Financial Coffee

(Please click on the Newspaper link to read the full article)   INDIAN ECONOMY Inflation still high, says Subbarao India, Sweden amend tax treaty New bank licence norms ‘very soon’: RBI Deputy Governor Banks’ bad loans could go up as Govt delays payments to vendors We will focus on creating macro-economic stability: Rajan Forex reserves down by $595 mn to $295 bn Finance Ministry pegs growth at 5.5% this fiscal INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY Oil Exports Trim U.S. Trade Deficit as Fuel Gap Shrinks: Economy German Exports Rose in December to Cap Trillion-Euro Year Japan Posts Back-to-Back Current-Account Deficit in December China Festive Sales Seen Gaining as Economy Strengthens EQUITY MARKET 8 sectors which could be impacted by Budget 2013 Analysts don’t expect Nifty to correct sharply in near term BSE Sensex plunges to rock-bottom in 2013 after 7-day losing streak Chidambaram to launch Rajiv Gandhi equity scheme tomorrow DEBT MARKET Bankers want SLR reduced if HTM bond limit is cut IRFC mops up Rs 5,350 cr through tax-saving bond issue Call rates edge higher on reporting Friday Bond yields edge lower on March rate cut hopes Treasury 10-Year Yields Are Poised For Weekly Decline Spanish Bonds for Gain Second Day on ECB Policy Bets COMMODITIES Growth data may put gold under pressure Copper Rises Most in a Week on China’s Trade, Auto Data Brent Oil Rises to Nine-Month High on China World Cotton Surplus Estimate Raised on Bigger Crop in China FOREX Rupee depreciates the most in over a month on Friday Euro Near 2-Week Low, Poised for Weekly Drop, on Draghi Warning Brazilian Real Touches Highest Since May as Mantega Sets Ceiling Pound Posts Biggest Weekly Gain Versus Euro Since 2011  MUTUAL FUNDS Market rally fuels exits from equity schemes Rajiv Gandhi scheme: SEBI extends new fund offer period to 30 days Are fixed maturity plans losing sheen? INSURANCE Insurers can now invest up to 15% in equity of a company IRDA proposes to lower solvency margin to 145 pc for insurers REAL ESTATE ABG Group said be in talks to sell prime Worli plot Morgan Stanley may invest up to Rs 9-10 billion in Mumbai office development: Sources Real value U.K. Property Prices Increased in January, Acadametrics Says  OPINION Tax administration, heal thyself Better than it looks Should housing be given ‘infrastructure status’? - YES Should housing be given ‘infrastructure status’? - NO KNOWLEDGE CENTER Tax-savings Bonds are  Best option before Rates Fall Park money in a contingency fund Look beyond Section 80 C for tax-saving instruments Guarding against a weak rupee How the rupee’s movements can wreck your portfolio