Bima Sugam: Will the e-marketplace smoothen insurance transactions?
There are expectations of a new ‘UPI (Unified Payment Interface) moment’ in the insurance segment. Last year, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) had mooted the Bima Sugam portal as a one-stop shop for all insurance stakeholders. Last month, the IRDAI released an exposure draft on the regulatory framework for the proposed portal relating to its establishment, functioning and governance. What’s more, all types of insurance policies — general (motor, travel, health, fire, etc.) and life — would be available for customers and all others in the industry ecosystem.

FSIB selects CMDs for New India Assurance, United India
Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB), the head-hunting agency for public sector banks and insurance firms, has selected Girija Subramanian, Chairperson and MD of Agriculture Insurance Company (AIC), and Bhupesh Sushil Rahul, AIC General Manager, as the next CMDs of New India Assurance and United India Insurance, respectively.

Insurance is anyway a difficult product to buy… 18% GST makes it costly: Tarun Chugh
Tarun Chugh, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance, says he would be happy if there’s a review of the government decision last year to withdraw tax sops for high-value policies. Chugh, whose company manages assets worth Rs 1.10 lakh crore, tells George Mathew that 18% Goods and Services Tax (GST ) on insurance makes it costly for people to buy the product.

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Player insurance premiums up 25% this IPL amid rise in players' brand value
Source Credit: Aathira Varier, Business Standard

Mumbai: As the Indian Premier League (IPL) becomes bolder and better each season, the insurance cover also becomes bigger for players of the planet's richest cricket tournament. The insurance premiums for players have gone up by 20 to 25 per cent from last year due to a surge in cricketers’ brand value and their increased susceptibility to injury, resulting in a loss for the insurers, according to industry participants.
 

Galaxy Health gets Irdai approval to launch health insurance business
During the 125th meeting held on 19 March 2024, the insurance regulator granted approval to the company. Following this approval, the number of Standalone Health Insurers (SAHIs) in India will increase to seven from the existing six.

What should investors know before investing in multi-asset funds?
The Indian mutual fund industry has been buzzing with new fund offerings, especially in the multi-asset allocation category. Over the past couple of years, more than a dozen new funds have hit the market from big players such as Aditya Birla, Kotak, and many others. This surge comes as stocks, bonds and gold have been performing strongly, prompting investors to reconsider their investment allocation.

Nippon’s small cap fund puts further curbs on inflows
Mumbai: Nippon India Small Cap Fund, the largest scheme in this mutual fund category with assets under management of ₹46,044 crore, has put further restrictions on flows from fresh systematic investment plan (SIP) and Systematic transfer plan (STP). The fund house will now only accept applications worth ₹50,000 per PAN per day from Friday.
 

MFs impose curbs on smallcap funds; Franklin MF latest to restrict inflows
Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund (MF) has become the latest fund house to limit the amount investors can put into its smallcap fund.
 

'New income tax regime is yet to have any meaningful impact on ELSS schemes': AMC Expert
Deepak Ramaraju, Senior Fund Manager at Shriram AMC, shares insights on the market, discussing both global and domestic conditions, and focusing on factors like inflation and geopolitical tensions. He predicts a market rebound post-elections driven by corporate earnings, particularly in the SMID space. Additionally, he recommends Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS) as a tax-saving option offering long-term capital appreciation. Despite new tax regulations, ELSS remains appealing to investors due to its strong risk-adjusted returns, with about one-third of funds surpassing benchmarks.

These 8 flexi cap mutual fund schemes gave over 16 percent annualised returns in 10 years
Before investing in a mutual fund scheme, retail investors tend to compare the returns given by one scheme vis-à-vis other schemes in the same category in order to maximise their wealth creation.

Why this hybrid fund is a good investment amid volatile markets
After a relentless rally over the past few months, markets have turned volatile in recent weeks. The broader markets, especially, have raised concerns relating to elevated valuations. Market regulator SEBI pushing mutual funds to declare the stress test results on their holdings is also keeping investors on tenterhooks. With elections set to be conducted in a phased manner from April till the first week of June, the markets may remain volatile for the foreseeable future.

Midcap space most expensive segment of the market: Aniruddha Naha, CIO, Alternatives, PGIM India AMC
Equities may give high single-digit or low double-digit returns this year given the inflation scenario, rising raw material costs, and subdued earnings growth over the next two quarters, says Aniruddha Naha, CIO, Alternatives, PGIM India AMC. Naha believes that commodity and crude oil prices could fuel inflation and impact the trajectory of interest rates going ahead. 

Foreign flows in India underperformed China by 10% from its peak: Elara Capital
Initial signs of slowdown are being witnessed in foreign inflows in India, with total inflows into India dedicated funds of $144 million (Large + Mid+ Small) are slowest since May 2023, according to a report by brokerage firm Elara Capital.