Introduction Financial engineering has become a powerful mechanism in structured finance, to bridge liquidity gaps, restructure risk, and create marketable securities from previously illiquid assets. While the intent behind financial innovations was to create value, they’ve also been at the center of significant misuse, particularly during the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) of 2008. The global […]

Introduction Imagine you’ve just bought a 10-year government bond, expecting steady returns. A few months later, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announces an interest rate hike. Suddenly, the value of your bond starts dropping. You begin to wonder: how can a central bank’s decision influence the value of your bond? This question highlights the […]

Introduction If you’ve ever skimmed through a bond’s term sheet, you may have encountered something like this: “Unsecured, Rated, Listed, Government Guaranteed, Redeemable, Taxable Non-Convertible Debentures in the nature of Bonds to be issued in the form of Separately Transferable Redeemable Principal Parts (STRPP)”. While this might seem like dense financial jargon, it’s essential to […]

Introduction In a landmark development for India’s debt market, on June 28, 2024, JP Morgan added 29 Indian government securities under the FAR program to its highly regarded Emerging Market Bond Index (EMBI). This development is expected to enhance foreign investor participation and attract substantial inflows into the Indian bond market. The decision marks India’s […]

Introduction Corporate bonds play a vital role, offering investors a secure and stable way to earn returns. But, behind the scenes of every bond trade lies a critical process that ensures the smooth transfer of securities from one party to another—the settlement process. In India, this process has evolved over time, guided by regulations that […]

Introduction Over the past decade, India has witnessed rapid growth in its private credit market, and the burgeoning corporate bond market has been at the cornerstone of this development. As more investors become aware of the benefits of bonds, especially in terms of portfolio diversification, the corporate bond market continues to gain momentum. Corporate bonds […]

Introduction Mr. Mehta, a diligent accountant in the 90s, is eager to invest in a corporate bond. He leaves work early, navigates through the bustling streets to meet his broker and sits down in a dimly lit office surrounded by stacks of paperwork. After painstakingly filling out numerous forms and writing a cheque, Mr. Mehta […]

Introduction In the early days of 2020, as the world was grappling with the uncertainty and fear brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian financial markets found themselves in uncharted waters. Markets were tumbling, liquidity was drying up and investors were anxious. Among those most affected were retail investors, who watched helplessly as their […]

Introduction Businesses often find themselves needing quick, short-term funding to keep things running smoothly, whether it’s managing daily operations, buying inventory, or bridging gaps between receivables and payables. In these situations, having immediate access to funds is crucial. One effective tool for meeting these short-term financial needs is commercial paper. In this article, we’ll break […]