The Hindu Business Line : Sunday, May 08, 2005

Mop up gains as stocks split
IN 2000, the concept of a `stock-split' — where a company sub-divides the number of shares into several multiples thereof — was not still new to the Indian market. The measure, which brings down the unit ... More

Basell Polyolefins acquisition by TCG
Window of opportunity for Haldia Petrochem
AMERICA'S Iran policy may be a stumbling block to progress of the Iran-India gas pipeline project but it has proved to be a catalyst for the largest corporate acquisition ever by an entity with an Indian connection. ... More

FIIs: A penchant for large-caps
BILLIONS of dollars have poured into Indian stocks from foreign institutional investors (FIIs). Unerringly, these have found their way into the larger of the large-cap stocks. Whatever may be the reason behind this ... More

MUTUAL FUNDS

HDFC Capital Builder Fund: Invest
INVESTORS who would like to buy a fund with a strong mid-cap focus and are comfortable with an above-average risk profile, may consider investing in the HDFC Capital Builder Fund through the systematic investment route. ... More

SPOTLIGHT
PruICICI Growth Plan: Switch
INVESTORS in PruICICI Growth Plan can consider cutting their exposures to the fund. The fund performance over the past one, three and five years has not been impressive, under performing its peers by a sizeable margin. ... More

FUND TALK
Weak case for index funds
What are your views on having index funds like UTI Master Index and LIC Sensex Advantage plan in a portfolio? What percentage of the portfolio should these index funds be? Ankush Malhotra We hold the view that actively managed equity ... More

LIC MF launches P/E ratio fund

Birla Mutual has appointed CAMS as their registrar and transfer agent. Investors are requested to send all future communication to Computer Age Management Services, Unit: Birla Mutual Fund, A&B, Lakshmi Bhawan, 609, Anna Salai, Chennai 600 . More

STOCKS

Maruti Udyog: Buy
INVESTORS with a medium-term perspective can consider adding Maruti Udyog (MUL) to their portfolio of stocks. Despite the spurt in price during the last few sessions, the stock continues to exhibit potential for returns in the medium term. At ... More

Container Corporation: Buy
AN INVESTMENT can be considered in the stock of Container Corporation of India (Concor) with a one/two-year perspective, as there appears room for steady gains. Any weakness linked to the broad market can be used to accumulate the stock. The ... More

i-flex solutions: Hold
INVESTORS can consider retaining their exposure in the i-flex solutions stock at the current price levels. The stock trades at a price-earnings multiple of 21.5 times its diluted per share earnings of Rs 30.2 for 2004-05. Following a robust ... More

P&G Hygiene and Healthcare: Hold
PROFIT growth at P&G Hygiene and Healthcare has been lacklustre over the past couple of quarters, as price cuts on its brands and a lower profit margin on contract manufacturing have taken a toll. The March quarter numbers, however, suggest ... More

Tata Steel: Buy
THE stock price of Tata Steel has fallen by over 20 per cent during the last six weeks. Investors can take advantage of the slide to either enter the stock or take additional exposure at the current price-level of Rs 353 for potential medium-term ... More

Sun Pharma: Buy
FRESH exposure can be considered in the Sun Pharma stock, which now trades at Rs 495. Though it has run up by over 50 per cent since our earlier `buy' recommendation, we continue to be confident about the company's ... More

Harrisons Malayalam: Buy
AN INVESTMENT can be considered in the Harrisons Malayalam stock, which quotes at about 10 times its 2004-05 earnings adjusted for extraordinary items. Rubber prices are ruling high, on robust demand from the tyre ... More

TAXATION

Capital concern
IF shares are purchased before October 1, 2004, which is the date on which securities transaction tax came into force, and are sold after this date, will the gain be exempt if it is a long-term gain? If the taxable income is more than Rs ... More

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

Bullish trend in the near term
Preferred view: Contrary to the expectations of a bearish trend, a distinctly positive sentiment prevailed last week. There were a couple of key developments that indicated that the earlier bearish view was losing validity. The ... More

Weakness seen in Tata Power
Tata Power (Rs 357.3): The stock managed to hold above the crucial bearish trigger level of Rs 334. It, however, ran out of steam on moving past the resistance zone at Rs 348-350. Despite the bullish market sentiment, the stock ruled weak ... More

Focus of the week
Finolex Industries (Rs 79.2): The stock was stuck in a trading range in the recent weeks. A perceptible contraction in volatility is evident from the intertwining of the short-, medium- and long-term moving averages. Typically, such a ... More

Query corner

CARS

Hyundai Tucson: Compact, but capable crossover
IN THE world of crossovers, diesels are a rarity. Crossovers are vehicles that merge the luxury, comfort, compact proportions and fuel efficiency of sedans with the handling, build and feel of a sport utility vehicle (SUV). In the SUV-crazed US ... More

Drive right to gain fuel mileage
I purchased a second-hand Maruti Esteem three weeks ago at Bangalore. The car has been well maintained, but the car's fuel efficiency seems to have come down. This is my first car and the initial round of fuel filling and usage seems to ... More

TWO/THREE WHEELERS

Bike-makers line up upgrades
AFTER offering cheaper variants of upgraded bikes in the 100cc+ bike segment, the latest trend amongst the top four two-wheeler manufacturers seems to be to offer upgraded versions of the cheaper, entry-level 100cc bikes. The Indian bike buyer ... More

LIFE INSURANCE

ICICI Pru InvestShield Life
IT all started off with the launch of unit-linked insurance plans that attracted a horde of investors who sought returns linked to the market. Such plans have since evolved and variants of these plans are gradually emerging. Plans that ... More

DERIVATIVES MARKETS

Options guide

GOVT BONDS

A when-issued market
IN THE recent Credit Policy, the RBI Governor suggested that the central bank might introduce a "when-issued" market in consultation with the government. What is a when-issued market? Suppose the RBI is planning to sell 10-year government ... More

FIXED DEPOSITS

FD options
KCP Sugar and Industries: Investors willing to assume a degree of risk can consider subscribing to the two-year fixed deposit programme from KCP Sugar and Industries Corporation. Longer tenures can be avoided in the light of the fluid ... More

INTERVIEW

`The view for a year is still attractive' — Mr P. V. K. Mohan, Portfolio Manager, Portfolio Management Services, DSP ML Fund Managers
We would like to play on opportunities that are India-oriented and on sectors that can capitalise on the boom in the domestic economy. More

INCOME TAX

Do I get tax benefit on a home loan during construction?
I propose to purchase a flat. The possession of the flat will be handed over to me only in April 2007. If I were to take a loan for purchase of the flat, can I get any tax benefit in respect of the EMI paid during the construction period? V. ... More

INVESTMENT QUOTIENT

Investment quiz

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Trading in dematerialised securities
How to trade in demat mode? What is the procedure for selling dematerialised securities? The procedure for selling dematerialised securities is very simple. After you have sold the securities, you would instruct your Depository ... More

COURTS/LEGAL ISSUES

LAW LANE
Cab is taxi
WHAT IS a cab? On that the Mumbai tribunal heard Mahindra & Mahindra and the Commissioner of Central Excise, Nashik, and observed: "We find the matter is quite straightforward and the same can be decided today itself." But what was the matter? .. More

CARTOON