Options contracts, as well, must be evaluated to determine their worth. Although like any good or service, supply and demand for, say, options will affect the price; to understand the value underlying the price, we need to look deeper. Just as we would consider such factors as the quantity and quality of earnings, price-earnings ratio, and industry outlook, to determine the value of a firm; so we must use the various performance measures to analyze options and futures. Their analysis is complicated by their relationship with the underlying instrument. The underlying asset price therefore is a critical ingredient in the valuation or pricing of options. A key ingredient in the pricing of options thus is the relationship of the option or future to the underlying security on or before expiration determines its value. The price of an option or a futures security will always be a function of the Continue reading
Investment Management
Changes in the Indian Secondary Market Regulations
The Indian securities market is in transition. Several important changes were brought for the smooth and effective functioning of stock exchanges from the time to time by the SEBI. The revolutionary changes have been taking place over a period of time. In fact, on almost all the operational and systematic risk management parameters, settlement system, disclosures, accounting standards, the Indian securities market is at par with the global standards. Some of those initiatives taken place in the secondary market are discussed below: Overall administration, supervision and control of the stock exchanges: The central government for the first time in April 1988 constituted an administrative body viz. securities and exchange board of India and in January 1992, the central government enacted an Act granting a statutory recognition to the securities and exchange board of India as a regulator of the securities/ markets. The governing board of the council to be consisting Continue reading
The Dow Jones Theory on Stock Market Movements
The Dow Jones Theory The Dow Jones Theory is probably the most popular theory regarding the behavior of stock market prices. The Dow Jones theory has been around for almost 100 years, yet even in today’s volatile and technology-driven markets, the basic components of this theory still remain valid. The theory derives its name from Charles H. Dow, who established the Dow Jones & Co. and was the first editor of the Wall Street Journal — a leading publication on financial and economic matters in the U.S.A. Although Dow never gave a proper shape to the theory, ideas have been expanded and articulated by many of his successors. The Dow Jones theory classifies the movement of the prices on the share market into three major categories: Primary Movements, Secondary Movements and Daily Fluctuations. 1) Primary Movements: They reflect the trend of the stock market and last from one year Continue reading
Claims in Insurance and Claims Management
Claims in Insurance Definition of claims: Claim is a right of insured to receive the amount secured under the policy of insurance contract promised by Insurer. An insurance claim is the actual application for benefits provided by an insurance company. Policy holders must first file an insurance claim before any money can be disbursed to the hospital or repair shop or other contracted service. The insurance company may or may not approve the claim, based on their own assessment of the circumstances. Individuals who take out home, life, health, or automobile insurance policies must maintain regular payments called premiums to the insurers. Most of the time these premiums are used to settle another person’s insurance claim or to build up the available assets of the insurance company. When claims are filed, the insured has to observe the settled rules and procedures and the insurer has also to reciprocate in a Continue reading
Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA)
A major portion of international capital flows entering the Indian economy is aided by taxation laws and systems among countries like the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. The phenomenal growth in international trade and commerce and increasing interaction among nations, citizens, residents and businesses of one country has extended their sphere of activity and business operations to other countries. A person earning any income has to pay tax in the country in which the income is earned (as Source Country) as well as in the country in which the person is resident. As such, the income is liable to be taxed in both the countries. To avoid this hardship to individuals and also with a view to ensure that national economic growth does not suffer, the Central government under Section 90 of the Income Tax Act has entered into Double Tax Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with other countries. Definition of Double Taxation: Continue reading
Rights Offering (Issue)
Whenever an existing company wants to issue new equity shares, the existing shareholders will be potential buyers of these shares. Generally the Articles or Memorandum of Association of the Company gives the right to existing shareholders to participate in the new equity issues of the company. This right is known as ‘pre-emptive right’ and such offered shares are called ‘Right shares‘ or ‘Rights issue‘. A rights issue involves selling securities in the primary market by issuing rights to the existing shareholders. When a company issues additional share capital, it has to be offered in the first instance to the existing shareholders on a pro-rata basis. This is required in India under section 81 of the Companies Act, 1956. However, the shareholders may by a special resolution forfeit this right, partially or fully, to enable the company to issue additional capital to public. Under section 81 of the Companies Act 1956, Continue reading