Shivam Saklani

Some business stories feel almost too dramatic to be real. A tiny workshop that grows into one of the biggest names in Indian gold, a stock that touches ₹1,000-plus, and then, decades later, a regulator's order that wipes out most of its value in a matter of days. That's the story of Rajesh Exports Limited. Before we get into it, one important note: everything below about the alleged fraud comes from SEBI's interim order , which is not a final verdict. Rajesh Exports and its founder, Rajesh Mehta, have denied the allegations and say they will contest them. Keep that in mind as you read — this is a story that's still being written. Chapter 1: The Rise It started small. In 1989, brothers Rajesh Mehta and Prashant Mehta, from a middle-class Jain family with no big business connections, set up a 10-person jewellery manufacturing unit in a Bangalore garage. No shortcuts, just hard work. Within a year they'd opened their first retail outlet, and by 1995 the busi...

The collapse of Enron in 2001 remains one of the darkest and most fascinating chapters in corporate history. Often referred to as "The Smartest Guys in the Room," Enron's executives built a towering empire not on solid business fundamentals, but on a foundation of greed, aggressive accounting loopholes, and catastrophic auditor complicity. For finance professionals, investors, and auditors alike, Enron is the ultimate cautionary tale of what happens when ethics are sacrificed for stock prices. To truly understand how a $100 billion company went bankrupt in a matter of months, we have to look under the hood of their business model, their accounting magic, and the institutional failures that allowed it to happen. The Business Evolution: From Pipelines to a "Trading Bank" Founded in 1985 by Kenneth Lay, Enron started as a traditional, asset-heavy natural gas pipeline company. However, the true transformation began when Lay hired Jeffrey Skilling, a brilliant former...

Tata Steel Ltd has recently taken a series of important steps that signal a clear shift in its long-term strategy. On the surface, these actions—mergers, capital infusion, and restructuring—may look like routine corporate decisions. However, if we look closely, they reveal a well-thought-out plan to secure the company’s future. The overall approach is simple to understand: strengthen the strong parts of the business, and fix the weak ones. For Tata Steel, this means focusing on India as its core growth engine while working on turning around its European operations. India Remains the Core Strength India continues to be the most reliable and profitable part of Tata Steel’s business. The company enjoys better margins here due to lower costs, strong demand, and better control over operations. Because of this, Tata Steel is now taking steps to make its India business even stronger. A key move in this direction is the merger with Neelachal Ispat Nigam Ltd (NINL). This merger is not just abou...

  In the world of financial analysis, the journey doesn't end with understanding current ratios, ROEs, and debt levels. Those are the basics. In our previous blogs, we explored the basic and intermediate methods used to assess a company's financial health. We discussed liquidity ratios, solvency ratios, profitability indicators, and efficiency measures. However, as investors become more sophisticated and the market more dynamic, relying solely on these traditional methods may not provide the full picture. Enter the advanced metrics. Advanced financial analysis provides a deeper, more forward-looking understanding of a company’s health. These metrics don’t just look at historical data; they incorporate expectations, market perceptions, and the actual economic value a business is creating or destroying. In short, they help us see what’s behind the curtain. These tools are especially important for investors, analysts, and financial professionals who need a clear picture of a compa...

Entering the workforce as a young professional is a milestone in anyone's life. Along with the excitement of starting your career, comes the responsibility of managing your finances effectively. If you're a young professional looking to secure your financial future, it’s essential to start building strong habits now, so you’re not scrambling when bigger financial goals come your way. Here are some personal finance tips for young professionals that will help you make smart financial decisions and set you up for long-term success. 1. Create a Budget: Know Where Your Money Goes One of the most basic yet powerful financial habits is creating and sticking to a budget. A budget helps you understand exactly where your money is going, how much you’re saving, and where you can cut costs to achieve your financial goals. Tip: Start by tracking all your income and expenses for a month. Use budgeting apps like Mint or YNAB (You Need a Budget) to categorize your spending. 50% of your in...

In the landscape of wealth creation, diversification remains a fundamental principle of prudent investing. Among the various asset classes available,   gold has historically played a critical role as a long-term wealth preservation tool .   While modern investors are often drawn to equities, mutual funds, and real estate, gold continues to hold its ground as a strategic component in a well-balanced portfolio. Here’s a detailed look at why adding gold to your long-term investment portfolio makes sense: 1. Hedge Against Inflation Gold has consistently been regarded as an effective  hedge against inflation . When the purchasing power of fiat currency declines, the value of gold tends to rise. Historical data shows that during periods of high inflation, gold prices often increase, helping investors protect the real value of their capital. 2. Portfolio Diversification Gold has a  low to negative correlation  with most other asset classes, such as equities and bonds. ...