The Hindu Business Line : Sunday, January 01, 2006

Great Eastern Shipping: Buy
AN investment can be considered in Great Eastern Shipping (Rs 230) in the homestretch to the completion of the restructuring process. There could be value to be unlocked on the upside when the division of businesses is complete and shares of the ... More

Nalco: Hold
FIRM prices, a favourable demand-supply equation in the medium term and an improved financial profile, offer positive outlook for National Aluminium Company (Nalco). Investors can retain their holdings in the Nalco stock (Rs 220), which trades ... More

Bajaj Auto: Hold
TAKING into account the recent run-up in share prices, fresh exposure can be avoided in the stock of Bajaj Auto (Rs 2,001). Shareholders can, however, remain invested, as the long-term prospects appear positive. The presence in the insurance ... More

Spinning companies: Weave in a few
Mahavir Spinning: Buy
Super Spinning: Buy
Rajasthan Spinning: Buy
More

Larsen & Toubro: Buy
LARSEN & Toubro's strong order flows, diversification in international markets and efforts to focus on core businesses have enhanced the long-term earnings growth prospects and imparted a high degree of visibility. ... More

NDTV: Buy
NEW DELHI Television Ltd (NDTV) is a growth story that investors with a long-term perspective can consider for their portfolio. The NDTV stock (Rs 201) offers the best exposure in the news media space, and we do not ... More

Dena Bank: Buy
INVESTORS with a penchant for risk can consider taking exposure in the stock of Dena Bank (Rs 32). Without a capital infusion within the next 12 months, the prospects for Dena Bank appear bleak. The decks appear to be ... More

INSIGHT

2005: A sizzling year for stocks
AS WE look back at the course of the equity market in the just-ended year, it is as difficult to describe its highlights as it is to assess the performance of the tennis ace and world No. 1, Roger Federer. Federer, ... More

Reforms thrust needed to buoy economy
THE Indian economy and the stock market have been on a roll in 2005. For the third successive year, the GDP growth is expected to top 7 per cent and one encore year is practically taken for granted. This despite the ... More

After eight years, the `dividend dogs' disappoint
The Dogs-of-the-BSE 100 trailed the index returns in 2005 for the first time in nine years. Yet this is a strategy that can still deliver value. Our portfolio for 2006: SAIL, Chennai Petroleum, HPCL, Shipping Corporation, Vijaya Bank, GE Shipping, JS W Steel, Allahabad Bank, Tata Steel and ONGC. More

Russia, South Korea sizzle
MOST equity markets world over ended 2005 on a positive note. Emerging markets led by Russia, South Korea, South Asian twins — India and Pakistan — Austria and South Africa were in the forefront, as their ... More

Hits and misses
Moderate your return expectations in 2006 and proactively book profits as and when the target rate of return is achieved. More

COURTS/LEGAL ISSUES

A go-by to first principles!
BALU was riding a cycle when a Tata Sumo hit him. He sustained multiple fractures, and filed a claim petition for a compensation of Rs 11,36,000. The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal (MACT), Chennai, awarded him Rs 9,19,000 as compensation to ... More

MUTUAL FUNDS

Templeton India Growth: Invest
TEMPLETON India Growth Fund has turned in an anaemic performance in 2005. This is, however, the wrong time to bail out of the fund. If anything, the fund's strategy could just be the right prescription to ride out the ... More

Reliance Diversified Power Sector Fund: Hold
INVESTORS may retain their exposures in Reliance Diversified Power Sector Fund, as it has performed consistently in the 20-month period since launch. As a major part of the period documented a bull rally, the fund is ... More

PORTFOLIO MOVES
Reliance Vision
DIVERSIFIED funds with a bias for large-cap stocks may be better positioned to tackle volatile market and perform consistently. We take a look at how Reliance Vision, an open-ended equity fund with a diversified portfolio, managed its portfolio ... More

NFO mobilises Rs 25,000 cr in 2005

Mutual funds have raised over Rs 25,000 crore from new fund offers in 2005. This comprises inflows into equity funds and tax-saving funds but does not include inflows into open-end equity funds. This is the largest ever sum mobilised by ... More

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

Fundamentals vs technicals
I am one of the ardent readers of your column. On a few occasions, you have given sell recommendation on fundamentally sound stocks such as Satyam Computer (a few years ago) and Tata Engineering and Tata Steel more recently. I am not convinced ... More

Nifty poised at a critical level
Preferred view: The market action last week was in line with expectations. The Nifty ruled weak on Monday and also dropped to the target zone of 2740-2750. It is positive to note that the index managed to hold above the crucial ... More

Nifty may start 2006 on positive note
For the following week, we expect the Nifty to begin on firm note. If the Nifty sustains current levels, then it may touch 2890-2900 levels. More

Satyam embarks on an uptrend
Satyam Computer (Rs 738): The stock ruled weak and also dropped to our target zone at Rs 685-690. It reversed direction at this support zone and staged a recovery since Tuesday. The stock is on a major uptrend and has substantial ... More

Focus of the week
Asian Electronics (Rs 401): The stock was one of the star performers in 2005. It has been in a major uptrend since April 2005. Even after the recent surge in price, there appears to be significant upside potential from the prevailing ... More

What do the charts portray?
THE BSE Sensex (9386) and S&P CNX Nifty (2834) enjoyed another north-bound year in 2005. A look at the weekly and monthly charts indicates that the long-term outlook is bullish. Having recorded a 41 per cent gain in .. More

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

CHECK IT OUT
Telecom rates decline further
BSNL has announced a drop in monthly rental for fixed line telephones by 28 per cent. It has dropped monthly rentals to Rs 180 compared with the existing rate of Rs 250 a month in urban areas and Rs 210 in rural areas. There's good news for ... More

More lifetime pre-paid offers
FOLLOWING the lead taken by Airtel (owned by Bharti Tele-Ventures) Hutch has rolled out pre-paid service `for life' for a one-time charge of Rs 999. The offer called the Chalte Rahe is available to the existing and new subscribers. The tariffs ... More

TWO/THREE WHEELERS

Exploring the new Discover
THE wants of the 125cc segment biker is as yet slightly nebulous . He is difficult to please, because he expects fancy styling and detailing, and considerably higher power and comfort than the 100-ccers, even as he looks for fuel efficiency ... More

Question 'N' Auto
I test drove the Bajaj Pulsar twins — the 150 and the 180 DTS-i.— and have decided to buy either of the two. Though I have already booked the 180 DTS-i, but have still not bought it because of the following reasons: I am ... More

HARDWARE

HP launches Pavilion notebook
HEWLETT Packard has launched HP Pavilion notebooks in India. The notebooks have features such as Quick Play, which allows the user to play music and DVD without standard Windows boot up, a remote control that can be embedded in the laptop, and ... More

ECONOMICS

Crime and economics
THE crime rate in Bangalore may be going up. The motive behind the frequent thefts and burglary, the murder of a software executive and the recent shootout at the Indian Institute of Science may be different. Yet, there ... More

STOCK MARKETS

SEBI GUIDE
Transactions thru depository account
How does one know that the Depository Participant (DP) has updated the account after each transaction? The DP gives a transaction statement periodically, which will detail current balances and various transactions made through the ... More

Bulls, `charged' for 2006 — Pockets of out-performers likely
THE equity market in 2005 has seen a dream run, but the equity experts we talked to are unanimous that this will be impossible to repeat. While they are all bullish on the Indian economy and say that continuing FII inflow and increased retail ... More

Valuation below long-term average
Economy outlook: The Indian economy is expected to grow over 7 per cent in FY06 and maintain its momentum in FY07. Depending on the monsoons, a GDP growth of 6.5-7 per cent is sustainable. Equity outlook: The Indian ... More

Investors must look beyond a one-year period
Global investors are positive on emerging markets, India in particular given the expected superior growth of these economies over the next few decades. More

Handle volatile market with care
Arun Kejriwal, Director KRIS (Kejriwal Research and Investment Services) Economy outlook: A GDP of around 8 per cent is very positive and if we grow at just 7 per cent next year it would be extremely positive, and mean our ... More

DERIVATIVES MARKETS

Options guide
Call option: A call option gives the buyer `the right but not the obligation' to buy the stock at a specified price on a future date. Put option: A put option gives the buyer `the right but not the obligation' to sell a stock ... More

PRIVATE BANKS

CUB's multiple benefits plan
CITY Union Bank (CUB) has launched depository participant services and announced an insurance-linked deposit scheme, the CUB-multiple benefits plan. A few features of the multiple benefits plan include life insurance cover up to Rs 10 lakh with ... More

CREDIT CARDS & DEBIT CARDS

ICICI Bank's credit cards for NRIs
ICICI Bank has launched a credit card, called `Global Indian Credit Card' for NRIs. It is an international credit card denominated in Indian rupees and will cater to NRIs visiting India. It provides the facility of supplementary cards for family ... More

INCOME TAX

Tax jitters after golden handshake
I RETIRED at the close of business on March 31, 2005, under a voluntary retirement scheme. The VRS compensation was paid to me by cheque at 4 p.m. on March 31, 2005. After including the VRS compensation as my income, ... More

Doubt over benefit
Will I be able to claim tax benefits in respect of the principal and interest in the financial year 2005-06? Shashikant Reply The principal repayment of the housing loan can be claimed as a deduction under Section 80C in financial ... More

BOOKS

One Bullet, many reasons
BIKES and books rarely go together. But Gordon G. May's new coffee-table book, Royal Enfield — The Legend Rides On, is different. It celebrates 50 years of Royal Enfield production in India (www.royalenfield.com). The ... More

Success secrets of a high-risk game
Who doesn't aspire for a hit, be it a song or stock? Derek Bose recognises that need in the title of his new book, "Everybody Wants a Hit," from Jaico (www.jaicobooks.com). And he goes about `unravelling the riddle of success' through ... More