WHAT IS EQUITY?

Equity represents ownership in a company acquired through contribution of capital, which is required to set up or run a business. This capital is raised through issue of shares to the public or a group of private persons, where each share represents a proportion of the stake on the assets and profits of the company. These shares are either bought directly from the company through an offer, or traded (bought and sold) on the stock exchanges.

WHY INVEST IN EQUITY?

Despite the risk involved, investment in equities is known to offer investors high returns in the long run. Equities investment not only helps an individual in wealth creation over time, but also builds the nation’s capital in the process. [Read more]

For the investor, equity offers numerous benefits such as:

• Entitlement to company’s profits: The holder of a company’s equity or shares is entitled to a share of profit in the company. This share of profit is received through dividends.
• Profit through value enhancement: A shareholder can also make profits by selling the shares on the stock exchange at a price higher than the purchase price.
• High Returns: Even though equity is a risky asset, returns on investments in equity are known to beat inflation in the long-term, and thus help in wealth creation.
• Tax Benefits: Investment in equities offers several tax benefits. For example, under the recently introduced Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme, investment up to Rs. 50,000/- in the equity of listed companies is tax deductible. Also, the dividend received by an investor through equity shares is exempt in the hands of the investor.

HOW DO I INVEST IN EQUITY?

You can either invest in equity for the long-term, or trade daily with the intention to profit from market fluctuations. The prerequisite is a demat account with a Depository and Trading account with a recognized broker. IIFL offers both the services: of a depository participant as well as a recognized and a well-established broker in India. more

IIFL OFFERING

IIFL is one of the leading players in the equity broking space in India and offers broking services to the retail as well as institutional segments. These services are supported by a strong in-house research team and an excellent customer support system. Trader Terminal, the proprietary trading software of IIFL offers unmatched trading convenience. The trading terminal can be used as a desktop application as well as a browser-based web application.

WHAT ARE MUTUAL FUNDS?

In a mutual fund, money from various investors is pooled together and invested in a portfolio of instruments. A mutual fund may invest only in equities or debt instruments or a mixture of the two, also called balanced funds.

WHY INVEST IN MUTUAL FUNDS?

Mutual funds are ideal for investors who do not like to put all their eggs in one basket. Along with diversification, mutual funds offer the advantages of professional management of funds and low costs. [Read more]

Investment in mutual funds offers the following advantages:

• Diversification of portfolio: Since mutual funds invest in a bouquet of instruments, they offer an effective means of diversification for the investor.
• Professional management: Mutual funds are an excellent means of investment for people who do not have the time or the expertise to study the markets in depth before making investment decisions. The funds are generally managed by well-qualified fund managers, and it is always prudent to check the fund manager’s background before investing in a fund.
• Low cost: A mutual fund unit is much less expensive than the individual stocks in which the fund has invested. Thus, with a given amount of money, an investor can buy more number of units of mutual funds than individual stocks.
• Tax Benefits: Investment in mutual funds offers several tax benefits. For example, dividends received through mutual funds are exempt from tax, while investment in certain types of mutual funds is deductible from the taxable income to reduce the tax liability. Thus, mutual funds can be used as effective tools for tax planning.

HOW DO I INVEST IN MUTUAL FUNDS?

Mutual funds can be bought through a mutual fund distributor or agent. Mutual fund units are also traded on exchanges and can be bought and sold therefrom. IIFL offers both services, acting as a distributor agent for mutual funds, as well as offering broking services for trading in the markets. more

IIFL OFFERING

With a presence in over 700 locations across the country, IIFL is one of the largest distributors of mutual funds in India with a reach across the length and breadth of the country. Further, for investors who wish to buy mutual fund units from the market, we offer a recognized and well-established broking service, with a rich broking experience of more than a decade. Our proprietary trading software, the Trader Terminal, enables you to trade online, with the flexibility of using it either as a desktop application or as a Web application.

WHAT IS COMMODITIES TRADING?

Commodities Trading refers to buying and selling of physical goods and raw materials, excluding money, securities, and actionable claims. These include precious metals like gold and silver, energy products like crude oil, and agricultural commodities such as grains, pulses, spices, and oilseeds. Most of the trading happens through commodity futures contracts, where buyers and sellers agree on a price for a future date.

WHY TRADE IN COMMODITIES?

Commodities are less influenced by stock market fluctuations, making them an excellent tool for portfolio diversification. They also provide opportunities for leverage and liquidity.

Commodities trading offers the following benefits:

• Diversification of Portfolio: Exposure to an asset class different from equities, bonds, or mutual funds.
• Predictability: Prices are largely driven by demand and supply fundamentals, making them easier to analyze.
• Leverage: Futures trading allows large trades with smaller upfront margin requirements.
• Liquidity: Popular commodities like gold, silver, crude oil, and grains offer highly liquid markets.

IIFL OFFERING

IIFL is one of India’s leading players in the broking space, offering services across equities, commodities, currencies, and derivatives. Our edge lies in:

• Strong in-house research team providing actionable insights.
• Dedicated customer support for seamless trading experience.
• Trader Terminal – a proprietary platform available as a desktop application and a browser-based web app.

WHAT IS CURRENCY TRADING?

Currency trading, also known as Forex trading, involves the exchange of global currencies where traders profit from fluctuations in their values. With a daily traded value surpassing equities, the currency market is one of the largest and most liquid financial markets in the world. Earlier restricted to banks and corporations, technology has now made currency trading accessible to retail and individual investors.

WHY TRADE IN CURRENCIES?

The currency market is open 24 hours a day and is relatively resilient to stock market fluctuations. It offers high liquidity, cost efficiency, and significant opportunities for leveraged trades — making it an effective way to diversify and expand your portfolio.

Key advantages of currency trading:

• High Liquidity: Massive daily trading volumes make entering and exiting positions seamless.
• Lower Costs: Minimal spreads and lower brokerage charges reduce transaction costs.
• Leverage: Trade large volumes with smaller margins, maximizing opportunities.
• Round-the-Clock Trading: Open 24 hours, offering flexibility across time zones.

IIFL OFFERING

IIFL is among India’s leading brokerage firms, offering services in equities, commodities, currencies, and derivatives. Our currency trading services are supported by:

• Comprehensive research and expert insights on currency markets.
• Dedicated customer support for smooth execution and assistance.
• Trader Terminal – a powerful proprietary platform with real-time quotes and lightning-fast execution, accessible via desktop and web.

WHAT ARE DERIVATIVES?

A derivative is an instrument which derives its value from an underlying asset. The asset can be equity, a commodity, a currency, or even an index. Derivatives are usually in the form of a contract, where the buyer is obligated to buy or the seller is obligated to sell the underlying asset at a specified price on a specified future date.

WHY INVEST IN DERIVATIVES?

Derivatives have long been used by businesses to hedge against risks, and have been in existence for decades. With well-planned strategies and thorough market study, individual investors and traders can also earn attractive returns through derivatives trading.

Key advantages of investing in derivatives:

• Hedging against risk: Protects against price fluctuations since the buy/sell price is pre-decided in advance.
• Lower Costs: Only the contract value needs to be paid, which is usually much lower than the underlying asset price.
• Leverage: Trade large positions by maintaining margin, requiring less upfront capital.

HOW TO INVEST IN DERIVATIVES?

Derivatives are generally short-term instruments traded on exchanges. Similar to stocks, you need to place orders with your broker, who executes them on your behalf.

IIFL OFFERING

IIFL is one of the leading brokerage players in India, offering services in equities, commodities, currencies, and derivatives. With over 10 years of broking experience, we are backed by in-depth research from our strong in-house research team and robust customer support.

Trader Terminal, IIFL’s proprietary platform, provides seamless derivatives trading via desktop as well as a browser-based web application, with real-time data and fast execution.

WHAT ARE FIXED-INCOME INSTRUMENTS?

As the name suggests, fixed-income instruments provide fixed income to the investor. The payout may be received at fixed, regular intervals or at the end of a specified time period. On maturity of the instrument, the principal is repaid to the investor. Examples of fixed-income instruments are bonds, debentures, fixed deposits, Public Provident Fund, Post Office deposits and so on.

WHY INVEST IN FIXED-INCOME INSTRUMENTS?

Fixed-income instruments have long been used by people in India to park their savings and earn returns through interest rates higher than that offered by a savings account. [Read more]

The benefits offered by fixed-income instruments are:

• Steady income streams: Regular interest payments act as a steady stream of income.
• Low risk: Less risky and ideal for people with low risk appetite.
• Less volatility: Suitable for critical requirements or short time horizons.
• Predictability: Returns are easier to predict as rates and payments are fixed in advance.
• Enhanced savings: Higher interest rates than savings accounts, making them efficient avenues for savings.
• Tax benefits: Investments in PPF, Post Office Deposits, 5-year FDs are tax-exempt up to a limit.

HOW DO I INVEST IN FIXED-INCOME INSTRUMENTS?

Depending on the type of instrument, you can buy them directly from the issuer, or from the capital market. Some instruments such as bonds and debentures are traded on exchanges and can be bought through a broker. For fixed deposits, PPF, and Post Office schemes, you have to approach issuers such as banks or post offices.

IIFL OFFERING

Trader Terminal, the proprietary trading terminal of IIFL, offers the convenience of buying and selling fixed-income instruments online from the market and can be accessed as a desktop application as well as a Web application.

IIFL also offers advice on various products such as pension plans, fixed deposits and so on as a part of its advisory services.

WHAT IS AN IPO?

IPO is a means for the company to get listed on the stock exchange, and allow its shares to be traded on the exchange. When a company offers its equity to the public for the first time, it is called "Initial Public Offering (IPO)". If the company offers its shares to the public, but not for the first time, then it is called a follow-on public offer (FPO).

HOW DO I APPLY TO AN IPO?

One needs to collect the subscription form available at collection centres, syndicate members and bankers to the issue. After filling the form, it is to be submitted to the collection centres or the collecting bankers to the issue. Shares are allotted through bidding process and deposited in the demat account of the investor.

IIFL OFFERING

IIFL offers you a facility to apply to IPOs online through its proprietary trading software, Trader Terminal. This online facility brings the bidding process at your fingertips, enabling you to avoid the hassles of filling forms and thus, minimizing paperwork.

IIFL also provides news and in-depth analysis of the upcoming IPOs, on the Trader Terminal as well as on its website, www.indiainfoline.com.

WHAT IS SME EXCHANGE?

As the name suggests, SME exchange is an exchange where scrips of Small and Medium Enterprises are traded. Recognizing the importance of the contribution of SMEs to the economic growth of India, the platform has been launched recently by the BSE and NSE to tap the potential of the SMEs and attract investors to the sector.

WHY INVEST IN SMEs?

SMEs have been significant contributors to India’s growth story, generating about 45% of India’s manufacturing output and providing employment to about 60 million people. Investment in good companies in the sector will go a long way in delivering value and returns to the investor, and offers an effective means of portfolio diversification.

WHAT IS FINANCIAL PLANNING?

Financial Planning is the process of planning a person's investments and assets to enable the person to attain his or her financial goals, keeping in mind the risk profile of the person.

WHY FINANCIAL PLANNING?

As the GDP of India has been growing, the income and savings rate of the people has also seen an unprecedented growth in recent years. With an expansion in the number and complexity of financial products and plethora of information available at the fingertips due to the advent of technology, it has become increasingly difficult and crucial to pick up the right instruments and develop an appropriate roadmap that will fulfill one’s financial needs and secure the financial future. [Read More]

In today's world of complex financial instruments and abundance of options, financial planning offers numerous benefits, as follows:

• Systematic approach to goal fulfillment: Financial planning enables the person to take a systematic approach to planning his or her finances and takes the person closer to achieving his or her goals.
• Timely action on shortfalls and surpluses: The plans, when reviewed periodically, enable quick reallocation of funds to meet any deficits towards goal fulfillment while any surpluses generated can be gainfully redirected to appropriate investment channels.
• Consideration of risk profile and financial capacity: When planning one’s finances, the risk appetite of the person, along with the financial capacity of the person to tolerate risk needs to be taken into account. Financial Planning process takes these factors into account, and the investments are planned accordingly.
• Market conditions: Financial planning enables the person to make the most of the market conditions and can help him or her turn market situations to his or her advantage.

IIFL OFFERING

We, at IIFL, perfectly understand the unique emotional significance of dreams and aspirations in your life, be it buying your dream house, or sending your children abroad for higher education, or maintaining your desired lifestyle even after retirement.

Our team of best-in-class advisors, backed by a strong in-house research team, works diligently to create a financial plan and investment strategy tailored to fit your needs and preferences, and help you fulfill your cherished dreams and aspirations.

WHAT IS WEALTH MANAGEMENT?

Wealth management encompasses entire gamut of financial advisory services for a person's or a family's financial as well as non-financial assets. The advisor or relationship manager provides services such as financial planning, tax planning and estate planning, along with investment advisory services.

IIFL OFFERING

IIFL offers private wealth advisory services to high-net-worth individuals (HNI) and corporate clients under our award-winning ‘IIFL Private Wealth’ brand.

Through the subsidiary, IIFL Wealth Management Ltd., we manage assets of HNI / UHNI families and corporates as well as multi-advisor family offices across multiple asset classes: equity, fixed income, real estate and commodities.

Advisory services backed by in-depth research, and an excellent personalized service offered by a team of well-qualified professionals with relevant industry experience make IIFL Private Wealth a name to reckon with in the Private Wealth Management space in India.

WHAT IS INVESTMENT BANKING?

Investment Banking encompasses various activities such as helping companies and other entities raise capital, mergers and acquisitions advisory, transaction advisory and so on. Investment banks can be independent financial institutions, or they can be a part of larger banks and financial service companies.

IIFL OFFERING

IIFL's investment banking team consists of well-qualified professionals with rich and varied experience in leading top-notch financial services firms across the world.

The division’s strength lies in equity capital markets, which includes managing IPOs (initial public offerings) and QIPs (Qualified Institutional Placements), but we are also active in the private equity and debt capital space as also in Mergers and Acquisitions.