In the current volatile economic environment, consumers are shifting their money from higher-risk investment accounts into more conservative savings and non-interest checking accounts, according to the quarterly Market Audit from Nielsen Claritas. Based on findings in the 4th quarter of 2008, the Market Audit, a comprehensive assessment of the financial products being used, the opportunity exists for financial institutions to attract new customers and retain existing ones by offering low-risk accounts such as fixed interest savings accounts, variable interest money market accounts and CDs, together with non-interest checking accounts. Although …

Just one in seven people with savings in India are aware of mutual fund investment opportunities, Livemint.com (India) reported Tuesday.
Mutual funds are most popular in urban areas, as well as in northern India and in well-developed western states like Gujarat and Maharashtra, according to Kalyan Karmakar, Associate Director, Customized Research, Nielsen. 
Meanwhile, investors in the eastern and the southern regions of the country still focus on land and gold, Karmakar noted.
“There is a huge portion of India which is yet to participate and be a part of the mutual fund bandwagon,” he told Livemint.
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