Zebu blog

Tag: fixed income

  • What Are Preferred Stocks And Why Are They Important?

    There are two main reasons why some stocks are called “preferred stocks.” The regular dividends paid to people who own preferred shares are more than those paid to people who own common shares. Common stocks pay dividends based on how profitable the company is. Preferred stocks, on the other hand, pay dividends that have already been decided. Preferred stocks are different from common stocks in that they don’t have the right to vote.

    In some ways, preferred stock is like a bond. They all have a face value that is used to figure out the dividend. Let’s say that a preferred stock is worth Rs 1,000 and gives a 5% dividend. If the stock is still being traded, it must pay an annual dividend of Rs 50. Preferred stock is riskier than a bond but less risky than regular stock.

    Even when a company does well, the value of preferred stocks is not likely to go up by much. So, it is less likely that a person who owns preferred stock will make big money.

    Preferred stocks come in many different forms. If you have convertible preferred shares, you can change a preferred stock into a common stock. Also, preferred stock can add up over time. This means that when business is slow, the company might put off paying dividends. But when things get better, they have to pay the dividends that they owe. This must be done before any payments can be made to common stockholders. Another type is redeemable preferred stock. In this case, the business has the option to buy the stock back at a later date.

    Know these things about dividends

    1. Most companies pay dividends based on their yearly, quarterly, or even one-time profits.
    2. The Income Tax Act of 1961 says that income from dividends is taxed.
    3. Companies can choose to pay either common dividends, which are payments that change based on how much money they make or preferred dividends, which are payments that always stay the same.

    Investor Benefits from Dividends:

    Dividends are a predictable, low-risk way for investors to get a return on their investments. Also, as the companies grow, the dividends go up, which makes the stock worth more to investors. You can also use the dividends to buy more shares.

    Investors should keep in mind that dividend yields that are higher are not always better. This is because some companies that pay high dividend yields find it hard to keep up these rates over time.

    Dividend stocks are a type of stock that is traded on the stock market. These stocks belong to a group of companies that have a history of giving dividends to shareholders. Since these stocks are well-known, have already reached their peak, and are mature, their future growth potential is often much lower than that of growth stocks.

  • The Benefits Of Investing In Corporate Bonds

    Bonds are debt market products that, as their name suggests, pay a fixed interest rate annually or at regular intervals and can be redeemed at the end of a certain time period. Bonds are fixed-income securities that act as a private company’s assurance to raise money for operating costs. Most of these bonds are traded on the secondary market and are also available to investors as “dematerialized” bonds. Before you buy private sector bonds, here are some things to think about.

    1. Is it backed by a reputable business group?

    These corporate bonds from the private sector are at risk of default, but government bonds are not. As an investor, default risk may have two effects on you. First, the company can have bad financial results and be forced to stop making principal repayments and periodic interest payments. Second, even if the bond is traded on the stock market, it could be downgraded by the rating agencies. This would cause the price of the bond to drop.

    2. Don’t try to find more ways to make money

    Going down the grading curve to find higher yields on private bonds is very common, even among fund managers. For instance, a corporate bond with a AAA rating will have the lowest interest rate. But if you choose bonds with an AA or A rating, the yield will be higher because these companies are more likely to pay higher rates than AAA companies. Even though not every AA or A-rated company will go bankrupt, it is a risk, so you should be careful. If you can’t sell the bond on the secondary market or don’t have time to keep an eye on how the company is doing, the risk is higher.

    3. Keep in mind that private-sector bonds make you pay more in taxes

    Your actual returns depend on how the tax treatment works out in the end. When you buy private bonds, the interest you earn is taxed at your highest rate, say 30%. So, if the bond pays you an interest rate of 11%, your real yield after taxes is only 8.7%. (11-3.3). Even though the lock-in term may be longer, it may be better to invest in an infrastructure bond that saves taxes. For example, if the interest rate on a tax-free bond for infrastructure is 6.5%, the effective after-tax yield will be 9.3% (6.5/0.7). In reality, an infrastructure bond has a higher effective yield and a much lower risk of default.

    4. You might find that investing in debt funds is a better idea

    If you want stability, debt funds may be a much better option for you. Debt funds let you benefit from both the interest on bonds and the growth of your capital when interest rates go down. The second benefit of debt funds is that they build a portfolio of different types of debt instruments with different levels of risk. This makes your overall exposure risk much lower. It’s hard to come up with this much variety on your own. Third, unlike bonds, which are usually hard to sell quickly, debt funds are easy to buy back. Price anomalies can also make it so that the prices don’t reflect the bond’s true value. Last but not least, debt funds are much better than private sector bonds when it comes to taxes. If you choose a debt fund’s dividend plan, you can take out the profits without having to pay taxes because dividends from debt funds are tax-free in the hands of the investor.

    The yield on private sector bonds is a little bit higher than that on bank FDs, but the risks are also a little bit higher. Before putting money into private sector debt, you should know this.

  • How To Figure Out The Yield And Price Of Bonds

    Many investors find it hard to understand bond prices and the possible returns from bond investments. Many new investors will be shocked to learn that the value of bonds changes every day, just like the value of any other publicly traded security.

    The yield is the amount of money someone can expect to make from investing in bonds. The easiest way to figure this out is to use the formula yield = (coupon amount) / (price). If the bond is bought at face value, the yield may be the same as the interest rate. So, the yield changes along with the price of the bond.

    Another yield that investors often figure out is the amount of money they get back when their bonds mature. This more complicated calculation will give the expected total yield if the bond is held until it matures.

    What are the parts of market bonds?

    If you want to learn more about the different kinds of bonds you can invest in, you can choose from a wide range of bonds on the market. The bonds you choose to buy in the end will depend on how well you can handle risk and how much money you have to invest. Even though bonds are safer than stocks, they come in many different types, so you should learn about all of them before you invest.

    Most bonds can be broken up into:

    Government bonds: These are bonds that the government itself gives out. Because the Indian government paid for them, they are safe. Most of the time, the interest rate on these bonds is not very high. In the Reserve Bank of India’s list of “government bonds,” there are other differences between fixed and floating bonds. You should know a little bit about these subcategories because they might affect the investments you make.

    Fixed-rate securities: These are bonds with a fixed interest rate. This rate won’t change as long as the bond is in effect. Even if market rates change, this fixed rate will still apply. When the market is doing well, you can expect small returns, but you are also protected.

    Bonds with variable rates: As their name suggests, the interest rates on these bonds will change based on the highs and lows of the market. If the market changes in a good way, you could make money, but if they change in a bad way, you could lose your profits.

    Corporate bonds: bonds from private companies are called corporate bonds. The bonds that these companies give out can be secured or not. When choosing a market, you should be aware of the different types of corporate bonds. Corporate bonds that are backed by collateral are safe. This means that the issuer will pay back the investment if the bond goes bad before or at the time it is due. Debentures are basically unsecured corporate bonds, and all they are is a promise from the company to pay back the bond. In other words, businesses promise to pay interest on time and pay it when it’s due. These bonds could be a bet on the value of “faith” more than anything else.

    Bonds that save people money on taxes: The Indian government gives out bonds that save people money on taxes or are tax-free. Aside from the interest, the owner would also benefit from a tax point of view. Seniors and anyone else who wants to pay less in taxes over time might want to look into these bonds.

    Bank and financial institution bonds are bonds that banks and other financial institutions give out. Many of the bonds in this category come from this business sector. The financial institutions that back these bonds have been rated by the government and have a history of making good financial decisions.

  • Are Tax-Free Bonds Right For You?

    In the past few years, investors with a lot of money have been more interested in tax-free bonds. Large infrastructure players can raise money at the end of the fiscal year by selling tax-free bonds. By offering these tax-free bonds, the government can help pay for infrastructure. There are two main types of bonds that don’t have to pay taxes. Let’s try to understand them better.

    First, there are Section 54EC bonds. If you buy them with the money you made from a sale, you can get a tax break. Because of the benefit in Section 54EC, you won’t have to pay tax on your capital gains. The interest that investors get from Section 54EC bonds will be fully taxed in their hands. Second, there are bonds that the investor doesn’t have to pay any taxes on. This means that interest is paid on them regularly. If you are in the 30% tax bracket, a 6% tax-free bond will give you an effective yield before taxes of 8.57 %.

    Does it make sense to buy Section 54EC bonds?

    HNIs seem to want these bonds a lot because they see it as a good way to lower their capital gains tax. But there are a few important things you should remember about buying these bonds. To make up for the tax benefit, the returns on these bonds are much lower than on regular bonds and bank FDs. So, it only makes sense if you really have capital gains that you need to pay less tax on. Second, to get a tax credit under Section 54EC, you must invest the whole amount, not just the capital gains. There is a cost to that in the form of missed chances to invest in other things. So, unless capital gains make up a big part of your total sales profits, these bonds aren’t very helpful.

    Taking into account the indexing benefits of long-term holding might be a better way to figure out how much capital gains tax you have to pay. If, after accounting for indexing, your total tax bill is less than 10% of your income, it makes sense to pay down the tax and put the rest of the money into investments that will make you more money. You can also use Section 54 to your advantage if you use the money to buy another property. Taking into account the lock-in period and the opportunity cost of investing the whole return, the tax savings bond may not be worth much to investors.

    Are bonds that don’t get taxed a good choice for investors?

    As was already said, these tax-free bonds involve investing in a business that focuses on infrastructure and will allow you to get interest without having to pay taxes on it. When taxation is taken into account, the effective returns are at first higher than those of taxable bonds. During the lock-in period, however, your bonds are pretty much just sitting in your demat account. This can be quite discouraging. Since this asset doesn’t really make money over time, the key question is whether or not the lock-in period is worth it. The bond’s value hasn’t changed much, so it would be better to stick with traditional bonds and fixed deposits (FDs), which don’t have lock-in periods and can be quickly and easily turned into cash.

    Why not think about debt funds as a better option?

    Through debt, you should be able to meet your basic needs for security and guaranteed profits. Choose debt funds if you want to make the best choice. First, you won’t have to pay taxes on the dividends you decide to get. Second, debt funds are easy to cash out because they are liquid and can be sold in less than two days. Third, investors worry about interest rates and the chance of a default. The risk of interest rates will be looked at separately, but the risk of default can be cut down by focusing on risk-free G-Sec funds. Now, let’s talk about the risks that come with interest rates. In the current economic situation, rates have stayed low, which means that they should help with debt funds. When market rates go down, the NAV of debt funds goes up, so investors can make money from both interest and capital gains. Even bonds that don’t have to pay taxes don’t help in this way.

    In the end, it’s easy to get sucked in by how appealing tax-saving bonds seem, but you need to do the math right. Before you decide whether or not to buy these tax-free bonds, look at what else you can do.

  • Types Of Low-Risk Investment Options

    When it comes to investment plans, the risk is the chance or likelihood that the asset will either perform worse than expected or lose all of its value.

    So, different investment plans can be roughly divided into three groups based on the amount of risk they involve, as shown below:

    Before we get into understanding low-risk investment options, we need to understand how the right tech can enhance your trading journey. With Zebu’s online trading platform you can perform your investments seamlessly. As one of India’s biggest share market broker, we offer the best trading accounts with great advantages for our customers.

    Investing with low risk
    Low-risk investment plans are, as the name suggests, those in which the risk is close to zero. In other words, investments with low risk tend to grow in value steadily and reliably, but they also tend to lose less money. Here is a list of the best ways to invest money that can be thought about.

    1. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana

    The Sukanya Samriddhi Account is becoming more well-known as one of the best ways for Indian girls to save money. If you have a girl child, this programme is meant to make it easier for the girl child to become wealthy. You can get a Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana account at both commercial banks and post offices. Under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act of 1961, you can also save a lot of money on your taxes.

    2. Public Provident Fund (PPF)

    Public Provident Fund (PPF) is one of the best ways to invest in India because it offers so many benefits. If you get paid a salary, PPF can help you in many ways. The interest you earn on your PPF is not taxed, but you can get a tax break under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act of 1961.

    3. Post Office Income Plans for Every Month

    Most people think that the Post Office Monthly Income Scheme is one of the best ways to invest. It’s best for people who don’t like taking risks and want low-risk plans with good returns. Here, you need to know that the income from monthly income plans from the post office is fully taxed, but the monthly income plans do not have Tax Deduction at Source (TDS).

    4. Government Schemes For Senior Citizens (SCSS)
    The senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS), which is run by the Indian government, is thought to be one of the best ways to invest in India for a number of reasons.

    First, the plan gives senior citizens a lot of financial security. The second thing is that the government decides every three months what the interest rate will be for this plan. You can open an SCSS account at any bank or post office that is owned by the government.

    5. Tax Saving Fixed Deposits

    Tax Saving FD’s are thought by many to be one of the best ways to invest in India because they can help you save a lot of money on taxes under Section 80 C and reduce your overall tax liability.

    6. Sovereign Gold Bonds

    Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) are issued by the Reserve Bank of India and backed by the Indian government. SGBs are securities that are worth their value in units of gold and can be used instead of holding physical gold (grams). At the end of the term, you can get your money back. This makes SGBs one of the best ways to invest in India. To easily invest in SGBs with Zebu, please get in touch with us.

    7. Life Insurance

    There are two types of life insurance that are low risk: savings and income plans and protection plans. There is no clear investment part to these life insurance plans, so they do not offer returns that are tied to the market. Instead, these life insurance plans give your family a strong financial safety net and good protection against life’s unknowns.

    8. Bonds

    Bonds are proof that you gave the issuer money at a certain interest rate. You could get interest payments on each bond on a regular basis, and in the end, you would get the face value back. You can also sell the bond before it runs out if you need the money. Bonds are thought to be one of the best ways to invest in India because they are fairly safe.

    Now that you understand more about low-risk investment opportunities, you need to understand how the right tools can help your Investment journey. With Zebu’s online trading platform you can perform your investments seamlessly. As one of India’s biggest share market broker, we offer the best trading accounts
    with great advantages for our customers.

  • Six Of The Safest Investment Options For Risk-Averse Individuals

    In India, there are several investment opportunities that give attractive returns. With so many alternatives, it’s understandable that one would be confused about where to invest. To determine which investment channel is the ‘best,’ we must first assess an individual’s requirement and risk tolerance. There are investment solutions that are tailored to an individual’s objectives and needs.

    Indians prefer to invest in government-backed securities since they are viewed as safe investment vehicles. The following are a handful of India’s most popular investment avenues:

    If you are considering investing then you need to make sure that you use the best broker for trading with the lowest brokerage on offer. Zebu empowers your online stock trading journey with a state-of-the-art trading platform as well.


    Bank Fixed Deposit (FD)

    Bank Fixed Deposit (FD) Bank FDs pay a substantially greater interest rate than standard savings bank accounts. 5-year tax-saving FDs are tax-deductible under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and investors can deduct up to Rs 1,50,000 per year. Senior citizens receive a little higher rate of interest on FDs. The rate of interest varies according to the duration of the investment, the amount invested, the resident status (NRI or not), and the bank. FDs are subject to a lock-in term. If you desire to withdraw within the lock-in period, the bank will charge you a penalty in the amount of interest deducted from the investment.

    The following are the primary features of bank deposits:
    You receive guaranteed returns over time.
    The most suitable investment for risk-averse investors.
    Partial withdrawals are permitted, as is borrowing against the balance.

    Public Provident Fund (PPF)

    PPF investments are subject to a 15-year lock-in term. PPF is regarded as one of the safest investments due to the scheme’s governmental guarantee. As with bank FDs, PPFs pay a substantially greater interest rate than a standard savings bank account.

    PPF’s key attributes include the following:
    Best suited for long-term financial goals due to the scheme’s 15-year lock-in period.
    Because the investment is not market-linked, it provides guaranteed returns over time.
    You have the choice of redeeming the entire corpus or extending the account for a five-year period.

    National Pension Scheme (NPS)

    The NPS is another government-sponsored retirement programme. The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority manages the scheme (PFRDA). The NPS is made up of a variety of investments, including liquid funds, term deposits, and corporate bonds. There are numerous NPS schemes from which you can choose according to your needs. Interest rates vary amongst funds.

    NPS’s primary characteristics include the following:
    The scheme is offered to employees in all sectors.
    The scheme allows for annual tax deductions of up to Rs 2 lakh under the Income Tax Act, 1961.
    You can manage your portfolio passively or actively.

    Sovereign Gold Bonds

    Sovereign Gold Bonds Indians have a strong affinity toward the yellow metal. Gold investments are made through the purchase of gold jewellery, coins, and bars. Apart from real gold, investors can invest in gold through gold ETFs and sovereign gold bonds.

    SGB’s primary characteristics include the following:
    Investing in gold enables you to protect yourself against inflation.
    Due to the inverse relationship between gold and stock markets, investing in gold functions as a hedge against stock market declines.
    Gold’s price does not fluctuate dramatically over time, providing you with capital protection.
    SGBs give an interest of 2.5% per annum.
    The lock-in period is 8 years.
    SGBs are issued by the RBI.

    7.75% GoI Savings Bond

    7.75% G-Sec bonds replaced the previous 8% savings bond. These bonds were initially issued in 2018. As mentioned in the title, investors get annual interest at a rate of 7.75 percent. These bonds can be purchased for as little as Rs 1,000.

    The following are the primary characteristics of 7.75 percent GOI Savings Bonds:
    Your investments are guaranteed by governmental assurances, which safeguard your capital.
    You receive an assured annual rate of return of 7.75 percent.

    Recurring Deposit (RD)

    A recurring deposit is an alternative to a fixed-term deposit. Individuals invest a fixed sum on a regular basis using RDs. As with FDs, RDs pay a significantly greater rate of interest than a standard savings bank account. You can use your real estate development investment as collateral to obtain secured loans.

    RD’s primary characteristics include the following:
    Investing in an RD over a longer-term enables you to gradually instil a feeling of financial discipline.
    You do not need a significant sum to begin your investment; a small sum is sufficient.
    You have guaranteed profits over time because the investment is not tied to the stock market.

    Now that you have understood more about low-risk investments, you also need to ensure that you use the best broker for trading with the lowest brokerage on offer. Zebu empowers your online stock trading journey with a state-of-the-art trading platform as well.

  • Here’s How Bond Yields Affect The Market

    On Wednesday, India’s benchmark 10-year government bond yields soared to a high of 6.66 per cent before falling to 6.60 per cent.

    What has caused this increase? Rising crude oil prices, inflationary threats, and earlier-than-expected interest rate hikes indicated by the US Federal Reserve have all contributed to bond yields hardening. Rising bond yields, logically, have sparked anticipation that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) may eventually abandon its accommodative policy and begin increasing interest rates.

    What is the difference between a bond and a bond yield?

    Bonds are simply loans made to a firm or the government. Throughout the loan’s term, the interest payments are virtually unchanged. Furthermore, if the borrower does not default, the principle is returned after the loan term.

    Bond yield is the rate of return that an investor receives on a certain bond or government instrument.

    Bond yields and prices are linked.

    Bond prices rise and fall in response to changes in interest rates in an economy. Bond yields, on the other hand, fall/rise in response to this.

    Bond yields and inflation expectations

    As money moves from relatively safer investment bets to riskier equities, a stock market boom tends to raise yields. When inflationary pressures rise, however, investors tend to return to bond markets and sell shares.

    What impact do bonds have on stock markets?

    Before we get into how the share market is impacted by bonds and bond yields, you need one of the best trading accounts from a leading online stock broker like Zebu to capitalise on market changes. With a leading online trading platform, you can anticipate market moves and maximise your profits.

    More on how bond yields affect the stock markets:

    To calculate the expected rate of return, investors add the equity risk premium they seek to a risk-free rate when pricing equities. Defaulting to the long government bond yield is usually the simplest way to estimate the risk-free rate. Long bond yields are important to equities because of this.

    Given that the risk-free rate is the long bond yield, a higher bond yield is unfavourable for equities, and vice versa. However, it’s important to recognise why bond rates are changing, not just the direction in which they’re changing.

    Long bond yields reflect the economy’s growth and inflation mix. Bond yields normally rise when growth is robust. They also rise in response to rising inflation. However, the impact of these is different for stocks.

    When growth is strong, the positive impact of larger cash flows or, more accurately, dividends more than outweighs the negative impact of higher yields, resulting in higher equity share values.

    The difference between actual GDP growth and the 10-year bond yield corresponds well with stock prices. Indeed, share prices should be fine if GDP increases faster than bond yields in the next month.

    If growth accelerates from here equities are likely to break this range on the upside, in line with the fundamental relationship.

    How Should Investors Play It?

    In the scenario that growth accelerates, investors can opt for rate-sensitive instruments like mid- and small-cap stocks and funds. However, if inflation makes a rapid return, you can go with reliable companies in solid sectors like technology, healthcare and FMCG.

    Whatever your take is on bond yields and their correlation to the Indian markets, you need the best online trading platform to change your game plan. At Zebu, we have taken our expertise as one of the leading online stock brokers in India and created the best trading accounts and investment platform to seamlessly capitalise on any economic macro and invest in the best stocks and funds that you find reliable. To know more about our products and services, please get in touch with us.