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Business Standard brings you a snapshot of average current rates and unit sizes in localities that offer property in the price range of Rs 50 lakh-1 crore

Business Standard

Mutual Funds: Nimesh Shah

Nimesh Shah, managing director & chief executive officer, ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company, answers your questionsWhat is the best way to invest in mid-cap companies? Should I invest in mid-cap funds or in multi-cap funds? What is the difference?The key difference between mid-cap and multi-cap funds is the universe in which your money will be invested by the fund manager. A multi-cap fund is market capitalisation agnostic and hence invests in large, mid and small-cap companies. Meanwhile, mid-cap funds, as the name suggests, invest predominantly in midcap companies, which in general tend to be more volatile than multi-cap. Invest in a midcap mutual fund only if you have the necessary risk appetite, otherwise begin with large-cap funds.I have never invested in debt funds so far. How should I choose one? Are they comparable to bank fixed deposits?A debt fund and a bank fixed deposit are not exactly comparable as the latter offers fixed returns while the former does not. A de

Look at MF, PPF before investing in NCD

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For the wealthy, post-tax returns of debt funds would work out better

We have all heard it said that while equities are volatile, they have the potential to boost portfolio returns over the long run. We decided to check the truth in this statement by creating three portfolios, with varied levels of equities. We used indices to create portfolios and kept the investment horizon at 15 years. The indices included are Nifty 50, an index of large-cap stocks; the S&P 500 IDX, an index made up of large- and mid-cap stocks; MSCI World NR, an index representing international stocks; and Crisil Composite Bond Fund IX, an index composed of debt and gold. The first portfolio has an equity allocation of 65 per cent, the second has 55 per cent, and the third, 45 per cent. The portfolio allocation with 65 per cent equity allocation garnered the highest return of 14.1 per cent, while the one with 45 per cent had the lowest return of 12.6 per cent.

Stay invested in equities over the long term for better returns

Convenience, safety or discount?

A mobile wallet may offer discounts but allows transactions of limited amounts. And, while a bank app or internet account allows larger transactions, it might be less convenient

A lower rupee might lead to a positive revaluation of export-oriented businesses

Rupee could depreciate

Contribution is key to claiming tax benefit

If a house is sold and the proceeds are used to buy another, whoever contributed to the purchase of the first house can claim exemption on capital gains tax

Fair-market value formula for indirect share transfers not fair: Experts

Those taking up a job abroad should notify their bank about the change in status and open appropriate NRI accounts

Settle your financial affairs before moving abroad

Brokers trade at their computer terminals at a stock brokerage firm in Mumbai (

Many new stock investors burn their fingers when the market cycle turns. Their usual story: They start trading when the markets are heading towards the peak, initial success boosts their confidence, and they end up piling losses when a big correction happens. Some cautious amateurs wisely resort to virtual stock trading platforms to learn the tricks and test themselves before taking the plunge. To understand direct stock investing and trading, Sapna Mahajan, a Mumbai-based physiotherapist, recently signed up on a virtual stock market platform. "Rather than lose money in the real world, I thought let me try out market simulation to check my understanding. I wanted to check out whether I can make money by following experts' advice given on television, following research reports, and understand how news affects stock prices," she says. Experts say these platforms are a good option for newcomers to test the waters. "Virtual platforms are good for complete newbies, who have not invested ...

Virtual trading not a substitute for real world

5 Star wedding within your budget

If you book well in advance and opt for minimum decor, both wedding and reception can be held for Rs  10-15 lakhYou don't necessarily need a sky-high budget to get married at a five-star venue. If you plan in advance and cut out the frills, you can manage within Rs 10-15 lakh."Planning a wedding at a five-star property may seem expensive but can be affordable as a premium banquet hall in the neighbourhood," says Minnat Lalpuria founder & chief executive, 7Vachan.Anand Shahani, CEO of Wedmegood.com, points out that there are properties available starting at Rs 1,400-1,500 per person in cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, and Hyderabad. This price only includes food and banquet hall. Decor, DJ and taxes will be extra. In metros, five-star hotels can be broadly put in three categories-based on charges. There are iconic hotels like Taj Mahal Palace and The Oberoi in Mumbai or ITC Maurya and The Taj Mahal Hotel in Delhi, that have higher charges compared to others. Then, ther

My daughter's wedding is being held at a resort in Goa next month. I am paying for the guests' travel. Will the event insurance for the wedding also cover any travel-related problems, like flights getting cancelled, etc

Readers' Corner: General Insurance

Narela, Delhi-NCR: Growing at 7-10% annually

While the surrounding suburbs have filled in the gap, the prime city of Delhi has a lot to offer for fulfilling the housing needs at affordable prices

Prompt refunds have been made for small amounts. For larger amounts, time has been sought till March 2018

The real story behind delayed tax refunds

Now, a new entity to sell insurance

However, even this channel will represent the insurer rather than the customer

Insurance marketing firms provide more options

Avoid hard knocks in equities with dynamic funds

Give Motilal Oswal AMC's dynamic equity fund time to develop track record before you invest in it

Gadkari's statement on petroleum is reminiscent of the worst mistakes of the licence raj days

As absurd as it gets

Redevelopment compensation isn't taxed

Cooperative societies get more tax benefits as compared to individual house ownersMembers of cooperative housing societies, going in for redevelopment, can stop worrying about the tax on the compensation developers pay them. A recent judgment of the Mumbai Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) clarifies how the different components of compensation should be taxed.Property redevelopment is widespread in Mumbai. Developers are increasingly eyeing old housing societies in other big cities such as Delhi and Pune. Experts say the judgment can be used as a reference by house owners to plan their taxes. "The judgment favours home owners and reinforces that compensation should not be taxed. The observations made in this landmark judgment also balance the expectations of home owners and the income tax (I-T) department," says Arvind Rao, founder of Arvind Rao & Associates.Housing societies: Hemal Mehta, partner at Deloitte Haskins & Sells, explains that when a society goes for redevelopme

Jyotivardhan Jaipuria

Many brokerages have raised their Sensex target to 30,000 by the financial year end

What should investors do in this market?

Mis-selling: You are on your own

While regulators are trying to do their bit, the onus is on you to prove it

Profiting from your vacant property

Rental real estate aggregators can help you earn Rs 3,000-5,000 rent daily

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gold

Invest in gold bond schemes

With the gold prices touching 3,134 per gram, Investors who had put money in the first tranche of the sovereign gold bond (SGB) issues have gained 18 per cent in 10 months. If you add the 2.75 per cent interest that the government pays on the initial amount, the first year returns are around 21 per cent.With every tranche, the investment mobilised has been increasing. The fourth series saw the highest investment totalling Rs 919 crore despite it also being the priciest. Each bond, equivalent to one gram of gold, was worth Rs 3,119. The government has now come up with the fifth tranche of SGB priced at Rs 3,150 per gram, higher than ever before."There response to this tranche, too, has been very encouraging," says Vishal Gulechha, EVP and head - equity product group, ICICI Securities. "These are essentially buyers who are moving away from physical gold buying and embracing the electronic format," he adds.But does it make sense to invest in these bonds at current price or investors are b

Page 6 - Investment