Cover Story

Ten steps for improving the effectiveness of ARC sector
"Allow ARCs to go public. This will help mobilise funds and ensure greater disclosures and more transparency", writes Hari Hara Mishra, president, UV ARC, Delhi.

The story behind sudden boom in distressed assets business
Several factors are driving this flourishing trade in bad assets. But the biggest trigger came in November 2013 when RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, in a strongly worded exhortation, asked the banking system to clean up its act.
AMCs vs ARCs
Globally, governments create asset management companies to deal with stressed loans
The Vulture Funds
Globally, companies make billions by even buying distressed country debt, instead of mere corporate debt.

2015-08-02

Digital

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Cover Story

Here's why you must buy a life insurance policy

The first step is to understand that insurance is not an investment tool that could help save income tax but is imperative to cover you from risks.

Markets

Sebi goes after companies rigging share prices

It is not often that one hears about 239 entities and individuals being barred from a stock exchange by the regulator. But this is exactly what the market regulator did on June 29. Here's why.

People

Newsmakers: Ratan Tata, Lalit Modi, Rahul Yadav and more

Newsmakers: Featuring Ratan Tata, Lalit Modi, Rahul Yadav, Mukesh Ambani and YC Deveshwar

Book

Book review: The Paradox of India's North-South Divide

As such, the book does not offer any recipes for achieving development, but only points towards an enabling environment for investment, governance, health and education to take advantage of the unfolding economic opportunity.

Book review: Online Gravity - The Digital Giants Driving the Way You Live, Earn and Learn

For those who are worried that technology and the Internet are closing in on us too fast, too soon, the book is a soothing balm.

Investment

Want money at periodic intervals? Go for dividend plans of equity MFs

Investors should consider dividend plans of equity mutual funds if they need money at periodic intervals.

Invest with caution in small- and mid-cap funds

Those who can stomach market volatility and have a long-term investment horizon may go for these funds.

Direct plans of mutual funds are meant only for savvy investors

Direct plans have a lower expense ratio since they do not engage distributors, hence saving on distribution expenses and commissions paid to the distributors.

Trends

Apple Music launch has changed tempo for streaming services

Already reports are filtering in of users ditching Spotify and SoundCloud to try out Apple Music.

Technology

Why deleting your device data securely is important

If you thought deleted data cannot be recovered, you are wrong. There are third-party softwares that make data recovery child's play.

Review: LG G Watch Urbane is a premium timepiece but pricey

This smartwatch runs on the latest Android Wear 5.1.1 and is powered by 1.2Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor with 512 MB of RAM.

Sony Xperia Z3+ has amazing features but heats up very fast

At 6.9 mm and 144gm, it's marginally thinner and lighter than the Z3 but the screen is the same as Z3's at 5.2inch with Full HD (1080x1920 pixel) resolution.

Focus

China's Moment of Truth

In particular, Indian governments' penchant for pockets of protection within the country creates weaklings in competition. Its overall competitiveness can be improved only if the government takes a fairer stance towards competition.

PM's Digital India programme faces multiple challenges

The sheer scale of the programme and the coordination it requires from both the government and private players may throw it off track.

The Greek Meltdown: How it all started

Greece is tottering on the brink. However, as these pages went to press, reports of Greece making conciliatory moves through proposals similar to what its referendum had rejected, brought fresh hope. Hard negotiations will follow for sure. Meanwhile, here is an account of how things panned out

Bears in the China shop

The recent unprecedented crash in the Chinese stock market has dented investor confidence.

Expert Speak

Revised income tax return forms: All you need to know

The good news is you are no more required to give details of foreign trips or expenditure thereon to the income-tax department. But you still need to give your passport number, if available, in Forms ITR-2 and ITR-2A.

'Covering all towns and most villages is the biggest challenge'

Tapan Singhel, MD and CEO of Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, speaks to Teena Jain Kaushal about how the general insurance industry is shaping up. Excerpts from an interview-

Features

Demand for English channels and movies is rising in India

The viewership of English channels has soared by over 30 per cent in the last one year. The major trigger for this growth is digitisation.

E-commerce firms are now hiring experienced people. Here's why

Taking a lesson from Housing.com's Rahul Yadav's saga, e-commerce companies are realizing the need for a few grey hairs to take matured decisions and minimise risk.

Interviews

We will not sell out TV business, says CFO of Sun Group

Subramanyam Lakshmi Narayanan, CFO of Sun Group, talks to Venkatesha Babu about why they will not give in to the pressure and sell out the TV business.

News

Mobile users move from gaming to utility apps

Indians are increasingly using apps for shopping, reading and photo editing, and this trend has deep implications for advertisers.

Corporate

Cerana Beverages crafts success, but way ahead is challenging

Its beers managed to make an impact in a market dominated by United Breweries Ltd but how does the company plan to retain the market position.

Corporate

Despite Narendra Modi's efforts, business confidence dips for the second straight quarter

The latest Business Today-C fore Business Confidence Survey shows confidence levels have slipped to 57.4 in the April to June quarter, despite some concerted efforts by the Narendra Modi-led government.

Can Maran brothers save their business from on-going siege?

The empire, built over the past two-and-a-half decades, is now beginning to crumble. First, lack of support from lenders forced Maran to sell the struggling SpiceJet. At a personal level, the CBI is already probing Kalanithi Maran and his brother Dayanidhi Maran, in a number of cases.

Marketing expert Jack Trout on how to deal with competition

"If your competitor is smaller than you, you should move against your competitor as soon as you can so that they cannot develop momentum", says marketing strategist Jack Trout.

Can Cyrus Mistry stage a recovery for Tata Motors?

Tata Motors' net profit for the fourth quarter of 2014/15 fell 56 per cent - worse than expected -and India's largest automobile company by revenue also held back dividends for the first time since 2002.

Insurance

Insurance sector set for revival with Irda's new guidelines

Money Today's esteemed panel discusses and deliberates on the various steps that are needed to be taken at regulatory, distribution and financial literacy levels in the insurance industry.

Should you go for city-based health insurance policies?

City-based pricing helps one pay premium as per the cost of treatment in his or her city but with some checks and balances. Here is what all is on offer-

Leadership Spotlight