” As indices surge, investors must adopt a balanced approach and invest in frontline firms” ~ G.R. Balaji American lawyer Clarence Darrow once said, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but rather the one most adaptable to change.” For investors, the…
The journey so far… We launched Solitaire in August 2019 with the promise of building a high-quality, value-driven portfolio that provides moderate and steady risk-adjusted returns with minimum volatility. Global equity markets have witnessed one of the most tumultuous years ever. Nobody, including us, was protected in the steep crash of March 2020. However,…
The lure of small caps is the equivalent of a pandemic in the investment world. They transmit virally in a bull market until everybody only wants to own them. Then, the markets collapse leaving investors with huge losses. Worse still, the stocks will be very illiquid. This makes the small…
Asha and Krishnan were ready to hang up their boots. Asha moulded generations of students by sparking an interest in English literature. Krishnan spent the better part of his career at a renowned MNC. It was time to put their work lives behind and enjoy their golden years. Krishnan was…
The NASDAQ 100 Index rose continuously for several days before snapping on Thursday. However, the sharp rise in the Nasdaq 100 VIX, a market volatility indicator, was a clear sign that fears were rising. Now, the markets seem to be treading with extreme caution as the Nasdaq 100 VIX rose…
Fixed-income investors have a lot on their plates. In 2020, they’ve dealt with extreme volatility, FII outflows, mutual fund schemes winding down, and modest returns. In this piece, we’ll explore the impact of loan moratoriums, inflation, and monetary transmission on fixed-income investment strategies. Loan Moratoriums & NPA The RBI announced loan moratoriums in March. This temporary measure…
The past few weeks saw a clear trend in sectoral and thematic indices. The specific thematic or sectoral index rose for up to 8 days in a row. This trend was seen in several indices. This clearly indicated that the interest of the broader market was squarely focused on chasing…
India’s marquee financials are raising capital. This new capital is fortifying weakening balance sheets. We don’t know the exact extent of damage to the health of financial books. Inflation is rearing its head even in a shrinking economy. Our first instinct is to infer this inflation spike as an outcome…
In 2013, a new word entered the Oxford English Dictionary – FOMO. The fear of missing out. A compulsion to keep up with peers on purchases, lifestyle, and even investing! We all have that Instagram or Facebook friend whose snaps showcase the life of a carefree adventurous backpacker. All we…
Two distinctly different investment trends are very visible now. Legendary investors like Warren Buffett are moving away from what were their core beliefs. Buying tech and gold mining companies and selling financials indicates a paradigm shift in investment beliefs. Globally, we see paradigms shifting and moving towards a defensive stance where…
Mr Sanjeev, the CTO of a boutique tech firm has been closely watching the market and investment trends since the COVID-19 pandemic began. He had a surplus of Rs 50,00,000 to invest and was hunting for investment opportunities. He noticed that each asset class responded differently to the new economic…
When interest rates are low, the dollar is weak, bond prices are high, stocks are rising and gold is soaring. Investing tends to be perplexing. Making choices becomes tougher with every passing day. The issue becomes complex as asset inflation seems elastic, demand seems persistent, and prices seem infallible. It…