One hundred lesser would not have made Sachin Tendulkar a lesser legend in anybody’s eyes. Like the last four runs that Sir Don Bradman did not score did not make him any lesser a batsman. Or the last successive Wimbledon title that Federer failed to win in a row did not make him a lesser tennis player in … Read more
My friend Swami does not believe that he is ‘average’. Some study said that 9 out of 10 people believe that they are above average. This means that the average belief is that ‘I am above average’. This comes to the fore during performance appraisals in companies. At least 70% of the people are supposed … Read more
For regular investors for whom investing is not a full-time activity, the Bogleheads’ Guide to Investing is a wonderful book that asks the right questions and provides clear answers. In a single book, the authors (who also started an online forum bogleheads.org based on the investing principles of John Bogle) have explained, in a step … Read more
“What is the difference between retrospective and retroactive?” asked my broker friend Jigneshbhai, as we met over coffee last weekend after a long time. Surprisingly, the question today was from Jigneshbhai rather than Swami. Swami looked at my broker friend and shrugged it off. “They are the same, I think. Why?” “Well someone from the … Read more
“Andy Murray’s victory in the Wimbledon final last Sunday reminded me a lot of the Indian victory in the Mumbai World Cup final.” Jigneshbhai said when we had our coffee last week. Swami agreed. “Both Andy and the Indian team carried the heavy burden of expectations on their shoulders, albeit Andy had it more in … Read more
Dynastic rule is not new in India. In almost every field of life, it is the default way of functioning. To follow in your father’s footsteps is seen as a matter of pride and families in India boast about it. In politics, it is not just the default, but even if it does not happen … Read more
“It is pathetic – this spot fixing. They get so much money, and still fix”, cried my friend Swami, as we were having our weekend coffee. My broker friend Jigneshbhai was, as always, watching Swami and listening. After a while, Jigneshbhai asked nonchalantly, “Who are you talking about?” As always, this irked Swami even more. … Read more
Over the past 6, 12 or perhaps 18 months, the Indian capital market performance has had a polarized structure. It is broadly divided into, on the one hand, a small set of wonderful companies that are grossly overvalued, whichever way you look at it, and which keep getting expensive; and on the other hand, a … Read more
And for a Saturday, a few stray thoughts and a few general observations and a few points of view (all my own work): Like the Congress seems to be happy about winning the Karnataka elections, but I am unable to decide whether they won, or the opposition lost. Like removing two more or less politically … Read more