Page 2 - Himali Patel

H-1B visa fee hike hits IT funds; investors urged to stay long-term

Fee hike could accelerate offshore delivery, improve competitiveness; AI adoption, re-skilling initiatives expected to provide medium-term growth opportunities

Direct equity inflows decline: Focus on key fundamentals, not panic

Replace underperformers with quality, well-researched stocks

Margin trading: Track trades, set stop-losses, focus on quality stocks

Be on the alert for margin calls, have liquidity for top-ups, especially in volatile markets

Switching health policy? Seniors must secure written assurance on benefits

On receiving the policy document, check fine print to ensure the commitment has been fulfilled

Silver outlook: Book profit and rebalance if allocation exceeds 5-7%

New investors should enter in a staggered manner with an over five-year horizon

Credit risk funds: Opt if net yield premium over safer funds is substantial

Investors with high risk-bearing capacity may allocate 5-10% of their fixed-income portfolio

GST exemption on life, health policies: Lock in lower term premiums now

Enhance sum insured on base health policy, buy add-on cover

Hold-to-maturity investors may choose G-Secs with matching horizon

Those who may need liquidity before end of tenor should avoid them

Expensively priced IPOs: Valuations must be justified by growth visibility

If the company has strong fundamentals but is valued expensively, invest for long term or reconsider after six months

UPS to NPS: Opt for NPS if service tenure is long and volatility manageable

Those who have a low risk appetite, prefer predictability, or are approaching retirement should stick to UPS

Investing in microcaps: Limit exposure to 5-10%, enter with 5-7-yr horizon

High volatility, low liquidity, and corporate governance are risks investors need to be prepared for

Surat stockbroking fraud: Avoid unregistered middlemen posing as brokers

Dealing with such entities is highly risky, as they can block trading and abscond with deposits

NRIs face residency test upon India return, must stick to 182-day rule

Given the lack of legal clarity in India around status, assuming they are residents immediately after return could invite penalties and prosecution

REITs promise stable income, but investors must brace for volatility

REITs invest mostly in offices and malls and are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi)

Gold scales new peak; existing investors should book partial profits

New ones should stagger purchases to avoid timing risk

Home insurance claims: Begin repairs only after surveyor's inspection

Non-disclosure of property extensions, late intimation, and incomplete paperwork may reduce or void claims

With the festival season near, essential tips for navigating online sales

To avoid fake discounts, no-cost EMIs, and buy now-pay later offers, go for pre-planned purchases only, and stick to the budget decided upon beforehand

Treasury bills: Use SIP to smooth rate volatility, invest steadily

Investors with regular income, short-term goals, and a strong need for capital preservation may go for T-Bills

Active vs passive funds: Choose passive for core, active for satellite

Active funds can outperform, but also carry the risk of underperformance

Paying only minimum due on your credit card? You could be in a debt trap

A credit card debt trap occurs when you are paying only the minimum due, or Using one card to pay off another. To avoid this, spend no more than 30 per cent of the card limit each month