Value Research Online

Read the RBI's new rules as confessions

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0530

The RBI's new directive bans 11 dark patterns in bank selling. Read each rule as a confession of what was routine. Here is what the document actually admits about banks.

How to save for Musk's utopia

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0530

Musk argues AI abundance makes saving pointless. But in a robot-powered world, owning productive capital matters more than ever. Here is the case for keeping your SIPs.

A familiar drift

Sat, 20 Jun 2026

Most flexi-cap funds keep three-fifths of assets in large caps and have for six years. If you bought one for flexibility, here is why that label may no longer hold.

Your gold doubled. That is the problem, not the prize

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0530

A 5 per cent gold hedge left untouched may now be 15 to 20 per cent of your portfolio. That is no longer a hedge. Here is why rebalancing gold is the right move now.

The AI revolution worth having

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0530

While giants stake $80 billion on AI's future, the more useful revolution fits in your morning routine. Here is why ordinary investors should ignore the noise and use the tools.

Old file, new company

Mon, 01 Jun 2026

Markets keep reading old files on companies that have already changed. When margins rise and ROCE improves, but the label stays stale, the price lags. That’s where the opportunity is.

SEBI's new rule helps the wrong people

Sat, 30 May 2026 10:00:00 +0530

SEBI wants employers to route SIPs for salaried workers. But formal-sector employees already have auto-debit. The informal workforce, who need it most, are left out.

Fear, greed and panic

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:57:00 +0530

Markets thrive on fear and panic. Warren Buffett’s timeless advice reveals why investors should ignore noise and stay invested.

The most useful answer is 'I don't know'

Sat, 23 May 2026 10:00:00 +0530

Readers wrote in after last week's column on West Asia and markets. Their questions sorted into four piles. The answers are less dramatic than the questions deserved.

The complexity of investment jargons

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:07:00 +0530

Investment jargon often masks complexity and creates false expertise. Simplicity matters more than complexity in investing success.

Such a long journey

Wed, 20 May 2026

India's largest equity fund now manages Rs 1.25 lakh crore. As funds balloon, portfolios drift and returns shift. Here is when that change demands action and when it does not.

Protection against catastrophes

Mon, 19 May 2008

Can you shield your wealth from wars, crashes, or crises? Diversification and asset allocation offer a practical defense plan.

When 'this too shall pass' doesn't

Sat, 16 May 2026 10:10:05 +0530

Most crises damage sentiment. This one damages things. Physical refining capacity, not just prices, is being destroyed. Here is why the usual stay-the-course advice needs a caveat.

The day even HDFC said no to gold

Thu, 14 May 2026 09:41:52 +0530

Gold ETF inflows crashed 87 per cent in 90 days. The PM, the government and HDFC Mutual Fund reached the same conclusion in 72 hours. Here is how to rebalance your gold allocation now.

Process vs Randomness

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:22:00 +0530

Nassim Taleb says markets are too random for financial models, and uniform systems make rare crises deeper, wider and far more dangerous in markets globally.

Read the signal, not the list

Mon, 11 May 2026 11:18:36 +0530

PM Modi’s seven appeals signal pressure on the rupee, imports and gold, offering investors clues about all policy moves and market risks in the economy now.

The Omaha show is over

Sat, 09 May 2026 10:00:00 +0530

With Warren Buffett off the Berkshire stage, an era ends. Here’s my reflection on missed chances, investing lessons, and how the magic of Omaha is fading away.

Beware of 'professional' advice

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:42:00 +0530

Most of us would think that taking advice from investment professionals like brokers & advisors would be a good idea. We would be right in seeking advice, but wrong in blindly following it.

The straight-line trap

Thu, 07 May 2026 17:00:00 +0530

People are often quick to dissect complex market systems in the pursuit of patterns and loopholes. Here’s why long-term investing doesn’t need that so much.

The great investor theory

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 13:05:00 +0530

Do great investors consistently beat markets, or do overarching trends drive returns? Here’s a sharp look at skill, luck and investor overconfidence today.