Life insurance is popularly referred to as life assurance. In the case of life insurance, the underwriter agrees to pay the assured or his heirs, a certain sum of money on death or on the happening of an event dependent upon human life in consideration of premiums paid by the assured. Section 2(11) of the Insurance Act, 1938 defines Life Insurance business as follows: “Life Insurance Business” is the business of effecting contracts of insurance upon human life, including any contract whereby the payment of money is assured on death (except death by accident only) or the happening of any contingency dependent on human life and any contract which is subject to the payment of premiums for a term dependent on human life and shall be deemed to include: The granting of disability and double or triple indemnity accident benefits if so provided in the contract of insurance. The granting Continue reading
Financial Concepts
Introduction to Financial Instruments
Often investors invest through financial assets or financial instruments or securities. Investments that represent debt, ownership of a business or a legal right to acquire a part of ownership interest in business are called securities. There are a number of financial instruments which are traded in the money market. The important financial instruments are Treasury Bills, Certificates of Deposits, Commercial Bills, Commercial Papers, etc. The money market instruments have maturity period upon one year. Money market instruments are highly liquid, short-term debt instruments which mature in less than 12 months, and normally pay continuously varying returns. These involve no or very little degree of risk. The money market instruments pay return to investors in the form of discount at the time of issue. On the other hand, Capital market has instruments of longer maturity period. These instruments are : Ownership Securities : Equity Shares, Preference Shares, and Cumulative Convertible Preference Continue reading
Different Types of Stakeholders in Business
Stakeholder is a person who has something to gain or lose through the outcomes of a planning process, program or project. Stakeholder Analysis is a technique used to identify and assess the influence and importance of key people, groups of people, or organizations that may significantly impact the success of your activity or project. Stakeholder Management is essentially stakeholder relationship management as it is the relationship and not the actual stakeholder groups that are managed. Stakeholders can be divided into inside stakeholders and outside stakeholders. Inside stakeholders are people who are nearby to an organization and have the strongest or most direct claim on organizational resources: shareholders, executive employees, and non executive employees. Shareholders are the owners of the organization, and, as such, their claim on organizational resources is often careful to the claims of other inside stakeholders. The shareholders’ donation to the organization is to spend money in it Continue reading
Financial Accounting vs Management Accounting
Financial Accounting and Management Accounting are two interrelated facets of the accounting system. They are not exclusive of each other; they are supplementary in nature. Financial accounting provides the basic structure for collecting data. The data collection structure is suitably modified or adjusted for accumulating information for management accounting purposes. In a broader sense, management accounting includes financial accounting. They differ in their emphasis and approaches. They are as follows: Financial accounting serves the interest of external users (i.e. investors etc.) while management accounting caters to the needs of internal users (i.e. management). Financial accounting is governed by the generally accepted accounting principles while management accounting has no set principles. Financial accounting presents historical information while management accounting represents predetermined as well as past information. Financial accounting is statutory while management accounting is optional. Financial accounting presents annual reports while management accounting reports are of both Continue reading
Shareholder Value Analysis (SVA)
Shareholder Value Analysis (SVA) is an approach to financial management, which focuses on the creation of economic value for shareholders, as measured by share price performance and flow of funds. It’s lead by the principle that the management of a company should take into consideration the shareholder’s interest and advantages before meets any decision, set short-term or long-term objectives and decide company’s strategy as well. Shareholder Value Analysis is a characteristic substitute for trade business measurement, which has improved a lot by time passing. Due to the fact that company’s value is calculated based on the value returned to its shareholders, in the past had been criticized for being either short-term measured or only based in past figures. Shareholder Value Analysis takes a longer-term view and is about measuring and managing cash-flows over time. The shareholder value is calculated by estimating the total net value of the company and dividing Continue reading
Hedging with Derivatives – Futures Hedging, Forwards Hedging, and Swap Hedging
Futures Hedging A futures contract compels the buyer to purchase a particular quantity of assets within a certain period of time. The price of the purchase is agreed in the contract at the time of entering this contract. The asset that is to be purchased is referred to as the underlying asset and the time when this asset is purchased or sold is known as the expiry date or maturity date. While the major difference between a futures contract from an options contract is the obligation to purchase an asset, forward contracts also oblige the buyer to purchase the underlying asset. However, in contrast to forward contracts, futures contracts are drawn according to standardized forms and are more liquid since they are traded on secondary markets. Futures contracts provide more liquidity in comparison with forward contracts. A party that enters a futures agreement to purchase security may sell this right Continue reading