FINANCIAL COFFEE

(Please click on the Newspaper link to read the full article)   INDIAN ECONOMY World Bank pegs India's FY13 growth at 5.4% Import duty on gold may be raised to 6% Govt may impose 5% import duty on crude edible oil Possible reintroduction of estate duty triggers restructuring of assets RBI Governor Duvvuri Subbarao tempers expectations of rate cut Government wants to sell off TCIL in current fiscal INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY Retail Sales Rise in U.S. to Close 2012 on good Note: Economy German Economy Probably Contracted 0.5% in Fourth Quarter China Defends Export Data After Economists’ Skepticism Russia Holds Rates as Slumping Economy Sets Stage to Ease U.K. Inflation Stays Above BOE expectation Spanish Underlying Inflation Rate Declines Amid Recession EQUITY MARKET Steel prices to go up further in Feb SEBI seeks fresh details on Diageo’s open offer for United Spirits Sensex up 80 points at close YES Bank in race to acquire RBS' retail assets in India Pharma Sector’s Growth Weakens in Dec Quarter DEBT MARKET Bankers want RBI to cut rates, CRR IRFC to raise over Rs 8,886 cr via tax-exempt bonds Treasury Yields at Almost at Low peak of Year on Debt Debate Japan’s Bonds Rise After Shirakawa Says Economy Is Weak Fitch Says Top AAA Sovereign Ratings Under Pressure in 2013 Draghi Boosts 30-Year German Index-Linked Debt Hope Japan to Sell Debt Worth 7.8 Trillion Yen to Pay for Stimulus COMMODITIES/FOREX Platinum Advances to Three-Month High on Production Cuts Gold Forecasters Splitting on Peak for Bull Market: Commodities Oil Falls From Four-Month High Amid Debt-Ceiling Talks Rupee loses 12 paise against dollar Yen Gains Most Since May on Weakness Warning; Rand Drops Canadian Dollar Falls Against Yen on Japan Stimulus View Brazil Swap Rates Rise as Retail Sales defeats Forecast; Real Drops Aussie Dollar Drops Versus Peers Before Employment Data  MUTUAL FUNDS Local MFs outpace foreign players in asset growth LIC Nomura relaunches insurance-linked scheme Equity funds set to announce dividend payments on robust 2012 gains SEBI cancels registration of Fidelity Mutual Fund INSURANCE Health insurance: IRDA proposes uniform definition of key terms Health claim approvals should be instant like credit cards: Antony Jacob, CEO, Apollo Munich Health REAL ESTATE Personal property owners to be can expand in Lutyens' Bungalow Zone Builders oppose real estate regulatory bill OPINION Should industrial houses be given bank licences? GAAR:  Subir Roy: The next step for Indian banking Watering down GAAR Sick economy, clueless doctors India Inc opposes higher taxes on rich KNOWLEDGE CENTER More is Not Always Better  One-person companies may soon become a reality A rush to save taxes can cost you dear Tax planning for new year