#PersonalFinance | Personal loans are a way to use tomorrow's income today, and the process involved is simple But you must mote that the interest rates are much higher than, say, for a car loan. This is because personal loans are unsecured loans.

Here are some of the lowest personal loan interest rates offered by various banks.

#PersonalFinance | Bajaj Finserv recently launched a BAF that invests in both equity and debt. Bajaj's chief investment officer Nimesh Chandan spoke to Sashind Ningthoukhongjam to offer insights into their new offering, and the investing strategy moving forward. Take a look

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#MintEmergingMarketsTracker | Launched in Sept 2019, Mint's Emerging Markets Tracker provides a summary of economic activity across 10 large emerging markets based on seven high-frequency indicators. With a composite score of 79, India topped the EM league table in September

#MintChartBeat | Mid-and small-cap stocks continue to outperform larger peers, but returns have taken a bit of a breather. A key concern here is that most of the mid- and small-cap stocks may have run ahead of their fundamentals.

Thus, sustaining the outperformance would hinge on earnings improvement. Further, before the general elections if market sentiment is hit, correction can be steep.

#MintCharts | The pain on the expenses front appears to be subsiding for corporate India, shows a Mint analysis of 3,559 #BSE-listed companies.

The combined total expenses of the firms in the sample, as a per cent of revenues, dropped nearly 650 bps in the last one year, while declining 73 bps since the June quarter. Employee expenses have remained almost stable the previous four quarters, at an average 8.5% of revenue.

#MintCharts | Global central banks, including those in the US, UK, EU, India, and Japan, are expected to maintain their current interest rates in December due to persistent inflation concerns, contributing to a prolonged period of higher interest rates. Despite some softening, inflation has not yet stabilised at the levels targeted by these central banks.

Read today’s Plain Facts to get up to speed on the key global economic data that’s worth your attention.

#PersonalFinance | Most banks offer virtual #Rupay credit cards that can be linked to #UPI accounts for convenient and secure transactions, allowing credit card users to make small payments easily, benefiting from the UPI payment method's convenience.

(Shipra Singh reports)

Read here: https://www.read.ht/ROiI

#MintMacroTracker | Launched in October 2018, Mint’s macro tracker provides a monthly comprehensive report on the state of the economy, based on trends in 16 high-frequency indicators.

As of October 2023, 8 of the 16 indicators were in green, 4 were in red, & 4 in amber-an improvement from six months ago.

#PersonalFinance | Building a portfolio is a complex exercise, & it has to be maintained too. One must keep in mind the volatility risk of the asset class, liquidity, lock-in rules & taxation.

Here's a look at how four commonly used asset types - equity, cash, gold & fixed income - have done in different periods.

Former #TCS Chief Executive Officer Rajesh Gopinathan has joined the Boston Consulting Group (#BCG) as senior advisor TMT practice, Delhi team, according to a report.

Read more: https://www.read.ht/ROj1

#MintCharts | Dubai hosts COP28 this Thursday as global leaders address climate change.

Despite rich countries contributing to rising temperatures, Global Funds Update data reveals a $5 billion shortfall in climate finance deposits by industrialized nations compared to pledges as of December 2022.

The US, UK, and Germany show the largest gaps in pledged and deposited amounts.

#CharlieMunger, who helped Warren Buffett build Berkshire Hathaway, died at a California hospital on Tuesday. He was 99. His death was confirmed in a statement from the company.

Read here: https://www.read.ht/RPEV

#USvisas stamped or pasted on passport pages of applicants could soon be a thing of the past as the Biden administration has successfully completed a pilot project for issuing "paperless visa", according to an official.

The United States recently completed the small-scale programme at its diplomatic mission in Dublin and it plans to gradually roll it out.

Read more: https://www.read.ht/RPES

#PersonalFinance | Unifi Capital, known for its success in portfolio management services, receives SEBI approval to start mutual fund operations, facing challenges in replicating its thematic and mid/small-cap focus in the MF space - ✍ Sashind Ningthoukhongjam

Read more: https://www.read.ht/RPIK

#PersonalFinance | Bank fixed deposits (#FDs) continue to be popular investment products not just among senior citizens, who are looking for guaranteed income, but also among investors who can't stomach risk.

Here is a list of banks that offer the highest FD rates for deposits up to Rs 1 crore over various tenures.

#DataRewind is an occasional Plain Facts feature that brings you interesting statistics and charts from the yesteryears.

Here's the latest #DataRewind in today's Mint, looking at various employment sectors.

Data source: Economic Census 1980, Mint calculations

The market valuation of #BSE-listed companies crossed a record $4 trillion for the first time today, on the back of positive market sentiment in Indian equities.

#StockMarket

Read more: https://www.read.ht/RPJx

#MintCharts | India’s goods #imports have always exceeded its goods #exports. The two biggest reasons for this trade deficit are import of #crudeoil (a necessity) and #gold (a discretionary item).

In 2022-23, the contribution of gold to the goods trade deficit was the lowest in seven years. However, will the sharp spike in gold imports in October pressure the 2023-24 figure?

Read today’s Plain Facts.

The former United States Secretary of State and noted diplomat #HenryKissinger has passed away at his home in Connecticut. He was 100 years old.

His company Kissinger Associates announced his death in a statement on the evening of November 29.

Read here: https://www.read.ht/RPdk

#PersonalFinance | Should you invest directly in stocks or opt for mutual funds? How about just going passive and buying the index through an exchange traded fund (ETF)?

Even as investors ponder over these questions in the wake of a market rally over the past six months that boosted small- and mid-caps and pushed up portfolio values, experts have advised caution. The market rally may instil a false sense of confidence in many investors, some experts warn.

Read here: https://www.read.ht/RPfU

#PersonalFinance | Subscribers to the #NationalPensionScheme (NPS) can now choose separate pension managers for three asset classes—equity, government security, and corporate bonds, as per an update provided by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority. The option, however, has not been extended to alternative assets.

Hitherto, subscribers could choose only one pension manager for all the asset classes.

Read here: https://www.read.ht/RPgO