DSP BlackRock – making way for Merrill Lynch exit in India

11 nov 2008

The erstwhile DSP Merrill Lynch Mutual Fund has been renamed as DSP BlackRock Mutual Fund as a result of the global merger of ML’s AMC business with BlackRock in 2006. The change is more or less same as the shareholding patter, management, fund managers and investment objectives of the AMC remains the same.

Religare acquires Lotus Mutual Fund to kickstart their Mutual Fund business

04 nov 2008

Religare Enterprises, with the loads of money its promoters got from selling their Ranbaxy stake to Daiichi Sankyo has now acquired 100% of Lotus India Mutual Fund from Temasek-promoted Alexandra Fund Management and Sabre Capital for an undisclosed amount.

AIG may have a limited presence in India

09 oct 2008

After its bailout, American International Group (AIG) has begun recasting its global operations and even its Indian operations are not left untouched. AIG has Tata AIG Life Insurance and Tata AIG General Insurance where it holds 26% each.

What should investors of DSP Merrill Lynch and Tata AIG do?

20 sep 2008

The answer is immediate ‘nothing to worry’. In the recent financial turmoil in US, the names affected include Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch and AIG. While Lehman does not have a direct consumer portfolio since it does not have any asset management or insurance company though has taken equity stakes in various domestic companies or SPV or real estate projects.

What should be your investment strategy in such volatile markets?

20 sep 2008

The Indian financial markets markets is going among the most volatile phases it has witnessed over the past many years post Lehman, Merrill Lynch crisis. Whether it is equity, metal, currency, oil, every new morning brings with it fear and hope of a new event overnite (especially in US markets).

Reliance Capital to use cross-selling for increasing finserv biz

21 jun 2008

Following the model adopted by global conglomerate like GE, Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group is using the database of its customers, shareholders and employees of ADAG companies to cross sell its financial products through Reliance Capital Services.

Redemption pressure of US-64 leads to dilution of key stock holdings

01 may 2008

Once considered the flagship scheme of Indian Mutual Fund industry, the UTI US-64 scheme is finally (much to the relief of Indian government) coming to end with its US-64 bonds maturing on May 31, 2008.

IDFC buys Standard Chartered Mutual Fund to become third largest AMC

07 mar 2008

Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation (IDFC) has outbid other bidders such as Shinsei Bank, Indiabulls to emerge as winner in race to acquire Standard Chartered Mutual Fund for $205 million. Earlier, RBI had disallowed Swiss Bank UBS to acquire Stanchart AMC.

Another asset class emerges for investment – gold mining companies

05 aug 2007

The rising gold prices have fancied investors attention and is being increasingly looked on as an part of portfolio. After Gold ETFs , now there is option for investing in DSP Merrill Lynch World Gold Fund which invests in gold mining companies internationally.

Axis Bank – transforming UTI Bank into a global modern bank

31 jul 2007

The erstwhile UTI Bank has changed its name to Axis Bank effective July 30, 2007. This is the first time that a bank has gone in for a brand-change voluntarily; earlier names of banks have been changed either due to a merger or an acquisition.

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