Accountancy
A look at the beta
WHILE ANALYSING stock prices, two types of volatility can be noticed. The first is as a result of company-related factors -- projects not going through as expected, limits to growth potential, competition from within and outside the country, and changes
in the management and financing patterns; these are usually industry-specific and technically called ``unsystematic risk''. Portfolio theory says that by adding other scrips that have a different element of risk, the combined unsystematic risk can be red
uced.
Book Review
Lawyering skills
A PRACTICAL guide to lawyering skills, by Fiona Boyle and others, has interesting statements such as:
Information Technology
Make space for NASA way
Steve McConnell on NASA's dos and don'ts for software success
Management
Milestones in financial management -- II
IN THE 1980s came junk bonds. These have a higher risk of default than investment grade securities. They came on the logic that they have a substantially higher rate of return than other bonds. If a large number of these are held, even though some defaul
t, the overall rate of return may be higher than that gained with investment grade bonds. The economic effect of this growing source of funds is turning out to be beneficial, as ambitious and innovative projects, which would not have been funded earlier,
are being undertaken.
Miscellaneous
Before it lands on the editor's desk
THERE are always new writers starting up, needing to know how to submit their work to editors. What follows is a set of ten-point checklists -- one on writing style, and one each for the content of features and of short stories. Work through the relevant
lists before despatch: they should help improve the likelihood of your achieving publication.
Taxation
On the high seas
IN THE context of taxation, I often come across the term `high seas sale' being bandied about. What is it all about? Is it a tax avoidance technique? -- Joseph Victor, NOIDA
