The Consumer Protection Act, 1986

The consumer protection Act, 1986 is a milestone in the history of socio-economic legislation in the country. It is one of the most progressive and comprehensive pieces of legislations enacted for the protection of consumers. It was enacted after in-depth study of consumer protection laws in a number of countries and in consultation with representatives of consumers, trade and industry and extensive discussions within the Government. The main objective of the act is to provide for the better protection of consumers. Unlike existing laws, which are punitive or preventive in nature, the provisions of this Act are compensatory in nature. The act is intended to provide simple, speedy and inexpensive redressal to the consumers’ grievances, and relief’s of a specific nature and award of compensation wherever appropriate to the consumer. The act has been amended in 1993 both to extend its coverage and scope and to enhance the powers of Continue reading

International Bonds

International bonds are a debt instrument. They are issued by international agencies,  governments and companies for borrowing foreign currency for a specified period of time.  The issuer pays interest to the creditor and makes repayment of capital. There are different  types of such bonds. The procedure of issue is very specific. All these need some explanation  here. Types of International Bonds 1. Foreign Bonds and Euro Bonds International bonds are classified as foreign bonds and Euro bonds. There is a  difference between the two, primarily on four counts. First, in the case of foreign bond, the  issuer selects a foreign financial market where the bonds are issued in the currency of that  very country. If an Indian company issues bond in New York and the bond is denominated in  a currency other than the currency of the country where the bonds are issued. If the Indian  company’s bond is denominated Continue reading

Factors Determining Spot Exchange Rates in Forex Markets

It is the interplay of the forces of demand and supply that determines the exchange rate between two currencies in a floating rate regime. The exchange rate between, say, the rupee and US dollar depends upon the demand for US dollars and the supply of US dollars in the Indian foreign exchange market. The demand for foreign currency comes from individuals and firms who have to make payments to foreigners in foreign currency mostly on account of the import of goods and services and purchase of securities. The supply of foreign exchange results from the receipt of foreign currency normally on account of export or sale of financial securities to foreigners. Important Factors Determining Spot Exchange Rates 1. Balance of Payments: Balance of Payments represents the demand for and supply of foreign exchange which ultimately determine the value of the currency. Exports, both visible and invisible, represent the supply side Continue reading

A Holistic Approach to Technology Management

Management of technology links engineering, science, and management disciplines to address the planning, development, and implementation of technological capabilities to shape and accomplish the strategic and operational objectives of an organization. Refer to the definition of technology management, it requires collaboration of the R&D, manufacturing, service and operation function, marketing, finance, and HR function in the company. Thus a holistic approach needs to be taken to manage technology in the company. It will be divided to several reasons to explain in below paragraph and what are the benefits. Firstly, technology management involves multi-functions within the organization. In a company, not only engineering department or R&D department is responsible for technology management, all the functions within the organization are more or less related to technology. Thus technology management requires a system of integration within the organization. For example, the product development and design process has been considered as a traditional technical Continue reading

Transaction Processing Systems

The main information systems used for operational support in a business are transaction processing systems. This type of system processes data about transactions, which are events that have occurred that affect the business, such as the sale or purchase of goods. A transaction processing system has 3 main purposes: keep records about the state of an organization, process transactions that affect these records, and produce outputs that report on transactions that have occurred. For example, an inventory control system tracks records about inventory, processes sales and purchases of inventory, and produces reports about the amount and value of items on hand, on order, etc. Transaction processing systems exist in all areas of an organization, and in all types of organizations. TPSs can be used by employees (order entry) or customers (bank ATMs). They can use various types of hardware, software, and networks. TPSs use stored data in both files and Continue reading

Foreign Exchange Risk or FOREX Risk

Foreign Exchange dealing is a business that one get involved in, primarily to obtain protection against adverse rate movements on their core international business. Foreign Exchange dealing is essentially a risk-reward business where profit potential is substantial but it is extremely risky too. Foreign exchange business has the certain peculiarities that make it a very risky business. These would include: Forex deals are across country borders and therefore, often foreign currency prices are subject to controls and restrictions imposed by foreign authorities. Needless to say, these controls and restrictions are invariably dictated by their own domestic factors and economy. Forex deals involve two currencies and therefore, rates are influenced by domestic as well as international factors. The Forex market is a 24-hour global market and overseas developments can affect rates significantly. The Forex market has great depth and numerous players shifting vast sums of money. Forex rates therefore, can move Continue reading