Sensex below 14k - So what are your senses telling you?? How many of you are ready to throw caution to the wind and get rid of your portfolios and invest the proceeds elsewhere, in safer options like bonds?
Well, if it's any consolation, then let me remind you that markets were at 15k in August 2007 - from there onwards, the markets began a climb which enabled them to touch a peak of 21k in January 2008 and from there onwards, the journey has all been downhill - at a rapid pace! FIIs have clearly pressed the apnic button and have so far withdrawn over $6.3 billion in the first 6 months of 2008 - compare this with the $17 billion odd figure that they invested in Indian equities last year (data available with SEBI).
So what can you, as a retail investor, expect in the months to come? It's my personal opinion that somee sense has returned to the market - after the run-up witnessed last year, we have seen a meltdown in the lofty valuation the Sensex was commanding in January 2008! Equities look muuch cheaper and attractive now - you just need to take a look at the real equity / infrastructure stocks and the banking / financial services stocks to see what I mean. The huge sellign in these secotrs has left many a stock trading below their IPO issue prices - prime examples would be DLF and Motilal Oswal. Both stocks are trading at a significant discount to their respective IPO prices and a deeper look at the fundamentals of the two companies will convince you of the long-term potential that these companies hold.
As an investor, your best bet would be to ride out the market tide - it's the ideal time to build your portfolio with a 2-3 year investment horizon. be very stock specific and diversify your holdings across 8-10 stocks from different industries / sectors. I am hoping to tap into the knowledge reservoirs of some of my seniors and then maybe next week, I can give you a detailed brief on how I expect the various sectors to perform in the coming 3 years.
By the way, stay tuned in to this space - I got a major announcement coming your way in the first week of July. And for those who do not follow this space - well, do not accuse me of not informing you of these developments later on.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
India trounce Pakistan!
Oh well quite a pummeling Pakistan received at the hands of India in the Asia Cup! After they lost Umer Gul at the start of the Indian innings, Suresh Raina and Virender Sehwag meticulously took the bowling attack of Pakistan apart! It was a well-deserved century for Virender Sehwag and I felt sad for Raina who missed out on a second consecutive hundred!
Pakistan will ahve their chance at redemption when they meet India in the round robin stage of the Asia Cup on July 2, 2008. India, meanwhile, willface Bangladesh in the first match of the round robin stage followed by back-to-back matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Thanks to this win, India now needs to win 2 of the 3 matches in the round robin stage to reach the finals of the Asia Cup while Pakistan face an uphill task of beating Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka to reach the finals! Quite a daunting task but I would be a fool to count out the ever-so-unpredictable Pakistan team at this moment!
I'll be back with more updates - related to both the financial and the cricket world tomorrow! 'Til then, I wish you a lovely and a peaceful good night!
Pakistan will ahve their chance at redemption when they meet India in the round robin stage of the Asia Cup on July 2, 2008. India, meanwhile, willface Bangladesh in the first match of the round robin stage followed by back-to-back matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Thanks to this win, India now needs to win 2 of the 3 matches in the round robin stage to reach the finals of the Asia Cup while Pakistan face an uphill task of beating Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka to reach the finals! Quite a daunting task but I would be a fool to count out the ever-so-unpredictable Pakistan team at this moment!
I'll be back with more updates - related to both the financial and the cricket world tomorrow! 'Til then, I wish you a lovely and a peaceful good night!
Back from Exile!
Long time, no blogging! Hmmm – as always, my ever handy excuse for not writing remains my poor net connection. Add to that the stricter IT policies in our office and frequent power cuts that have made blogging from cyber cafes a real pain in the neck for yours truly!
--- Sigh --- Such is life and its adversities! To top it all, I am virtually without work here and the HR has taken it upon themselves to keep me tied to my seat, thus restricting my physical movements and mental flights of imagination.
But worry not, you dear readers, I am here – your saviour, host and dost! I shall try my best to save you from the fickle nature of life and keep boredom at bay! But please have patience with me and do suggest a few topics on which I can research and write about!
In the meanwhile, take a look at some of the following sites to track the stock quotes -- with the Sensex at the 14k levels, it is a good time to build your portfolio with a 2-3 year investment horizon. Apart from the regular sites (like the NSE and the BSE sites), you can check out the MoneyControl and the MyIris sites. The sites of brokerage firms like India Infoline, Motilal Oswal, Karvy and Kotak also offer streaming quotes and live stock news. If equity is not your cup of tea, then check these sites for the latest info on debt and bonds.
Phew ... That’s a lot of sites for the time being; yet the list is far from over. So, I’ll be looking to update you on interesting sites as and when I chance upon something worth sharing! ‘Til then, please stay tuned to this space!
--- Sigh --- Such is life and its adversities! To top it all, I am virtually without work here and the HR has taken it upon themselves to keep me tied to my seat, thus restricting my physical movements and mental flights of imagination.
But worry not, you dear readers, I am here – your saviour, host and dost! I shall try my best to save you from the fickle nature of life and keep boredom at bay! But please have patience with me and do suggest a few topics on which I can research and write about!
In the meanwhile, take a look at some of the following sites to track the stock quotes -- with the Sensex at the 14k levels, it is a good time to build your portfolio with a 2-3 year investment horizon. Apart from the regular sites (like the NSE and the BSE sites), you can check out the MoneyControl and the MyIris sites. The sites of brokerage firms like India Infoline, Motilal Oswal, Karvy and Kotak also offer streaming quotes and live stock news. If equity is not your cup of tea, then check these sites for the latest info on debt and bonds.
Phew ... That’s a lot of sites for the time being; yet the list is far from over. So, I’ll be looking to update you on interesting sites as and when I chance upon something worth sharing! ‘Til then, please stay tuned to this space!
Sehwag on a rampage!
The ‘90s were the period when everyone wanted to see India take on arch rivals Pakistan. Due to reasons extending beyond cricket administration, the encounters between the two sides were few but the contests were nail-biting, edge-of-the-seat ones!
Cut to the present scenario where we have had India take on Pakistan three times in the month of June itself; it is likely that the two sides may will meet 2 more times in the coming week (in the round robin stage of the ongoing Asia cup and probably the finals too).. Before this, we have had plenty of matches between the two sides with as many as 3 series in the last 2 years! Phew ... That’s a slew of matches and this sudden spurt of matches seems to have taken the sheen off these encounters! It’s just another day at the office for the players from either sides – I mean, with the increase in the number of international matches, players have learnt to take the matches in stride but still – an India – Pakistan encounter should remain an enthralling and an exciting one for audiences! The BCCI should look to regulate the number of times these countries meet in the coming years – satiate the appetite of fans but excess of anything is not good for everyone involved!
But I ain’t complaining – after getting hooked to the tele night after night during the IPL, I find the current slew of ODIs ongoing between as many as 10 countries (yes – you read it right! 10 countries – Australia in West Indies, New Zealand in England and the 6 nations in the Asia Cup) a good way to while away the plethora of time I have on my hands these days!
So, then – I am going away to the ongoing India – Pakistan match in the Asia Cup. India’s score at the end of the 23rd over reads 179/1 – Both Sehwag and Raina are thrashing the bowlers to all corners of the park and well, Sehwag has hit the 4th six of his innings! Kya peeta hai ye?? Anyways – Am getting back to the match to cheer for Sehwag and his around-the-corner 9th ODI century! And while I wrote all this, Sehwag marched into the 90s, helping himself to 2 sixes off the bowling of Salman Butt!
N.B.: Thanks to some publishing problems, Sehwag has marched on to his 9th hundred, a well-deserved landmark for this great batsman!
Cut to the present scenario where we have had India take on Pakistan three times in the month of June itself; it is likely that the two sides may will meet 2 more times in the coming week (in the round robin stage of the ongoing Asia cup and probably the finals too).. Before this, we have had plenty of matches between the two sides with as many as 3 series in the last 2 years! Phew ... That’s a slew of matches and this sudden spurt of matches seems to have taken the sheen off these encounters! It’s just another day at the office for the players from either sides – I mean, with the increase in the number of international matches, players have learnt to take the matches in stride but still – an India – Pakistan encounter should remain an enthralling and an exciting one for audiences! The BCCI should look to regulate the number of times these countries meet in the coming years – satiate the appetite of fans but excess of anything is not good for everyone involved!
But I ain’t complaining – after getting hooked to the tele night after night during the IPL, I find the current slew of ODIs ongoing between as many as 10 countries (yes – you read it right! 10 countries – Australia in West Indies, New Zealand in England and the 6 nations in the Asia Cup) a good way to while away the plethora of time I have on my hands these days!
So, then – I am going away to the ongoing India – Pakistan match in the Asia Cup. India’s score at the end of the 23rd over reads 179/1 – Both Sehwag and Raina are thrashing the bowlers to all corners of the park and well, Sehwag has hit the 4th six of his innings! Kya peeta hai ye?? Anyways – Am getting back to the match to cheer for Sehwag and his around-the-corner 9th ODI century! And while I wrote all this, Sehwag marched into the 90s, helping himself to 2 sixes off the bowling of Salman Butt!
N.B.: Thanks to some publishing problems, Sehwag has marched on to his 9th hundred, a well-deserved landmark for this great batsman!
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