HDFC cuts home loan rates by 150 bps, loans at 9.75%

MUMBAI: The country's largest housing finance company HDFC has reduced home loan rates by as much as 150 basis points following a reduction in its cost of funds.

With this cut all floating rate loans will be available at 9.75% the same level as they were in 2006.

Terming the reduction a special offer, HDFC officials said that such offers were typical of the financial year-end deals.

Biggest gainers this are those seeking to avail of loans between Rs 20 to Rs 30 lakh as interest rates have been reduced 150 basis points to 9.75% from 11.25% earlier.

For loans below Rs 20 lakh the reduction is 50 basis points as the earlier rate was 10.25%. HDFC lending rate cut comes on the back of two successive 50 basis point cuts in deposit rates in recent weeks.

Soruce: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Business/HDFC_home_loans_now_at_975/articleshow/3989196.cms

RBI may not cut rates in policy review: Finmin

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) may not go in for key policy rate cuts in its quarterly policy review slated for January 23, said a senior finance ministry official.

"We don't expect rate cuts by the RBI," the offical said, adding the repo and reverse repo rates (short-term lending and borrowing rates) and policy ratios like the cash reserve ratio (CRR) are likely to be retained at the existing level.

The RBI is slated to announce a review of monetary policy on January 23 after taking into account the latest developments in international and domestic markets.

The central bank on January 4 reduced the repo rate (at which banks borrow from the RBI) by 100 basis points to 5.5 per cent, the reverse repo rate (at which the RBI pays to banks) by 100 basis points to 4 per cent, and the CRR (the amount banks are required to park with the RBI) from 5.50 per cent to 5 per cent.

These monetary steps were aimed at injecting more funds into the system and signalling a softer interest rate regime to boost economic growth.

The RBI has been reducing key policy rates since October to neutralise the impact of the global financial meltdown on the Indian economy.

While the repo rate and the CRR were at nine per cent in October, the reverse repo rate was at 6 per cent.

Bankers and analysts, however, have been expecting further cuts in key policy rates by the RBI in its January review as inflation has come down to 5.24 per cent from a peak of 12.91 per cent in August last year.

Soruce: http://www.business-standard.com/india/

Sensex ends up 277pts; NTPC, Reliance surge

The Sensex opened 79 points higher at 9,126 backed by a recovery in global markets. Steady buying therafter, mainly in the enery and metal stocks, helped the index display firm trend today.

The Sensex touched a high of 9,342 at the fag end of the day, and finally ended with a gain of 277 points (3%) at 9,324.

However, the BSE Mid-cap index was up a mere 0.5% at 3,027, and the Small-cap index ended a tad higher at 3,413.

The Oil & Gas index surged 5% to 5,934, and the Power index rallied 4.3% to 1,767. The Metal index gained 3.5% at 4,995. The Realty index, however, slipped 2.4% to 1,724.

The market breadth was marginally positive - out of 2,497 stocks traded, 1,241 advanced, 1,162 declined and the rest were unchanged today.

INDEX MOVERS...
NTPC soared 7.7% to Rs 180. Tata Power surged nearly 5% to Rs 773.

Reliance Infrastructure rallied 7.3% to Rs 541. Reliance gained 6.5% at Rs 1,218, and Reliance Communications moved up 4.8% to Rs 183.

Bharti Airtel gained 4.8% at Rs 633. ONGC, ICICI Bank and Hindalco moved up 3.7% each to Rs 648, Rs 424 and Rs 50, respectively.

BHEL and Tata Steel advanced over 3% each to Rs 1,398 and Rs 204, respectively.

...AND THE SHAKERS
DLF plunged 3.5% to Rs 195. TCS and Grasim slipped over 1% each to Rs 503 and Rs 1,280, respectively.

VALUE & VOLUME TOPPERS
Reliance topped the value chart with a turnover of Rs 266.50 crore followed by Satyam (Rs 152.85 crore), Reliance Capital (Rs 120.85 crore), Reliance Infrastructure (Rs 115.45 crore) and Educomp Solutions (Rs 103.75 crore).

Satyam led the volume chart with trades of around 6.15 crore shares followed by Unitech (2.60 crore), Reliance Natural Resources (1.65 crore), Bank of Baroda (1.24 crore) and Suzlon Energy (69.30 crore).

Soruce: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/sensex-ends277pts-ntpc-reliance-surge/18/15/53045/on

Post Session Market

Date : Jan-16-2009 16:38
Positive cues from the global markets along with news that Bank of America will receive fresh aid from the US government, led the pleasant closure of the Indian markets. The largest U.S. bank by assets, Bank of America Corp., received a $138 billion emergency salvation from the government to support its acquisition of Merrill Lynch & Co. and prevent the global financial crisis from intensifying. The U.S. government agreed to invest $20 billion more in Bank of America and guarantee $118 billion of assets as part of its commitment to maintain financial-market stability. Confidence that the US government will act to prevent the yearlong recession from deepening as well as firm European markets also supported the rally.

The domestic market today made sharp turnaround from the yesterday’s losses and opened higher on the back of positive Asian Markets. Further, market continued to gain ground on the back of sustained buying interest seen across board contributed mainly by US government aid for Bank of America. Though, volatility ruled the bourses in mid-afternoon trade, market managed to make a rebound to trade on firm note. During the final trading hours market gained the most to close the day with gains on huge buying. From the sectoral front, most of the indices ended in green and most of the buying was seen in Reality Oil & Gas, Power, Metal, PSU, Bank and Teck stocks. However, Reality stocks remained out of favour today. Midcap and Smallcap stocks remained quiet during the trading but managed to close in green terrain.

Among the Sensex pack 25 stocks ended in green territory and 5 in red. The market breadth remained in favor of advancers as 1241 stocks closed in green while 1162 stocks closed in red and 94 stocks remained unchanged in BSE.

The BSE Sensex closed higher by 276.85 points at 9,323.59 and NSE Nifty ended up by 91.75 points at 2,828.45. The BSE Mid Caps and Small Caps ended with gains of 16.02 points and 2.29 points at 3,026.83 and 3,412.77 respectively. The BSE Sensex touched intraday high of 9,342.47 and intraday low of 9,125.65.

Gainers from the BSE Sensex pack are NTPC Ltd (7.69%), Reliance Infra (7.34%), Reliance (6.56%), Tata Power (4.89%), Hindalco (4.64%), RCom (4.79%), Bharti Airtel (4.77%), ONGC Ltd (3.72%), ICICI Bank (3.69%) and BHEL (3.24%).

Losers from the BSE Sensex pack are DLF Ltd (3.51%), TCS Ltd (1.38%), Grasim Indus (1.11%), ACC Ltd (0.27%) and Maruti Suzuki (0.22%).

The BSE Oil & Gas index outperformed among all the sectoral indices to close higher by (5.09%) or 287.66 points at 5,933.69. Major gainers are Reliance (6.56%), Reliance Natural Resources (4.05%), Cairn India (3.94%), Gail India (3.75%), ONGC Ltd (3.72%) and HPCL (2.59%).

The BSE Power index inclined (4.29%) or 72.74 points at 1,767.43. Gainers are Neyveli LIG (10.76%), NTPC Ltd (7.69%), Reliance Infra (7.34%), Suzlon Energy (5.42%), Tata Power (4.89%) and BHEL (3.24%).

The BSE Metal also contributed to the rally and ended up by (3.45%) or 166.41 points at 4,995.43. Main gainers are Steel Authority (7.70%), Sesa Goa Ltd (5.13%), Jindal Steel (4.17%), NMDC Ltd (3.86%), Hindalco (3.63%) and Welspan Gujarat SR (2.87%).

The BSE PSU index witnessed northward journey today to close higher by (3.36%) or 165.09 points to at 5,085.20 as Neyveli LIG (10.76%), Steel Authority (7.70%), NTPC Ltd (7.69%), NMDC Ltd (3.86%), Gail India (3.75%) and NMDC Ltd (3.86%), ended in green.

The BSE Bank index gained on hopes lower interest rates may boost lending growth and on expectations of strong Q3 December 2008 results and advanced (2.42%) or 118.96 points to close at 5,037.84 as Federal Bank (9.41%), Yes Bank (4.21%), ICICI Bank (3.69%), Bank of India (3.28%), Kotak Bank (3.10%) and Union Bank (3.09%) ended in positive territory.

The BSE Reality index underperformed the benchmark indices to close with losses of (2.39%) or 42.26 points at 1,723.76. Scrips that lost are Unitech Ltd (5.49%), Mahindra Life (4.27%), DLF Ltd (3.51%), Indiabull Real (3.34%) and Orbit Co (0.75%).

Market nudging higher on global cues: Sensex above 9K mark

Date : Jan-16-2009 13:37
Market extended early gains, well above that psychological level of 9k mark, as fresh buying was seen in Index stocks. Recent news relating to Bank of America, newly nominated board member of Satyam and positive results from TCS supported the sentiments of the investors. However, concerns over economic slowdown, increasing number of job losses, stringent monitory policy, lack of liquidity, lower purchasing power parity and threat of depression are resisting the market to rally.

On the sectoral front, traders on-loaded position across sectors except Realty and IT. Auto stocks continues its northward direction on hopes lower interest rates and fall in fuel prices would boost demand for vehicles which are mainly driven by finance.

The Market breadth, indicating the overall strength of the market, was positive. On BSE, out of 2,314 stocks traded so far, 1,136 shares advanced while 1,097 shares declined. Nearly 81 shares are unchanged.

At 1.30PM, the BSE Sensex is trading higher by 164.6 points at 9,211.35 and NSE Nifty is up by 57.65 points at 2,794.35.

The BSE Mid Cap is trading higher by 7.7 points at 3,018.52 and Small cap is trading down by 0.23 points at 3,410.25.

Gainers from the BSE Sensex Pack are NTPC Ltd capitalized 5.24% to Rs. 175.75 along with Reliance Industries Ltd gained 4.30% to Rs. 1,192.50, R. Com 4.73% to Rs. 182.50, Reliance Infra 4.01% to Rs. 524.40, Bharti Airtel by 3.47% to Rs. 625.00, Tata Power by 2.73% at Rs. 757.40 and OCL by 2.50% at Rs. 640.50 among others.

Losers from the BSE Sensex Pack are DLF slumped 4.77% to Rs. 192.65 along with Wipro Ltd down by 1.83% at Rs. 231.00, TCS Ltd 1.47% to Rs. 502.50 and ACC Ltd by 0.90% at Rs. 498.00 among others.

The BSE Oil&Gas index is higher by 204.86 points or 3.63% at 5,850.89. Stocks trading in green are Reliance Industries Ltd gained 4.30% to Rs. 1,192.50, Gail India by 3.30% at Rs. 206.50, OCL by 2.50% at Rs. 640.50, Cairn Ind 2.41% to Rs. 153.20 and RNRL by 2.32% to Rs. 53.00 among others.

Satyam Computer Services galloped 18.72% to Rs. 24.10, on high volumes of 3.01 crore shares after Deepak Parekh, statement that if the cash-strapped company''s receivables come on time, it would not need any financial assistance from the government.

Reliance Industries Ltd gained 4.30% to Rs. 1,192.50, after announcement that it will start fuel exports from its new refinery this month. RPL, last month, commissioned its 5,80,000-barrels-per-day only for exports refinery at Jamnagar in Gujarat.

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation rose 2.71% to Rs. 641.85 on reports of investment of $5.3 billion in developing gas finds in two of its eastern offshore KrishnaGodavari basin blocks to produce 25 million standard cubic meters per day of gas by 2013.

Ranbaxy Laboratories slipped 0.35% to Rs. 215.25 despite it is planning to exit its Japanese joint venture - Nihon Pharmaceuticals Industry (NPI) by selling 50% stake after the Indian drug maker was acquired by Japanese drug major Daiichi Sankyo. The acquired company will sell the stake back to its Japanese partner Nippon Chemiphar.

DLF slumped 4.77% to Rs. 192.65 on reports it is planning to turn down its special economic zone (SEZ) plans, battered by low demand for real estate. The company is planning to start five of its SEZs after 2010 when demand revives.

Tata Consultancy Services fell 1.52% to Rs. 502.25 on posting a lower-than-expected rise in net profit in Q3 FY09.

Everest Kanto Cylinder gained 0.80% to Rs. 170.00 as board of directors will meet on 23 January 2009 to explore opportunities for buying back of foreign currency convertible bonds.

Punj Lloyd slipped 1.21% to Rs. 110.10 despite the company said a joint venture bagged an overseas order worth Rs 1311.19 crore. The company announced the overseas order win after trading hours on Thursday, 15 January 2009.

Hindustan Zinc declined 2.68% to Rs. 350.00, after the company lowered zinc prices by about 2%.

Power Finance Corporation''s fell by 0.76% to Rs. 131.05 despite net profit rose 5.76% to Rs 338.98 crore on 32.33% rise in total income to Rs. 1720 crore in Q3 December 2008 over Q3 December 2007.

Bajaj Finserv Ltd hit 4.99% lower circuit to Rs. 187.45 after reporting a 5.1% fall in net profit to Rs. 11.05 crore in Q3 December 2008 over Q3 December 2007.

How to Save the Fuel

1. Small cars designed with fuel saving technology consume less fuel.
2. The lesser the luggage the lesser will be the fuel consumption.
3. Pool your car wherever practicable.
4. Travel by bus if feasible.
5. Avoid using automobiles for short distances.
6. Effectively plan and combine purchases and activities.
7. Go to the farthest place of business first followed by others while returning to avoid repeated starting of engine in cold condition.
8. Maintain required tyre pressure.
9. Maintain uniform and economic speed as far as possible using appropriate gear.
10. Accelerate and retardate slow in general.
11. Avoid abrupt braking.
12. Anticipate traffic conditions. Don’t drive very close to the leading vehicle. Maintain safe distance so as to avoid unnecessary braking and acceleration according to manner of driving of the vehicle in front of you under heavy traffic conditions.
13. Whenever possible, turn off A/C and open the air vents.
14. Select good road.
15. Let the periodic servicing be done without fail.

How to Reduce Weight

1. Drink two tumblers of water on rising from the bed, and in a day drink at least three litres/liters of it.
2. One third of your food should be salad. It fills the stomach and gives less calories of energy.
3. Take fruits and sprouts raw.
4. Avoid refined food item like polished rice, refined sugar, white flour (maida).
5. Avoid potatoes, nuts, cream, ghee, sweets, fried food, and dairy products.
6. Take regular exercise sufficiently, so as to burn more calories of energy, than its intake.
7. Participate in games without taking glucose in between.
8. Go for brisk walk, jogging or running.
9. Avoid eating outs with friends; say you are dieting.
10. Fast once a week by only drinking adequate water or fruit juice.
11. Don’t overeat. Eat slightly less than your requirement. When you feel to have some more food, control the desire.
12. Use skimmed milk instead of full cream milk.
13. Use yoghurt instead of cream or curd.
14. The order of preference of food is (1) steamed, (2) boiled, (3) baked, (4) roasted, (5) grilled, and (6) fried.
15. If frying is unavoidable, use oils like sunflower oil, safflower oil, etc having less bad cholesterols to stay slim.

How to Increase Weight in a Healthy Manner

1. Being lean is good, but being very lean and thin and underweight is bad.
2. A lot of medical tests are there to find out why a person is underweight.
3. To gain weight and be healthy you need to consume more calories than you burn them every day from healthy, protein enriched, and nutritious foods and choose the right types of exercise.
4. Exercise a little like mild weightlifting so as to feel hungry, to eat more balanced food and to develop muscle.
5. Take tuna, salmon, flax and walnuts. They contain healthy fats like omega-3.
6. Take meat, fish, poultry, nuts, and legumes. They contain protein.
7. Take fruits, vegetables and whole grains. They contain carbohydrates.
8. Take healthy beverages like milk and fruit juices to add calories instead of sweetened aerated sodas.
9. Take food supplements after consulting a physician to get all required vitamins and minerals.

Home Treatment for Cracked Feet

1. Keep feet clean and dirt free.
2. Rub pumice stone on the cracked part of the feet while taking a bath, to remove dead skin.
3. Before going to bed wash and dry the feet. Apply olive oil or a mixture of Vaseline and lemon juice on the cracked portion of the feet.
4. Do not walk barefooted at your home. Use slippers conveniently.
5. Consume a diet rich in calcium, iron, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins.
6. Milk, cheese, yogurt, goat’s milk, fortified soy milk, cereals and broccoli are excellent sources of calcium.
7. Cereals, millets, pulses and green leafy vegetables contain iron.
8. Meat, chicken and fish are good sources of iron.
9. Oysters, chicken, crab, kidney beans, yogurt, brown rice and spaghetti are Zinc rich foods.
10. Tuna, salmon, flax and walnuts are good sources of Omega-3.
11. egetable oils, green vegetables, cereals, wheat germ, whole-grain products and nuts are Vitamin Enriched foods.

Tips for Healthy, Strong, Long and Shiny Hair

1. Handle your hair gently and carefully while combing and brushing.
2. Try using wide teethed combs or own fingers to detangle hair.
3. Don’t take a bath in very hot water. It will stress the hair and affect its growth.
4. Gently massage the scalp to stimulate the hair follicles and to enhance the growth of hair.
5. Trim the hair periodically to eliminate split ends.
6. Take adequate rest. It makes the growth of hair fast.
7. Remove all the tangles before washing hair.
8. Don’t rub hair vigorously using towel to dry.
9. Eat a healthy diet.
10. Avoid foods that are high in sugar or fat.
11. Hair is made up of a kind of protein called keratin. Therefore intake of protein is necessary for the healthy and shiny growth of hair.
12. Fish, beans, yoghurt, soybean (soyabean), eggs, red meat and chicken are examples of good source of protein.
13. The diet for healthy hair should include beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, B-complex and biotin.
14. Beta-carotene, Vitamins C and E are antioxidants that reduce hair loss.
15. Vitamins C and E help to keep hair healthy, shiny and lengthy.
16. All citrus fruits, tomatoes, cabbage, potato, strawberry are examples of good source of vitamin C.
17. Biotin prevents scalp from itches.
18. Nuts and most fresh vegetables are good source of Biotin.
19. ron, zinc and copper provide nutrients for hair follicles for strong hair growth.
20. Enriched cereals, millets, pulses, green leafy vegetables contain iron.
21. Omega-3 fatty acid provides luster (lustre) to hair.
22. Tuna, salmon, flax and walnuts are good sources of Omega-3.
23. Fruits like berry, orange, lemon, grape and melon contain necessary nutrients required for hair.
24. Vitamin A is very effective in preventing hair loss and hair thinning. Carrot, milk, butter, dark green vegetables are some good source of vitamin A.

Tips to gain height

Height is determined by genetics and one’s growth is according to heredity.

However, some efforts will help us to grow taller.

Jumping, cycling and swimming, running, pull-ups, skipping or jumping rope and participating in games like volley ball and foot ball are some good exercises to grow taller.

Adequate sound sleep also helps to improve height.

Eating healthy and nutritionally balanced food for the development of muscle and for strong bones is also important to grow tall.

Drinking plenty of water helps in metabolism and flushes out toxins from the body more readily thereby helping to grow tall faster.