Also, third-party liability cover is limited to a maximum of Rs 7.5 lakh—as against unlimited cover earlier—and the premium has been doubled to Rs 100. Again, the maximum amount for which you can insure your vehicle will be far lower with each successive year than before. In addition, insurers are increasingly tying up with car dealers and service stations to facilitate cashless settlement of claims. Better service standards are welcome, but your only defence against being taken for a ride is your own sense of heightened vigilance.
STOCKWATCH
Ride The Upturn In Commodity Stocks
If you can ride the commodity cycle, you can rake in gains far greater than those delivered by the more staid defensives. The trick to making money from commodity stocks is to know when to enter and when to exit. Share prices tend to lead commodity cycles, both during the upturn and the downturn. Extraordinary gains are to be had if you enter at the start of an upturn and exit before the decline sets in.
The current commodity upturn has gone on for six months, but by no means has it run its course. Demand is still good and there is scope for manufacturers to further hike price. Our seven picks are all leaders in their respective sectors and cost-efficient producers. They earn bigger margins as compared to their peers and are better placed to ride upturns while weathering downturns.
MUTUALFUNDS
Value Propositions
Fund houses are increasingly offering free, value-added services for a convenient and interactive investing experience. Buy and sell your holding and switch between schemes, online—your fund house’s website, financial or online trading portals.
They are also looking to enable telephonic transactions. First off the block is Prudential ICICI’s service, InstaCall—a call centre in Mumbai will process a unitholder’s request. Plus, some fund houses allow investors to set predetermined limits to sell their holding. These triggers are just the tool to inculcate some discipline in your investing habits.
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