Biggest Gainers and Losers in NSE Nifty - 2012

With NSE Nifty delivering around 26% return in 2012 in rupee terms the year has been spectacular for investors in general but at the same time it has been highly polarized year in terms of individual stock performances. 

If you have been in the right sector and stocks you might have delivered far more than the broader markets. Within the benchmark index itself there has been huge divergence in performance of individual stocks. For example IDFC is up 82% in 2012 while Infosys is down 16% in the same year.

Income Tax Calculator Excel (FY 2013 - 2014)

With financial year ending on 31st March 2013, if you have been thinking of how much is your income tax liability for the current financial year then here is a calculator in excel format to help you with that. It's an extremely easy to use calculator and helps you not only in assessing your income tax liability for the current financial year 2013-14 but also let's you tweak numbers under different head and plan investments accordingly. 

The income tax slabs were revised in budget 2012 and the limits were raised marginally. However there will be more savings for people earning more than 8 lakh per annum.The revised slab for the current assessment year i.e AY 2013 - 2014 is:

IIFCL Tax Free Bonds

India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) will open its public issue of Tax Free Bonds of the face-value of 1,000 each in the nature of secured, redeemable, non-convertible bonds, having benefits under section 10(15)(iv)(h) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, aggregating up to a total of Rs. 1,500 Crores with an option to retain an over subscription upto the shelf limit (i.e. 9,251 Crores ) (CBDT notification authorises IIFCL to issue Bonds for an amount aggregating to  10,000 Crores during FY13. IIFCL has already raised  785 crores on private placement basis).

Mahindra Finance Fixed Deposit

Income Tax Savings under Rajiv Gandhi Equity Saving Scheme - 80CCG

From the financial year ending March 31, 2013, there is an opportunity to save up to 50% of the amount invested in notified equity schemes under newly inserted Section 80CCG for Rajiv Gandhi Equity Saving Scheme. The income tax savings under this can be a maximum of INR 25,000.

Sell Sesa Goa 170 Dec Put option at 0.50 Premium

This month's trading idea could generate around 1.9% in 10 days or 69% annualised return and has huge probability of success considering the buoyancy in the markets and the developments happening around iron ore mining in Goa. 

Even after Supreme Court's ruling the stock refuses to go below 180 which indicates stronger long term hands might be accumulating stocks as things can go only better from current situation as far as iron ore mining in India is concerned.

Sesa Goa was our investment pick as well in November when we recommended buy on the stock in the range of 165-175.

Free online courses on Stock Market Investing and Equity Valuation

If you have a desire to learn how to value stocks and shares then the course titled "Introduction to Valuation and Investing" from Alison would definitely solve the purpose. 

This free online course on Investing is an introduction to valuation and investing and aims to take the fear-factor out of stocks and shares by explaining the concepts behind valuing and investing in a clear and simple manner.

After this course the learner is expected to Understand Income Statements; - Understand Return On Assets (ROA); - Understand Return On Equity (ROE); - Understand Price-to-Earnings ratio; - Understand depreciation; - Understand amortization;

Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) Tax Free Bonds

Rural Electrification Corporation Limited or REC opens its public issue of Tax Free Bonds of the face-value of  1,000 each aggregating up to a total of  4,500 crores. The income by way of interest on these Bonds is fully exempt from Income Tax under Section 10(15)(iv)(h) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 and shall not form a part of the total income.

The issue has 2 investment options - 7.72% p.a. (10 Yrs) & 7.88% p.a. (15 Yrs) for investments upto  10 Lakhs and 7.22% p.a. (10 Yrs) & 7.38% p.a. (15 Yrs) above 10 Lakhs. 

The issue starts on December 3, 2012. Allotment will be on a first come first serve basis across all categories.The REC issue has been rated "CRISIL AAA/Stable" by CRISIL, "CARE AAA" by CARE, "IND AAA" by IRRPL and "[ICRA] AAA" by ICRA.

These bonds are tradable and are not subjected to any lock-in.