For individual investors who have ambitions to become market experts, I have devised a step by step approach that can be followed by almost anyone. No background in investing is necessary, but a learning attitude is important. It does not guarantee success (like market disclaimers!), but it is a sure and steady way to market … Read more
A lot of people I met or spoke to on Sunday 9/11 told me exactly where they were and what they were doing when the two planes crashed into the Twin Towers 10 years back. I too remember what I was doing at that time. I don’t know why people remember that, but this was … Read more
“Can you guarantee it?” asked my South Indian friend Swami, when my broker Jigneshbhai asked him to hold on or add to his investments saying that markets will recover. Jigneshbhai said, “Boss, there are no guarantees, but they should recover eventually.” Swami continued, “But when? For the last 4 years, the returns from my investment … Read more
One of the things that I learnt from the recent anti-corruption movement is that I think there is a generation of Indians who are the ‘in-between’ generation. People from the older generation were generally initially quite cynical, the ones from the newer generation were generally quite positive from the start, and a large part of … Read more
‘All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone’ – said Blaise Pascal. On those lines, there might be some truth in extending it a bit – ‘All of a nation’s problems perhaps stem from their parliamentarians’ inability to sit quietly and agree in a room together.’ If only … Read more
My South Indian friend Swami had a new reason to complain since this morning – the rains. “I really got caught in the rains today – it was really bad, the weather, roads and traffic” , he told me as I met him today. Monsoon in Bangalore is, at best, mild, so a steady bout … Read more
“Who is this S&P?” asked my South Indian friend Swami to my broker over a cup of coffee. Swami, who generally spends time with his family over weekends, suddenly called me on Sunday afternoon, and said he wanted to meet my broker friend Jignesh who knew a thing or two about investing. I was not … Read more
“Are you a vegetarian or non-vegetarian?” asked the waiter at the hotel to my South Indian colleague Swami. This question always confuses him. “I am a vegetarian mostly, but I can eat chicken, except on Tuesday and Friday. So it depends on what everyone else is ordering”, he replied. Such responses always confuse waiters in … Read more