MF ADVISE

It is never late to start invest in mutual funds regularly. Considering, you still have 15-18 years to retirement and that you are new to investing, we suggest you invest in the Value Research Stable Growth portfolio which is made of four funds that are highly rated and have a proven track record and performance history. This portfolio has 60 per cent equity exposure and provides stability as well as growth. Make equal allocation to all the four funds and invest in them regularly and track their performance at least once a year to ascertain its progress towards your retirement goals.

Fund Scheme    Category    Rating    3-yrs ret (%)    5-yrs ret (%) BSL 95   Hybrid: Equity-oriented   ****   15.06   14.45 FT India Dynamic PE Ratio FoF   Hybrid: Asset Allocation   Not Rated   10.75   11.89 HDFC Balanced   Hybrid: Equity-oriented   *****   16.76   13.8 Reliance Regular Savings Balanced   Hybrid: Equity-oriented   ****   14.83   13.27 Return as on September 02, 2011, Rating as on August 2011

source:Valueresearch

Mamata plays spoiler

Source:The Hindu

There can be no quarrel with the position that States bordering India's neighbours must be consulted in framing bilateral policies with those countries, especially when it comes to sharing crucial natural resources. New Delhi's proposed agreement with Bangladesh on a formula to share the waters of the river Teesta needed to take West Bengal along. But Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's row over the draft agreement on the eve of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's important visit to Bangladesh has set a new low in the shaping of India's foreign policy. The State government evidently knew in advance that the agreement was in the works, and was familiar with its provisions. National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon met the Chief Minister for a discussion on August 31. For days New Delhi had been describing the Teesta pact as a crucial component of Prime Minister Singh's visit. So why did Ms Banerjee wait until the last minute to declare it was unacceptable to her? Although the specific objections are unclear, the State government is said to have found the agreement “detrimental to the interests” of West Bengal. There is also speculation that the decision was prompted by the Trinamool Congress leader's differences with the Centre over the State's financial allocation. That New Delhi was caught unawares by her dramatic withdrawal from Dr. Singh's entourage to Dhaka indicates that it had no prior indication of her dissent. The agreement has been jettisoned at least for now, the Mamata-authored fiasco casting a shadow over the visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister to Bangladesh in 12 years.

Sheikh Hasina's government is already targeted by political opponents for its perceived ‘pro-India' tilt. Prime Minister Hasina might have hoped to use the Teesta pact to ward off some of this criticism — levelled against her for cooperating with India on denying safe haven to ULFA and cracking down on anti-India Islamist groups. It was also hoped that a similar treaty would follow for the Feni river that flows through Tripura into Bangladesh. For its part, New Delhi expected that the give on the Teesta would yield connectivity through Bangladesh to the North-East States and beyond, underlined by the inclusion of four Chief Ministers from the region in the delegation to Dhaka. All this is up in the air now. Prime Minister Singh's visit was billed as one that would “craft a new paradigm” in a complicated bilateral relationship. With the likely signing of a border agreement and an extradition pact, the visit is not a complete write off. But there was a palpable feeling of let-down even before the Prime Minister's delegation took off from Delhi.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

…..Edmund Burke

Data Source: The Economist

PIDILITE-Firmly Fixed

By Niti Kiran | Sep 6, 2011

Pidilite Industries is a leading manufacturer of speciality chemicals in India. It produces adhesives, sealants, onstruction and paint chemicals, automotive chemicals, art materials, industrial adhesives, industrial and textile resins, and organic pigments and preparations. The company’s major brands include Fevicol, Fevikwik, and Dr. Fixit. It currently exports to more than 80 countries and has 14 overseas subsidiaries. Moreover, it has significant manufacturing and sales operations in USA, Brazil, Thailand, Singapore, Bangladesh, Egypt and Dubai.
Source:Valueresearch

source:MINT

Sikkim, Goa and Delhi ranked No 1 in Sustainable Competitiveness Report

Posted by IPR@SKM On September - 1 - 2011

Gangtok, September 1: RICS India and the Institute for Competitiveness released the ‘Sustainable Competitiveness Report 2011′for Indian states today at the RICS International conference on ‘Planning and Delivering Urban Infrastructure in Indian Cities’. The report was released by Mr. Marcus Potter, Executive Director, Developing Markets, RICS and shows the ranking of Indian states in terms of the sustainability of their growth story. The states have been divided into three categories based on the density of population and Sikkim tops the sustainable Competitiveness index in the low density states. Delhi and Goa similarly top the list for the high and medium population density states, respectively. When seen as an overall ranking, the top 3 winners are Sikkim, Delhi and Goa followed by Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Mizoram, Kerala, Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh.

source:equitymaster

source:Livemint

Mamata opts out of Dhaka visit over Tessta

Special Correspondent

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has decided not to accompany Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his September 6-7 Bangladesh visit. File photo
Has some reservations over proposed pact on sharing of Teesta river water

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has decided not to accompany Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his September 6-7 Bangladesh visit. This has been communicated to the Prime Minister's Office, it was learnt here on Sunday.

Ms. Banerjee has some reservations over the agreement that is to be signed between the two countries over the sharing of the Teesta river water during Dr. Singh's visit.

The Chief Minister's reported stand is that the proposed agreement, with its water-sharing ratio, goes against the interests of West Bengal.

Upset with final draft

She is apparently upset with the final draft of the treaty which, according to her, is at variance with the one she was earlier informed of.

Ms. Banerjee, along with the Chief Ministers of four other States that share a common border with Bangladesh, was to have accompanied the Prime Minister.

The question now is how the PMO will respond to her decision and whether or not there will be a last-minute change of mind on her part.

If she sticks to her decision not to be part of the Prime Minister's entourage it could put the Indian delegation into a somewhat awkward position.

Ms. Banerjee shares a cordial relation with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

When Ms. Banerjee swept the April-May Assembly elections, Ms. Hasina was quick to congratulate her on the win.

Ms. Banerjee reportedly expressed her views on the proposed agreement on the sharing of the Teesta water at a meeting with National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon here on August 31.

SIKKIM: Bidder picked for park – without visitors for 16 months

THE TELEGRAPH

BY BIJOY GURUNG

Kanchenjungha tourist villa at Ranka. Picture by Prabin Khaling

Gangtok, Sept. 2: The Sikkim tourism department seems to have finally zeroed in on a private firm to run Kanchenjungha tourist villa, a Rs 55 crore amusement park at Ranka.

The park had been touted a major tourist attraction and a much-needed recreational centre for people in and around Gangtok.

But the facility hasn’t been opened to the public, even 16 months after it was inaugurated by President Pratibha Patil. The delay has been attributed to the government’s inability to find a private firm to operate the park on lease.

Four tenders had been floated since April last year to seek a firm to operate and maintain the park.

The rural development department, the nodal agency for the construction of the park, had last year floated two tenders, which were scrapped at the last moment. The first tender was aborted as it was bagged by master con man Rajesh Jhunjhunwala on the basis of fake bank documents. The second tender was scrapped as the government decided to hand over the park to the tourism department.

The tourism department also floated two tenders and there were no takers for the first one.

“A private company, which quoted the highest bid, has been selected from the second tender. The state government is likely to give its approval to the firm,” said a senior tourism official.

But the tourism officials were non-committal on when the park would be declared open for the public. 

With no firm in charge to run the park on a commercial basis, the facility is lying idle.

A couple of security guards from a private agency are posted at the park at Ranka, 35km from Gangtok. They while away all the time with no tourist making a beeline for the park.

“Tourists do come here enquiring about the amusement park and they return when we tell them that it has not been opened for public as yet. They must have heard about the park here,” said one of the guards posted outside the locked park.

Fourteen private security personnel man the park, which is spread over 17.5 acres.

“Everything seems to be complete inside and all machines are fine. Sometimes, officials from the government and the construction company come for maintenance. Rest of the time, it is all quiet here,” said the guard.

The project funded by the Centre is a unique tourism attraction fusing cultural ethos of Sikkim and modern amusement amenities with the objective of providing wholesome entertainment to tourists.

The park has 12 shopping arcades for selling handicrafts and souvenirs of Sikkim. There are also amusement facilities like musical fountain with laser shows, a multilevel plaza, open air theatre, ride stimulators, swimming pool, bar and bowling alleys.