RASCALS dominat

As we had predicted and expected, the Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgn and Kangna Ranaut starrer, RASCALS, has embarked upon the best ever 'Dussehra' opening day. As per early estimates the film has netted anything from 7-8 crores on Thursday.

The other two releases of the week, LOVE BREAKUPS ZINDAGI and SOUNDTRACK (which released on the usual Friday), have decent to dull starts to show for their effort.
Meanwhile Vipul Shah's FORCE, which released last week, has netted around 23-24 crores during the opening week, the best ever for a solo John Abraham starrer.
While on the older releases, Pankaj Kapur's Shahid-Sonam starrer, MAUSAM, has crashed badly in the second week and will find it difficult, if not impossible, to be a coverage fare, even if we take the non theatrical rights into account.

Midcaps:Broader markets

Indian stock market indices are trading in the green after opening the trade on a weak note. Stocks from the consumer durables and capital goods space are leading the pack of gainers. However, PSU and Power stocks are the top losers.

The BSE-Sensex is trading up by 11 points and NSE-Nifty is trading up by 4 points. BSE Mid Cap and BSE Small Cap indices are trading higher by 0.6% and 0.3% respectively. The rupee is trading at 49.12 to the US dollar.
Pharma stocks are trading firm led by Ranbaxy Labs and Orchid Chemicals. According to a leading financial daily, Wockhardt has informed the Bombay high court that it would clear all its dues to the bondholders amounting to Rs 3.58 bn. This amount is inclusive of interest and installments. The pharma company is expected to submit a detailed repayment plan to the court soon. It may be recollected that a Singapore based hedge fund QVT Financial LP along with an overseas unit of Sun Pharma had filed a petition against Wockhardt for nonpayment of the due amount. Earlier this month, the high court had asked Wockhardt to give a timeline regarding repaying the Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds (FCCB) bondholders.
Aluminium stocks are trading in the red. Hindalco is the biggest loser while Nalco is the biggest gainer. According to a leading financial daily, state run National Aluminium Company (Nalco) is planning to diversify into nuclear power generation. The company will invest Rs 114.4 bn jointly with Nuclear Power Corporation of India in the project. The company has already identified Kakarapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS) project for development. The recommendation for the investment is under consideration by the government. Nalco is also planning to set up a smelter and power project in Indonesia due to availability of good quality coal at economic prices. Two coal mining firms have been identified for long term arrangement for sourcing coal for the planned project.

MFs as equity markets bleed

Being enveloped with downbeat global economic news, Indian equity markets have corrected by good -12.8% in the present quarter (i.e. from July 1, 2011 to September 22, 2011) and 22.1% since the last high 21,004.96 – made on the November 5, 2011 (the Muhurat Trading Day). The backdrop of following global economic events has literally sends shivers down the spine of several investors – both in Developed Markets (DMs) as well as Emerging Markets (EMs).

Debt overhang situation in the Euro zone
Downgrade of Greece’s sovereign rating from “Caa1” to “Ca” by Moody’s
Downgrade of Italy’s sovereign rating from "A+/A-1+" to "A/A-1".
Downgrade of U.S. sovereign rating from ‘AAA’ to ‘AA+’ with a negative outlook [due to increase in debt-ceiling limit to U.S $16.4 trillion, in midst of dismal economic growth rate (last quarter i.e. April 2011 to June 2011, GDP growth rate was mere 1.00%) and rising unemployment rate (9.1% in August 2011)].
Accentuating inflationary pressures in the Emerging Market Economies (EMEs), including India
But rather than pressing the panic button and following the herd mentality; if we look at India specific economic dynamics, realisation would dawn that the GDP growth rate offered by India is far more appealing than in DMs.
Health of India’s economy
(Source: CSO, PersonalFN Research)
Yes, we have contracted to 7.7% in Q1FY2011-12 as RBI’s has maintained its anti-inflationary stance (of increasing policy rates) to tame inflation. But, the stance followed by RBI are indeed needed when most EMs are facing the brunt of rising in commodity prices. Corporate Advance tax numbers even though they have dwindled to 9.9% in Q2 FY2011-12 as against 19.0% in Q1FY2011-12 (due to brunt of rising interest rates), the long-term corporate earnings for companies with good management look fairly sustainable – especially if we consider the strong consumption theme and well-regulated banking and financial services sector. Moreover, going forward if FDI is encouraged (by building suitable infrastructure), it would further provide thrust to India’s economic progress. We believe that an economic growth rate of over 6.0%-6.5% (on an average) is good to attract foreign flows.
As far as the depreciation in the Indian rupee is concerned, it would be a short-term phenomenon given low confidence. The U.S. Dollar would depreciate going forward given the economic problems heaping there along with near to zero interest rate regime prevailing there.
What should investors do?
Hence taking a holistic view of the aforementioned global and domestic economic factors we encourage you investors to participate in the Indian equity markets, and avail of the present reasonable valuations. However, since we may see the aforementioned global economic headwinds unfolding, staggering your investments would be an appropriate approach. We recommend that you invest in diversified equity funds as this will help reduce risk (however one needs to stay away from U.S. or Euro oriented offshore funds in such a scenario). You may get defensive and invest in value style funds (as fund managers may percieve good value buying in these corrrective phases on the equity markets) and also large cap funds. It would be prudent to opt for the SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) mode of investing as this will help you to manage the volatility of the equity markets well (through rupee-cost averaging) and also provide your investments with the power of compounding.
Remember, while investing select only those equity funds which follow strong investment processes and systems, and invest with a long-term horizon of at least 5 years.
Safeguarding aganst, the downbeat economic factors gold is likely to be bolder going forward. As long as worries of soverign debt crisis prevail, gold would continue its north-bound journey. Moreover, the precious yellow metal would act as an hedge against rising cost of living as well. At Personal FN, we recommend that you should have a minimum of 5%-10% allocation to gold. Invest in gold with a long term perspective with a time horizon of 10 to 20 years.
By PersonalFN: PersonalFN has been providing independent and unbiased research on Mutual funds, Insurance, Fixed Income instruments in India and Gold since 1999. It provides premium mutual fund research and financial planning solutions to individuals

Cloak Can Hide Objects

A new kind of cloaking material that can render objects invisible in the terahertz range has been developed at Northwestern University.

Though this design can't translate into an invisibility cloak for the visible spectrum, it could have implications in diagnostics, security, and communication.
The cloak, designed by Cheng Sun, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, uses micro fabricated gradient-index materials to manipulate the reflection and refraction of light.
In order to manipulate light in the terahertz frequency, which lies between infrared and microwaves, Sun and his group developed metamaterials: materials that are designed at the atomic level.
Sun's tiny, prism-shaped cloaking structure, less than 10 millimetres long, was created using a technique called electronic transfer microstereolithography, where researchers use a data projector to project an image on a liquid polymer, then use light to transform the liquid layer into a thin solid layer.
Sun said the purpose of the cloak is not to hide items but to get a better understanding of how to design materials that can manipulate light propagation.
"This demonstrates that we have the freedom to design materials that can change the refraction index. By doing this we can manipulate light propagation much more effectively," he added.

Challenge Of T-Mobile Deal

AT&T Inc and T-Mobile USA fought back against the Justice Department's challenge to their proposed merger, arguing the deal would "usher in more intense competition."

AT&T and T-Mobile, owned by Deutsche Telekom AG, argued in a federal court filing on Friday that the massive $39 billion deal would free up spectrum and create new capacity for Americans whose mobile devices are transmitting increasingly large amounts of data.
"The Justice Department's complaint fails to come to grips with the significant efficiencies this transaction will generate," the companies said in their filing.
In the brief, AT&T asked the court to allow its purchase of T-Mobile to go forward and to require the Justice Department to pay its costs in the challenge.
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit aimed at stopping the deal last week, saying the acquisition of T-Mobile USA, the No. 4 carrier, by AT&T, the No. 2, would harm competition in the wireless market and lead to higher prices.
The department, in particular, seemed determined to preserve T-Mobile as an innovative, discount carrier that held down wireless prices.
Responding to that concern, AT&T said "T-Mobile is not a unique or material competitive constraint on AT&T."
"T-Mobile has not been a meaningful or unique innovator in terms of network development and deployment, nor is it likely to become one in the foreseeable future," AT&T said in the filing with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
The deal partners took issue with the Justice Department's review of the effect of the merger on a national basis instead of on a local basis. They argued that more than 90 percent of U.S. consumers currently have at least five wireless carriers to choose from in their local markets.
They also disputed the method the Justice Department used to analyze the deal, saying it was too simplistic.
If the merger goes through, AT&T will unseat Verizon Wireless as the No. 1 U.S. mobile carrier. Verizon Wireless is a venture of Verizon Communications Inc and Vodafone Group Plc.
"We continue to believe this transaction as currently proposed is anti-competitive and harmful to consumers," Justice Department Spokesperson Gina Talamona said. "We will respond further in our court filing."
The lawsuit is the biggest antitrust challenge yet by the Obama administration.

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Dismissed IAF officer: Anjali Hangs Herself

More than six years after former Indian Air Force (IAF) officer Anjali Gupta became the first woman to be court-martialled, she committed suicide at a family friend's residence in Bhopal. She was found hanging on Sunday, India Today reported

According to police, Anjali was alone in the house of IAF Group Captain Amit Gupta when she allegedly took the extreme step. She had been working with a private company since her dismissal from the IAF.
The police said Anjali had arrived in Bhopal on September 7 from Bangalore, where she was employed. Group Captain Amit told the police that he had gone to Delhi for the engagement of his son on September 8. Though he asked Anjali to come along, the latter insisted on staying at his house.
In 2008, Anjali had claimed that her Commanding Officer, the Second-in-Command and the adjutant, had been sexually harassing her. When protested, she was threatened to be sent away on temporary duty and later was put under house arrest. Her mother and brother were allegedly thrown out of the Kalka military station.
Acting on a complaint by Anjali, the General Court Martial (GCM) assembled at Udhampur (J&K) in August 2010, directed to forfeit six-year service of the accused Colonel for the purpose of promotion and also sentenced severe reprimand.
According to the complaint, Col Anurodh Mishra of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering (EME) battalion allegedly called Anjali at his residence on the pretext of office-related instructions and misbehaved with her.
The police team also found a 15 litre can and two bottles filled with petrol, at the spot where Anjali was found hanging. Amit pleaded ignorance about the fuel. Police now also suspect that she might have contemplated setting herself on fire before she decided upon hanging.

Groupon Cuts Marketing Costs

Groupon Inc's second-quarter loss more than doubled as it hired more than 1,000 new employees, even though the Internet daily deals company trimmed back its marketing costs.
Revenue rose to $878 million in the second quarter compared with $644.7 million in the first quarter, and rose more than 900 percent from $87.3 million in the second quarter of 2010, the company said in the S-1 filing, an update of its original filing for its initial public offering.
The numbers show that Groupon's growth slowed from the first quarter. Revenue was up 36 percent in the second quarter, below growth of 63 percent in the first quarter.
The second-quarter net loss attributable to Groupon was $102.7 million, in line with the first quarter and more than double the $36.8 million loss from the second quarter of 2010.
In June, Groupon filed to raise $750 million in an IPO. The move revealed a company growing quickly, but losing money. Some analysts have questioned a business model vulnerable to competition from companies like Google Inc, and which relies on a huge, costly sales staff to enlist merchants and handle customer service.
Some analysts worry that the company will keep having to spend large amounts of money to attract and retain customers.
Marketing costs fell to $170.5 million in the second quarter, according to the filing. Groupon spent $208 million on marketing during the first quarter, up from $4 million in the same period a year earlier.
That spending is bringing more users to the site. Subscribers jumped to 115.7 million from 83.1 million at the end of the first quarter, the company said in its filing, confirming a Reuters report last week.
But Groupon said about 40 percent of its subscribers in North America came through word of mouth, a new disclosure. That suggests Groupon did not have to spend as much on marketing to attract subscribers.
ACCOUNTING FOR MARKETING EXPENSES
Selling, general and administrative expenses rose to $273 million in the second quarter from $178.9 million in the first. That was driven by hiring: Groupon hired more than 1,000 employees in the period, lifting its sales force to more than 4,800 people.
Caving in to investor pressure, Groupon also dropped references to a financial metric it touted as a good indicator of its performance.
Concern about marketing costs led some to question Groupon's use of "adjusted consolidated segment operating income", or ACSOI, which excludes online marketing expenses, stock-based compensation and acquisition-related items.
In the first quarter of 2011, Groupon reported a $117 million operating loss, but ACSOI was almost $82 million. That's partly because some $180 million of online marketing spending had been stripped out.
The company in its latest filing used a measure that includes marketing expenses, but not stock-based compensation or acquisition costs. On this basis, Groupon lost $62.3 million in the second quarter, an improvement from the first quarter when it lost $98.3 million.
Cumulative customers, or Groupon subscribers who have purchased deals, topped 23 million, up from 15.8 million as of March 31. The company sold 32.5 million deals as of June 30, up from 28.1 million at the end of the first quarter.
Average revenue per subscriber was $9, down from $10 in the previous quarter and $13 a year earlier. But the company sold an average of four Groupons per customer, up from 3.8 in the first quarter and three a year earlier.
The company generated an average of $27 in revenue from each Groupon it sold. That compares to $23 in the first quarter and $21 a year earlier.
Despite reports that some merchants are unhappy with their Groupon experiences, many still seem to be lining up to offer deals, according to the updated IPO filing.
Groupon featured 78,466 merchants as of June 30, up from 56,781 three months earlier. The merchant backlog, or the number of merchants waiting to run a deal with Groupon, topped 49,000 at the end of the second quarter, up almost 20 percent from March 31.