Skip to main content

Silver - A Just a portfolio diversifier

THE consistent rise in silver prices — the highest among all other investment avenues — in the last few months, has invoked investors' interest in the asset. The average daily volumes in silver on the Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX) have risen sharply from `12,245.14 crore to `16,832.09 crore between January and March.

Silver prices, which closed at `59,015 a kg last Wednesday in the domestic market, have returned 28.52 per cent in three months, 67.78 per cent in six months and a whopping 176.55 per cent in two years. In comparison, the Sensex has returned negative over a six month period and 86 per cent over two years.

And, reports suggest that going forward the commodity is likely to do quite well. Some predict that its price could even touch `1lakh a kg in the next couple of years. The reason being that silver has dual use both as an industrial commodity and precious metal. Also, there are predictions that there will be a high demand from the Japanese electronic industry in the near future.

For retail investors, there are two ways they can invest in silver. For lump sum investors, there are the two commodity exchange platforms of MCX and NCDEX. One can buy in the spot or futures markets. In the futures market, one will have to initially pay only the margin fee.

The other, which is more retail-investor friendly, is the esilver route. The latter is a part of the National Spot Exchange's (NSEL's) e-series that allows you to buy the white metal in units of 100 g each and hold it in electronic (read unit) format in the demat account (you need to open an account with the broker like in stock trading). In addition, one can invest through the systematic investment plan (SIP) route — that is, buy small quantities on amonthly basis.

Also, to sell you can use the same NSEL platform. Interestingly, one can get physical delivery of the metal in various denominations of 500 g, 1 kg, or 5 kg at different centres.

Those willing to participate in the silver rush can look at this option, but only as a portfolio diversifier. Experts say silver is a high beta commodity. Invest some part of the overall portfolio say, 10-15 per cent, through the SIP route. Remember, putting all the eggs in the same basket is never a great idea.

Some predict that the silver price could even touch `1lakh a kg in the next couple of years

Happy Investing!!

We can help. Call 0 94 8300 8300 (India)

Leave your comment with mail ID and we will answer them

OR

You can write back to us at PrajnaCapital [at] Gmail [dot] Com

 

---------------------------------------------

Invest Mutual Funds Online

Transact Mutual Fund Online

Download Mutual Fund Application Forms from all AMCs

Download Mutual Fund Application Forms

Best Performing Mutual Funds

    1. Largecap Funds Invest Online
      1. DSP BlackRock Top 100 Fund
      2. ICICI Prudential Focused Blue Chip Fund
      3. Birla Sun Life Front Line Equity Fund
    2. Large and Midcap Funds Invest Online
      1. ICICI Prudential Dynamic Plan
      2. HDFC Top 200 Fund
      3. UTI Dividend Yield Fund
    1. Mid and SmallCap Funds Invest Online
      1. Reliance Equity Opportunities Fund
      2. DSP BlackRock Small & Midcap Fund
      3. Sundaram Select Midcap
      4. IDFC Premier Equity Fund
    1. Small and MicroCap Funds Invest Online
      1. DSP BlackRock MicroCap Fund
    1. Sector Funds Invest Online
      1. Reliance Banking Fund
      2. Reliance Banking Fund
    1. Tax Saver Mutual  Funds  Invest Online
      1. ICICI Prudential Tax Plan
      2. HDFC Taxsaver
      3. DSP BlackRock Tax Saver Fund
      4. Reliance Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund
    2. Gold Mutual Funds Invest Online
      1. Relaince Gold Savings Fund
      2. ICICI Prudential Regular Gold Savings Fund
      3. HDFC Gold Fund

 

Popular posts from this blog

All about "Derivatives"

What are derivatives? Derivatives are financial instruments, which as the name suggests, derive their value from another asset — called the underlying. What are the typical underlying assets? Any asset, whose price is dynamic, probably has a derivative contract today. The most popular ones being stocks, indices, precious metals, commodities, agro products, currencies, etc. Why were they invented? In an increasingly dynamic world, prices of virtually all assets keep changing, thereby exposing participants to price risks. Hence, derivatives were invented to negate these price fluctuations. For example, a wheat farmer expects to sell his crop at the current price of Rs 10/kg and make profits of Rs 2/kg. But, by the time his crop is ready, the price of wheat may have gone down to Rs 5/kg, making him sell his crop at a loss of Rs 3/kg. In order to avoid this, he may enter into a forward contract, agreeing to sell wheat at Rs 10/ kg, right at the outset. So, even if the price of wheat falls ...

Zero Coupon Bonds or discount bond or deep discount bond

A ZERO-COUPON bond (also called a discount bond or deep discount bond ) is a bond bought at a price lower than its face value with the face value repaid at the time of maturity.   There is no coupon or interim payments, hence the term zero-coupon bond. Investors earn return from the compounded interest all paid at maturity plus the difference between the discounted price of the bond and its par (or redemption) value. In contrast, an investor who has a regular bond receives income from coupon payments, which are usually made semi-annually. The investor also receives the principal or face value of the investment when the bond matures. Zero-coupon bonds may be long or short-term investments.   Long term zero coupon maturity dates typically start at 10 years. The bonds can be held until maturity or sold on secondary bond markets.

SBI bonds FAQ

  Maximum retail subscription and over – subscription There is a lot of excitement around these bonds, so I won't be surprised if they get over-subscribed on the first day itself. So, I thought Sameer asked a very good question about over-subscription. Here is that discussion. Here are some other questions that you may find useful. Can I trade the SBI bonds on NSE after it lists? Yes, these can be traded after listing. Where can I get the application forms, and can I buy the bonds online? You can get the application from notified branches, and then fill it up there and submit it. To the best of my knowledge, there is no way to invest in them online, but if anyone knows otherwise then please leave a message, and let us know. Can NRIs apply for these bonds? NRIs can't apply for these bonds as they fall under one of the ineligible categories. Can you take a loan by keeping the SBI bonds as security? The terms of the issue in the prospectus state that the bank shall no...

ICICI Prudential Balanced Fund

 ICICI Prudential Balanced Fund scheme seeks to generate long-term capital appreciation and current income by investing in a portfolio that is investing in equities and related securities as well as fixed income and money market securities. The approximate allocation to equity would be in the range of 60-80 per cent with a minimum of 51 per cent, and the approximate debt allocation is 40-49 per cent, with a minimum of 20 per cent. An impressive show in the last couple of years has propelled this fund from a three-star to a four-star rating. The fund has traditionally featured a high equity allocation, hovering at well over 70 per cent, which is higher than the allocations of the peers. But in the last one year, the allocation has been moderated from 78-79 per cent levels to 66-67 per cent of the portfolio. ICICI Prudential Balanced Fund appears to practise some degree of tactical allocation based on market valuations. Within equities, well over two-thirds of the allocation is parked i...

Principal Emerging Bluechip

In its near ten year history, this fund has managed to consistently beat its benchmark by huge margins The primary aim of Principal Emerging Bluechip fund is to achieve long term capital appreciation by investing in equity and related instruments of mid and small-cap companies. In its near ten year history, this fund has managed to consistently beat its benchmark by huge margins. This fund defined the mid-cap universe as stocks with the market capitalisation that falls within the range of the Nifty Midcap Index. But, it can pick stocks from outside this index and also into IPOs where the market capitalisation falls into this range. Principal Emerging Bluechip fund's portfolio is well diversified in up to 70 stocks, which has aided in its performance over different market cycles. On analysing its portfolio, the investments are in quality companies that meet its investment criteria with a growth-style approach. Not a very big-sized fund, it has all the necessary traits to invest with...
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Invest in Tax Saving Mutual Funds Download Any Applications
Transact Mutual Funds Online Invest Online
Buy Gold Mutual Funds Invest Now