INVESTMENTS
EPF: Why investing in equity makes sense
What joy do people get in keeping others poor? That should be the question placed before the Central Board of Trustees who, on January 27, rejected the Finance Ministry's proposal to invest 5 per cent of the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) money ... More

NEW FUND OFFER
Update
Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund has announced a 60 per cent (Rs 6 per unit) dividend under the dividend option of Franklin India Bluechip Fund. The record date is February 7. BOB Mutual Fund has announced a dividend in BOB ELSS' ... More

MUTUAL FUNDS
`Volatility can be managed by derivatives'
I believe that derivatives, used judiciously, can really help increase the alpha. Not many have done it because fund managers usually tend to be not so comfortable with derivatives. — MR R. RAJAGOPAL, HEAD-EQ UITIES, DBS CHOLA MUTUAL FUND More

ABN Amro Equity Fund — Banking, pharma, IT tilt
ABN AMRO Equity Fund is an open-ended scheme with the objective of investing in large and medium market capitalisation companies. Over the last quarter, assets under management have grown 33 per cent, including a 17 per cent growth in NAV. The ... More

Fund Talk
I am new to mutual fund investing. I earn Rs 15,000 per month and can invest Rs 7,000-8,000 every month through SIPs in equity funds. Are there any funds offering SIPs? Do you think the newly launched Tata SIP Fund is a good option? I would ... More

STOCKS
CALL-CENTRE
Stock splits not money for jam
If you have been keeping an eye on company announcements looking for buying opportunities, you would surely have noticed the almost instant positive reaction to news of a stock split or bonus. Despite the market's bullish reaction , these ... More

STOCK MARKETS
Positive drivers may boost market further
While sentiment is likely to remain strong through this quarter, mid-summer blues could set in from the beginning of the next fiscal. More

Nifty outlook turns positive
More

`Cheese' has moved to MFs
The India growth story is for real. But the growth bypasses common people. — MR C. J. GEORGE, MD, GEOJIT FINANCIAL SERVICES More

Query corner
I have 100 shares of Reliance Infrastructure at Rs 570.What is the short-term outlook for this company? Mahesh Tripathi Reliance Infrastructure (Rs 546.8): The stock has made a short-term low at Rs 464 from where it is ... More

How to take positions in futures market
Futures contracts are unlimited gain or loss instruments and, hence, risky. Being short-term instruments, they are subject to volatility and one must be aware of the risk-return trade-off before trading in them. More

Reliance
The RIL chart continues to be one of the strongest among the pivotals. The movement of RIL last week closely mimicked the movement witnessed in this stock in the previous week. Our outlook for this stock stays unaltered. The short-term outlook ... More

SBI
It was a free-for-all on the SBI counter last week as both the bulls and bears tried to make the most of the RBI governor's musings. The result was a spinning top on the weekly candle stock chart that denotes indecision. The stock is ... More

Tata Steel
All eyes were riveted on Tata Steel last week as the stock went into a tail-spin on Wednesday. The net loss for the week was 9 per cent. The false breakout seen on Monday followed by Wednesday's fall has made a bearish engulfing candle on the ... More

Positive bias in Infosys
It was the third week that this stock has spent in a somnolent state. While the short-term trend was indecisive at the end of the previous week, it is beginning to take a positive bias now. The oscillators in the daily chart underline this ... More

ACC
ACC remained frozen in the narrow band between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,050 last week. The stock is poised at the halfway mark of the short-term rally from the low formed on December 12, 2006. A sharp movement is possible in either direction. A move up ... More

Money-Talk
Mr V. Mahadevan, CEO of Wealth Advisors India, is a seasoned hand in the financial services industry. Wealth Advisors, promoted by him, is today among the leading distributors of financial productswith assets under advice of over Rs 250 crore. ... More

ONGC
ONGC was also struck by the strange malaise that paralysed most of the pivotals last week. The movement since the June 2006 lows is charting a double three, two flats separated by a `x' wave. As mentioned last week, the move from June lows can ... More

Investment Nuggets
In the course of a remarkable professional career in investment management, Peter Bernstein has worn several hats. After starting his career as an economics professor, he became the Chief Executive of an investment counsel firm, managing billions ... More

Trader's Corner
"Never forget your stop loss" is a refrain that all the traders hear right from day one. But it is like one of the lessons that one learns in kindergarten about not keeping your elbow on the table and not talking while eating. Everyone knows it ... More

Tech Tools
It is observed that when a company declares bonus shares, the stock price falls by 50 per cent or more on ex-bonus date from the last trading and then starts rising. In this backdrop, is it advisable to enter Sundaram Fasteners and Dabur at ... More

Chart Focus
We recommend a buy in Haldyn Glass Gujarat at current levels. The stock has had a gritty rise from the low of Rs 30 made in July 2006. The dark cloud cover made in December 2006 was negated by the strong green candle seen in January 2007. The ... More

REGULATORY BODIES & RULINGS
Self-listing: SEBI looking at `conflict of interests'
BSE proposal for public issue and listing of its shares More

RECOMMENDATION
Greaves Cotton: Buy
The Greaves Cotton (GC) stock offers a dual play on the automotive and infrastructure equipment sectors. Strong numbers, focussed capex plans, robust demand in the user segments - light commercial vehicles and the infrastructure sector, are ... More

Indian Bank: Invest at cut-off
Indian Bank's comfortable capital adequacy, fair pricing of the offer and strong brand value make it an option worth considering. More

Euro Ceramics: Invest at cut-off
Given the current real-estate boom, Euro Ceramics is likely to witness robust demand for its product over the next couple of years. More

HDFC Tax Saver: Invest
HDFC Tax Saver is a good option for investors seeking to build a long-term equity portfolio. From its launch in 1996 the fund has generated a return of 40 per cent on a compounded annualised basis. Its consistent performance across different ... More

Vijayeswari Textiles: Avoid
VTL's focus on the lucrative home-textiles segment is a positive. But earnings growth may fail to keep pace with revenue growth in the medium term. More

Birla Frontline Equity Fund: Invest
Birla Frontline Equity has remained focused on large-cap stocks through varying market conditions. More

SMS Pharma: Invest at cut-off
A valuation level that is not too demanding, reasonably good operating metrics and the growing potential in the contract manufacturing space make the offer worth exploring. More

C&C Constructions: Invest at cut-off
Dependence on Afghanistan, packed with political and economic uncertainties, adds risk to the company's business profile. More

OUTLOOK
Index Outlook
Tata Steel's acquisition of Corus was an occasion that warranted a hearty cheer by the stock markets manifested through sky-rocketing stock prices. But they, for once, decided to take a pragmatic approach and pummelled the Tata Steel stock ... More

Market View
With emerging markets such as India registering blockbuster returns for an unprecedented fourth year in a row, many investors are sceptical of the good times continuing to roll in 2007. The sharp correction in the market during the ... More