The Hindu Business Line : Sunday, April 16, 2006

ITC: Hold
A healthy investment book, sustained cash flow from operations in the cigarettes business and robust revenue growth in its non-cigarettes business augur well for its long-term growth prospects. More

Ansal Housing and Construction: Buy
Rich land bank and the large number of projects on hand add visibility to earnings growth over the next couple of years. IT and BPO companies have underpinned the demand for commercial property. More

Lanxess ABS: Buy
Lanxess ABS is well-positioned to exploit the expected demand growth for ABS plastic. More

INVESTMENT FOCUS
Tata Investment Corporation: Buy
This listed-investment arm of the Tata group is an attractive portfolio candidate. The stock trades at a substantial discount to the value of the investment book. This provides a high degree of cushion for investors, and even if the stock ... More

INSIGHT

India Inc on M&A overdrive
Though M&As present substantial upside, the shareholders will have to brace for downsides as well. After some initial hesitation, Corporate India has revved up the pace of acquiring businesses abroad. The global consulting firm, Grant Thornton, the acquisition value by India Inc at $16 billion for 2005, 46 per cent over the previous year. And the trend has only gathered momentum in 2006 first quarter. More

The Infy beacon for the market
While Infosys has come out with an earnings guidance that betters market expectations, a host of industry-wide variables will shape stock market perception over this week. More

MUTUAL FUNDS

HDFC Multiple Yield Fund: Invest
With its distinct positioning and an actively managed debt and equity portfolio, this fund will be a good addition to a portfolio of fixed-income investments. More

PORTFOLIO MOVES
Canequity Diversified
Canequity Diversified increased its holding in cash and cash equivalents over the three month ended February. Current assets constituted 7 per cent of the total assets in February against 1 per cent in November 2005. The fund has also altered its ... More

Magnum Midcap: Hold
Despite lagging quite a few diversified funds, its report-card inspires confidence given the under-performance of mid-cap indices in the latter part of 2005. More

SBI Magnum Contra: Invest
Magnum Contra has continued its impressive performance despite significant changes in the management team. It remains one of our preferred picks. More

FUND TALK
I have invested in the mutual funds mentioned in the list. I want to reduce my exposure from 32 funds to 10. Please suggest Top 10 Funds for further investments (after selling my current holding). Also suggest from the list 1. What are all the ... More

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

Index Outlook
The market action was in line with expectations. The overall trend remained bearish and the index dropped tested the downside target cum support zone of 3340-3350 that was mentioned last week. After sliding to a low of 3290, the Nifty closed on a ... More

Technical Analysis Q&A
I hold shares of South Indian Bank bought at Rs 66 a huge chunk of IFCI at Rs 42. Shall I hold or exit from these stocks? D. Balasubramanian, Swami Questions such as these are a pointer that there are investors who have not yet ... More

Weak trend in SBI
The stock ruled weak and also dropped below the target zone of Rs 930-940 that was mentioned last week. The recent price patterns indicate that the downtrend is not over as yet. The stock could drop to Rs 875-880 shortly. A test of the crucial ... More

Reliance
The damage to the market sentiment would have been worse, but for the relatively firm trend in the stock. We continue to, however, favour a short-term bearish outlook. A drop to Rs 805-810 remains our preferred view. Only a close above Rs 870 ... More

Tata Steel
Contrary to expectations, the stock ruled firm and managed to weather the bearish phase witnessed last week. Except for a fall on Wednesday, the trend remained positive in the remaining two days of the week. As observed last week, a move ... More

Satyam Computers
A bearish trend prevailed as anticipated last week. The stock also dropped to the target zone of Rs 785-790. After touching a low of Rs 755, the share price ended the week at Rs 772. The near-term trend remains bearish and a drop to Rs 755-760 ... More

Infosys
The price action was in sync with the bearish outlook featured last week. The stock ruled weak and also dropped to the target zone at Rs 3,000-3,025. After sliding to a low of Rs 2,988, the stock closed at Rs 3,021. The stock is ruling close ... More

The Big Boys
TCS (Rs 1,798): The stock could drop to Rs 1,650-1,660. The bearish outlook would be negated on a close above Rs 1,850. Shareholders may reduce exposures and have a stop loss of Rs 1,760 for a portion of the holding. Evidence of support ... More

Chart focus
The stock is in a long-term upward trend since April 2003. In Elliott Wave parlance, the stock completed Wave 1 at Rs 164.3 in September 2005. The subsequent correction to the low of Rs .81 can be classified as Wave 2 of the sequence. The ... More

Follow up
The price movement was not in line with expectations. The overall bearish market sentiment along with the spike in crude oil prices appears to have played a major role in imparting a weak trend in the stock. This has, however, not invalidated the ... More

OPEN OFFERS

Gujarat Ambuja Cements: Reject
There are significant advantages in remaining invested in Gujarat Ambuja Cements. Primary is the likely consolidation of Holcim's India operations under one umbrella. More

CARS

Fiesta & Aveo - Too close to call
I am planning to buy a car and the choice is likely to be between the Chevrolet Aveo (1.4 petrol) and the Ford Fiesta (1.4 petrol). I would like to know how the two compare on parameters such as fuel economy, maintenance costs, quality and ... More

Will Aveo break the jinx for GM?
General Motors India has finally rolled out the much-awaited Chevrolet Aveo sedan. Will it be able to take on the Ford Fiesta and the Honda City? More

WHEELS & DEALS
Maruti plans customer loyalty scheme
Maruti plans to come out with a rewards scheme to retain its customers. This comes on the heels of the launch of the Toyota-ICICI Bank co-branded credit-card. Maruti has tied up with Indian Oil and Citibank for this scheme. Both new car buyers ... More

Aveo: How well does it rev
The Chevy Aveo is being offered with two engine options — a 1.6 litre plant and a new 1.4 litre engine. The 1.6-litre is a carry forward from the Chevy Optra, and has been retuned and remapped to suit the performance parameters set out for ... More

TYRES

WHEELS & DEALS

MRF rolls to top, again
In a study by J. D.Power Asia Pacific, `India Original Tire Customer Satisfaction Index Study', MRF has been awarded the highest ranking for the fourth time in six years. The tyre major moved up three notches, supported by performance on all ... More

SOFTWARE

Passing the baton
Mr T. V. Mohandas Pai stepping down as Chief Financial Officer of Infosys Technologies to pave the way for younger people to get strategic opportunities. This is the culmination of one of the most commendable stints at the top for more than a ... More

STOCK MARKETS

Beer, cheer and stocks
Consider this: You visit an export garment shop. You find a branded shirt for Rs 500. The same shirt costs Rs 750 at the brand's retail store. Yet, you may not hesitate to buy the shirt at the branded store. ... More

Performance of Nifty Stocks
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Gainers and Losers on the NSE
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Basket of X
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DERIVATIVES MARKETS

F&O OUTLOOK
Choppy trend likely
More

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

FIXED DEPOSITS

FD Options
OCL India: Investors may consider exposure in the fixed deposit options of OCL India. The one- and the three-year options may be considered. As the two-year option does not offer any premium over the rate on the one-year option for ... More

INCOME TAX

A schooling in finances of kindergarten
Tuition Fee: Rs 1,500; Term Fee: Rs 1,000; Exam Fee: Rs 500; Other Fees: Rs 1,000 . My other child is in play school for which I pay a tuition fee of Rs 5,000. The play school has given a consolidated receipt as tuition fees. Will I be able to ... More

Sale disclosure
In 2000-01, I sold an ancestral house and earned a long-term capital gain of Rs 1 crore. The same was not disclosed in my income-tax return. I want to disclose the capital gains before the Income-Tax Authorities. How should this be ... More

IPOS

Plethico Pharmaceuticals: Invest at cut-off
Track record of healthy profitability and an established presence in export markets with a product profile that is unlikely to be hurt by legal challenges make this offer attractive. Invest with a one/two-year perspective. More

JRG Securities: Avoid
The public offer of JRG Securities may be avoided, as we believe there are, and will be, superior exposures to the securities broking industry in the listed space. Given the small base, JRG may exhibit good growth rates due to the boom in the ... More

RIGHTS ISSUE

Titan Industries: Invest
Steep discount to market price for the equity component, attractive interest rate for the non-convertible security and promising business outlook make it a rights offer to watch. More

INVESTMENT QUOTIENT

Investment Quiz
1. This famous sports personality last week sold the rights to his name and likeness for $50 million to CKX, the company that also owns rights to the legendary Elvis Presley. The rights were sold by selling a 80-per cent in ... More

BOOKS

Four investment pitfalls and jackpots to match
"The overall market will offer poor returns," and, dangerously, "some segments will suffer devastating losses." More