member. Given the age difference between you and your parents, you should compare the premium charged by a family floater with the amount applicable in case of an individual plan for each member before deciding on one.In terms of the features, you should select a comprehensive policy that covers outpatient expenses (OPD) in addition to the regular hospitalisation benefits, so as to take care of your regular health treatment needs. You should also understand the servicing capability of the insurer, especially in terms of speed of claim settlement an

General Insurance: Bhargav Dasgupta

Neemrana is one of the fastest growing industrial centres in North India. This area is advantageously located on NH-8, in proximity to other industrial sub-markets such as Bhiwadi, Bawal, Khushkhera and Tapukhera. Situated in Rajasthan and part of the Delhi NCR, Neemrana has attracted a lot of heavy industrial investments from Japanese manufacturing firms such as Nippon, Daikin, Nissan, NYK Logistics and Mitsui Chemicals.Neemrana lies along Phase-I of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor. The Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) has developed several industrial zones that have led to this sub-market's emergence as a major industrial hub. The demand for homes from workers employed in these industries is, therefore, considerable and constantly rising. This provides Neemrana with all the attributes of an ideal real estate investment market, offering low entry points and high appreciation potential.Developers have already acquired large land parcels in

Neemrana (Rajasthan): High appreciation potential

Rajesh Vora (name changed) had placed an order with Gems Art Factory at Jaipur for supply of four handmade silk carpets worth $8,000. The payment was made through credit card and bank draft. The carpets were to be delivered to Detroit in the US.Gems Art Factory engaged the services of intermediaries Asia Transport Co and Lyraid Pvt Ltd, for facilitating the transportation. These agencies entrusted the shipment to British Airways.The buyer refused to accept delivery as the carpets did not reach him in time. He also stopped payment. Gems got to know about this when Asia Transport forwarded a copy of a communication from British Airways, inquiring what should be done, since the buyer had refused delivery. Gems Art Factory had instructed to booking the goods to India at its cost, but this was not done. Alleging deficiency in service, Gems filed a complaint against British Airways and the intermediaries involved in transportation of the carpets.The airline defended itself, saying it had pro

Airlines' liability limited unless consignment value declared

Otherwise, figure out the impact of taxes and brokerage costs if you think your trading or stock-picking skills can beat the index

Stay invested for making money

Since prices are at rock bottom, you will get capital appreciation on the property value. These also offer higher rental yields than residential property

Good time to buy commercial property

It will be some time before things change on the ground. Don't get carried away

Sentiment isn't everything

Business Standard analyses one family's finances and suggests a way forward

Case study

Business Standard brings you a snapshot of average current rates and unit sizes in localities that offer property in a price range of Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore. If you are looking at buying a property and your budget falls within this range, an idea about prevailing rates would come in handy

Share prices of companies that have gone for a split in the past 2 years have mostly risen. However, the picture is not clear in the long term. Hence, go by the fundamentalsTo make the best use of the sharp rise in the stock market this year, many promoters have announced stock split to infuse capital in their companies. Since January 1 this year, when the BSE's Sensitive Index or Sensex stood at 21,140.48, about 78 companies have announced stock split, show data from Capitaline. In this time period, the Sensex rallied nearly 26 per cent. Between May 16 and October 1, the Sensex has rallied 10 per cent and 53 firms proposed stock splits.The bulk of companies going for stock splits are from the mid- and small-cap segments - La Opala RG, Alkyl Amines and J&K Bank. Some big names include Axis Bank and Havells India. Some others like State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank and ICICI Bank have announced split recently. Actions like stock split and buyback

Do stock splits add value to a scrip?

I have two salary accounts, but have stopped using these as I have moved jobs. Should I inform the banks or should close the accounts? Most banks convert a salary account into a normal savings account if salary credits stop for a quarter or more. Communication is sent to these customers via a letter to their registered address and/or an e-mail one month prior to the conversion.For salary accounts, usually, there is no minimum account balance requirement. This benefit will cease to exist when salary accounts are converted into normal savings bank accounts. Therefore, after account conversion, clients are required to maintain balances as specified by the bank for a normal savings account to avoid charges for non-maintenance of minimum account balance. As you have moved jobs, it is advisable to close the salary accounts, not just to avoid penal charges but also to ensure  they are not misused. You can close the accounts by giving a written request to your bank and return all unused cheque

Banking: Prashant Joshi

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently placed a draft charter of customer rights on its website for public comments. This is in line with its objective to "frame comprehensive consumer protection regulations based on domestic experience and global best practices".The draft charter lists broad principles such as the consumers' right to fair treatment, transparency, fair and honest dealing , suitability, privacy and right to grievance redressal and compensation. In an annexure, it makes an attempt at outlining how these principles should work without going into too much detail.Unfortunately, the draft charter is unlikely to make any difference to consumer protection. There already exists a 'code of customer rights', adopted by banks as part of the code of a bank's commitment to customers. This is much more comprehensive than RBI's draft. It is also violated with impunity, as is evident from various official reports, as well as publicly available documents. Let us  take suitability as a

Consumer-protection provisions need more teeth

There could be a surge in 'catch-up' buying activity if the apex bank cuts rates in January

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