6948 26864 1 PB
6948 26864 1 PB
6948 26864 1 PB
Vol 6 No 4
July 2015
Doi:10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n4p427
Abstract
Purpose: The economic liberalization and globalization have brought a fervent environment for the common and small investors
who are willing to participate in the various investment avenues available in India. There are large number of small investors,
who have the ability to save and make an investment in share market, gold, real estate, insurance and post office. In recent
years, numerous researches have been conducted on investors perception towards various investment from various
perspectives. From a survey on investment literatures of equity, insurance, and mutual fund perspective, there are some
studies based on the investment on various avenues made by researchers. However, the investors perception towards various
investment avenues in Vellore city, Tamil Nadu and India is yet to be explored. This article is therefore timely and fills the gap in
investment avenues literature. Furthermore, by pooling small amounts of money into a single investment value, individual
investors are able to participate in investment strategies that would have otherwise been financially unfeasible. The Indian
investment industry is witnessing a rapid growth as a result of infrastructural development, manufacturing and service sector, in
personal financial assets and rise in foreign participation. With the growing risk appetite, rising income, and increasing
awareness. Mutual funds and shares are becoming a preferred investment vehicles like bank fixed deposits and post office
savings that are considered safe. The present empirical study is an attempt to examine the investors perception towards
various investment avenues in Vellore city, Tamil Nadu, India. Design/Methodology/Approach: Primary data using convenient
sampling through questionnaire and interview method as well as secondary data from wide range of literature from various
journal publications had been utilized. Frequency distribution, percentage analysis, Mann Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis Test
were used to test the objectives of the study. In order to test the reliability of the scale, the researchers applied Cronbachs
Alpha (CFA) to measure the internal consistency of the variables. Findings: The findings of the study on investors perception
towards various investment avenues emphasized that the aged and high income investors prefer to invest only in post office
and bank deposits for safety investment reason. Originality/Value: An Empirical Analysis on Investors perception towards
various investment avenues in Vellore city, Tamil Nadu and India is the original work of the authors.
Keywords: Investors perception, Investment avenues and pattern, decision making, risk factor.
1. Introduction
Financial markets play a vital role in the economic development of a country. They facilitate the allocation of scarce
resources by transferring them from savers to borrowers, thereby accelerating investment activities in the country
(Deepak Chawla, 2014). Traditional finance theory believes on the principle that investors rational and they process all
the available information and take rational decisions. However many researches and studies have proven that investors
depict a irrational behaviour by making systematic errors during decision making process. Behavioural finance is a new
field emerged in the last 25 years that studies how finance is affected by psychology. It combines behavioural and
cognitive psychology theory with conventional economics and finance to provide explanations for peoples behaviour in
financial settings and their economic decisions (Nisha Shankar, 2014).
Many individuals find investments to be fascinating because they can participate in the decision-making process
and see the results of their choices. Not all investments will be profitable, as investor will not always make the correct
investment decisions over the period of years. Investment is not a game but a serious subject that can have a major
impact on investors future wellbeing. Virtually everyone makes investments. Even if the individual does not select
specific assets such as stock, investments are still made through participation in pension plan, and employee savings
programme or through purchase of life insurance, home, gold, silver, bonds, post office savings or real estate. Each of
the investment has common characteristics such as potential return and the risk. The future is uncertain, and one must
determine how much risk you are willing to bear since higher return is associated with accepting more risk (Pandian,
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2011). Based on the above backdrop, an empirical attempt has been made in this paper to study the investors perception
towards various investment avenues in Vellore city, Tamil Nadu and India.
2. Investment Concept
Investment refers to purchase of financial assets. While investment goods are those goods which are used for further
production. Investment is a conscious act of an individual or any entity that involves development of money in securities
or properties issued by any financial institutions with the objective of high returns with in a definite period of time
(Mahendra Kumar Ikkar, 2014).
3. Perception of Women Investors towards Investment Avenues in India
In the words of Pandit Jawaharala Nehru, former Prime Minister of India, When women move forward, the family moves,
the village moves and the nation movies, is the central theme in the socioeconomic paradigm of the nation as it is an
accepted fact that only when women are in the mainstream of progress can any economic and social development be
meaningful. Traditionally, women have great propensity to save and invest in shares, bonds, jewelry, post office, banks
and insurance. The perception and tendency is increasing over the decades on account of womens dynamic role in very
economic activity. Today, a great number of women are career oriented, are employed in jobs, and are earning their
livelihood. Womens attitude towards investment avenues has also been changing, and they are open to make financial
investments that have greater risk (Paramashivaiah, 2014).
4. Literature Review
The review of literature made for this study on perception of investors towards various investment avenues shows that
the major impact is based on decision making of all investors. To justify the need of present study, following literature has
been reviewed.
Sujit and Amrit (1996), stated that the main factor influenced the salaried and business class group to invest in
mutual fund were tax benefit. Agarwal (2001), suggested that the public provident fund is the most beneficial investment
for all group of people (salaried class, self-employment and retired persons) as well as for both tax payer and non-tax
payer. Tapan and Nalini (2002), expressed that investors are very much concerned about the safety and minimum return
for the amount invested in the mutual fund. Factors like tax rebate under section 80 C and past performance of the
company will also be taken into consideration by investor before making investment. Chalam (2003), argued that the
majority of the investor the first choice of investment is real estate and the second preference to the mutual fund schemes
followed by gold and other metals. Singh (2006), analyzed that investment decisions making done by the majority of
investor based on the recommendation done by the professionals and financial advisors. Muttapan (2006), concluded
that the factors influencing to invest in mutual fund are tax exemption. Ranganathan (2006), studied that the retirement
purpose the investors preferred to invest in the pension fund as well as provident fund and they were not preferred to
investment in mutual fund for their future need. Mittal et al, (2007) stated that service class, business class, housewives,
professionals and students are preferred to invest in equity/mutual fund, debenture/bonds, real estate/ bullions, post
office deposits/derivatives and derivatives/equities respectively. IIM Data work (2007) analyzed that there is an
association between education level and financial behavior of the investor. Irrespective of the educational deposits in the
bank is popular among all the investor. Mitta and Vyas (2008), studied that the demographic information such as age,
educational qualification, income and marital status will have significant effect of an investor investment decision. Gupta
and Jain (2008), analyzed the main reservations of the investors towards mutual fund are volatility, price manipulation,
wrong attitude of brokers, mismanagement of corporate executives.
Parihar et al, (2009), pointed out that return followed by liquidity, flexibility, affordability and transparency are the
influential factors to make investment in mutual funds by the investor. Krishnamoorti (2009), pointed out that investor
educational backgrounds, job, reading habit of news relating to investment are closely associated with the investment
decision of investor. Saravana Kumar (2010), in his study the factors influenced the investors to invest in equity shares
are liquidity, low investment and capital appreciation. Lalita Mohan (2010), argued that the various investment channels
should be keeping updated to the investor through print and electronic media. The bank employees believed that
insurance is an investment avenue rather than risk coverage instrument. Sasi Kumar and Vikkaraman (2010), stated in
his article that the investor preferred to invest in gold followed by bank for the safe investment. For the security purpose
the investors are preferred to invest in insurance. Joseph et at, (2011), expressed that the knowledge of the investor
about the investment avenues are low. Pati and Shome (2011), reviewed that the secured avenue of bank deposit
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schemes are preferred by households rather than unsecured avenues of savings even though it gives high return.Alex
Wang (2011), expressed that variables like awareness, income level and skill plays a vital role which influence youngster
to invest in mutual funds. Sarita (2011), found that the irrespective of educational qualification, job, age, income level
investor would like to protect their future by taking an insurance policy. Yogesh and Charuly (2012), analyzed that due to
low returns the conventional investment options like Post Office Saving Schemes, Public Provident Funds are not
preferred by the investors. However, investment on gold is preferred by female investors. Kaushal and Kinjal (2012),
discussed that due to less risk all income group and category of investor prefer to invest in bank deposits as well as post
office deposits. Whereas investment in equity shares, mutual funds, insurance, commodities and real estate are preferred
by higher income group with higher education. Palanivel and Chandrakumar (2013), identified the low and middle income
group of investor and irrespective of them give preference to invest in insurance and bank deposit. Uma Maheswari and
Ashok Kumar (2014), suggested that majority of investors preferred to invest in Fixed deposit with banks followed by
gold, units of UTI, fixed deposit of non-government companies, mutual funds, equity shares and debenture for safety and
liquidity. The above literature shows the important contribution on investors perception towards various investment
avenues. It is also evident from the above literature that majority of the investors prefer fist safety and security for the
investment and secondly they interested to get maximum benefits for their investments. In light of above literature, the
present study attempts to identify the problems on the perception of investors towards investment avenues in Vellore city,
Tamil Nadu.
5. Statement of Problem
The literature cited above does not discuss the investment behaviour/perception of investors in various investment
avenues available in India in the sense that no attempt is made to extract the important underlying factors of investment,
their relative importance and their relationship with demographic variables. Majority of the studies prove contradictory
results of investor perception towards various investment avenues in India. The present work takes care of these
research gap.
6. Research Question
In this study the researchers are seeking to answer the following questions.
Are the investment decision taken by the investors across gender is same?
What are the major factors influencing the investor towards selection of various investment avenues in Vellore city.
7. Objectives of the Study
The following objectives were framed to know the investors perception towards various investment avenues.
1. To understand the effect of demographic factors affecting the choice of investment.
2. To identify the investment decision towards various investment avenues taken by investors across gender.
3. To ascertain the factors influencing the investor towards selection/order of preference of various investment
avenues.
4. To find out the perception of investors relating to safety, liquidity and high returns dimensions.
8. Hypothesis
1. Ho1. There is no significant difference in taking investment decisions towards various investment avenues
across the gender.
2. Ho2. There is no significant difference in the order of preference of various investment avenues across the age
and income level of the respondent.
3. Ho3. There is no significant difference in the perception of investors related to safety, liquidity and high returns.
9. Research Methodology
An empirical study was undertaken by reiewing the literature on the subject. A strucutured questionnaire was framed and
distributed to the respondents through direct interview method and it contains two parts. First part deals with
demographic profile containing open, close ended questions. Second part of the questionnaire contains Likerts scale
questions relating to investors perception towards various investment avenues. Primary data was used to collect the
questionnaire from the target respondents and secondary data was used to collect articles, magazine and reports.
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Convenience sampling technique was used to collect the samples from Vellore city only. A sample of 145 issued
to the respondents of the total population and collected only 121 and finally only 100 samples are taken in to account for
anlaysis and balance 21 was not considered due to incomplete response. IBM SPSS 20 version software was used for
analysis and statistical tools like frequency distribution, percentage analysis, Mann Whitney and Kurshall Wallis test was
used to interpret the data.
10. Test of Normality
The statatistcal tests that can be relied upon for testing the above hypothesis would either be prametric or non-parametric
depending upon the normality of data. In general, parametric tests assume the data is normally distributed while nonparametric test do not go with the underlying assumptions of normality. Accordingly, one way analysis of variane is used
to under parametric category and Kruskal-Wallis and Mann Whitney test is used under non-parametric category. In this
connection, it is necessary to check the data for normality. Null hypothesis assumes that data is normally distributed and
finally the results rejects the null hypothesis. It can be conculded that the calculated value of one way annova is 0.000
which is less than the hypothetical value at 0.05 (Deepak Tandon, 20140). Therefore, the study proceeds with the
application of Mann Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis test to find out if there is any significant association between income,
education with factors influencing investors towards selection of vaious investment avenues.
11. Realiability Testing
The reduced set of 9 items was tested for reliability using Cronbach Alpha. The Cronbach Alpha was 0.782 for the 100
sets of responses. This shows a fair degree of internal onsistency amongst the items.
12. Limitations
Though the present research paper is aimed to achieve the above-mentioned objective in full earnest and accuracy, there
are certain limitations. The time factor was the main limitation for completion of the research, and the study was
conducted targeting the investors in Vellore city only. The primary data has been collected through a structured
questionnaire from a sample of only 100 investors in Vellore city, which may not reflect the opinion of the entire
population. The study period is resticted to six months only i.e., from April 2014 to September 2014.
13. Analysis and Discussion
13.1 Percentage analysis
The data pertaining to demographic profile of the respondents were given in table 1
Table 3. Demographic profile
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13.2 Inference
It is inferred from the above table indicates that 55.1% of the respondents are male and 44.9% of the respondents are
female respectively. The largest group of the respondents (38.8%) are in the age group of 21-30 years whereas 22.4% of
the respondents are in the age group of 31-40 and 26.5% of the respondents are in the age group of 41-50 years. 6.1%
of the respondents are above 60 years. Analysis further shows that 24.5% of the respondents are plus 2, 26.5% of the
respondents are under graduates, 36.7% of the respondents are post graduate and 12.3% of the respondents are
professional. 36.7% of the respondents are working in government sectors and 36.7% of the respondents are working in
private sectors. With regard to annual income 36.7% of the respondents are in the annual income up to 2 lakhs. Majority
(65.3%) of the respondents will take investment decision on their own whereas 34.7% of the respondents will be depend
upon others to take investment decision. The major source (44.9%) of income for investment in various investment
avenues by the investors are from friends and relatives.
13.3 Mann Whitney Test
The data pertaining to investment decision taken by investors across gender.
Table 2. Mann Whitney test
13.4 Inference
It is inferred from the above table that except investment on gold, the calculated value of Mann Whitney test at 5% level
of singnificance on stock market is 0.003, real estate is 0.007, insurance is 0.46, bank savings is 0.016 and post office is
0.032 is less than the hypothetical value at 0.05.
Hence, (Ho1) null hypothesis is not accpted and there is statistical significant association between gender amd
invetors perception towards various investment avenees. It is also very intersting to observe that male perception
towards various investment avenues are more or less equal with female investors.
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Gold
Real estate
Insurance
Bank savings
Post office
Age
21-30 yrs
31 - 40 yrs
41 - 50 yrs
Total
21-30 yrs
31 - 40 yrs
41 - 50 yrs
Total
21-30 yrs
31 - 40 yrs
41 - 50 yrs
Total
21-30 yrs
31 - 40 yrs
41 - 50 yrs
Total
21-30 yrs
31 - 40 yrs
41 - 50 yrs
Total
21-30 yrs
31 - 40 yrs
41 - 50 yrs
Total
Chi-Square
22.987
Asymp. Sig.
.000*
15.213
.000*
4.090
.129
5.268
.072
13.675
.001*
13.702
.001*
Annual Income
Upto 2 lacs
2 - 4 lacs
4 to 6 lacs
Total
Upto 2 lacs
2 - 4 lacs
4 to 6 lacs
Total
Upto 2 lacs
2 - 4 lacs
4 to 6 lacs
Total
Upto 2 lacs
2 - 4 lacs
4 to 6 lacs
Total
Upto 2 lacs
2 - 4 lacs
4 to 6 lacs
Total
Upto 2 lacs
2 - 4 lacs
4 to 6 lacs
Chi-Square
1.548
Asymp. Sig.
.461
3.593
.166
1.949
.377
5.757
.056
.729
.695
8.772
.012*
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Mean
N
Std. Deviation
Mean
N
Std. Deviation
Mean
N
Std. Deviation
Mean
N
Std. Deviation
Mean
N
Std. Deviation
Mean
N
Std. Deviation
Mean
N
Std. Deviation
F value
Sig value
Safety
3.35
108
1.103
3.47
108
1.236
3.35
108
1.260
3.24
108
1.471
3.80
108
1.421
3.78
108
1.320
3.50
647
1.320
3.491
.004
Liquidity
3.04
108
1.251
3.29
108
1.184
3.22
108
1.304
3.08
108
1.071
3.37
108
1.487
3.51
108
1.150
3.25
647
1.254
2.156
.057
High return
3.37
108
1.357
3.49
108
1.220
3.51
108
1.437
3.31
108
1.134
3.51
108
1.220
3.57
108
1.284
3.46
647
1.277
.668
.648
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