Financial Coffee

(Please click on the Newspaper link to read the full article)   INDIAN ECONOMY Standard rate of excise duty may not see change in Budget CAG Discovers 1,336-cr Gap in EPFO Books Bringining down expenditure by . 93,000 Cr Many major steps in last Budget not implemented Budget 2013 choices give less room for rate cuts, fears RBI Budget 2013: What NRIs expect from the Finance Minister INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY White House pushing tax hikes, spending cuts to avoid sequester Canada’s Economy Struggles as Inflation and Sales Slow ECB Says Banks to Repay Less Than Forecast of Second Loan EU Says Euro Zone to Shrink in 2013 as Unemployment Rises Consumer Stocks Reflect Skepticism About U.S. Spending EQUITY MARKET Cement production may rise by 6.4% in FY’13: CMIE FIIs invest over $4 b in Indian equities in Feb Will the Budget make the bulls see red? DoT tells operators to stop 3G roaming, recommends penalty Indian companies' fresh order inflows the weakest in four years Markets may Bounce Back on Budget Hopes  DEBT MARKET Bond yields likely to fall; Re may strengthen EPFO may decide to pay 8.5% rate for 2012-13 today U.S. 10-Year Yields Trade Close to One-Week Low With Fed COMMODITIES Oil Fluctuates as German Confidence Gains; U.S. Supplies Gold Futures Head for Third Straight Weekly Decline Aluminum Drops for Fifth Day as China Output Adds to Supplies  FOREX Rupee posts biggest single-day gain in three weeks Euro Touches One-Month Low as Repayments Are Less Than Forecast Aussie Gains as Stevens Signals Intervention Bar High   MUTUAL FUNDS Multi-cap funds work for small portfolios ‘Pick quality liquid assets’ CAN THE MARKET DECIDE YOUR ALLOCATION? Hike Short term Cap Gains Tax to Push Long term Savings  INSURANCE Definition of 46 health insurance terms standardised Insurers must settle claim for stolen vehicles REAL ESTATE Real estate growth to continue on city fringes Delhi likely to pip other destinations as most expensive for commercial realty Previously Owned U.S. Home Sales Climb to 4.92 Million  OPINION Gold futures to test support levels M J Antony: Debt recovery only by tribunal Sumit Dutt Majumder: GST: Breakthrough, but bumpy road ahead Devangshu Datta: Triple-witching on Budget day Reinforce Trust to Restore Growth Bees, Lotuses and Elephants  KNOWLEDGE CENTER Gain from asset allocation Decoding Budget Lingo Avoid Trading, Stick to Quality Large-cap Stocks till Budget Guarding against a weak rupee How the rupee’s movements can wreck your portfolio