Sachin P Mampatta

Stories by Sachin P Mampatta

MFs invest in more stocks amid volatility

MFs invest in more stocks amid volatility

Rediff.com   29 Mar 2022

Mutual funds (MFs) are investing in more stocks despite the recent volatility. The industry invested in 824 companies across the listed universe as of October, according to primemfdatabase.com. The S&P BSE Sensex hit its all-time high of 62,245 that month. The index has since corrected to 57,864, around 7 per cent below the peak.

Jail inmates-generated sales rival India's largest companies

Jail inmates-generated sales rival India's largest companies

Rediff.com   27 Mar 2022

Jail inmates produced goods generating gross sales worth Rs 223.4 crore in 2020, according to the government's annual Prison Statistics India report. The amount ranks at 496th place if compared with the latest net sales numbers of S&P BSE 500 companies, reports Sachin P Mampatta.

A big challenge to EPFO returns

A big challenge to EPFO returns

Rediff.com   18 Mar 2022

There is widening gap between what the government's premier retirement fund makes on its investments and what it offers to employees. The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) makes the bulk of its investments in government-related securities. In other words, it lends to central and state governments and related entities. The interest it gets from these instruments is largely what it uses to pay interest to its subscribers.

Indians Invested $673.8 Million Abroad In 2021

Indians Invested $673.8 Million Abroad In 2021

Rediff.com   15 Mar 2022

Indians spent more on foreign investments during the past 12 months than they have since at least 2012.

Over Rs 20,000 crore lying unclaimed with LIC

Over Rs 20,000 crore lying unclaimed with LIC

Rediff.com   15 Feb 2022

The amount of money lying unclaimed with the Life Insurance Corporation of India dwarfs the budgets of many ministries. There was Rs 21,539.5 crore which lay unclaimed with India's largest insurance company, according to details in the initial public offer (IPO) document it filed over the weekend. The regulatory documentation is ahead of LIC selling shares to the public through the stock exchange for the first time this financial year. This will be India's largest ever public listing.

Last year's share buybacks were lowest since 2015

Last year's share buybacks were lowest since 2015

Rediff.com   17 Jan 2022

Companies spent less money buying back their shares from the public last year than at any time since 2015. They announced buybacks of up to Rs 14,341 crore, show numbers from primary market tracker Prime Database. The total amount spent was Rs 13,597 crore. Both the amounts are lower than what was offered (Rs 39,564 crore) and spent (Rs 36,517 crore) in 2020.

'Be greedy when others are fearful'

'Be greedy when others are fearful'

Rediff.com   6 Jan 2022

Outperforming peers following a crisis in the debt markets is an act that ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company fund manager Manish Banthia has pulled off more than once.

Rs 200,00,00,00,000 unclaimed in stocks

Rs 200,00,00,00,000 unclaimed in stocks

Rediff.com   4 Jan 2022

The value of unclaimed securities and other assets was nearly Rs 20,000 crore in March 2020.

New projects drop for 2nd straight quarter

New projects drop for 2nd straight quarter

Rediff.com   3 Jan 2022

New projects fell 6.3 per cent in the December quarter compared with the September quarter. The value of new projects in the just-concluded quarter was Rs 2.1 trillion, according to the data from Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), which was lower than the Rs 2.2 trillion seen in the September quarter. It is, however, higher than Rs 1.5 trillion recorded for the quarter ended December 2020, the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic. This data ties in with the November data for core sector growth, an index of eight core industries, which grew at its slowest pace since early 2021.

Rise and rise of the Rs 10,000 shares

Rise and rise of the Rs 10,000 shares

Rediff.com   15 Dec 2021

There are more of them now and the total value of such companies--out of reach for small retail players--may surprise you. Shares topping the five-figure price mark were rare ten years ago. A look at March-end figures across the listed universe in 2011 shows only one such share. There were two by 2013.

Wilful defaults are Rs 62,000 crore higher than pre-Covid levels

Wilful defaults are Rs 62,000 crore higher than pre-Covid levels

Rediff.com   2 Dec 2021

The Indian banking system's latest record on wilful defaulters shows Rs 62,970 crore, or around 10 per cent increase, in the additional amount outstanding since the pandemic began. The total outstanding amount increased to Rs 6.85 trillion in June from Rs 6.22 trillion in December 2019, shows a Business Standard analysis of numbers from the TransUnion CIBIL database. India recorded its first case of Covid-19 in January 2020.The amount outstanding to wilful defaulters had touched a post-pandemic peak of Rs.7.6 trillion in December 2020 (or Rs 1.4 trillion more than pre-pandemic levels).

LIC's stake in listed companies at 10-year low

LIC's stake in listed companies at 10-year low

Rediff.com   8 Nov 2021

LIC owns 3.69 per cent of the total listed universe based on available disclosures, the lowest since at least June 2009.

CAs scramble to fathom new whistleblowing law

CAs scramble to fathom new whistleblowing law

Rediff.com   2 Nov 2021

Chartered accountants are readying themselves for a higher onus on individuals to report violations that they come across as part of their work. There has been a scramble to understand the implications as the non-compliance with laws and regulations (NOCLAR) comes into effect in less than six months. It is applicable from April 1, 2022 after being deferred earlier because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It's boom time for research analysts amid market rally

It's boom time for research analysts amid market rally

Rediff.com   22 Sep 2021

The rally in the broader markets, a spate of new listings, and the influx of retail investors have resulted in a boom for research and this has spurred a surge in the number of entities providing such services. From 467 entities that provided research services as of March 2018, the number jumped 57 per cent to 733 as of March 2021. And, another 46 entities have been added to the list in the six months since, to take the total number of registered research analysts to 779 as on September 13. However, the total number of analysts could be a multiple of this number.

It's boom time for tech fraud fighters

It's boom time for tech fraud fighters

Rediff.com   2 Sep 2021

More people using the internet for financial and e-commerce transactions has led to job creation in a niche segment. Specialists who can help deal with rising technology (tech) frauds are in high demand amid the surge in electronic transactions during the pandemic. Demand for tech fraud experts has risen upwards of 35 per cent, reveals employment and human resource services company TeamLease Services.

Sebi rule clips wings of promoters of over 500 listed firms

Sebi rule clips wings of promoters of over 500 listed firms

Rediff.com   9 Jul 2021

Independent directors

Explained in 6 charts: India's bull run during Covid times

Explained in 6 charts: India's bull run during Covid times

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2021

A lot of gains have been driven by foreign portfolio investors. Lower interest rates globally have forced foreign investors to seek avenues for growth. They have been net buyers to the tune of Rs 2.5 trillion over the trailing 12 months, including May, reports Sachin P Mampatta.

InvITs with too few investors under Sebi lens

InvITs with too few investors under Sebi lens

Rediff.com   3 Jun 2021

The regulator is more carefully scrutinising applications by infrastructure investment vehicles that have a limited number of investors. They have been asked to broaden their investor base before application approval, according to two people familiar with the matter. The Securities and Exchange Board of India is concerned about the structure being used for getting around tax requirements, according to one of the sources.

Rs 155.95 bn: Foreign investors net sellers

Rs 155.95 bn: Foreign investors net sellers

Rediff.com   21 May 2021

Only 10 per cent of stocks account for 93 per cent of investments.

Foreigners no longer need PAN for investment in GIFT AIFs

Foreigners no longer need PAN for investment in GIFT AIFs

Rediff.com   6 May 2021

The government has been in discussions to promote such international financial services centres within India as alternatives to places like Singapore.