'FIIs are again entering Indian equities on an investing spree'

Value buying is the name of the game, and not just in stocks

Divya (a journalist) walks into Bidyut (an economics professor)’s place with a stack of newspapers under her arm and a packet of doughnuts. Jogin (a student) and Mack (an American expat working in India) rush towards her and relieve her of the packet.

Jogin (Munching on doughnuts): Mmmm! I bet O.P. Bhatt wouldn’t have felt this good while
announcing SBI’s results.
Bidyut: Forty-six per cent rise in fourth quarter profit and 35.5 per cent rise in annual is admirable under the present circumstances. But was it totally unexpected?

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More stressful times ahead ...

It takes two (results) to tango

Jogin (a student), Bidyut (an economics professor) and Divya (a journalist) wait for Mack (an American expat working in India) to return from a check-up after his recent visit to Mexico. The Moody’s report that swine flu could make Indian equities lose foreign investors’ money catches Jogin’s eyes.
Jogin: Do you really think FIIs would leave India because of the swine flu outbreak? I mean, on the one hand they sing about the Indian growth story and on the other, they run because of a global flu outbreak?
Bidyut: As long as the flu does not spread in India, FII exit is remote. I don’t think the situation warrants an outflow yet.

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Wait and watch before taking a decision

Signs of a bull and some clouds

Mack (an American expat working in India) and Bidyut (an economics professor) are going through research reports on markets when their friends Jogin (a student) and Divya (a journalist) join them.

Mack: Hey guys, Bidyut claims that the market is showing a rally because of the elections. What do you think? Will the Sensex drop after the elections?
Jogin: I don’t know about the elections, but I sure wish some of our politicians drop dead. I mean, some of them are old enough to, right?

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`Confidence is everything'

Confidence enough to hold market rally?

Divya (a journalist) is putting away her tax filings when her friends Bidyut (an economics professor), Jogin (a student) and Mack (an American expat working in India) barge in.
Jogin: I am hungry. Is there something to eat?
Divya: I should get a tax rebate for feeding you. Look in the kitchen, you will find something.
Divya: Why didn't Bidyut and Mack feed Jogin?

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G20 leader should walk the talk

Greatness of G20 yet to be tested

Bidyut (an economics professor) is glued to the television as it plays the images of G20 protests in London. Jogin (a student), Divya (a journalist) and Mack (an American expat working in India) join him.

Jogin: A historical summit, wouldn’t you agree?
Bidyut: Yes and no. Yes because the US has agreed to share power with developing nations. No
because only time will clarify if it is a historical meet.

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'People have to feel comfortable while spending'

Economy boosters or baits for votes?

Jogin (a student), Divya (a journalist), Bidyut (an economics professor) and Mack (an American expat working in India) meet for dinner in a restaurant. The sparsely occupied tables, despite it being a weekend, do not go unnoticed.
Jogin: Looks like no amount of stimulus measures is helping. Are hotels getting any boosters, by the way?
Bidyut: Theoretically, the cut in Service Tax on lease rentals should help.

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'Protectionism will breed itself'

A week to watch on several fronts

As another week ends with bears running wild in the market, the four friends – Jogin (a student), Divya (a journalist), Bidyut (an economics professor) and Mack (an American expat working in India) – meet for their weekend powwow.
Divya: Mack, there is a lot of talk about nationalisation of banks in the US. Do you think it will happen?
Mack: Well, the new government has said they favour banks in private hands but I think we can expect part-nationalisation regulations soon.

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