The regulator is not going to save you
In this issue:
» India's education spending 10th highest in the world
» Sweden has an important lesson for the world
» Will Govt issue dollar bonds as in the late 1990s?
» Does this mean food inflation is over?
» ...and more!---------------------------------------- Did you miss the Webinar? ----------------------------------------
Equitymaster's Webinar on the Future Prospects for the Indian Economy with Mr Ajit Dayal was broadcasted on 30th of December, 2011.
The webinar answered questions that could be troubling any Indian Investor today. Where is the Indian Economy headed in 2012? Is Gold still a good investment? Could the Stock Market touch the 21000 figure in 2012?
If you missed watching the webinar, here is your chance to access the same.
Click Here to watch: Indian Economy - From Darling to Damned (Rebroadcast)
And let's understand what lies ahead for India and how could this impact your investments.
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More often than not, common people are treated just like sacrificial goats. Politicians will go out of their way to appease voters before the elections. But once elections are over, need we say what conspires then? Even the finance industry does not differ in this aspect. They, too, turn their backs once the customers buy their products or services. This cycle of deceit keeps repeating all the time.
How much ever the policymakers and regulators trumpet about how they exist to protect the investor, more often than not, the investors' interests are sacrificed to salvage big entities. And what is the reason that they give to justify this? They say that allowing big firms to fail may pose a systemic risk. This is what seems to be happening - the interests of the people are sacrificed to save large firms, which in turn, is in the larger interest of the people. We don't know what to make of this. But one thing is certain, the big firms benefit out of this scheme.
Take the 'Occupy Wall Street' campaign for instance. It's a protest against policymakers who have bailed out too-big-to-fail entities without caring about the masses. The campaign has failed to bring about any positive change. Ditto was the case of Anna Hazare's movement against corruption. Despite the massive public support, the Lokpal Bill remains in a state of limbo.
Investors in India have been treated just the same way. For example, the market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) recently responded to some IPO (initial public offering) scams by banning certain promoters and merchant bankers. But what about the money that innocent investors have lost? There is no way they are going to be compensated for the losses. In the past, many investors were connived into buying mutual funds and insurance schemes by paying rich commissions to distributors. Though the regulator has banned such practices now, the investors have no way to recover the money that has gone down the drain.
The moral of the story is this - Investors have to really drill it into their minds that no regulatory agency, no policymakers are really going to protect them. You have to be your own saviour.
Do you think regulators really care about investors? Share your views or you can also comment on our Facebook page / Google+ page.
01:15 | Chart of the day | |
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Data source: Firstpost |
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These markets are now in the same place where India, China and Brazil used to be 20 years ago. These countries seem to have it all, strong growth potential, attractive valuations and low correlation with other emerging markets and developed nations. How does this affect India? Well, our financial markets are still heavily dependent on the mood of Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs). If their mood shifts to frontier markets, we may just be left in the dust. Thus, increasing the depth of our financial markets is certainly the need of the hour.
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Hence, the fact that the food inflation number dipped into the negative after a very long time enthused neither policymakers nor markets yesterday. The RBI, too, believes that the drop in food prices is due to a high base effect and may not be sustainable. Hence, it may not easily yield to the pressure of easing interest rates. Having said that, fuel prices (especially LPG) that materially impact household consumption budgets, remain a contentious issue. Hence, it is too early to celebrate the decline in food inflation numbers.
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04:50 | Today's Investing Mantra |
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12 Responses to "The regulator is not going to save you"
G.P.Sangal
Jan 7, 2012Regulators by and large fall to the lobbying of big business. Some regulators even pretend to be helping the common investor whereas they may be acting in the advice of interested parties being regulated.
RAM KUMAR GUPTA
Jan 6, 2012The management of the regulators have the people only and not god or someone who cannot be influenced by any source. RBI and SEBI are taking their steps after the fraud is committed either in finace or securities. Further the management of the regualtors is highly influenced by the Govt which is group of people who are again a group of different level of morale. The 3 PMs as I remember of Japan had to resign on corruption. Every body cannot be expert in taking all decisions. Do you feel the MF are caring interest of the investor? I am of the opinion, "CERTAINLY NOT". They are ALSO PLAYING WITH THE MONEY OF THE INVETOR. Then to whom to believe, to whome to approach, to whom from to seek guidance, appears nop body. Is it is not a lack of confidence in all sector of society. RAM NAM KI LOOT HAI, LUTI JAYE TO LOOT, ANT KAL PACHHTAYEGA, JAB PRAN JAYENGEY CHHOOT.So frineds, this is going on every where in the world. And india is also not an exception. We have no alternate except to be cheated if we are lured to be multimillionare overnight. Ghotal of Jaipur, Madhaya pradesh, Punjab in respect of small investor on the greed of high return, shows that we are coommitted to be defrauded despite guidelines from any regulators. Frauds are happending, KYC norms are not being followed in letter and spirit in the financial industry which will result in such scams always.
Apares Chaudhuri
Jan 6, 2012There are only two classes in any type of society. RULERS & RULED. Ruled are termed as "MASSES", in the backyard as "ASSESS" by the rulers. So "LOOTLO", is the mantra of the Rulers. In name of protection they have become "BIBHISION" of "RAMAYANA". How do you believe these BIBHISIONS. In every sphere of life we experience how they are making our life miserable,so regulators or no-regulators scams will go on.
sethu
Jan 6, 2012If it is your hard earned money it is your responsibilty to invest safely.SEBI has many limitations but with these whatever they could do they try to do;When the whole system including Government is corrupt what really SEBI could do?We people invariably elect corrupt politicians and we expect ramraj;how this is possible.As long as people are waiting in ques to be looted, looters will be there and no amount of regulations can take care of that.See Satyam episode; raju was the hero and made to represent AP to receive BIll Gates!!!
K.Vittal Shetty
Jan 6, 2012RBI definitely can be called one of the best regulators in the world and in our country it is THE REGULATOR,but for whom we too would have been with the global financial crisis.However,the same cannot be said of other regulators like SEBI,TRAI.IRDA & PFRDA.
After the departure of GV Ramakrishna we have not seen any Chairman of SEBI taken any concrete steps to protect the interest of the investors.At present the SEBI is more interested to protect the intermediaries and promoters than the investors.It has abdicated its statutory responsibility of protecting the investors.
In my opinion the SEBI can take the following steps:
1.The net worth of both Merchant Bankers, Registrars to the issue must be increased substantially up to minimum of Rs.500 crores.Their net worth must have certain percentage to the issue managed by them to ensure that in case of loss to the investors they must be made to compensate.
2.Issue price must have linkages to the book value and no one should be allowed to issue IPOs above book value or at least the minimum band must be lower than book value to avoid the Merchant Bankers to price it higher.
3.The promoters along with merchant bankers and Registrars to the issue must buy back or return the amount to the investors if the listing price comes down below its issue price within a period of 18 months of listing.
4.The earlier practice of pricing at below the average price at the stock exchange or book value must be reintroduced to rigging of prices.
5.If the listed price comes down below its issue price within a period of 18 months both the Merchant Bankers and Registrars and other intermediaries must be barred from entering the capital market for a minimum of 7 years.Both the firms and its concerned officials too.
CHANDRA SHEKHAR
Jan 6, 2012Corruption is so rampant in India that to find an honest person is like searching a needle in the haystack. There is nothing wrong in system and policies are very very good on paper. But the implementation is bad. All those who are involved in implementing the schemes are corrupt to the core and that is because it starts from the top. There is an atmosphere of utter disgust as far as the common man is concerned. They can not get their simple rightful things done without bribing. Govt spends a lot of money for expectent mothers but the entire supplies finds its way to either market or as cattle feed. Items of food supplied is relatively unknown and hence they do not find the proper market. Therefore it goes to animals. Free food supplies are sold in market and the benificiaries are either denied or are given substandard ration and that too inadeqate. Govt of UP spends max money for the education but all the money are eaten away by the managers of the aided schools and colleges. Ther is no quality teachers or teaaching. They all depend, by far, on copying in examinations. Why? It is because of rampent corruption at all levels of control. Have you heard of the Govt teachers sending their proxy to teach for a nominal fee and the trained teachers take the pay without going to school. Ofcourse he has to pay part of it to the school inspector also.
Then who the will regulate whom. Have any number of regulators in any department. In fact the common man detests multilevel of control as he has to pay at additional levels so created.
Election is equally bad. What ever be the rule of law, the money, muscle and liquor decides it. Itis rightly said 'you get the Govt that you deserve.'
Only mass awareness and proper electoral reform can do something which will take time. with the present set of the politicians neither the Lok Pal nor the Electoral Reforms will see the light of the day.
Appointing regulator means fecilitating some more people to generate black money.
N.Merchant
Jan 6, 2012This is a very naive belive that autority will protect your (invester's)money.
This from ages we see that people who are on power whether they are politician or religiou leader have always made law, "pap and punya" theory to protect their own back. So donot complain only act keep you eye and ear open. Keep yourself infromed. learn to read between the line by doing mistakes.
But keep investing that is the only option. Alway there are good people in the world and honest people have trust on them.
PUSHPENDRA S PARIKH
Jan 7, 2012Well the miscreants promoters have many avenues to raise money. Barring them from capital market is not the solution. SEBI should file a criminal complaint against such promoters who collude with merchant bankers to dupe the naive investors. Such cases being treated as criminal conspiracy can be the only deterrence for such miscreants.