Restrained anxiety as the World Cup fever sweeps the nation, semblance of some bullish undertone in the markets and beginning of the ‘silent period' as corporates begin their quarterly chore of compiling earnings number kept the mood in the studio mixed. Here's a pick from what was being discussed.

Prarthana: Ah! At last, the markets are beginning to look up again. Guess the excitement from the cricket pitch is latching on to the markets as well!

Vedant: You bet. But we have to simply overlook the intra-day gyrations. It's almost like the Indian cricket team's performance… well, as long as they manage to win, I suppose fans can ignore their fielding and bowling performances. Ditto with the markets…

Prarthana: In the meanwhile, the risk appetites world over seem to have shrunk somewhat. At least that's what the clamour for gold and silver suggests. Did you know gold is now trading near record highs on resurging Europe debt risk and that silver has hit a 31-year peak?

Vedant: Meanwhile, oil has jumped 24 per cent since February 15, as violent conflict roils West Asia and North Africa. It's cooled off a bit though…

Prarthana: Well, what else do you expect? From West Asian conflict to Japanese strategy to a never-ending crisis in Indian politics… can it get any worse from here?

Vedant: Chill! Here's some good news for you. The Government has rolled back the ‘misery tax' on hospitals. While it did take some effort to make them see the logic of it, it is a happy ending nonetheless.

Prarthana: That reminds me… Mylan seems to be trying hard to poop Ranbaxy's Lipitor party. It sued the US FDA last week. If the court sees value in its argument, it could launch generic Lipitor before Ranbaxy. That would be a big game changer!

Vedant: One can't really travel on the road to success without a puncture or two as Sidhu would have said! By the way, Rajat Gupta has offered to quit as ISB chief.

Prarthana: And that would be the least of his concerns right now. Goldman Sachs Group Inc chief Lloyd Blankfein has testified that a former director at Wall Street's most powerful bank violated confidentiality by leaking boardroom secrets to hedge fund manager Raj Rajaratnam. Let's hope the truth emerges soon!

Vedant: Back home, there weren't very many corporate moves last week but for Sesa Goa buying Bellary Steel for Rs 220 crore. All eyes however were on Warren Buffet. The sage of Omaha, on a maiden tour of India, is coaxing Indian millionaires to give some to charity.

Prarthana: What a strange dichotomy! On one hand, we have scams of people amassing obscene wealth illegally and then there are the likes of Buffet who are striving hard to give it away!

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