The Hindu Business Line : This toil of ours should be a work of thine

Khan kept Googling to know more about Google selling $2.07 billion of its stock. Jogin was wondering if China had a law on power theft akin to its `death threat for oil theft'. Dakshinamoorthy sat plotting the price of gold that was at its highest level in 25 years. But Sridevi messaged them all, "GT." Meaning, `Get talking' ... about the markets!

Sri: Hi, trio! Chart patterns suggest that the Nifty could show further gains.

Jog: Market snapped rally on Friday. Beginning of a correction?

Dax: A friend asks me if I'm bullish or bearish.

Kay: Tell him you're neither. Nor foolish. But tradish, yes!

Sri: With tonnes of money waiting to gain entry in stocks...

Kay: Fundamentals take a backseat, I believe.

Jog: Which explains why you're keeping a low profile today?

Dax: Big stocks hogged the limelight last week. What about this week?

Sri: Traders expect mid- and small-cap to lead the market.

Jog: Who has last week's numbers?

Kay: Yes, here! Of the stocks we had spoken about last week, Berger Paints earned more than 12% on March 27.

Sri: Areva came a distant second with 7%, while ACC, Sterlite and Bharti Tele made a gain of about 3% that day.

Dax: Close behind were Nahar Spg, Suzlon Energy and Escorts with a profit of 2% last Monday.

Kay: Suzlon Fibres and India Cem were up about 1 per cent at the end of the first day of trading last week.

Sri: Kakatiya Cem, DCW, SBI, Aftek Info, Satyam Comp, Rajesh Expo and Galaxy Ent ended that day on a positive note.

Jog: This week, street talks indicate action in stocks such as Batliboi, Vybra Auto, Karuturi Floritech.

Dax: Markets likely to respond positively to Bajaj Auto's impressive growth numbers.

Jog: Hero Honda too reported encouraging sales figures. Should drive it faster!

Kay: TVS Motor also may show a firm trend.

Sri: Metal stocks, especially steel, likely to gain.

Jog: Prices of all metals zoomed last week. Trend seems set to continue.

Dax: "No metal can... bear half the keenness of thy sharp envy!" says the Bard.

Sri: "No, none that thou hast wit enough to make," adds Shylock.

Kay: BHEL's plans in nuclear space will be viewed favourably.

Dax: Reliance Ind may rule firm ahead of IPO of RPL.

Sri: Praj Ind, a favourite last week, has a target of 160.

Jog: Infrastructure stocks such as Nagarjuna Const and Hindustan Const were down on Friday. Expect these to bounce back this week.

Kay: Optimistic about Vijaya Bank, which is recovering.

Sri: Century Textiles target 500, and Bombay Dyeing 630.

Dax: Tyre companies are likely to report good numbers.

Jog: There has been 9% increase in tyre consumption, despite price hike.

Sri: Tyre companies may raise prices, but economic growth ensures demand.

Dax: Good volumes seen in Chennai Petroleum counter.

Kay: On rising trend, you can take a buy call.

Jog: "A very serious business calls on him... " from All's

Well That Ends Well.

Sri: What about JP Hydro? Its shares are going great guns!

Jog: A delivery pick. Tell me about Videocon and GAIL.

Dax: Bagged Oman oil contract. Videocon rising sharply after news indicates good accumulation of the stock.

Sri: "... with oily painting. Shall I draw the curtain?" as in The Winter's Tale.

Kay: "This toil of ours should be a work of thine," as in King John. Take care!

Lee, with inputs from Nat, Mad, Bij, Sub, The and Sve.

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