@finshots's Threads
A decision that changed gaming history
In 1995, DMA Design developed a video game called Race 'n' Chase. The concept was simple - You play as a cop, chase law-breakers and catch the bad guys. (1/5)
In 1995, DMA Design developed a video game called Race 'n' Chase. The concept was simple - You play as a cop, chase law-breakers and catch the bad guys. (1/5)
However, being a cop also meant you had to abide by traffic rules and evade pedestrians milling around the streets. This proved to be a frustrating obstacle since it was impossible to drive fast without knocking them over. (2/5)
And you were routinely penalized if you did not conform to this silly objective. The game was simply no fun & it was on the verge of being cancelled.
But then the developers had an epiphany-What if they flipped the game over completely, instead of trying to fix the issues? (3/5)
But then the developers had an epiphany-What if they flipped the game over completely, instead of trying to fix the issues? (3/5)
Reposting this from our archives- A thread on "How Nestlé turned a whole country into coffee lovers?"
Back in the 70s, #Nestlé started selling instant coffee in Japan. However, they didn't make much headway because the Japanese loved Tea. (1/5)
Back in the 70s, #Nestlé started selling instant coffee in Japan. However, they didn't make much headway because the Japanese loved Tea. (1/5)
It was the first thing they drank in the morning and most people thought it was a gateway to eternal youth. So considering the Japanese were this sticky to tea how do you get them to switch to coffee?
Nestle hired a child psychologist Clotaire Repaille to map out a strategy(2/5)
Nestle hired a child psychologist Clotaire Repaille to map out a strategy(2/5)
His assessment was simple- The Japanese had no understanding of coffee as a beverage. There was no emotional attachment to it. He figured the best way to go to market was by creating this emotional imprint first.
And so he suggested introducing coffee through desserts. (3/5)
And so he suggested introducing coffee through desserts. (3/5)
THREAD
If you've still not read our simplified stories on agri reforms let us explain why this is such a huge deal. Like absolutely massive!!!!
Read on...
If you've still not read our simplified stories on agri reforms let us explain why this is such a huge deal. Like absolutely massive!!!!
Read on...
1. Until now farmers in most states were mandated to sell their produce in designated market areas or mandis. They couldn't sell it outside.
At the mandi the farmers could auction their produce and sell to the highest bidder. It was supposed to be a fair & transparent process.
At the mandi the farmers could auction their produce and sell to the highest bidder. It was supposed to be a fair & transparent process.
2. But it's not. Traders often collude, conspire and act together to bid low. So effectively farmers are limited to selling in mandis where they get one quote from a group of traders who are acting in unison. Imagine being a farmer and having access to only one buyer. Its bonkers
Throwback to a presentation we did in collaboration with NSE. The topic - A spiritual Guide to Investing, Lessons from the Bhagavad Gita. Thought some of our readers at finshots might find it useful :) 
The verse listed below in Sanskrit corresponds to the first verse in the poem as Dhritarashtra asks Sanjaya to describe what's happening in Kurukshetra. Thought it fitting to begin the presentation with an ode to the first verse in the Gita
The 6 demonic traits described in the Gita aptly captures all that propels the average investors into the pits of agony
Here's a list of things that happened when a big bank was allowed to fail back in 1960 (Palai Central Bank)
1. A run on the bank.
Without a withdrawal limit in place, depositors rushed to withdraw their savings once they figured the bank was in trouble
1. A run on the bank.
Without a withdrawal limit in place, depositors rushed to withdraw their savings once they figured the bank was in trouble
2. The ensuing panic spreads to other banks as well.
3. RBI was castigated in the press, parliament and in the streets for not doing enough
A Retelling of the #yesbankcrisis in tweets
The year is 2003. RBI issues a new banking license & Yes Bank is born. Meanwhile, Ashok Kapur & Rana Kapoor take charge. The former, calm & Composed. The latter Brash & Aggressive. The Yin & the Yang. They make perfect partners
The year is 2003. RBI issues a new banking license & Yes Bank is born. Meanwhile, Ashok Kapur & Rana Kapoor take charge. The former, calm & Composed. The latter Brash & Aggressive. The Yin & the Yang. They make perfect partners
Tragedy strikes
Ashok Kapur passes away in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. Rana Kapoor tries to consolidate power. Ashok Kapur's wife stages a boardroom battle. Rana Kapoor refuses to relent. He eventually comes out on top
Ashok Kapur passes away in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. Rana Kapoor tries to consolidate power. Ashok Kapur's wife stages a boardroom battle. Rana Kapoor refuses to relent. He eventually comes out on top
The Rana Kapoor Era Begins
Aggressive growth is the mantra. The bank tries to find as many corporates who are desperate for a loan and makes them pay top dollar each time they borrow.
More loans, more fee, more interest, more everything. Life's great
Aggressive growth is the mantra. The bank tries to find as many corporates who are desperate for a loan and makes them pay top dollar each time they borrow.
More loans, more fee, more interest, more everything. Life's great
One tweet summaries of some of the more popular books on investing
1. A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The movement of a stock price resembles the walk of a drunkard and a blindfolded monkey can do a better job at picking stocks than your portfolio manager
1. A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The movement of a stock price resembles the walk of a drunkard and a blindfolded monkey can do a better job at picking stocks than your portfolio manager
2. Intelligent Investor: When companies have hidden potential tucked away deep inside and people fail to notice, it's your time to shine. Buy these bad boys and stay invested for a long time. You'll be rich. Very very rich.
3. One up on wall street: Pay attention to the chicken soup you eat. Pay attention to that diaper brand your baby uses. Pay attention to the telemarketing company with a virtual monopoly. It's when you pay attention to the less glamorous stuff do you get one up on wall street
There's been a lot of talk about our story today on the Real Estate bailout. So we want to set the record straight. The bailout isn't something that happened on the fly. Many people saw this coming a long while back. So here's a thread on the real folks that got this one spot on.
Back in July 2015, Ambit Capital published an extensive report on the unravelling of the Real Estate Industry. They wrote- "Prices had already moderated given that lending to residential real estate was drying up and developers were scurrying to sell off their unsold inventory"
Unfortunately for Ambit, as banks stopped lending to the industry. NBFCs took over. The problems plaguing the industry never went away. Instead, they simply resorted to more borrowing to survive on life support. Ambit got castigated for getting this wrong.
Many people have ascribed many reasons for the Auto Slowdown. But we wanted to see what the industry body was saying before all the publicity. So we compiled a thread on how the narrative around the slowdown has shifted since July 2018. From optimism to panic. Read on...
11 July 2018
After posting strong sales number for June, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) had this to say
"The growth momentum is likely to stay robust...especially due to the surging demand for new models...and bountiful rains that improve farmers income"
After posting strong sales number for June, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) had this to say
"The growth momentum is likely to stay robust...especially due to the surging demand for new models...and bountiful rains that improve farmers income"
11 Aug 2018
Car sales dip in July
"Last year in July, PV (Passenger Vehicles) sales had shot up due to GST rollout. So, despite this drop in sales last month we are satisfied with the situation as we believe that the industry segments are on a growth path"- SIAM
Car sales dip in July
"Last year in July, PV (Passenger Vehicles) sales had shot up due to GST rollout. So, despite this drop in sales last month we are satisfied with the situation as we believe that the industry segments are on a growth path"- SIAM
So despite the successful deployment of the Chandrayaan 2 Orbiter, there are still a few people going- “Why are we spending money on space research when we have so many problems back home?” Well, if you want to find out why, keep reading this thread (1/9) #Chandrayan2
For one, India spends less than 0.07% of its total GDP on Space Exploration. I mean we spend 7 times as much on Fertilizer Subsidy. Also, it’s not like all this money goes into some sort of a black hole never to see the light of day again. (2/9)
ISRO, through its commercial arm Antrix, made close to a Billion dollars in revenues over the last 3 years. And the expenditure is trivial compared to the overwhelming benefits that accrue from pushing the frontiers of science. (3/9)
So McKinsey just released a report titled - Is Asia heading
toward a debt crisis?. And here's a tweet thread simplifying some of the most important points
toward a debt crisis?. And here's a tweet thread simplifying some of the most important points
Households & Governments across Asia Pacific have been borrowing a lot lately. Meaning we've seen a huge rise in Debt to GDP in countries like Singapore and China. India's situation is also bad, but not as bad because households in India don't borrow to spend
That's where the good news ends. One look at Indian corporates and you know its bad. As of 2017, 43% of all long term loans issues to corporates were held by companies that barely made enough profits to service their interest (Interest Coverage<1.5). #Stressed
