Gold, FDs & safe assets
Gold, silver, fixed deposits, bonds and banks. 21 posts, newest first.
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Buying gold for ₹100 on an app? Read the fine print
Open any payment app. You can buy Gold for just ₹100! Convenient? Absolutely. But here's what that ₹100 screen doesn't tell you!
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“18% guaranteed returns” at Global Fintech Fest
A friend asked me: “What was the most absurd thing you noticed at GFF2026?” For me, one immediately stood out. An InvoiceDiscounting startup was promising “up to 18% guaranteed returns.”
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Who invests ₹10 crore in a 19% “risky” bond?
"Who in his right mind would invest ₹10 crore in such a 'Risky' Bond?" A friend asked me this after reading about Shapoorji Pallonji's Zero Coupon NCDs offering an indicative yield of…
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₹26,000 crore in minimum balance penalties, and how to avoid them
"Banks earned over ₹26,000 crore from minimum balance penalties in 4 years." Common narrative to attract 'Eyeballs'? Banks are looting the CommonMan!
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Polymer notes: no, it's not demonetisation
In the last week, I have heard almost everything, from fears around demonetization to how the government is helping a particular business house! All because of an official statement from…
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RBI sold gold. Is the economy in trouble?
Yesterday, a colleague reached out asking for my views on the news that RBI had sold its Gold Reserves. His concern was simple: "Does this mean the IndianEconomy is in trouble? I also heard…
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25,000 tonnes of household gold, and schemes that keep failing
As per various estimates, Indian households are believed to hold over 25,000 tonnes of Gold! Yet, scheme after scheme launched by the government to bring this Gold into the formal economy…
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“Vijay sir keeps 50% in the bank!” Have his money first
A friend recently forwarded me Vijay’s Portfolio breakup and said: “Bhai, you never let me keep money in bank deposits… see Vijay sir, he has more than 50% assets in banks!” I replied: “The…
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FDs are still a solid option for many retirees
Contrary to what many Finfluencers say, FixedDeposits (FDs) are still a solid option for many Retirees. Not because they give the highest returns, but because they offer: - Simplicity
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Closing a PPF account at a PSU bank: easier than feared
Recently, an old college mate reached out. His Public Provident Fund (PPF) account was maturing, and he needed help with the withdrawal process. Since the account was with the biggest…
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When the rupee falls, our choices matter too
Every time the Rupee falls, the first reaction is: 👉 “What is the Government doing?” Though the policies and global factors majorly drive the direction, there’s also a smaller, less…
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Gold and silver were supposed to be the boring part
Gold and Silver are supposed to be the Boring part of the Portfolio! They provide Stability, Hedge, and Insurance! But the recent bull run feels anything but boring.
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Banks are lending more than they're collecting in deposits
India’s banking sector is facing a quiet but serious challenge! The Credit–Deposit (CD) ratio has crossed 100% on an incremental basis. Simply put, banks are lending more money than the…
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Should India have a silver monetisation scheme?
With rising industrial demand for silver, should India think about a Silver Monetization Scheme? We already have a Gold Monetization Scheme (GMS), introduced to mobilise idle gold held by…
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“Silver prices won't come down.” Remember aluminium
“Silver prices won’t come down; keep investing.” That was a friend’s confident claim, backed by a logical argument: rising industrial usage means rising demand. To counter him, I shared the…
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Will silver hit ₹3 lakh a kg? I don't know
“Will Silver hit ₹3 lakh per kg next year?” This was the question one of my cousins recently asked me. My honest answer, as always: I don’t know.
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SBI cuts savings rates to 2.5%. Is it worth keeping money there?
The Banker to Every Indian, SBI slashes Savings Account interest rate to 2.5% - Is it even worth keeping your money there anymore? The funny part, even this 2.5% is taxable! With inflation…
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“Which platform for FDs?” Maybe the wrong question
Recently, a senior colleague asked me: "Which platform should I use to invest in FixedDeposits (FDs)?" But once I understood his financial situation, a steady income well above expenses, I…
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Repo rate cuts: good for borrowers, tough for FD investors
RBI RepoRate Cuts — Great News for Borrowers, Tough Times for FixedDeposit Investors! While EMI payers are celebrating the latest Repo Rate reduction, there’s a silent segment that’s…
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The harsh reality of invoice discounting
The Harsh Reality of InvoiceDiscounting: A Lesson in Risk vs. Reward Over the years, many have asked me about Alternative Investment options, and one of the most frequently mentioned is…
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RBI cuts CRR: what it means for FDs and loans
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently reduced the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) to 4%, injecting over ₹1 lakh crore into the banking system. This increased liquidity means banks will likely…