If you invest in the stock market, knowing when the markets are closed can save you both time and effort. Each year, the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) publishes a list of trading holidays well ahead of time. This gives everyone—from first-time investors to seasoned traders—a clear view of […]

Okay, so you’ve clicked “buy” or “sell” on a bond. You might think, “Great, done deal!” But hold on a second. Just like buying a house involves more than signing a contract, bond trading has a final, crucial step: trade settlement. Think of it as the official handshake, the moment when the bond and the […]

Introduction When it comes to fixed-income investments, the maturity date is an important factor investors need to be aware of. Whether you’re investing in a bond, a fixed deposit or even a recurring deposit, the maturity date marks the end of the investment period and indicates when the principal amount is due to be repaid. […]

Imagine you’re thinking about lending some money, right? Buying a bond is kind of like that. The company or government you buy the bond from is borrowing from you. Now, for lending them your cash, they give you regular interest payments. The coupon rate is simply the fixed percentage of the original amount you lent […]

When you hear the term cap in investment, think of a ceiling. Just like a physical cap keeps something from going too high, in the world of finance, it places a limit on how high the interest rate can rise. This becomes especially useful when you’re dealing with variable-rate instruments like bonds or loans. A […]

Introduction When you invest in bonds, especially those issued by corporations or lower-rated entities, understanding how long your money is at risk and how sensitive the bond is to interest rate changes becomes critical. One widely used concept in the bond world is Macaulay Duration. It helps investors get a sense of when they’ll recover […]

CPI Demystified: More Than Just a Number Introduction: Imagine CPI as the economy’s thermometer. Just as a fever signals health issues, rising CPI indicates inflation heating up your daily expenses. In India, the Consumer Price Index tracks price changes for essentials like food, housing, transport, and healthcare. It’s not just a statistic—it’s a pulse check […]

Picture this: You’re baking a cake, but instead of rushing to the store for fancy ingredients, you work with what’s in your pantry. That’s bootstrapping in a nutshell—crafting a business from scratch using grit, creativity, and the resources already at your fingertips. No investor sugar daddies, no loans—just raw hustle. Companies like Zoho and Mailchimp […]

In financial news, you must’ve heard the term “repo rate”, but what exactly does it mean for you and how does the repo rate affect a common man? Let’s understand. Imagine banks occasionally need quick cash—just like we do. Instead of a friend or relative, they turn to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). But […]