In the market, history often repeats itself. Maybe in slightly different forms, because market structures change and new instruments crop up. The stupidity of Long-Term Capital Management is no different from what happened during the subprime crisis. One of the most extraordinary events in market history is ‘Tulipmania’ of 1630-37 when the price of certain tulip bulbs in Holland was more than...

Fixed maturity plans (FMPs) are an important option for investors who like to take lower risks. Fund houses have launched several new fund offerings (NFOs) in this category and many more are in the pipeline. I am a ‘safety first’ type of investor and was a regular investor in FMPs even last year during the frenzied bull run; in these uncertain times, FMPs are a much safer bet, according to me....

Matrix organisations are the norm today. But such a structure can create serious conflicts. Here is an example

Puja and Sharmila were college friends. They had been in close touch through the years as they studied further, embarked on their respective careers, got married, etc. One day, as they were chatting, they came up with the idea of doing business together. They decided to start an...