Alternative forms of investment

1. Non-marketable financial assets 

• bank deposits 
• post office deposits
• company deposits
• provident fund deposits 

2. Equity shares 

• blue chip shares 
• growth shares 
• income shares
• cyclical shares
• speculative shares 

 3. Bonds

• Government securities
• Government of India relief bonds
• Government agency securities
• PSU bonds
• Debentures of private sector companies
• Preference shares  

4. Money market instruments

• Treasury bills
• Commercial paper
• Certificates of deposit 

5. Mutual funds

• Equity schemes
• Debt schemes
• Balanced schemes

6. Life insurance

• Endowment assurance policy
• Money life policy
• Whole life policy
• Term assurance policy

7. Real estate

• Agricultural land
• Semi-urban land
• Time share in a holiday resort

8. Precious objects

• Gold and silver
• Precious stones
• Art objects

9. Financial derivatives

• Options
• Futures