Skip to main content

Can Inflation Indexed bonds wean investors away from gold?

Invest In Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online

Call 0 94 8300 8300 (India)

 

The household sector must be incentivised to save in financial instruments, rather than buy gold… I propose to introduce instruments that would protect savings from inflation, especially the savings of the poor and middle classes," Finance Minister PChidambaram had said in his Budget speech this year.

The Reserve Bank of India is expected to soon bring out the details of inflation- indexed bonds. Though reams have been written about this product, it might not be a bad idea to look at it from a consumer's standpoint.

It is vital to check whether these bonds can lead retail consumers away from investing in gold.

Jewellery accounts for about 80 per cent of the demand for gold in India; about 15 per cent is for investment (by way of exchange- traded funds, or ETFs, e- gold, etc). The rest is for industrial use, according to the World Gold Council and GFMS.

Inflation- indexed bonds are complicated products; it would take some time for the market to understand these. Earlier, the markets did not try to introduce these bonds in India. Institutions and pension funds would be the biggest subscribers of these bonds. If inflation- indexed bonds become popular, these could spur innovation in the moribund annuity market, which is expected to take off due to the burgeoning corpus of the National Pension System. It is possible that the retail market, which invests in gold through ETFs, might shift to inflationindexed bonds slowly, as it understanding of the product grows.

However, as this market accounts for only about 15 per cent of the demand, this is unlikely to have an impact on the overall demand for gold, even if a portion of this shifts to bonds. A scenario in which jewellery buyers would shift to bonds looks unlikely.

There are several reasons. For a retail consumer, it is very easy to buy jewellery. Apart from branded jewellers, every locality has neighbourhood jewellers who cater to the entire demand in that locality, including demand for jewellery pieces worth just ₹ 1,000- 2,000. Consumers don't need to sign at umpteen places, open an account or show their PAN card.

Typically, such jewellers also offer to buy back jewellery over the counter, thus offering much- needed funds when required.

Jewellery also serves as a great social tool for consumers, as it displays the family wealth in a socially acceptable manner. Ironically, the Achilles heel of traditional jewellery purchases is its worth as an investment. High making charges and the widespread practice of providing lower- than- promised purity means the jewellery loses 15- 35 per cent of its value as soon as it is bought from a shop. Due to this kind of an up- front hit, the investment won't fare well, irrespective of the gold price in the market.

This is where a rather plausible theory could come into play. A cleverly designed marketing campaign that promotes the worth of hallmark jewellery, or even coins or bars, would shift demand from the highmargin traditional jewellery market.

The theory is hallmarked jewellery (for which wide choices aren't really available) and bars and coins ( that can be displayed on only a few occasions) have less social significance.

Therefore, an increase in demand for these, owing to the marketing campaign, would be more- thancompensated by the fall in demand for traditional jewellery, which would lose attractiveness as an investment. This would be highlighted by contrasts, rather than by directly attacking along ingrained belief on the virtues of gold as an investment.

The question is who would fund this rather unconventional marketing strategy, which, on the flip side, has the potential to increase the demand for hallmarked jewellery without affecting the demand for traditional jewellery?

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 in Tax Saving Mutual Funds ( ELSS Mutual Funds ) to upto Rs 1 lakh and Save tax under Section 80C.

Invest Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online

Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online

These links can be used to Purchase Mutual Funds Online that are regular also (Investment, non-tax saving)

Download Tax Saving Mutual Fund Application Forms from all AMCs

Download Tax Saving Mutual Fund Applications

These Application Forms can be used for buying regular mutual funds also

Some of the best Tax Saving Mutual Funds available ( ELSS Mutual Funds )

  1. ICICI Prudential Tax Plan Invest Online
  2. HDFC TaxSaver Invest Online
  3. DSP BlackRock Tax Saver Fund Invest Online
  4. Reliance Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund Invest Online
  5. Birla Sun Life Tax Relief '96 Invest Online
  6. IDFC Tax Advantage (ELSS) Fund Invest Online
  7. SBI Magnum Tax Gain Scheme 1993 Invest Online
  8. Sundaram Tax Saver Invest Online
  9. Edelweiss ELSS Invest Online

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

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 MutualFunds 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

Save Tax With Mutual Funds

Download Tax Saving Mutual Fund Application Forms Invest In Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online Buy Gold Mutual Funds Leave a missed Call on 94 8300 8300       Mutual funds are ideal as long term investment avenues for retail investors. To encourage investments in this avenue, the Government of India offers investors a spate of tax benefits thus ensuring maximum benefit from mutual funds held beyond a year. Sample some of the key benefits and refer to the table for a detailed list of tax rates for different types of schemes ·        Avail deductions under Sec 80C of the Income Tax Act by investing up to a maximum of Rs. 1 lakh in designated Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS). Such investments have a compulsory lock in period of 3 years. ·        First time retail investors in equity with a gross total income of up to Rs. 12 lakh can invest up to Rs. 50,000 in specific MF schemes un...
Read more

How much to invest in gold ?

Invest In Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online Download Tax Saving Mutual Fund Application Forms Buy Gold Mutual Funds Call 0 94 8300 8300 (India) Let your motivation dictate the share of the yellow metal in your portfolio Enough has been said and written about gold as an investment option. The latest argument is that the craze for gold among Indian households is endangering our country's balance of payments. The policymakers are busy trying to find ways of discouraging investment in gold, but if households keep the common good in mind, they would be paying the market price for gas cylinders as they do for, say, their mobile phone bills. After all, private decisions are driven by private motives. So, how should a household look at gold from its own perspective? Gold is primarily acquired for its merit as a store of value. Even if the worst crisis hits a family, the gold that it holds could be put to use anywhere in th...
Read more

Buying a Used Car

Invest in Mutual Funds Online Download Mutual Fund Application Forms   Pre-owned car can make sense in these inflationary times. But buying one can be trickier than getting a new vehicle    If you are thinking of buying a car but are worried about the rising inflation and higher EMIs eating into your budget, you should consider buying a used car. For those learning to drive, the general advice is that they should hone their driving skills in a used car. However, buying a used car is not an easy task. Though a used car costs less, there are a lot of aspects to be considered while buying one. You should do your due diligence before buying such a car. For example, two cars of the same model would carry two different prices. The difference in price could be on account of the age of the car, how many people have driven, etc. First Fix Your Budget Since used cars are available in a wide variety of models and prices, the starting point would be to determine your budget befor...
Read more

Debt Mutual Funds Best Fixed Income Investments

Debt Mutual Funds - Invest Online     In the last one year, except for a select few sectoral funds and small cap funds, not many of the equity funds have given great returns. On the other hand, debt funds have done relatively well in terms of returns. So far in the new year too, the stock market has been extremely volatile, pushing investors to look for safer havens. In this context, debt funds are looking safer bets for those investors who do not have the appetite for higher level of volatility. Investors who look for a regular income stream, also look at fixed income products like debt funds, bank fixed deposits and post office monthly income schemes.  Among the fixed income products, debt funds score over others because of chances of higher return, has nearly similar level of risks and liquidity. According to Shah, people looking for regular income could opt for a systematic withdrawal plan (SWP) in debt funds , which, if done judi ciously could also save on taxes. Shah explaine...
Read more

Diversification is key to gain more

Even those who prefer debt for its safety are looking at more options    It is not often that you find more than a couple of asset classes producing good returns at the same time. Invariably, assets such as gold and equity don't perform in tandem, and hence it was easier to allocate to them in line with the risk profile of the investors. In the last couple of quarters, however, more than one asset has turned attractive - gold, debt and equity. In line with the trend, you even have monthly income plans with a combination of more than two assets.    In the past, those who stuck to debt were a different class of investors who didn't wish to take risk with their money. The changing lifecycles and the growing integration of investment markets across the globe have pushed even individual investors to embrace the concept of asset allocation. Hence, you have individuals who were using debt to park profits being prepared to take advantage of other assets.    For instance, when the...
Read more
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