Platinum Gains


wealthymattersRecently platinum imports have almost doubled.Platinum imports have touched 40 tonnes in 2013 from 18 tonne in 2012. The demand has been driven by retail jewellery sales though platinum as an investment product has not gathered much momentum in India where gold is still regarded as the best investment option.Platinum prices went down by $200 per troy ounce in 2013 compared to gold which made this precious metal popular among aspiring young Indians.There are no restrictions on platinum imports unlike gold. A supply crunch in gold has pushed up the premium on gold, making the yellow metal costlier which has not happened in the case of platinum.At the retail end, platinum jewellery demand has grown by 30-35% in 2013 and jewellers are expecting that platinum will maintain this rally in the current year as well. Platinum demand is more of an urban phenomenon. However,platinum is gradually crossing the boundaries of metro cities and making way into tier-1 and tier-2 cities. It is the only metal that showed a spectacular growth last year.The price of platinum currently hovers around  3,790 per gm which has moderated since January.

So,it you’d rather be part of the hip set,go ahead and indulge.But make certain to buy only jewellery,preferably branded and studded with quality diamonds.Also be smart and ensure that the seller offers a decent buyback option as its still almost impossible to sell used platinum jewellery to the street corner jeweller.

 

Pepsi Gyan


wealthymatters

Being Too Intelligent By Half


wealthymattersIn Greek mythology, Sisyphus was condemned to carry a boulder up a mountain. Every time he approached the top, the boulder would topple over and fall down. Sisyphus’ curse was to keep doing this for all eternity. His crime: being too intelligent by half. From this story comes the term Sisyphean Task.

What’s Up?


wealthymatters “Every CEO’s trying to figure out What’s Up when FB pays $19 billion for WhatsApp. It redefines the meaning of, and method of, value creation.”-  Anand Mahindra, chairman & MD of the $16.2-billion Mahindra Group

A Settlement Deed Instead Of A Will


wealthymattersSuppose a person who owns a house, acquired out of his/her own earnings and wants to leave it to one or more of his/her children after the death of  themselves and their spouse,to the exclusion of other children, he /she has the option of executing a will or making a settlement retaining life interest. The execution of a will has its own hassles in identifying a reliable person to be the executor and involves expenses too. The will might also have  to be probated , the probate of a will is mandatory for the properties situated at Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkatta,for which court fee is to be paid.

The better option in this case would be to execute a settlement deed in favour of the children he/she wishes to leave the property to. The person can retain the life interest of residing and letting out the said property for rents and enjoying the rental benefits and other profits accruing there from during his/her life time along with the spouse. In the event of the spouse surviving after the person’s life time, the said property will devolve on the surviving spouse and he/she will be at liberty to retain the life interest of residing and enjoying the said property during their life time by letting it out for rents and receiving the rental and other benefits without having any right to alienate, encumber, and mortgage.

There are concessional rates of stamp duty and registration for settlement deeds for family members. The family members include father, mother, husband, wife, son, daughter and grand child.