Is the relevance of stock markets reducing?
In this issue:
» October 2011 was a poor month for auto
» Will legalizing bribes lead to better efficiency?
» The bane that is the private sector-government nexus
» Indian banks have seen bad loans rise
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The trend is also apparent when one looks at the number of Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) that have hit the markets. In Europe and the US certainly, the number of fresh companies listing has dropped sharply in the past five years. Since 1999, there have been on average 192 IPOs a year, a start contrast compared with 547 a year in the 1990s. IPOs have played a role in employment creation too. According to FT, it is estimated that of all jobs created by public companies since the 1970s, 92% came after the floatation of shares. Further estimates point out that if IPO frequency had remained constant as a percentage of US gross domestic product, at least 22 m more jobs would have been created. And so many lament that the IPO is no longer performing its classic function of channelling capital to small start-up companies because of its high costs and the insistence of institutions on high liquidity.
There are other things too. For starters, post the crisis quite a few companies are probably focusing on being cash rich and are looking to fund any capex plans through internal accruals thereby obviating the need to raise capital from the stock markets. Irrational expectations from IPOs also abound. Many companies come out with IPOs at astronomical valuations which do not make it an attractive proposition for serious long term investors to invest in. A short term and speculative outlook also creates unnecessary volatility thereby detracting serious businesses from going in for a listing.
The IPO story in India is no different either. The heydeys before the global crisis saw IPOs emerging by the dozen in the markets. But post the crisis, many companies withdrew their listing plans citing market volatility. Another ill that afflicts Indian IPOs is the unrealistic price and the focus on 'listing gains' which hardly do much in rewarding shareholders in the long run. In fact, some of the IPOs in recent times (many of them being that of PSUs) have actually seen positive responses because of strong fundamentals and reasonable valuations. This in an economic environment that continues to remain uncertain. Indeed, if businesses are confident of what they want to do and remain realistic about the price that they hope for their shares, there is no reason why they will not garner investor interest even in such volatile times.
01:28 | Chart of the day | |
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*Commercial Vehicles Data Source: SIAM |
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Do you think bribery / speed money in smaller amounts should be legalized? Share with us or post your comments on our Facebook page / Google+ page.
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Banks are under pressure from various sectors like power and infrastructure which are seeing delays in execution. Export related sectors have also seen a slowdown on account of global uncertainty. The mining and aviation sector, which are big borrowers are also facing a cash crunch. However the RBI is confident that the banking sector is not facing any systemic threat. We hope that Indian banks can come out of this crisis as well as they did in 2008.
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04:56 | Today's investing mantra |
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23 Responses to "Is the relevance of stock markets reducing?"
J R Chhabra
Nov 15, 2011Speed money is part of life in India.Even to have quick Darshan of God at many temples speed money is given legally or illegally.In Tirupati temple you can have Darshan in minutes by paying fee legally at Bank couters.
Thus bribery should be legalised by specifying fee for Tatkas Sewa.At the same time, there should a time frame for completion of ones work without any speed money.For Tatkal Sewa the staff should work extra time and paid over time out of fee collected legally by the depatrment or institute.
C.M.PANICKER
Nov 14, 2011We have grown to the level of developed countries.So we can think of legaliasing bribe and prostitution.The courts will rid of thousands of cases.What an idea saitjee.All citizens to voice their opinion on this.Stop paying salaries for the public servents.Why not keep a TIP BOX in all public officec in the model of hotels etc with a notice that anyone satisfied with the service of the concerned office can deposit a tip in appreciation of the fast service rendered.Let the sahibs decide how to divide the amount among themselves.
Selva
Nov 14, 2011What nonsense is this idea? Whether it is CEA or Godrej, have they lost their minds? This is highly deplorable. They first needs to be punished for making such suggestions.
Please remember, The Transparancy International report made a remark that whatever that India has achieved today, through government initiatives, could have been achieved some 30 years ago and with 35% of what the government had spent. Where did the rest of 65% vanish, speed money, corruption, syphoning off. Damn this. Are we not ahamed of this. And these corporate head suggest that we make it legal. Whose money are you suggesting to pay as speed money? Because he suggests that the public money belongs to government officials. Nonsense this is.
Come on, come to reality, we are living in a world where financial scamsters are punished heavily. Where is Enron CEO, where is Enron CFO, where are their auditors, where are those who have robbed public money in the US? That is democracy, that law enforcement agency and government's action and resolve guarantees citizens that their monies would be handled efficiently, whoever it is given to, be it Government or Stock Market or any Financial Institution. That is the efficiency of governance by the Government.
And here is a corporate head who suggests that we transform this country from democracy to demonic country. Insane he is.
We are not far away that this corporate head would suggest that we legalize decoity, looting, pilferage, thefts and terrorism, etc. That way government would have solved all these problems.
Now we know where Anna hazare's movement is heading towards. First government wants to scuttle every effort of this social movement, now this corporate thief wants to vitiate the entire process.
God save this country!! God save these people suggesting to legalize corruption from their insanity.
-Selva
S.K.Damani
Nov 14, 2011Dear Sir,
It is highly irrational on the part of a big 'PARSI' industrialist like Mr. Godrej to speak of legalising bribery. On the contrary, both the person the giver and the receiver, should first be sent to Jail for a minimum of six months, thereafter the investigations be started. And while doing this if the police is found indulging in bribery than such policemen should be publicly lashed with equivalent to the amount of bribery demanded.
In short the offence of bribery should invite tremendously harsh penalities and punishment, that others will have to think a million times to indulge in bribery.
The pitfalls of democracy are the bane in our country and politicians have made the most of it. The amount of monies made by ministers themselves require an indepth investigations. In order for smooth investigations they and their cronies must be put behind maximum prison bars, and then everything investigated in time bound period.
This are all wishful thinking of the indian public. Sincerley wish it could be fulfilled. But then in acountry which has known terriorist been provided maximu security a la kasab, what can you expect. Except FRUSTRATION.
God help my country !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Damani.
Alok
Nov 14, 2011Government can charge more for better quality of services by introducing differential pricing system but legalising bribe is an idea of insane people who do not understand the pain of poor people of the country.
manoharkantak
Nov 14, 2011Legalising bribes will not reduce corruption. Human greed is such that, even in theory of economics wealth accumulation has become an exception. There is no end to it. There are still honest people, we will be making them corrupt. Corruption and bribery has entered in Private sector also, how to control that.Punishment for bribe taker must be severe and should be in proportion to the amount accepted like slabs of Income tax.
Santanu Sen
Nov 14, 2011Heard that German has got such sort of system with some CHECKS. Intention to bring the speed money in Mainstreamed Economy. But problem with India is that after introduction of such relaxation, persons will start manipulating those CHECKS.Then ONLY PLACE TO BE LEFT FOR US SHALL BE THE hell.
So stop this idea to build on in INDIA
GOPAL KOKAL
Nov 14, 2011SMALL OR BIG AMOUNT BRIBE IS BRIBE IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THOSE WHO RECOMMEND SPEED MONEY OR SMALL BRIBE REFLECT THEIR CHARACTER. EVEN SUGGESTING LEGALISING BRIBE NEEDS TO BE CONDEMNED. IT MAY BE ACCEPTABLE IN MATERIALISTIC WORLD NOT IN INDIA WHERE MORAL STANDARDS OF LARGE POPULATION IS VERY HIGH AS THEY BELIEVE IN RELIGION, TRUTH AND PURITY.
Amit Sengupta
Nov 14, 2011Legalised bribery - no way. What control will Mr. Kaushik Basu have on the proceedings or is it that he suggests that it will be an addition to the service sector? Either way, submission to the social menace will be distrous for the people of India. Mr. Kaushik Basu would better revisit his school days & retrieve what all he had then been taught as all time virtues for the mankind.
Vish
Nov 15, 2011Unless we change the attitude, we can't achieve much by legalising anything. Today, people who are willing to pay Rs. 5,000 or 10,000 will be forced to shell out more and more as the queue there becomes longer, as we see it in Tatkal scheme of Railways. Fear is the key. Unless, the culprit is caught and punished, nothing will ever work. Moneyed people will keep on thinking that they can get on with this stupidity, till life catches up with them!!!!