The recent Monetary Policy released by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) laid its thrust on controlling the spiraling inflation, especially the food price inflation. One of the reasons behind the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) hike was to “curtail the rising inflationary expectations (higher expected price trends)” In the past RBI has been concerned about the fact that a common man does not have any protection against rising prices, vis No Inflation Hedge. The common man has to rely on traditional but inefficient methods to hedge the real inflation risks, such as Gold and real assets such as commodities or real estate or even excessive stocking of goods In developed markets like US, the government has issues “Treasury Inflation Protected Securities” known as TIPS. Globally more than USD 1 trillion worth inflation linked bonds must be outstanding. Inflation-linked bonds (ILB) securities give an opportunity to market participants and investors to hedge Continue reading
Financial Management Concepts
Importance of Accurate Financial Statements
The role of financial accounting is not to show the value of a company, but rather it provides enough information for others outside the company to determine the value of the company for themselves. Financial Statements are annual statements summarizing a company’s activity over the last year. They consist of the profit and loss account, balance sheet, statement of total recognized gains and losses and, if required, the cash flow statement together with supporting notes. Proper financial statements are crucial for a company’s success. Bad financial management can quickly lead to a company’s downfall. Income statements, also known as P&L’s or profit and losses are a basic account of the company’s profits, expenses and sales. These reports will give insight into the finances of a company in the immediate and distant future. Balance sheets are the assets, liabilities and the equity of a company. This sheet is simply the statement Continue reading
Concept of Accountability in Financial Management
“Accountability breeds responsibility” – This is a famous quote by Dr. Stephen R. Covey gives the meaning of accountability in rather general terms. The concept of accountability can be defined as the process through which a person is held answerable for his actions and deeds. Under the umbrella of the organization the notion of accountability can be stated as the phenomenon through which whether a person at the higher level of hierarchy or at the lower level is accountable for his works and services that he renders to the organization. Accountability from the organizational perspective bears great importance as it is the measure through which the performance of the organization and a person serving can be judged and analysed. Accountability has different forms. First, the individualizing form of accountability can be studied in which the accountability contributes in making the realization of the image an individual perceives about it. This Continue reading
Financial Accounting – Definition, Nature, Scope and Limitations
MEANING OF ACCOUNTING Accounting is the process of recording, classifying, summarizing, analyzing and interpreting the financial transactions of the business for the benefit of management and those parties who are interested in business such as shareholders, creditors, bankers, customers, employees and government. Thus, it is concerned with financial reporting and decision making aspects of the business. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Committee on Terminology proposed in 1941 that accounting may be defined as, “The art of recording, classifying and summarizing in a significant manner and in terms of money, transactions and events which are, in part at least, of a financial character and interpreting the results thereof”. DEFINITION OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING The term ‘Accounting’ unless otherwise specifically stated always refers to ‘Financial Accounting’. Financial Accounting is commonly carries on in the general offices of a business. It is concerned with revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities of a business Continue reading
Concept of Capitalization in Financial Management
Meaning of Capitalization Capitalization is an important constituent of financial plan. ln common parlance, the phrase ‘Capitalization’ refers to total amount of capital employed in a business. However, scholars are not unanimous in so far as capitalization is concerned. The term capitalization connotes the process of determining the quantum of funds that a firm would require to run its business. Capitalization is distinct from share capital which refer only to the paid-up value of shares issued and definitely excludes bonds and other forms of borrowings. Similarly, it should be distinguished form ‘capital’. The term capital refers to the total investment of a company in money, tangible assets like goodwill. It is in a way the total wealth of a company. When used in the sense of net capital, it indicates the excess of total assets over liabilities. Here, then, it includes “the gains or profits from the use and Continue reading
Components of Cost of Capital
The term cost of capital refers to the maximum rate of return a firm must earn on its investment so that the market value of company’s equity shares does not fall. This is a consonance with the overall firm’s objective of wealth maximization. This is possible only when the firm earns a return on the projects financed by equity shareholders funds at a rate which is at least equal to the rate of return expected by them. If a firm fails to earn return at the expected rate, the market value of the shares would fall and thus result in reduction of overall wealth of the shareholders. Thus, a firm’s cost of capital may be defined as “the rate of return the firm requires from investment in order to increase the value of the firm in the market place”. The three components of cost of capital are: 1. Cost of Continue reading