All About Call Money Market in India

The call money market refers to the market for extremely short period loans; say one day to fourteen days. These loans are repayable on demand at the option of either the lender or the borrower. The money that is lent for one day in this market is known as “Call Money”, and if it exceeds one day (but less than 15 days) it is referred to as “Notice Money”. Term Money refers to Money lent for 15 days or more in the Inter Bank Market.  These loans are given to brokers and dealers in stock exchange. Similarly, banks with ‘surplus’ lend to other banks with ‘deficit funds’ in the call money market. Thus, it provides an equilibrating mechanism for evening out short term surpluses and deficits. Moreover, commercial banks can quickly borrow from the call market to meet their statutory liquidity requirements. They can also maximize their profits easily by Continue reading

Effective Communications in Investor Relations

Corporations worldwide work daily to increase the value of their stock for the investing public. In order to exploit this value, businesses must constantly make every effort to extensively communicate to their investors and potential investors. In view of this, investor relations are a vital part of business strategy, principally in the area of communication. Corporate departments involved with investor directions must make a necessary connection between efficient communication and company goals. Since communication is starting to play such an important role in investor relations, corporate communication programs are being created not only to participate in financial areas, but also to take part in media relations and other public communication. Ultimately, the best way for corporations to understand communications for investor relations is to look at an overview of the investor relations function, know how to organize investor relations, learn about investor relations programs and be informed on investor relations Continue reading

Basic Investment Objectives

Investing is a wide spread practice and many have made their fortunes in the process. The starting point in this process is to determine the characteristics of the various investments and then matching them with the individuals need and preferences. All personal investing is designed in order to achieve certain objectives. These objectives may be tangible such as buying a car, house etc. and intangible objectives such as social status, security etc. similarly; these objectives may be classified as financial or personal objectives. Financial objectives are safety, profitability, and liquidity. Personal or individual objectives may be related to personal characteristics of individuals such as family commitments, status, dependents, educational requirements, income, consumption and provision for retirement etc. The basic objectives of investment can be classified on the basis of the investors approach as follows: Short term high priority objectives: Investors have a high priority towards achieving certain objectives in a Continue reading

Difference Between Debentures and Bonds

DEBENTURES A debenture represents the smallest unit of public lending to a company.   Like shares, they are represented in the form of a certificate.   The common face value for a debenture in India is Rs.100, and they are always issued at par.   Unlike an ordinary shareholder, a debenture holder assumes very little risk on his investment.   Unlike the uncertain stream of dividends, which a shareholder receives, a debenture holder receives a fixed stream of interest.   Payment of such interest is a legal obligation on the part of the company.   Further, in general, a debenture is required to be secured against the assets of the company.   Thus, a debenture is also a form of a secured loan.   Secured debenture implies that should a company default in its obligations towards debenture holders in the repayment of their interest and principal, in law, the charged Continue reading

Types of Equity Mutual Funds

Equity mutual funds or simply equity funds are those that invest predominantly in equity share of companies. There are a variety of ways in which an equity portfolio can be created for investors. The following are the different kinds of equity funds: 1. Simple Equity Funds These funds invest a predominant portion of the funds mobilized in equity and equity related products. In most cases about 80-90% of their investments are in equity shares. These funds have the freedom to invest both in primary and secondary markets for equity. One variation of the simple equity fund is the ELSS (Equity Linked Savings Scheme). These funds named variously in mutual fund industry are equity funds formed under a special scheme notified by the Government of India in 1990. According to the provisions of this notification, investment in a specially formed mutual fund product that invests at least 90% of its funds Continue reading

Demutualization of Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)

The change in the name of Asia’s oldest stock exchange, from the Stock Exchange, Mumbai to the Bombay Stock Exchange Ltd., (BSE Ltd.) is of more than cosmetic significance. Along with the change in name comes a new perspective, one brought about by a comprehensive change in its ownership and management. Until now, the BSE like most other exchanges in India was owned and managed by brokers, who also had the sole right to trade in the exchanges. Conflicts of interest were bound to arise in such situations. Until the advent of the National Stock Exchange in 1994, the BSE was India’s pre-eminent exchange, accounting for an overwhelmingly large proportion of the share market transactions of the country. Companies wherever located were advised to seek a listing of their shares on the BSE so that they could have access to its large reservoir of capital and investor base. Legally speaking, Continue reading