It is relatively easy to make predictions about market directions in 2012. Technically, this is a long-term bear market. There are no signs of recovery. Until there are some signs of a trend reversal, maintain a bearish attitude.

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European shares edged higher on Monday after making their biggest annual fall since 2008, with trading light due to British markets being shut for a bank holiday and defensive safe haven stocks the main performers on the index. Utility stocks were the

India's merchandise exports increased less than economists expected in November, data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed Monday. The value of exports increased 3.87 percent year-on-year to $22.32 billion in November, notably less

China Knowledge reported that Citic Heavy Industries Co controlled by CITIC Group China largest state-owned investment conglomerate plans to raise around CNY 6 billion or USD 951 million via an initial public offering in China next year. In a statement,

Asian stocks (MXAPJ) declined on the first trading day of 2012, while the South Korean won and the euro weakened on concern that the global economic recovery will be hampered as Europe’s debt crisis enters a new year. The MSCI Asia Pacific excluding

Large fiscal deficit and additional borrowing plans are likely to push the 10-year benchmark yield to 8.75% shortly. Comfort on account of falling inflation and probability of aggressive OMOs are likely to cap rates. With the dismal outlook on growth,

Indian benchmark indices, the Nifty and the Sensex, opened marginally in the green on Monday, the first trading day of the year. The Nifty opened at 4,640, up 16 points over its previous close and the Sensex opened at 15,534.67, up 80 points over its

The Indian markets are trading marginally higher on the first trading day of 2012, in the absence of global cues. The BSE Sensex is at 15,514, up 59 points and the Nifty is at 4,635, up 10 points. Most markets across the globe, including the US and Asia,

Pitted against the double-whammy of falling rupee and plunging share prices, foreign investors are estimated to have taken a hit of over Rs 2 lakh crore in 2011 on their investments in Indian stock markets. Once a darling of overseas investors for its

Foreign direct investment in India surged by 36% to $23.68 billion during the January-October period this year, notwithstanding uncertain global economic environment. During January-October 201O, the country had attracted Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

The government does not plan to offer help to China's stock market, whose main index lost one-fifth of its value in 2011, and investors should instead have faith in market forces, the country's stocks regulator was quoted as saying on Saturday. The

The BSE Sensex closed 0.6 percent lower on Friday and posted its first annual fall in three years as a combination of near double-digit inflation, high interest rates, slowing domestic growth and policy inaction turned off investors already shaken by

Bank lending to the priority sector grew just 9.2% on an annualised basis in November this year because of lower offtake in the agriculture and MSME segments, besides a decline in micro credit. This is the lowest rate of growth in lending to the crucial