Page 7 - Himali Patel

Yellow metal: Maintain allocation; tariff battles may sustain bull run

"Central banks usually purchase about 400 tonnes of gold annually. However, in 2022 and 2023, they bought over 1,000 tonnes each year," says Vikram Dhawan

Taking a loan to study abroad? Be prepared to pay margin money of 10-25%

Those getting admitted to non-STEM courses and lower-grades institutes must be prepared for stringent checks, higher interest rates, and more collateral requirement

Short-duration funds: Ideal for low-risk investors with goals 1-3 yrs away

Short-duration debt funds have gained popularity among investors for their ability to provide accrual income and their moderate sensitivity to interest rate changes

Choosing right hybrid fund: Risk appetite, horizon should guide your choice

Hybrid funds provide a structured way to handle market fluctuations

Fire insurance: Declare correct property value to ensure adequate payout

Fire insurance, also called as fire and allied perils policy (and often part of a home insurance policy), covers a range of risks

Bet on quality funds amid slowing economic growth, market turbulence

Quality indices, such as the Nifty 500 Quality 50 Index, are built by filtering stocks from the parent index based on their quality score

Investors must tilt portfolio towards quality amid market volatility

Novice investors must understand that volatility is an inherent part of equity markets and learn to navigate through such phases

Health insurance claim denial: Check reasons against policy terms first

Health insurance claims are often denied due to exclusions in policy terms. Buyers frequently overlook the fine print or misinterpret clauses

In a hyped-up IPO market, what is the best way to play the game in 2025?

Long-term investors should only invest in an IPO when the company's fundamentals are strong and valuations reasonable

Debt-equity mix in NPS fund: Base it on risk appetite, not past returns

The equity market showed remarkable strength, with the Sensex delivering 8.7 per cent year-to-date, while the mid-cap and small-cap indices returned 26.7 per cent and 30.6 per cent, respectively

Build debt fund portfolio diversified across duration, watch volatility

Take limited exposure to longer-duration debt funds; match horizon with fund's portfolio duration

How non-participating plans by insurers work as investment option

Lock-in returns for long-term with these plans from insurers

Travel insurance for holidayers should depend on place, trip duration, age

Travellers are also increasingly opting for add-ons covering refunds, adventure sports, and cyber fraud

Algo trading: Understand risks, have realistic return expectations

The circular is expected to provide retail investors access to registered and approved algos, ensuring their interests are protected

Largecap funds: Invest for fair valuations, ability to stabilise portfolio

While mid- and smallcap funds have outperformed, experts recommend maintaining a substantial allocation to largecap funds

Pace of price growth for housing properties expected to moderate next year

Potential homebuyers must ensure they don't overstretch themselves financially

Go with regulated entity: Listed bonds subject to ratings, oversight

Unlisted securities, issued by smaller companies, often promise high interest rates of 15-18 per cent to attract investors

Quant Funds: Algo-driven approach reduces human bias, risk of style drift

Quant funds adopt a systematic, rules-based approach to stock selection and portfolio management. They don't rely on fund managers to make investment decisions

Health claims rise: Combine base policy, super top-up for high coverage

To combat rising health insurance expenses, an adequate sum insured is essential

Business Cycle Funds: Macro-driven funds that can fall prey to timing risk

Business cycle funds aim to optimise returns by aligning their portfolios with different phases of the economic cycle