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It is that time of the year we update the historical returns of the major indices, particularly BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty.  This was a huge year for Indian Stock Markets, as they hit life-time highs due to favorable results from General Elections 2014, followed by huge FII inflows into the markets. During the year the index hit an all-time high of  28822, while the Nifty hit 8626. The following table shows S&P BSE Sensex historical data - start  & close values and the yearly returns of the sensex from 2000 to 2014.



As far as the other major  indices are concerned, CnxIT gained about 18%, whereas the BankNifty gave huge returns gaining about 64% and the Cnx Midcap index gained about 55%. Despite the Sensex gaining 30% for the year there were many stocks which have lost 90% and some stocks gaining about 500-600%, many of them from mid-cap space.

Despite markets hitting all time highs only a few stocks made all-time highs or the highs which were made in 2008 bull run,  while most of them are still languishing well below their historical highs.
The message for retail investors is clear - index investing is better than individual stocks.  Unless the investor has an extraordinary stock picking skills, the Retail investors can achieve above-average returns by investing in index through Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) like Nifty Bees or Top mutual funds, which have given consistent returns over longer periods of time.

Be a wise investor !

Financial planning can be both easy and incredibly complex. But if you focus on the basics, you can get a big jump on saving for the future. Just follow these three tips and you are building a solid foundation.

Start investing early: The longer you wait, the more you lose. You have time on your side today, this benefit won’t last forever. If you don’t have any savings, start now. All you need to do is cut down on your savings by just Rs 1,000/month and invest that amount in an equity mutual fund.  Let's say you invest Rs 1,000/month in a systematic investment plan ( SIP ) for 10 years in an equity fund that returns 12% pa., the end result is amazing and you would be patting yourself on the back.
Check out how well SIPs in mutual funds have performed over many years - Mutual Fund SIP



Get medically insured: Numerous illnesses and accidents are pretty much age agnostic. So don’t live under the deluded notion that you do not need medical insurance. Should you need it and not have it, you will watch your savings rapidly disintegrate. Granted, you may have a medical insurance provided by your employer. But what if you quit your job or get handed the pink slip and between jobs you fall ill or meet with an accident? What if you decide to become a consultant and the employers no longer provide medical insurance? Get a medical cover. The younger you are, the lesser your premium so you won’t even feel the pinch. Not to mention the tax benefit.

Avoid credit card debt: When you use your credit card, you pay for an item with money that is not yours. So basically you enjoy life on borrowed money.  It starts off as a convenience, more of a stop-gap arrangement. You pay just the bare minimum amount and walk scot free. But as you well know, or will soon learn, there is no free lunch. Remember this.  This instant gratification can put you on a slippery slope. If you have started revolving credit, which means that you could not afford to pay your monthly bill, then the only way out of this ditch is to stop using your card till your debt is cleared.

Saving money doesn’t have to require drastic steps. Instead, small, simple methods can make a big difference for your bottom line.
Be a smart investor !