23 February 2009

Slumdog Millionaire sweeps the Oscars,A.R.Rahman bags 2 Oscar

'Slumdog Millionaire' sweeps the Oscars

Director Danny Boyle celebrates with actors Azharuddin Ismail (L) and Ayush Mahesh (R) after 'Slumdog Millionaire' won the Oscar for best picture during the 81st Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on February 22, 2009. (REUTERS).... Next >>



Jai Ho for A R Rahman and Slumdog at the Oscars


'Slumdog Millionaire' protests in India don't subside
23 Feb 2009, 1219 hrs IST

Danny Boyle's 'Slumdog Millionaire' is a hit abroad, but in India, protesters have taken to the streets to attack the film.

I simply feel elated, says Pookutty after receiving Oscar
23 Feb 2009, 1103 hrs IST

The 36-year-old Resul Pookutty won the coveted Oscar for best sound mixing for the critically acclaimed film Slumdog Millionaire.

India-inspired 'Smile Pinki' bags Oscar for best short documentary
23 Feb 2009, 1100 hrs IST

Megan Mylan won the best short documentary Oscar for 'Smile Pinki', a tale of a poor Indian village girl whose cleft lip made her a social outcast.

With eight Oscars, 'Slumdog Millionaire' sweeps Academy awards
23 Feb 2009, 1056 hrs IST

After shining at the Golden Globes and BAFTA, the Mumbai-based film swept the 81st Academy awards winning eight Oscars.

'Slumdog Millionaire' sweeps the Oscars
23 Feb 2009, 1052 hrs IST

A R Rahman wins two, Slumdog gets 8 Oscars
23 Feb 2009, 1436 hrs IST

Slumdog not only won the Oscars for best picture and best director, but also for 6 others including two for Rahman. Slumdog's day | Winners | Rahman | Oscars

Chidambaram favours tax exemption to Oscars given to Rahman
23 Feb 2009, 1349 hrs IST

Home Minister P Chidambaram on Monday favoured tax exemption to two Oscars bagged by A R Rahman for Slumdog Millionaire.

'India's Oscar triumph will draw global attention to our cinema'
23 Feb 2009, 1317 hrs IST

Javed Akhtar is not surprised by Gulzar, Pookutty and Rahman's win at the Oscars and belives their success will bring global attention to Indian cinema.

Recording slum sounds live for 'Slumdog' was tough: Resul Pookutty
23 Feb 2009, 1302 hrs IST

Recording sounds live in the slums of Mumbai for Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire" was chaotic and far from easy, says Resul Pookutty.

India shines at Oscars with multiple awards
23 Feb 2009, 1455 hrs IST

It was India's day at the Oscars with Indian music, Indian song and Indian colours sweeping the Academy Awards

Jai Ho for A R Rahman and Slumdog at the Oscars
23 Feb 2009, 1436 hrs IST, AGENCIES


Slumdog not only won the Oscars for best picture and best director, but also for 6 others including two for Rahman. Slumdog's day | Winners | Rahman | Oscars

India conquers the Oscars | Slumdog on rediff
Listen to Jai Ho | O Saya | All Slumdog songs
Sukhwinder celebrates Jai ho victory
Slumdog Kids: Rubina| Ayush| Tanay| Tanvi
'I dedicate this award to my country' | Interview
Just why am I a champion of Slumdog?
Rahman dedicates award to God, mother | Wish!
Spectacular Oscar moments | Winners

http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2009/feb/23oscars-2009-live-report.htm

http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2009/feb/23slid1-red-carpet-oscars.htm


http://www.rediff.com/movies/oscar09.html

http://ibnlive.in.com/oscars/nominee.php

http://ibnlive.in.com/oscars/

Oscars News

Rahman wins 2 Oscars; Slumdog bags 8 in all
Rahman wins 2 Oscars; Slumdog bags 8 in all
Slumdog Millionaire expected to win the honour for best movie.

Rahman nervous before Oscars, finally left it to God

Modest Gulzar says Rahman made Oscar possible

Oscars: Sean wins for Milk; Kate breaks her jinx

Goldie Hawn, others take side route to Oscars

Happy Rahman thanks mother, God at Oscars gala

What it takes to get into the Oscar nominations list

Oscar night in LA, India waits for morning glory

Oscar Race 2009: Who made it to Oscars for what

How the Oscar statuette came into being

For the record: Facts about the Oscars

Slumdog Millionaire people's favourite for Oscar

Why can't Indian films crack the Oscar code?

Oscar radar misses films, characters of note

Ex-gatecrasher to stall others like him at Oscars gala

Sister prays for AR Rahman's Oscar victory

Oscars 2009: Muted glamour in recession-hit US

The pre-parties in the run up to the Oscar

Final touches for Oscar in full swing

Before Oscars, it's anti-Oscars time

Forget Oscars, Slumdog is already a winner

Oscars: The top contenders and the favourites

Oscar award results leaked online

Abhishek, Sonam log on to IBNLive, wish Rehman luck

Starring at Oscars, Indian poverty and disease

India's first Oscar winner walks down memory lane

Are Oscars worth the fuss?

Film critics voice opinions on this year's Oscar wins

Just like in the movies: slum kids start Oscar journey

Kate's Oscar tragedy: 5 nominations, no wins

Shekhar Kapur hopes Slumdog will win Oscars

Critics say Slumdog Millionaire is unstoppable

Indian docu Smile Pinki goes to Oscars

$41 mn ride on a Slumdog Millionaire win at Oscars

Oscar Watch: Roles the Academy should have considered

Slumdog..., inspired by an Indian novel, is an Oscar favourite.

Slumdog wins top US screenwriting award

Oscar watch: The Reader and Slumdog Millionaire

Smile Pinky girl readies to smile on the red carpet

India's first Oscar winner wishes Rahman luck

India has 2 more Oscar connections this year

I feel on top of the world: Rahman

Complete list of Oscar nominations

Slumdog, Rahman sweep Oscar nominations

Oscar Favourites: Frost/Nixon and Milk

Rahman wins 2 Oscars; Slumdog bags 8 in all

It was a dream run for India at the Oscars. See photogallery

Investment Analysis from ET,BL,BS etc

Tata Capital opens doors to reatail investors
23 Feb 2009, 0520 hrs IST, Karan Sehgal

In the times of credit crunch, Tata Capital has opened its doors to the retail investors by offering an attractive investment opportunity.

G7 Meet: Who's kidding whom?
23 Feb 2009, 0517 hrs IST

Multilateral organisations, regional development institutions and major central banks should cooperate with private lenders to offer and guarantee trade financing.

Derivatives Diary: Buying puts much better option
23 Feb 2009, 0514 hrs IST, Shakti Shankar Patra

Although the Nifty is still gyrating in a broad range and is yet to break down, the only thing one can do in this market is use any reasonable up move to open up short positions.

Clariant board proposes Rs 19 per share dividend
23 Feb 2009, 0507 hrs IST

The board is proposing to pay dividend of Rs 19 per share, which translates to a handsome dividend yield of 11.5%, considering Friday’s closing price of the Clariant scrip.

GlaxoSmithkline in pink of health
23 Feb 2009, 0504 hrs IST

GSK’s net profit after tax jumped 158% to Rs 208 crore thanks to exceptional gains of Rs 119.31 crore on sale of investments.

ABB India outlook remains cautious
23 Feb 2009, 0501 hrs IST

Despite the healthy numbers for the December ‘08 quarter, the outlook of the company remains cautious.

Deepak Fertilisers generating healthy cash flows
23 Feb 2009, 0456 hrs IST, Ramkrishna Kashelkar

Together with attractive dividend yield and better business prospects makes for a good long term investment.

Markets likely to start another downtrend
23 Feb 2009, 0439 hrs IST, Deepak Mohoni

The market has now been in an intermediate downtrend for a week, and long-term investment activity can be resumed once more.


UPA govt's policy may put brakes on India's growth
23 Feb 2009, 0623 hrs IST, Krishna Kant

The cheap-everything policy of UPA government may end up putting brakes on India’s growth story. As things stand, it may bring India back to the high cost economy of 1990s.

Are you concerned about India Inc's credit risk?
23 Feb 2009, 0616 hrs IST, Santanu Mishra

ET Intelligence Group bring out a comprehensive list of companies, which are most likely to weather the current financial turmoil.

Cashing in on recapitalisation
23 Feb 2009, 0610 hrs IST, Karan Sehgal

ETIG analyses the influence of government's recapitalisation drive on banks' performance.

Bull's Eye: Pantaloon, RCom, ITC, Hexaware, Titan Industries
23 Feb 2009, 0604 hrs IST

Here are some stocks you can trade upon this week.

GMR Infrastructure a safe bet
23 Feb 2009, 0552 hrs IST, Priya Kansara Pandya

GMR Infrastructure is well geared for substantial growth over the long term fuelled by its power and airport businesses.

Eveready to launch new products
23 Feb 2009, 0546 hrs IST, Kiran Kabtta

Though Eveready Industries' growth has stagnated in the last few years, the company bids to make a comeback with new product launches and diversification

Falling realty aids retail growth
23 Feb 2009, 0542 hrs IST, Supriya Verma Mishra

Declining rentals and sales overdrive have helped the retail sector shore up revenues.

Infra projects may bring relief to cement cos
23 Feb 2009, 0539 hrs IST, Amriteshwar Mathur

A surge in input costs has dealt a blow to the operating margins of the leading cement companies. Government sponsored infrastructure projects could bring some relief.

Gitanjali Gems: Stock provides good entry for investors
23 Feb 2009, 0530 hrs IST, Devangi Joshi

With a wider product range and potential to tap the premium end of the market through tie-ups with international retailers, Gitanjali is likely to make larger strides in the domestic retail space.

Fiscal deficit needs to be corrected
23 Feb 2009, 0524 hrs IST, Pallavi Mulay

Lower revenues in a slowing economy have widened the fiscal deficit. Government needs to rein it in order to keep the economy growing.

------------------------------------------------

Index Outlook

Sensex (8843.2)

Stock markets began to totter even as the interim budget was being read last Monday. All hopes of a flurry of policy changes to pull the distressed economy and stock markets out of the current morass were laid to rest by the insipid document. Sensex that had been clinging to a feeble up-trend, lost its hold and slid 8 per cent lower for the week.

The overseas markets were most unhelpful, slithering and sliding to multi-year lows, causing nervous jitters amongst the trading fraternity back home. Volumes were extremely low in cash market though they were decent in the derivative segment implying that traders are currently calling the shots in our market. FIIs turned net sellers once again taking the total outflow for 2009 to $1.3 billion.

The Sensex could make no headway last week and declined firmly below the 50-day simple moving average as well as our key short-term trend deciding level of 9050. The 10-day rate of change oscillator and the14-week relative strength index have moved in to the negative zone again signaling weakness in the short-term. Oscillators in weekly chart too are signaling a sell after a failed attempt to move in to the bullish zone.

If we follow conventional techniques, the Sensex is in a sideways trend since last October. The broad range for the Sensex over this move was between 8300 and 11000. It is normal for trepidation levels to increase every time the index nears the lower boundary of a trading range. It is then very easy to believe that there could be another 20 to 30 per cent decline from those levels. The reverse is true when the upper end of a trading band is reached as hope soars. The right approach would be to wait for either boundary to be breached before deciding on the next move.

The symmetric triangle formation that we had been tracking as per Elliott Wave rules, ended at 9724 and the lower trend-line of the triangle was also breached. The decline recorded last week can be labelled as either, a) The last wave down of the five-wave pattern from the January 2008 peak. The downward targets as per this count are 7300 and lower. b) Or an X wave that can be followed by another three or five wave pattern. If the index recovers from the zone between 8000 and 8500, we would have to revert to this count.

In other words, though the Sensex has reversed lower and gloom and doom is pervading everywhere, index is still above the support at 8300. A close below this level would be the first signal that investors should brace themselves for another plunge. Supports for the week ahead are at 8631, 8316 and 7697. A rebound can take the index higher to 9375 or 9725. Close above the second resistance is required to make the short-term outlook positive again.

Nifty (2736.4)

Nifty too reversed lower forming an evening star pattern in the weekly candlestick chart. The index has closed below the 50-day moving average as well as the lower trend-line of the symmetric triangle. It can decline to 2658, 2509 or 2425 in the near term.

Rallies will face resistance at 2870 and 2930. Short term traders can play short as long as the index trades below the first resistance. The medium term trend is however still sideways and there are a cluster of supports just below at 2660, 2570 and 2502. The medium term view will turn overtly negative only on a close below 2500. Such as move will signal that the down trend from the last January peak has resumed.

Global Cues

Global markets went in to a tailspin once more, led by the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA). This index breached the crucial 7500 mark that had been the cynosure of all eyes over the last couple of weeks and closed slightly lower. The next support is at 7197 that was the trough formed in October 2002.

A couple of monthly closes below this level is needed to sound the death knell for the structural bull market in equities. As per Elliott Wave counts, a significant low can be formed around 7500 in DJIA which can be followed by an intermediate term rally lasting a few months. But a strong decline below 7500 will give the next target at 6500 for this index. The S&P 500 is still holding above its 2008 lows.CBOE Volatility index spiked to 50 though it is way below the peak at 89 recorded last October. Investors have probably learnt to live with the bad news and sliding stock markets. Many of the European indices such as the CAC, DAX, Greece General Share Index, Italy’s MIBTEL and Spain’s Madrid General index are testing their 2008 lows or are already below it. Asian markets led by China and the Latin-American markets have weathered the decline relatively well over the last month.

STOCKS: Reliance Communications: Buy
Investors with a two-three year horizon can consider buying the share of Reliance Communications (RCom), going by its pan-India dual-technology mobile play and the strength in its enterprise division, both of which offer long-term ...

STOCKS: Container Corporation: Buy
Investments with a two-three year perspective can be considered in the stock of Container Corporation of India (Concor). While slackening demand and tightening of lending has taken a toll on most logistics ...

STOCKS: Sesa Goa: Buy
Investors with a three-year horizon can consider accumulating the stock of Sesa Goa, trading at Rs 82.10. The company’s market leadership in iron ore mining and exports, signs that Chinese demand for Indian ore may resume on the back of ...

STOCKS: Bartronics India: Buy
Investors with a two-year perspective can buy the shares of Bartronics India, considering large multi-year deal wins that bolster its order-book, and strong position as a SIM card manufacturer for telecom companies in ...


DERIVATIVES MARKETS: Nifty future may move in a range
Equity markets in India were back to square one last week, as both the Interim Budget and on Obama stimulus plan failed to live up to expectation. The NSE Nifty February future crashed by eight per cent to end at 2722 against the previous ...




Market makes downside breakout

-


The market collapsed in a dramatic fashion on the back of selling by both domestic and overseas institutions in the wake of a disappointing interim Budget. The Nifty was down 7.2 per cent, closing at 2,736 points while the Sensex lost 8.2 per cent to close at 8,843 points. The Defty lost 9.5 per cent with the rupee plunging to 49.85 to the dollar.


While volumes in the cash market were low, they rose in the derivatives market. Breadth was adverse with declines far outnumbering advances. The banking sector was hit hard with the Bank Nifty losing over 13.8 per cent. The broad BSE 500 was down 7.8 per cent. Trading outside the derivatives sector was of almost negligible volume.

Outlook: The outlook is clearly bearish and the market is likely to move down until it hits supports somewhere between 2,500-2,600. The down move broke a key support in the 2,850 region. That will act as a resistance on any up move. Volatility is likely to rise next week due to settlement considerations.

Rationale: The last couple of months have seen the market trade two ranges. The lower range is Nifty 2,500-2,850 and the higher, 2,850-3,150. Last week, the market broke the support of 2,850 and headed into the lower range. It’s liable to swing down until the lower end where there is support between 2,500-2,650. Be prepared for at least one session of short-covering where 2,850 will be a resistance.

Counter-view: An upwards break and a close above 2,850 would destroy the downtrend. This looks unlikely but if it does happen, the market would trade up till at least 3,000. The lack of volumes in the cash market in the past month makes it quite sensitive to larger infusions that could result during settlement week.

Bulls & Bears: The landscape consisted of bearish counters with the odd winner scattered amidst many losers. The downtrend in the financial sector had the biggest effect on the market. Most banks slid and several such as Axis Bank, Canara Bank and ICICI Bank looked set to test their respective lows of 2008.

The IT sector also did badly with the CNXIT down by 5.9 per cent. Key stocks such as Infosys and the ever-volatile Educomp looked set to drop further. However Tech Mahindra saw some institutional buying. Most other sectors did badly.

The few gains that appeared came across three sectors that probably benefited from short-covering. Automobiles and real estate have been among the worst performers of this bear market but both sectors saw some price stabilisation and bottoming formations last week.

Mahindra looked like a decent pick, for instance. Pharmaceuticals saw some selective buying in Matrix Labs. Lupin also seems promising.

MICRO TECHNICALS

ABB

Current Price: Rs 399

Target Price: NA

The stock has seen buying after hitting a new low of Rs 365, dropping from Rs 445 levels on last Monday. It is likely to see a pullback till around the Rs 430 on what appears to be a strong trend of short covering. Keep a stop at Rs 390 and go long.

AXIS BANK

Current Price: Rs 373

Target Price: Rs 350

The stock has broken support at Rs 375 and it is set to fall further. The target would be around Rs 350-Rs 355. Keep a stop at Rs 380 and go short. Partially cover below Rs 355. If it closes below Rs 350, it could fall further to Rs 330 mark.

DR REDDY'S

Current Price: Rs 395

Target Price: Rs 420

The stock shows signs of a bottoming formation. It could be due for a pullback till the Rs 420 level with some resistance at around Rs 410. Keep a stop at Rs 390 and go long. Start covering above Rs 410.

MARUTI SUZUKI

Current Price: Rs 630

Target Price: Rs 680

The stock is testing resistance around Rs 635-Rs 640. If it does close above Rs 640, it would have a target of about Rs 680. Keep a stop at Rs 615 and go long. Buy more if the stock closes above the Rs 640 level.

PURVANKARA

Current Price: Rs 37.3

Target Price: Rs 44

The stock appears to have hit good support. It has the potential to pull back till around Rs 44. On the other hand, if it closes below Rs 36, it is liable to collapse till the Rs 28 level. So it’s delicately poised. Keep a stop at Rs 36 and go long, booking profits at Rs 42 plus. If it closes below Rs 36, go short with a target of Rs 29.



Source:ET,BL,BS.




Slumdog Millionaire takes suspense out of Oscars

'Slumdog Millionaire' takes suspense out of Oscars


LOS ANGELES: Academy Awards organisers are going all out to inject more suspense into Hollywood's biggest party Sunday, but this year's show

again suffers from a predictability factor with ``Slumdog Millionire'' expected to take the top prize.

hile there are close races in most key categories, the Oscar for best picture is expected to go to British director Danny Boyle's film which has won the same honor at every other awards ceremony that matters.

The Oscars had their lowest TV ratings ever last year, when the best-picture prize was handed to ``No Country for Old Men,'' which dominated earlier awards shows just as ``Slumdog Millionaire'' has.

A best-picture nomination for ``The Dark Knight'' might have helped, since more viewers tend to tune in when such behemoth films are in the running. Though ``Dark Knight'' supporting-actor nominee Heath Ledger looks like a lock to become only the second performer ever to win an Oscar posthumously, the Batman blockbuster was left out of other top categories.

``Slumdog Millionaire,'' an infectious story of a Mumbai street orphan who finds fame, love and wealth in the face of terrible hardship, faces off for best picture against the romantic fantasy ``The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,'' the Richard Nixon tale ``Frost/Nixon,'' the Harvey Milk gay politician drama ``Milk'' and the Holocaust-themed saga ``The Reader.''

Oscar planners are trying to spice up the show with an air of mystery. Filmmakers Bill Condon and Laurence Mark are overseeing the ceremony, their first time working on the Oscars, which they hope to shake up with new approaches to what has become a staid procession of awards, many of which the average viewer does not care about.

They won't reveal just what they have in mind, other than to say they want to try different methods of presenting the trophies and otherwise reinvigorate the festivities.

``That's what we're hoping to do across the board, just freshen them up and surprise people again with the way these awards are given,'' Condon said.

Organisers dropped their usual onslaught of announcements about A-list celebrities appearing as awards presenters. Their identities are being kept secret, and their presence - at least in some cases - is being kept off the red carpet
.


Audiences can count on a healthy dose of stars among the acting nominees, who include past Oscar winners Meryl Streep, Sean Penn, Angelina Jolie

and Marisa Tomei.
Jolie's romantic partner, Brad Pitt, also is nominated, along with Kate Winslet, Anne Hathaway, Penelope Cruz and Robert Downey Jr.

Downey crept in with a rare comic performance, the sort that usually does not fare well among the heavy dramas favored by Oscar voters. He's nominated as supporting actor for ``Tropic Thunder,'' in which he plays an awards-obsessed actor who buries himself in his roles - his latest as a black soldier in a Vietnam flick, for which Downey's character underwent a radical procedure to darken his skin.

``There is no way I could have read the script and said, `It's Oscar time,''' Downey said. ``I was just hoping I wasn't shot at the premiere.''

While Downey is almost certain to be an also-ran in his category because of the heavy odds on Ledger, there is suspense for lead-acting honors.

Best actress shapes up as a two-woman race between Streep as an old-school nun in ``Doubt'' and Winslet as a former concentration camp guard in ``The Reader.'' It would be the third Oscar for Streep, who has a record 15 acting nominations, while it would be Winslet's first win after five previous losses.

Going head-to-head for best actor are Penn in the title role of ``Milk'' and Mickey Rourke as a former ring star with a last shot at glory in ``The Wrestler.'' Frank Langella also is a strong contender as Nixon in ``Frost/Nixon.''

Rourke joked about his own expectations for the evening. ``I'll probably be sitting out there clapping for Sean Penn,'' Rourke said.

Cruz is the favorite for supporting actress as a volatile artist in ``Vicky Cristina Barcelona,'' though first-time nominee Viola Davis is considered a potential upset winner for ``Doubt,'' in which she plays the mother of a boy who may have been victimised by a priest.

Davis said she grew up more a fan of the Tony Awards on television rather than the Oscars.

``I have to say, I never imagined winning an Oscar,'' Davis said. ``A Tony Award, yes. Not an Oscar. That was almost too big for me. But I imagine it now.''


Other stories in this section
More at ET.

16 February 2009

Full coverage of Interim Budget 2009

Full coverage of Interim Budget 2009

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/budget.cms

Full Speech: Interim Budget 2009-2010


With FM's hands tied by convention, it's over to RBI

16 Feb 2009, 1432 hrs IST, TK ARUN, ET Bureau

Propriety, it would appear, has tied Mr Mukherjee's hands. He has followed the tradition of the interim budget merely being a vote on account, without tweaking taxation. The global economic crisis and its impact on the Indian economy had given him an opportunity to de-part from tradition and announce some measures in the budget that would give a fillip to the slowing economy. He has chosen not to.

Budget a sob story: Pranab presents UPA report card


Budget a sob story: Pranab stops at presenting UPA report card

16 Feb 2009, 1244 hrs IST, ECONOMICTIMES.COM

Infrastructure is the only sector that could have a short-lived reason to rejoice post the presentation of the interim budget even as the UPA government decided to maintain status quo on direct and indirect taxes for the next four months in a vote-of account that quadrupled India’s revenue deficit estimates.

Full Speech: Interim Budget 2009-2010

Spending may jump to counter global crunch: Govt

Deficit must go up after 'dream' economic run: Govt

No mandate to tweak taxes; can't keep borrowing: Mukherjee

16 Feb 2009, 1323 hrs IST, PTI

The government has pegged fiscal deficit at 5.5 per cent of Gross Domestic Product for the next financial year, against the revised figure of 6 per cent in the current financial year.

Budget a sob story: Pranab presents UPA report card

Market falls 3.4% as budget dashes stimulus hopes
Indian equities ended with sharp losses Monday as traders unwinded long positions after the UPA government washed away expectations of a stimulus package in the form of interim budget.
Service tax budgeted at Rs.689 bn for 2009-10Service tax budgeted at Rs.689 bn for 2009-10
Revised estimate for the current fiscal was put at Rs.65,000 crore in the interim budget, presented by Pranab Mukherjee.

Markets:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/marketnew/1977021501.cms

Reactions:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/budgetlist/4069777.cms


Reactions to interim budget
More >>

Budget Basics
Budget GlossaryBudget Glossary
If financial terms sound to you like the British mumbo-jumbo, here's a ready reckoner for you. Team ET simplifies the Budget terms in a five-part series. We have, however, departed from the way glossaries are presented, in alphabetical order.
More >>

Govt says spending may jump to counter global crunch

The government projected spending may have to jump later this year to shield the economy from a global slump and stem job losses, fueling fears of a spiralling fiscal deficit that is headed for a 7-year high. Full Article | Full Coverage

Slideshow: Interim Budget 2009/10

BSE Sensex falls 3.4 pct as budget disappoints 6:35pm IST

MUMBAI (Reuters) - BSE Sensex fell 3.4 percent on Monday, its biggest drop in two weeks, after an interim budget failed to provide a much needed impetus to struggling sectors such as construction and autos. Full Article

More Money News...

Photo
INDUSTRY VIEW

Investors lose Rs one trillion on Budget day

16 Feb 2009, 1949 hrs IST, PTI

Investors lost close to Rs one lakh crore as market gave a thumbs down to the Budget. Gainers: BSE ( A, B ) | NSE | Losers: BSE ( A, B ) | NSE | 52 Wk: High, Low



03:37 - Markets crack; Nifty ends below 2850


Budget:
No tax cuts | Highlights | Sensex sinks

India’s Budget disappoints; no tax sops
Budget: Key points | Full speech | Coverage
Has UPA let an opportunity pass it by?
Govt to 'save' Rs 3 lakh on ministers' tours!
India's GDP clocked 9% in 2008
Budget: The fiscal policy overview
Fiscal deficit to rise to 5.5%
The math of borrowings and debt
Defence allocation up| Budget at a glance
$32.4 billion FDI received in 2007-08
Big schemes get more money



Source: ALL web sources, ET,MC,Rediff etc


















15 February 2009

BUDGET 2009 Pages From Moneycontrol.com

http://budget.moneycontrol.com/


Economic milestones of UPA government


The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is expected to recommend dissolution of the present Lok Sabha after the February session. The general election for the 15th Lok Sabha is due before May.

The UPA government claims it had taken action on "almost all 142 items" of significance in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP), its agenda of governance. The CMP's chief focus was on employment, agriculture, health, education, women and children, national security, foreign policy, food, Panchayati Raj, social harmony, minorities, water resources, regional development, among others.

Its most notable achievement includes inflation control and maintaining a tight regulatory environment which prevented domestic institutions from falling prey to global financial woes.

Rising crude and global commodity prices saw inflation bordering around 12%. But a number of policy measures ensured that prices remain under control and the aam aadmi does not suffer.

Dr Shankar Acharya, Honorary Professor, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) and Member of Board of Governors, said a number of subsidies announced last year helped keep prices of food, fertiliser, and petroleum low. "The consequences of that in a normal year might have been rather unpleasant but this hasn’t been a normal year."

The CMP promised an increase in investment for agriculture, which has been in the throes of a crisis. The government promised that immediate steps would be taken to ease the burden of debt and high interest rates on farm loans. In last year's Budget, the government announced a Rs 60,000 crore loan waiver scheme.

The UPA's CMP included a National Employment Guarantee Act to provide at least 100 days of employment for at least one able-bodied person in every rural, urban, poor, and middle-class household. The Act is now functional across India.

It also pledged to raise public spending in education to at least 6% of GDP with at least half this amount being spent on primary and secondary sectors. This was its stance on education. At last count, the UPA government's investment in education stood at 3.5% of GDP.

But despite all these achievements the government failed to deliver on a number of fronts. Primary being its failure to control the rising fiscal deficit. The overall deficit in the current fiscal is expected to surge to 7.5% of the gross domestic product, as against the projected 2.5% in 2008-09.

Since then there has been additional spending of about Rs 1.6 trillion. This increase is attributed to off-budget liabilities – including hefty subsidies on food, fertiliser and fuel – that keep piling on.
The Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council (EAC) had issued a warning related to serious fiscal risks. It advised the government to urgently raise fuel prices as there was a large backlog of fuel price adjustments to be done.
In addition to the Union government’s extra spending, the state governments have also been given permission to borrow an additional Rs 30,000 crore to fund the stimulus package to combat the slowdown.

The large outgoings for the UPA government’s pet scheme, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme has been a serious cause of concern. Former governor of Reserve Bank of India C Rangarajan had remarked that implementation of the Rural Employment Guarantee programme and the Sixth Pay Commission’s report will take the total deficit to 5%. Similarly, it painted a gloomy scenario on the balance of payments front, pointing out that the current account deficit will balloon to USD 41.5 billion, or 3.2% of GDP, up from 1.5% in fiscal 2007-08. This will be the first time that India’s current account deficit will touch such high levels since the 1991 economic crisis, which triggered off the reforms process.
A number of these steps have resulted in a growth slowdown. The EAC has projected a much slower pace of growth for the current fiscal. The economy is expected to expand by 7.7%, down from last year’s 9.1%, and lower than the earlier projections made by the government and RBI of around 8-8.5%.
However, external factors like global economic deceleration, tightening credit, falling equity markets, and the regressive effects of commodity price-led inflation are also to be blamed for slowdown in economic growth.
Year GDP
2004-05 7.5
2005-06 9.4
2006-07 9.6
2007-08 8.7




There were also a number of areas like health, education, rural employment and agriculture on which it promised but has under delivered.

A report filed a civil society review of CMP implementation (called the People's Verdict) alleged that the promised increase in budgetary allocations to health by 2-3% of GDP has not been met.

The report said spending on health by the Centre is stagnant from 2003-04 onwards. "The present UPA government promised to spend 3% of GDP on health but after four years, the total spending is hovering around 1% of GDP," the document claimed.

Referring to the CMP proposal to spend 6% of GDP on education with at least half the amount being earmarked for primary and secondary sectors, the report said the combined outlay for the education departments of the Centre and states remain at a "meagre 2.84% of GDP" in 2007-08.



Attachments : cmp.pdf



Industry under UPA

See how other industries fared under the UPA

 Auto IT Banks
 Fertiliser Metal Capital Goods

Economy under UPA

GDP | Inflation | Saving vs Investment | IIP


View macro economic indicators in detail: GDP | Inflation | Saving vs Investment | IIP


India Inc's expectations from the Interim Budget

Did the UPA make you richer or poorer?

 HOW well do you know your taxes? Did the UPA government leave your richer or poorer? Take this test to find out.
Read all >

From our archives


UPA’s Economic Face

Key economic portfolios & ministers who headed it

Prime Minister
Dr. Manmohan Singh

Minister of Home Affairs
Shri P. Chidambaram

Minister of External Affairs and Minister of Finance
Shri Pranab Mukherjee

Minister of Railways
Shri Lalu Prasad


Read all >>


Source:Moneycontrol.com


Stock Analysis and Business Articles from DP blog

Stock Analysis and Business Articles from DP blog