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Astromoneyguru: Gold to hit Rs 32000/10 grams in 2012

By Moneycontrol

Wishing a very happy new year 2012. According to Lt Col Ajay Jain, CEO of www.astromoneyguru.com , year 2012 is represented by Planet known as Mercury. As per astro economics Mercury is the planet of volatility and uncertainty. It‘s remain close to king of all planet Sun. There should be highest volatility in currencies and bullion market at international spot and future market during year 2012.

World stock market may also see 12% to 20% annual return from stock market. US Economy will be shown sign of improvement while Europe will remain under pressure. Indian economy will perform better in 2011. It is better to go with selected sector and stocks and timely profit booking is strongly recommended in stock market.

Now as per stars following predictions on stock, commodities and currency are as under;

1-Geo-political tensions – First quarter of New Year 2012 may develop Geo political tension in Afgnisthan, Pakistan, United Kingdom and other Asian countries. Difficult timing will be around February 2012. Key planets of India are Venus and Saturn. During February 2011 Saturn will turn retrograded with Mars. This is important astrological events for Middle East, and Asia since Saturn, Mars, Sun and Mercury are making special astrological yoga which may bring tension at global levels. Year 2012 will be very important for India and Asia since as per star India will play major role in world politics with help of USA and Japan.

Indian Stock market - As per astro economics, Sensex of Indian stock market may see upward movement and expected to give you 15% to 20% annual return from lower levels. By end of February and middle of March 2012, Indian stock market will see great upward movement, thereafter profit booking expected. It is important to note that every quarter all the sectors will not perform equally good or bad in stock market. Like first quarter of year 2012 is dedicated for oil & gas, metal, cement, fertilizer, railways and engineering stocks.

Right now great confusions and uncertainty in world stock market are seen. Indian stock market is one of the worst performers in world equity markets. Indian currency rupee is also seen vertical fall against US dollar. Indian rupee is seen between 54 and 56 against one US dollar in month of December 2011.

As per stars Indian economy is robust and Indian capital market is the one of the safest destinations for investment. Investors need to have patience and trust on steady growth of the Indian economy. Now year 2012 will be dedicated to agriculture and banking reforms. Indian government is expected to show interest in de-investment in certain public sector unites. Indian stock market is expected between 19000 to 20200 levels during year 2012. Traders need to focus on Tata steel, SAIL, Cairn India, Kalandee Rail, National Fertilizer, Sterlite Industries, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, for the first quarter of year 2012. It is important to note timely profit booking is mandatory in stock market under uncertainty. I am very confident for Indian economy and capital market. Right now golden apporunity for foreign investors to invest in India stocks, they will get benefit of rupee depreciation and stock available at lower levels.  

2-Bullion – Gold will be the safest investment for year 2012. Gold is expected to give around 30% annual return if invested right now. Right now gold is trading around USD 1600 an ounce. This is perfect levels for Investment for one year for around 30% annual return on investment. Silver is also good investment for year 2012. As per stars, silver may give you 20% to 25% annual return in commodities market. Silver may show upward move in spot and electronic trading at International and domestic bullion market. 2-3 years target for silver should be Rs 100,000 per kg

3- Crude oil is likely to see great upward movement. Upper levels of crude oil should be between USD 105 to 111 in international electronic trading. Profit booking in crude oil is likely to see by mid of February 2012. Timely profit booking is strongly recommended in commodity market.

4- Copper is also expected to give around 15% gain in spot and electronic trading in commodity market. Copper may see above Rs 422 levels per kg during year 2012 in electronic trading.

5- Euro may see some recovery against US dollars but US dollar remain dominate world currency market. Some Asian currency will also gain height. 
 
6- GDP growth of India is expected to between 7.5% to 8.5 during year 2012-13.

7-Indian economy - A very special revolutions is expected during 2012 to 2013- in field of agriculture, banking, insurance, health care, energy sectors. Astro-economics says that India is going to bring great revolutions in field of power, infrastructure, educations, technical educations, health, sports etc. Indian economy will perform better in technical educations, power, infrastructure, telecommunication etc.

8-Most benefited state of India - Rajasthan, West Bengal, Bihar, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, are in top of list for best benefited state of India during year 2012/

9-During year 20012-12, there are great chances that Indian and Chinese currencies may turn important currency in world currency club. Indian currency rupee may show strength against US dollar - expected levels for Indian rupee would be below Rs 49 -45 against one US dollar.

10- Indian writer or scientist is expected to earn name and fame at world levels. Indian electronic media may launch world services during 2012-13/

11- Political seen- As per stars, there should not be any problem for Congress (I). There will be some difficulties but with help of stars all problem will be solved. Some senior Congress leader may face problem during 2012.

12-The above advance predictions are made based on study of stars, and numerology.

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/astrologers on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

Yes Bank hikes NRI deposit rates to 9.6%

Private lender Yes Bank said it will raise interest rates on fixed deposits held by non-resident Indians (NRIs) to 9.6% from 3.82%, continuing its aggressive efforts to broaden its retail base at a time when the weak rupee is spurring capital outflows from India.

The new rate is being offered on term deposits of 15 months 15 days to 16 months. 

This is the second major attempt by Yes Bank in as many days to attract funds from the huge number of Indians living abroad. The bank raised its savings account deposit rate by 200 basis points to 6% on Thursday.

The higher rates, coupled with the dollar's recent rise against the rupee, are sure to encourage foreign exchange inflows, Chief Executive Rana Kapoor said in a statement.

The Reserve Bank of India deregulated interest rates on non-resident external (NRE) rupee deposits and ordinary non-resident accounts last Friday to provide greater flexibility to banks to attract dollars.

So far this year, foreign investors have sold more than half a billion dollars worth of Indian shares against a record inflow of more than USD29 billion in 2010.

The rupee, which hit a record low last week, has fallen about 17% from its July peak as India's economic prospects cool.

No.2 private lender HDFC Bank raised its interest rates for non-resident savings deposits to 9% from 3.82% on Thursday.

Hazare flays Lokpal Bill

Slamming the new Lokpal Bill, Anna Hazare today said the government should involve people in lawmaking and invoked Rajiv Gandhi's name to tell the Congress-led dispensation that he had written to all village heads before coming out with the Panchayati Raj Bill.

Hazare questioned as to why the government was drafting the bill alone. "Why is it so? Why does it not take the advise of the people? People are the masters and they have sent MPs to serve them. So they have to listen to people.

Late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi understood this. "He wrote to sarpanches in all the 5.5 lakh villages in the country on the 73rd and 74th amendment. You cannot do it on your whims and fancies. Then what is the difference between autocracy and democracy?" he told reporters here.

Hazare said the new Lokpal Bill was "very weak" and a "wrong one" which will not help in eradicating corruption. Asked whether he read the bill last night, Hazare said, "leave it" and went to say that the government should involve people in the process of drafting law.

Queried about his proposed fast from next Tuesday, he said if he does not get a venue, he will go to jail and fast. "They will keep creating hurdles. In August, they did not give me a venue till last minute. I had to fast in jail...this time also, if they don't give me venue, I will go to jail," he said.

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Earthquake in New Zealand's: of 5.8 magnitude strikes New Zealand's Christchurch

An earthquake of 5.8 magnitude struck near the New Zealand city of Christchurch on Friday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, prompting the evacuation of public buildings, but causing no immediate damage.

There were no immediate reports of casualties. The quake was at a very shall depth of 2.9 miles (4.7 km).

"It was incredibly violent," one caller told Radio New Zealand.

"All the water in my birdbath slopped out and I could hear everything falling over inside. When I walked inside, the cat streaked out the door, ornaments were all over the floor, contents of the pantry were lying on the floor, a little bit of smashed glass and picture frames lying over."

Christchurch, New Zealand's third city, is recovering from a quake measuring 6.3 which killed about 180 people in February and caused estimate damate of NZ$15 billion.

Radio New Zealand said malls and office blocks had been evacuated and power had been knocked out in some districts. Goods had been toppled from some store shelves.

A quake of lesser intensity struck Christchurch in September last year.

BJP 'disappointed' with Lokpal bill, Lalu fumes

New Delhi, Dec 22 (IANS) Strongly objecting to the 'unconstitutional' minority quota provision in the Lokpal bill, the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) Thursday demanded that the government withdraw the legislation and bring in a fresh document.

'We are disappointed. This is unconstitutional. The Supreme Court has given dozens of rulings stating that any reservation should not be more than 50 percent,' Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj told the house after the government tabled the anti-graft Lokpal bill in the Lok Sabha.

The bill envisages the setting up of an ombudsman to check corruption in the country and bringing the prime minister under its ambit. It has also kept a provision of 50 percent reservation for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, women and minorities.

'Take it back, return with a fresh pro-constitutional bill and we will pass that,' the BJP leader said.

The Samajwadi Party led by Mulayam Singh Yadav also opposed the bill and said it should not be moved beyond the introductory stage as it did not provide the basis of a strong Lokpal.

Lalu Prasad of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), opposing the bill, however, complimented the government for the minority provision and lashed out at the BJP for opposing it.

He criticised the government for hurrying with the legislation under duress, a reference to the agitation by social activist Anna Hazare and his team.

'What is going on?' he asked, referring to Hazare's protest threat outside the residence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi.

'We in parliament have to decide about the bill. Don't do anything wrong fearing the agitation. Whatever right is to be done we will do that. We want a Lokpal bill but it has to be strong. This is not a strong bill.'

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Wine lovers to profit from falling prices

Think of wine critic Robert Parker as the EF Hutton of fermented grapes. When he talks, oenophiles listen.

So when Parker, publisher of the Wine Advocate, said recently that the world is entering the 'Age of the Buyer' - a prolonged period of stable or declining wine prices - it was enough to get sommeliers buzzing over their Chateau D'Yquem.

"There's now a tremendous amount of high-quality wines available at reasonable prices," agrees Andrew Bell, president and CEO of American Sommelier, a membership association for wine aficionados. "With supply increasing and consumption decreasing, it stands to reason that prices will fall or stabilize. The pendulum is swinging in favor of the consumer."

To which wine lovers might say: It's about time. In recent years, they have grappled with seemingly ever-increasing prices. With production at top French chateaux like Margaux or Petrus limited, and wealthy Chinese buyers starting to acquire a taste for high-end Bordeaux, bidders have set auction records and the futures market has been priced at sky-high levels.

But things may finally be tipping in favor of the consumer, at least in the broader market. The punishing recession has a lot to do with it: Disposable income is plummeting, so most households just don't have much cash to be splurging on an outstanding syrah or sauvignon blanc.

"The recession drove everyone to trade down," says Barbara Insel, CEO of Napa-based wine-market advisory firm Stonebridge Research Group. "The market disappeared for most wines costing more than $15 or $20. Pretty much anything costing more than $30 was 30 percent off - and often not refilled on the shelves or wine lists."

CURRENCY TRENDS

Currency trends are helping foster the Age of the Buyer, as well - at least for Americans.

"There's some bullish sentiment under the U.S. dollar now because the American economy is starting to perform better," says David Song, a currency analyst with foreign-exchange site http://DailyFX.com. "Meanwhile the outlook for the Euro is pretty bearish, and it will likely trend lower for 2012."

That combination of a steadying greenback and a worsening Eurozone mess will likely drive down prices for European wine imports. From the Euro's current exchange rate of roughly $1.30, already well down from previous levels of around $1.60, Song expects a further slide to $1.20 or even $1.10. That, in turn, could encourage American producers to trim their own prices in order to compete.

Here are a few ways savvy oenophiles can benefit:

- Leverage your online advantage. Historically, wine access has been a restricted and clubby affair, which often depended on personal relationships with dealers.

But the proliferation of online retailers has essentially democratized access to high-quality vintages. An array of websites are now offering so-called "flash" deals of deep discounts on high-end, limited-availability cases. A couple of Andrew Bell's favorites: http://Lot18.com and http://WinesTilSoldOut.com.

- Look beyond Bordeaux. Want a steal on bottles from famed French chateaux like Haut-Brion or Romanee-Conti? You're probably out of luck. That's the stuff that billionaire Chinese buyers really care about, as do investment vehicles like the London-based Fine Wine Fund, which tend to focus almost exclusively on first-growth Bordeaux. One reason is that Bordeaux is - pardon the pun - the most liquid option for wine investors, easily sold to other collectors. Other regions and varietals can be harder to move.

But look to the rest of the world, and the bargains appear plentiful. The quality-to-price ratio is particularly attractive in places like Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa, Spain and Chile. Stonebridge's Insel says buyers can find an alluring mix of quality and value in Southern Italian reds, whites from Italy's Veneto region and homegrown vintages from Washington State.

- Be active at auctions. As Woody Allen once said, 90 percent of life is just showing up. In that spirit, show up at the wine auctions of prominent purveyors like Zachys, Hart Davis Hart, Sotheby's and Christie's, and you might be surprised at what you come away with. After all, since wine futures have been priced at record levels - and you still have to wait a couple of years for delivery - you'll probably have better luck with more mature vintages.

Tips from American Sommelier's Bell: Do your due diligence beforehand to identify your best quality-to-price opportunities; set budget limits for yourself, so you don't get caught up in auction momentum and overpay; and consider so-called 'mixed' or 'odd' lots, groupings of assorted wines that higher-end collectors might overlook.

Explain how Lokpal is strong: Anna tells Sonia

Hitting out at the government on the "useless" Lokpal Bill, Anna Hazare today challenged Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to a public debate on it to convince people that the proposed legislation is strong.

Hazare said the new Bill is of no use if the anti-corruption ombudsman does not have control over CBI and the lower bureaucracy is not brought under its direct control. "Sonia Gandhi says the bill is strong. If it is so, let she come out and debate with us in front of media. Let people see it.

Convince the people of the country that it is strong. We will explain how it is not strong," he told reporters here. "What is right and wrong with the bill, let us debate in public," he said as government prepared to introduce the bill in Lok Sabha. Hazare's remarks came as a response to Gandhi's speech at Congress Parliamentary Party meeting yesterday during which she said the proposed legislation was strong and she was ready for a fight for it.

Continuing his attack on the government, Hazare said he will go ahead with his three-day fast from December 27 and then 'jail bharo' agitation against the "weak" bill which will not help the poor in their fight against corruption. "I will be part of the group that will 'gherao' the residences of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi as part of our jail filling agitation," he said. He said putting CBI out of Lokpal shows how the bill will be "useless". "The biggest victims of corruption are the poor who have to pay bribes to get any work done.

How will the commonman live like this? Out demand is that lower bureaucracy be brought under Lokpal," he said.

Lokpal Bill in Parliament on Wed

As pressure mounts on the UPA government to pass the Lokpal Bill in the winter session of Parliament, sources now say that the bill is likely to be tabled in Parliament on Wednesday for discussion. Not just that, sources also say that Parliament may have an extended session from December 27 to 29 to pass the Lokpal Bill.

Ahead of the Cabinet meeting on the Lokpal Bill on Monday, Opposition leaders LK Advani and Sushma Swaraj met Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee over a possible extension of the winter session of Parliament so that the Lokpal Bill can be tabled and passed.

Minister of State in the HRD Ministry D Purandeswari assured that the government is committed to getting a strong Lokpal Bill passed. "The Lokpal Bill will come in Parliament and then deliberations will happen with various parties expressing their views," she said.

She also said that the Prime Minister may be included in the Lokpal Bill, but with riders. "If you remember the Prime Minister had said he wants to be included under the ambit of the Lokpal, safeguards are important, so it's likely," she said.

National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah has said, "There should be a strong Lokpal Bill, but shouldn't be a super government and above Parliament. The draft has been prepared and will be discussed in the Cabinet."

Congress spokesperson and Standing Committee Chairman Abhishek Manu Singhvi also said, "We are not here to offer any carrot, it's a piece of legislation, and it needs to be passed in Parliament. Please wait for the bill to be tabled in Parliament."

The BJP, however, said that the government seems confused over the Lokpal Bill. "The government is confused, they take one step forward, two step backwards. We want a strong Lokpal Bill to be passed in the current session. I don't know what this government plans to do," BJP leader Balbir Punj said.

The options that the government now has are:

Firstly, the government may table the Lokpal Bill in Parliament on Tuesday or Wednesday, begin a discussion right away and try and pass the bill this week itself.

A second option is that the bill be tabled on Tuesday or Wednesday, then depending on the mood in Parliament, extend the session to the next week for debate and passage of the bill.

Alternatively, the government may after tabling the bill in Parliament on Tuesday or Wednesday, call for a special extended session in early January for a debate or else once the bill is tabled, the government won't push for a debate till a broad consensus has been arrived at within Parliament.

Cabinet meet on Monday

Meanwhile, as Anna Hazare steps up the attack on the government threatening to go on a fast from December 27 and a jail bharo agitation, the government, sources say, may meet most of his demands.

The Union Cabinet will meet on Monday evening to discuss the Lokpal Bill. Sources say that the UPA, under pressure, has proposed that the Prime Minister be included in the bill with riders, that Group C bureaucrats under the Chief Vigilance Commissioner be supervised by Lokpal and that the CBI director be appointed by a panel comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the Lokpal. Sources say the government has also proposed that Lokpal members get a vigilance clearance from the CVC.

Sources say the government is also proposing nearly 50 per cent reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other backward classes in the Lokpal Bill and that the Lokpal monitors the CBI in cases of corruption it refers to the investigative agency.

Samsung Vs Apple

Just when we were hoping that the existing war between Apple and Samsung would dissipate, if not get done completely, by the end of this year; there's news about the battle escalating in Germany. A Reuters report confirms that Samsung has freshly accused Apple of infringing on four of its patents pertaining to the use of emoticons, among other things. This only means that Samsung now has an escalated battle with Apple in Germany (the two have been battling it out over infringments pertaining to telecommunications standard technology WCDMA for 3G mobile handsets owned by Samsung). 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is dead

Kim Jong Il, North Korea's mercurial and enigmatic leader, has died. He was 69. Kim's death was announced today by state television from the North Korean capital, Pyongyang.

Kim is believed to have suffered a stroke in 2008 but appeared relatively vigorous in photos and video from recent trips to China and Russia and in numerous trips around the country carefully documented by state media. The leader, reputed to have had a taste for cigars, cognac and gourmet cuisine, was believed to have had diabetes and heart disease.

The news came as North Korea prepared for a hereditary succession. Kim Jong Il inherited power after his father, revered North Korean founder Kim Il Sung, died in 1994. In September 2010, Kim Jong Il unveiled his third son, the twenty-something Kim Jong Un, as his successor, putting him in high-ranking posts.

Nifty closes below 4700 for 1st time since 2009

It was a dire situation for the market on Friday despite RBI's policy on expected lines and flat global cues. The Nifty closed below the psychological 4700-mark for the first time since November 3, 2009 while theSensex shed 345.12 points. Looking at the sharp sell-off in index heavyweights, it seems investors cut some of their exposure in the second half of trade.

The Sensex closed at 15,491.4, after shedding more than 560 points from day's high of 16,068.90. The Nifty dropped 94.75 points, to end at 4,651.60; it touched the 4800 mark in an intra-day trade.

Sanjay Sinha, Founder of Citrus Advisors listed out the points, which spoiled the mood of markets. According to him, first is global problem, second is currency, third is government policies and fourth is interest rates.

For the week, the Sensex and Nifty fell over 4.5%.

Experts feel the mid quarter review of monetary policy announced by the RBI was on expected lines, so it was completely non-event for the market. Breaking of technical level of 4700 amid huge volumes may be the reason that traders opted to short selling.

"Today’s fall is definitely a little more unexpected because the RBI policy didn’t have anything that would spook the market," He feels this is some bout of concentrated selling.

The Reserve Bank of India kept CRR unchanged at 6% (the money banks have to necessarily park with the RBI), SLR at 24% (money which every bank has to maintain in the form of cash, gold or approved securities), repo rate (at which banks borrow money from RBI) at 8.5%, and even reverse repo rate (at which RBI borrow money from banks) remains unchanged at 7.5%.

The central bank insisted that downside risks to growth have clearly increased and inflation is still above comfort level. But it relieved some tension by saying further rate hikes may not be warranted. "Further monetary policy is likely to reverse cycle."

There was another ray of optimism, which is appreciation in the rupee after central bank's intervention. To control speculation in the currency, the Reserve Bank imposed restrictions with immediate effect on forward trading in the local currency by FIIs and traders and capped banks exposure to the forex market.

The Indian rupee moved up 1.5% or by 82 paise to 52.82 a dollar, which is quite better from record low of 54.29 touched yesterday. It was down by 80 paise to 68.85 an euro.

Shares of capital goods companies hit quite badly as experts feel the thrid quarter earnings would be very bad due to low order book and overall slowdown. The respective index fell 4.4%; L&T was down 5.33% and BHEL tanked 3.9%.

The BSE Bank, Realty, Power, Metal and Oil & Gas indices were down 2-3%. Index heavyweight Reliance Industries plunged 3.43%, to close at Rs 723 a share.

Rupee hits all time low; trading at 54.23

The rupee breached the 54 mark to open at 54.20 against a dollar. The rupee had closed at 53.71 yesterday. Currently it is trading at 54.23.

Analysing the trend, Sanju Verma said there were enough signals about the rupee weakening. The general sense is that the RBI does not want to throw good money after bad. The RBI data suggests that on two days in November, the Reserve Bank of India had intervened, but that had not help the rupee. The RBI’s ability to do anything is very much limited. The rupee is playting spoil-sport and on the exchange rate front, one will need to be prepared for the worst. 

According to Ssharad D Pawaar, SPFX INDIA: "The rupee is expected to slide further as the safe haven demand for the dollar continues. Investors converting holdings into dollar towards year-end is also pushing the greenback higher. Weak equity markets cues may also weigh on sentiment. The range for the day is seen between 53.75-54/$."

HTC sues Citi in Taiwan after share price fall

HTC Corp , the world's No.4 smartphone maker, has filed a criminal complaint against Citigroup Inc's Taiwan unit, alleging the bank published false information that led to a fall in HTC's share price, a Taiwan prosecutor said on Tuesday.

HTC, whose rapid rise in the cut-throat handset industry had made it an investor darling until early this year, has lost much of its lustre in recent weeks as its models struggle to compete with Apple Inc's iPhone and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd's Galaxy range.

Its shares have tumbled from a high of more than TUSD 1,200 in April to as low as TUSD 403 earlier this month. HTC has twice cut its earnings forecast recently, stoking investor concern over future profits.

"HTC submitted its case in August and we have been in the process of handling it," said Huang Mou-hsin, deputy chief prosecutor at the Taipei Prosecution Office. "HTC sued Citi Global Markets for violating stock transaction law," he said, declining to elaborate further.

HTC declined to confirm or deny the action, saying it did not comment on legal cases. Citi Global Markets Taiwan officials had no immediate comment.

Taiwan newspapers reported on Tuesday that HTC and Citi had run out of time for a settlement, so prosecutors had stepped in.

"HTC is using the lawsuit as a gesture to say its outlook is not as bad as the research report indicated and to ask foreign analysts to keep quiet or at least to stay a bit low-profile," said K.H. Lin, vice president at the fund unit of Yuanta Financial Holding Co Ltd.

"For long-term investors, however, HTC is probably not a good buy. We are very worried about the future of HTC due to its patent war with Apple and others. The lack of a powerful pool of patents is the most vulnerable part for HTC and other Taiwan companies."

HTC is fighting legal battles on several fronts and faces a crucial ruling in the United States on Wednesday in a patent case with arch-rival Apple that could result in a ban on HTC's handsets being sold in the United States.

The suit is seen as a proxy for the larger fight for market share between Google Inc's Android cellphones and tablets, many of which HTC makes, and Apple's product line.

Samsung, which also makes Android products, is locked in similar court fights with Apple.

The International Trade Commission, a US trade panel that investigates patent infringement involving imported goods, will deliver its ruling on Wednesday.

HTC shares were up 2.5USD  in early Tuesday trading at TUSD 426.50.

"The rise is because the current share price is too low and valuations are way under," said KGI Securities analyst Richard Ko in Taipei. "The price already reflects the risk of future court judgements."

India stares at economic slowdown, job cuts

The fear of an economic slowdown has turned to be a real one, as for the first time in recent months, India's industrial economy has actually shrunk, which may lead to job cuts, high inflation and more bearish stock markets.

In fact, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has warned of job losses and appealed for urgent measures to tackle the slowdown after the Index of Industrial Production fallen to minus 5.1% in October.

The CII further said a lack of investments can act as a drag on growth and that a continued decline in the mining sector can have consequences on livelihoods. Economic experts say the manufacturing sector is likely to see job losses and warned that inflation will continue to stay high even as the stock markets may continue to be in bear grip.

The industrial output was 1.9% in the month of September and the fall comes after a sustained slowdown over the past few months, led by a steep fall in production of almost sectors, particularly manufacturing, mining and capital goods.

The biggest fall has come in the capital goods as well as in the manufacturing sector and mining. The capital goods growth is at minus 25% while manufacturing activity has declined to minus 6% from 2.1% a month ago.

Factory output, as measured by the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), had grown by 11.3% in October 2010.

The negative growth in factory output pulled down the BSE Sensex by 343 points or 1.12% on Monday to below the 16,000 level after two weeks.

The Sensex, which had lost 664 points in the past two trading sessions, fell further by 343.11 points to end the day at 15,870.35, closing below the 16k level after November 25.

The BSE 30-share benchmark has lost over 1,000 points in the last three sessions, eroding investor wealth by nearly Rs 3 lakh crore.

The broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty has also lost 102.10 points or 2.10% to 4,764.60 on Monday.

Though, Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council Advisor C Rangarajan hoped that the GDP growth will still be between 7-7.5%, it looks hard to achieve due to lack of corrective measures on the part of the UPA Government.

With the headline inflation remained above the 9%-mark since December 2010, the Reserve Bank has hiked interest rates 13 times since March, 2010, to tame inflation.

India Inc had attributed the slowdown to rising interest rates, which have led to an increase in the cost of borrowing, thus hindering fresh investment.

But for long, the political turmoil has prevented the scam-hit UPA Government from taking any major policy decisions.

Some leading industrialists at the annual Indian summit of World Economic Forum has already alleged that the Central Government has been suffering from policy paralysis.

Moreover, a combined attack by the Opposition and some its own allies forced the Government to hold back its decision on allowing FDI in retail sector, which put a big question mark on the ability of the Government to go for any further economic reforms.

As a result, it seems the crisis-hit UPA Government is in no position to infuse the confidence that needed to boost the falling economy, which is already facing turbulence due to gloomy global economic scenario.

Lokpal: Govt may offer to include PM, Group C

A day after Anna Hazare's fast, the government as part of its counter Anna strategy on the Lokpal Bill is expected to offer to include the Prime Minister and Group C employees in its ambit at the all-party meet on Wednesday.

According to sources, the bill will be tabled in Parliament next week.

This indication has come after the Congress, isolated by the Opposition, received support from its allies.

On Tuesday, the Cabinet is also slated to take up judicial accountability bill, whistle blowers protection bill and citizens grievance redressal bill.

The Cabinet will also take up the feel-good Foods Security Bill, hoping to woo voters just as farm loan waiver did.

This will be followed by a meeting between the UPA and its allies. Unlike the Lokpal draft committee, this time the Congress wants to keep allies on board.

And on Wednesday there will be an all-party meet. Sources say that the final Lokpal will include Prime Minister and Group C.

The government is likely to propose that the Prime Minister could be brought under the ambit of Lokpal, however, with certain safeguards.

Further, on the issue of bringing CBI investigations under the ambit of Lokpal, the government may propose that though it could not be done, the Lokpal may however be kept in the know of the probe into corruption-related cases.

Though the Congress is upset with the Team Anna over their attack on party general secretary Rahul Gandhi, it is also aware that a strong opposition could nix the chance of easy passage of Lokpal Bill. And in that case, it may be difficult to stop the agitation by Anna Hazare on December 27.

Sehwag becomes 2nd batsman to slam 200 in ODIs

Indore: Virender Sehwag, captaining India in the absence of the rested MS Dhoni, has become only the second batsman in the world to breach the 200-mark in one-day cricket. The first was the inimitable Sachin Tendulkar, who scored a double ton last year.

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Sehwag slammed his 200 in the fourth ODI against the West Indies at Indore. He got to the 200 in 140 balls; the first 100 came in only 69 balls. He also crossed 8,000 ODI runs during the knock.

This is Sehwag's 15th ODI century and answers all the critics that have been blaming the top-order's indifferent form and Sehwag's bad captaincy for India's 16-run loss to the Windies in the 3rd ODI at Ahmedabad.

Sachin Tendulkar got his 200 against South Africa at Gwalior in February 2010. Tendulkar had scored 200 not out off 147 balls to take India to 401/3 in that game.

Sehwag's feat, however, would not have been possible without a little help from West Indies skipper Darren Sammy, who dropped the Delhi batsman off a Ravi Rampaul delivery in the 38th over when Sehwag was batting on 170. But then what is a great Sehwag innings without the adventure?

Sehwag blitz against West Indies

4th ODI: Congratulate Sehwag for his blitz against West Indies

India gold futures hit 2-wk high; silver down

India gold futures rose by more than half a percent on Wednesday to hit their highest level in two weeks on firm global leads fanned by a weaker rupee at home.

* Silver traded down following sharp declines in copper, the other industrial metal.

* The most-traded gold for December delivery on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) was 0.56 percent higher at 28,824 rupees per 10 grams, after hitting a high of 28,905 rupees, a level last seen on Nov. 17.

* The rupee plays an important role in determining the landed cost of the yellow metal, which is quoted in dollars.

* Silver for December delivery was down 0.17 percent at 54,874 rupees per kg.

* Rising prices of the yellow metal by as much as 0.8 percent pushed physical traders to the sidelines, who sought to stock for the wedding season in India, the world's biggest consumer of bullion. Weddings will last through December.

* "The rupee weakness has increased gold costs... If prices fall to 28,500 (rupees) there could be good buying," said Harshad Ajmera, proprietor of JJ Gold House in Kolkata.

* Silver imports to India would be marginally lower in 2011 from last year's 3,030 tonnes as traders are uncomfortable with prices ruling above 50,000 rupees per kg, a senior official at ScotiaMocatta said.

6 arrested for Pune blast, Jama Masjid attack

The Delhi Police has arrested six suspected Indian Mujahideen operatives in connection with crucial terror cases in the country, according to sources. The Delhi Police sources claim to have solved the Jama Masjid blast case, the Pune German Bakery blast case and Chinnaswamy stadium terror attack case.

Sources say a Pakistani national is also among the six arrested Indian Mujahideen operatives.

This came days after two Indian Mujahideen operatives were arrested in Chennai and brought to Delhi for questioning.

Police sources said the 'main man' Imran, who was allegedly providing finance and other logistics besides coordinating various modules, is on the run.

Imran had allegedly planted the bomb in a car outside Delhi's Jama Masjid on September 19, 2010, the sources said.

Sources said they also looking for one Tauqeer, a top IM leader who is wanted in 2008 Delhi serial blasts and is suspected to be involved in the September 7 High Court blast.

Those arrested are Mohd Afzal, Mohd Ajmal, Mohd Siddique, Zafar, Abdul Rehman and Irshad Khan, a senior police official said.

Afzal and Ajmal were arrested from Madhubani in a fake passport case while Rehman and an engineering student Irshad Khan were apprehended from Chennai. Siddique and Zafar were arrested from Delhi, the official said.

"All the arrests were made in the past few days. We have also seized some arms and ammunition from Delhi and nearby areas," the official said, adding all these were two-member modules.

The police have been conducting raids at other places including Bihar to find clues in terror cases like the Jama Masjid blast, the Delhi High Court blast and even the German Bakery blast.

Four people were also detained three days ago as the police questioned some people in connection with these terror cases.

17 people were killed and over 50 were injured in the German Bakery blast in Pune's posh Koregaon Park area in February 2010. 15 people were injured in two low intensity blasts near a packed Chinnaswamy cricket stadium in April the same year. The blasts took place less than an hour before an IPL match.

On September 19, 2010, two foreign tourists were injured when two men on a motorcycle opened fire outside Gate 3 of Delhi's Jama Masjid.

GDP at 6.9%, slowest in 9 quarters

India's economy—as measured by GDP or gross domestic produce—grew 6.9% in the July-September quarter, compared to a 7.7% growth during the same period last year. This is the slowest growth in nine quarters, as the economy grapples with runaway inflation, high interest rates, weak rupee and falling industrial output.

The decline was on expected lines, with the average of a CNBC-TV18 poll estimating it at 6.9%. Equity indices trimmed their losses immediately after the announcement, indicating that the fall was not as bad as feared.

The figure would have been even worse, but for a 9.3% growth in the services sector. Mining and manufacturing were the worst performing sectors, with mining logging a de-growth of 2.9% versus a positive growth of 8% last year. Manufacturing grew 2.7% versus 7.8%, farm sector growth fell to 3.2% from 5.4%, and the construction sector declined to 4.3% from 6.7%.

Google redesigns the Navigation Bar

Google gives its products a facelift throughout the year, be it their Maps, News, Search function or Translate. When Google's popular mail function, Gmail got a major facelift, it became the talk of the town. And, if you thought that Google was done with the makeover session for now, you may have to rethink. According to an official post on Google Official Blog, Google bar for swift navigation is the latest to have got a makeover.

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Sensex slips in red after flat opening

A volatile Sensex was looking for consolidation in the opening trade after yesterday's sharp upmove. It was marginally in the red due to fall in index heavyweight Reliance, ONGC and Infosys.

Nilesh Shah of Envision Capital said the market would be in a range of 4700 on the downside and 5100 on the upside for next few days.

Index heavyweight Reliance Industries was down 1.6% as sources claim that the company will engage in arbitration to seek clarity, protection to production sharing contract. Govt may opt to hold on to inducting BP as co-owner in KG-D6.

Frontliners like ACC, Infosys, L&T, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, SBI, HDFC, Hindalco, Tata Motors, Hero Motocorp, Maruti, BPCL (on likely cut in petrol prices) and ONGC were leading the markets southward.

However, Ranbaxy Labs, Bharti Airtel, TCS, Cipla, HDFC Bank, HUL and ITC were gainers.

The CNX Midcap was flat. Even the market breadth was neutral.

Shares of Vishal Retail and Koutons tanked 6% ahead of all party meeting called by prime minister to break parliament logjam on FDI in retail today. Pantaloon Retail was down 2.8%.

Kingfisher Airlines, GVK Power, Crompton, Educomp and SKS Microfinance were down between 1% and 2%.

However, DB Realty shot up 3.5% ahead of Shahid Balwa bail plea today.

Sun TV, HOEC and Parsvnath moved up 2-3%.

Global cues

Asian markets were trading higher. Shanghai and Hang Seng rose 0.5% each. Nikkei and Taiwan went up 0.8% each. Kospi rose 1.5%.