COVER
STORY
FMCG
Spearheading
-- C V Kumar
The
rising Indian middle-class, with increased disposable income and a huge rural
market, has made the FMCG sector look more attractive than ever. Fast Moving Consumer
Goods (FMCGs) as such does not have any structured definition. However, one can
attempt to formulate a definition looking at the following characteristics that
epitomize a FMCG product. A FMCG product is consumed at least once a month, sold
under national brands in consumer packages through a vast distribution network
and is consumed directly by end user.
© 2007 IUP . All Rights Reserved
EMERGING
ECONOMY
Capital
Markets and Economic Development Case for Developing Economies
-- Pramod Kumar
The
article focuses on the role of capital market in shaping a country's economic
development with special reference to developing economies. Capital Markets in
any country play an important role in supporting technological progress and in
the economic development by channeling funds for investment in productive assets,
contributing to long-term growth prospects of the economy. The International Finance
Corporation (IFC) uses the parameters of income per capita and market capitalization
relative to GNP for classifying equity markets.
© 2007 IUP . All Rights Reserved
MUTUAL
FUNDS
Needs
of a Healthy Investment Portfolio with Special Reference to Hybrid Funds
-- Meenu Verma
The
article takes a closer look at Hybrid Funds, their advantages, and future prospects
in India. An investor has various alternative avenues to invest his savings in.
Hence, savings are productively invested in assets depending on their risk and
return characteristics. The objective of the investor is to minimize the risk
involved in investment and maximize the return from the investment.
© 2007 IUP . All Rights Reserved
MUTUAL
FUNDS
Analyzing
Equity Mutual Funds in India
-- Kapil Sharma
The
article explores the performance of a few equity mutual funds in India and throws
light on investing in the same. A Mutual Fund is a trust that pools the savings
of a number of investors who share a common financial goal. The money thus collected
is invested by the fund manager in different types of securities depending upon
the objective of the scheme. These could range from shares to debentures to money
market instruments.
© 2007 IUP . All Rights Reserved
COMMODITIES
Commodity
Derivative Market : A Grandiose Conduit for Electrifying Riches
-- Shaveta Gupta and Anu Sahi
Commodity
derivatives have started gaining significant popularity in recent times, primarily
due to their unique features. The article explores into this. Change is law of
nature hence; change can be witnessed in every sphere of life and business activities.
In past fate assumed a vital place and in the modern world, there is a shift to
changes or volatility and the risk associated with each change. Business in the
present competitive arena has to undergo a number of changes in terms of technology,
rules and regulations, interest rates, exchange rates, etc. Amidst the volatile
nature of business, there arises a need for tools and techniques to manage the
risk in such a way that returns are not negatively affected.
© 2007 IUP . All Rights Reserved
CAPITAL
MARKET
Perspectives
of Efficient Capital Market
-- Satyajit Dhar and Sweta Chhaochharia
The
article explores the world of efficient market hypothesis and the Indian experience
of the same. The Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) is inextricably related to
the Random Walk theory. Random Walk refers to successive price changes that are
independent to each other. Bachelier (1990) first suggested the idea that stock
prices follow a random pattern. Sadly, Bachelier's contribution was overlooked
until it was circulated to economists by Paul Samuelson in the late 1950s and
subsequently published in 1964.
© 2007 IUP . All Rights Reserved
PERSONAL
FINANCE
Insights
into Personal Investment Management
-- Vikas Shrotriya
The
article explores the importance of personal investment, and factors to be considered
while investing and creating a portfolio. Investment has been identified as the
postponement of current consumption in expectation of having an increased amount
available for consumption in the future. For institutional investors, there are
professional investment and portfolio managers. But for an individual, the management
of personal investment becomes difficult, as he or she is not aware of the nitty-gritty
of the investment world.
© 2007 IUP . All Rights Reserved
PERSONAL
FINANCE
Private
Client Management : A Comprehensive Financial Planning Approach
-- Debarati Bhattacharya
The
previous issue covered the case of equity instruments and real estate. This issue
primarily covers the investment avenues of physical assets such as precious metals,
commodities and art. Gold is costing around $650 per ounce, near the highest in
the past 25 years. With these new highs, an interesting thing has happened. A
few years ago no one was convinced about buying gold but slowly bullion i.e.,
gold and silver buying has become a practice.
© 2007 IUP . All Rights Reserved
BOOK
REVIEW
Indian
Capital Markets 2006 : Trends and Reforms - Vol. II
-- Arindam Banerjee Reviewed by D Hima Bindu
The Indian Capital Market seems to be on the upsurge since it reached the
10k mark. This book focuses on the issues, perspectives and regulatory measures
governing the Indian Capital Market. The Indian Capital Market is in the midst
of a radical growth and has witnessed several changes over the years, with respect
to the number of participants, instruments and regulatory reforms. Strong economic
fundamentals of the country and a widely perceived robustness of the Indian Capital
Market system, have gradually restored the confidence of the investors in the
Indian market.
© 2007 IUP . All Rights Reserved
