Category Archives: Finance

Looking for Investment Management Tools

Posted on December 30, 2010 by Basab Pradhan

I have been looking for any personal finance software that can help keep track of my investments. So far, I have come up with zip. Maybe someone else has had a better experience. Here is what I am looking for: … Continue reading →

Posted in Finance, Technology | 9 Comments

Indian Balance of Payments and Offshore Services

Posted on August 25, 2010 by Basab Pradhan

The RBI is concerned about India’s Balance of Payments. One of the reasons ascribed to the growing problem is the slow down in the Indian Offshore Services industry. From today’s FT One reason, the central bank said, for the deterioration … Continue reading →

Posted in Finance, India, Offshore Services | 3 Comments

Real estate prices in India and California

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Basab Pradhan

Real estate in India looks really inflated to me. Two data points – one in Mumbai on very expensive flat in South Mumbai and another on a more modest flat in the Chennai. The annual rent on both is between … Continue reading →

Posted in Finance, India | 6 Comments

Markets Last Week

Posted on May 9, 2010 by Basab Pradhan

James Surowiecki sums up last week’s momentary free fall in the stock market: But what does seem clear is that the plunge was exacerbated by the markets’ heavy reliance on computerized trades—both explicit “stop market” sell orders (that is, orders … Continue reading →

Posted in Finance | 11 Comments

The Politics of Financial Reform

Posted on April 25, 2010 by Basab Pradhan

Frank Rich writes a hard-hitting piece in the NYT. But he gets one piece wrong: .. Those who shorted the housing market shorted the country. There were many things that went wrong with the housing market – people were being … Continue reading →

Posted in Finance, Government | 3 Comments

Innovation and Complexity in Finance

Posted on April 23, 2010 by Basab Pradhan

This week the business news was dominated by Goldman Sachs. The SEC charged it with securities fraud. While Goldman denies any wrongdoing and will “vigorously defend its reputation”, it is actually its reputation that may be permanently damaged. The SEC … Continue reading →

Posted in Finance | 3 Comments

Lehman and Ernst & Young

Posted on March 16, 2010 by Basab Pradhan

The repo sleight of hand at Lehman was an atrocious piece of work. For those of you who haven’t been paying attention here’s how it works. Lehman had a boatload of assets on its balance sheet supported by a thin … Continue reading →

Posted in Finance | 5 Comments

Wall Street’s Chickens Come Home to Roost

Posted on January 22, 2010 by Basab Pradhan

President Obama yesterday fired the first salvo in what is going to be a bruising battle to rein in Wall Street. More than a year after the financial crisis brought the economies of the developed world to its knees, its … Continue reading →

Posted in Finance | 3 Comments

Why is the Financial Industry this Big?

Posted on January 5, 2010 by Basab Pradhan

A few months back I wrote about why I thought salaries on Wall Street (and the city of London etc.) were not the big issue. The big one is about the humongous size and growth of the financial industry. Matt … Continue reading →

Posted in Finance | 8 Comments

Investing, My Way

Posted on December 29, 2009 by Basab Pradhan

This year saw a sea change in the way I invest. Umm…let me take that back. This year I finally decided to put in place an investment methodology. Something that will hopefully form the basis for the way I invest … Continue reading →

Posted in Finance | 15 Comments