Top Indian Stocks To Buy, Stock Picks : Which companies are attractive now in the Indian Stock Market?

I like few companies that are very attractive for investing/trading on the Indian Stock Market

For investment purposes I like Bartronics (No bad news here), IDFC (I think slowdown in infra lending considered here ) and Suzlon (I think it has been battered enough and all the bad news has been incorporated). I will buy Bartronics at the current levels but will wait for IDFC and Suzlon to fall a little since they have run up quite a bit in the last week or so.

For trading purpose I like banks - Axis and ICICI. This sector again was the most affected and I think only better times are ahead for this sector esp with the falling lending/interest rates. Axis is a definitely a buy at current price but ICICI has to go down to around 350 or less to be a buying stock.

RK

Indian Markets :- Indian Companies that are better choices for investments during this financial crisis

I came across a study on BusinessStandard that listed Indian Companies that are sitting on huge cash reserves with good business growth potential. As is often said companies with cash are expected to do better during turbulent times, like this year, where the financial crisis jolted the world economies. I believe in this saying and I do like some companies among the list from this study and I am certainly looking at putting in some money into these stocks during these times. I am sharing this list on this blog hoping it will be of use to readers.

CASH KINGS
Rs crore	Cash + CE	Ent Value	Cash + CE/ Ent Value (%)	Mkt Cap	Price (Rs)	P/E (x)	P/BV (x)	Dividend Yield (%)
Reliance Power	13,440	23,074	58.2	22,626	94.40	209.8	1.7	-
Sterlite Inds	14,074	21,467	65.6	16,392	231.30	11.6	1.2	1.7
Hind.Zinc	7,695	11,732	65.6	11,732	277.65	3.0	1.0	1.8
Aditya Birla Nuvo	6,718	11,386	59.0	4,739	498.80	18.1	1.3	1.2
MTNL	3,758	3,926	95.7	3,915	62.15	7.4	0.3	6.4
Bajaj Holdings	3,213	3,413	94.2	3,413	337.30	5.9	1.1	5.9
Indiabulls Fin	7,412	13,823	53.6	2,601	102.55	6.9	0.9	8.3
Financial Tech	1,402	2,741	51.2	2,316	504.65	2.2	1.6	4.0
Jai Corp	1,825	2,394	76.2	2,312	129.55	30.0	0.9	0.8
Max India	3,842	6,076	63.2	2,253	101.50	33.8	1.1	-
Edelweiss Cap	1,910	3,653	52.3	2,083	278.00	81.0	1.5	0.7
Engineers India	1,417	1,959	72.3	1,959	348.90	8.0	1.7	3.2
GTL	1,277	2,452	52.1	1,750	185.05	14.6	1.9	1.6
PTC India	1,452	1,094	132.7	1,094	48.10	14.2	0.7	2.1
TV 18 India	883	1,562	56.6	1,015	84.65	24.8	2.1	2.4
Market Price, Price/Book Value (P/BV), Price-to-earnings ratio (PE), Market Capitalisation and Dividend Yield as on October 28, 2008 CE= Cash equivalents (investments minus those in group/associate companies); Mcap=Market capitalisation; Ent Value=Enterprise value (market cap + debt) Source: Capitaline Plus

RK

Top Indian Mutual Funds Comparison - Best of 2008

I have a need to invest some amount into mutual funds this year so was looking at the top rated funds. While doing so I prepared notes that will be useful to me to make a decision and I thought publishing here might people who might be looking for the same. I used the information provided in ValueResearchOnline website and came up with this table. The information may not be 100 % accurate however it should provide you a quick comparison guide.

Fund	Type	Performance	Top Stocks/Sectors	Charges	Manager
DSPML T.I.G.E.R. Reg-G	Average Risk Open End Growth Diversified, SIP available NRIs allowed, Repatriable No swap No reinvestment Launch May 2004	Bad this year, Better on good years Benchmark BSE 100 Return Since Launch - 24.82 Manage > 3000 crs	Large caps, high concentration on energy, Diversified with 60 stocks, Top 10 Holdings are 39.67 %	2.25 % entry, 1 % exit within 180, 0.5% within a year	www.dspmlmutualfund.com Anup Maheshwari Since: Apr - 2008 Mr. Maheshwari holds a BCom Degree and is an MBA from IIM (Lucknow). He joined DSPML in April 2001, prior to which , he was with Chescor as Senior Analyst. He has also worked for IRIS and SCICI as analyst and project officer.
DSPML Top 100 Equity Reg-G	Low Risk Open End Growth Diversified, SIP available NRIs allowed, Repatriable Swap Yes No reinvestment Launch Feb 2003	Good this year Above Average on good years Benchmark BSE 100 Return Since Launch - 35.29 Manage > 1000 crs	High on energy. tech and consumer sectors Top 10 Holdings are 50 %	2.25 % entry, 1 % exit within 180, 0.5% within a year	Apoorva Shah Since: Apr - 2006 Mr. Shah is a Commerce Graduate and PGDM from IIM, Ahmedabad. Prior to joining DSPML AMC, he has worked with GPC India as Portfolio Advisor & Head of Products and with DSP Merrill Lynch.
DWS Alpha Equity-G	Low Risk Open End Blend Diversified, SIP available NRIs allowed, Repatriable Swap Yes No reinvestment Launch Jan 2003	Good this year Above Average on good years Benchmark S&P CNX Nifty Return Since Launch - 30.25 Manage > 159 crs	Very High on energy. tech and consumer sectors Top 10 Holdings are 50.55 %	2.25 % entry, 1 % exit within 180, 0.5% within a year	www.dws-india.com Aniket Inamdar Since: Jun - 2007 Mr. Inamdar is an Engineer, and holds a PGDM, from IIM, Ahmedabad. He joined Deutsche Asset Management Pvt. Ltd. in May 2007.Prior to this, he was with ICICI Prudential AMC for 3 years and has also worked with DBS Cholamandalam AMC and UTI AMC.
DWS Investment Opportunity-G	Average Risk Open End Blend Diversified, SIP available NRIs allowed, Repatriable No Swap No reinvestment Launch Jan 2004	Bad this year Average on good years (only one) Benchmark BSE 200 Return Since Launch - 17.64 Manage > 161 crs	Very High on energy. tech and consumer sectors Top 10 Holdings are 39.37 %	2.25 % entry, 1 % exit within 180, 0.5% within a year	Aniket Inamdar Since: Jun - 2007 Mr. Inamdar is an Engineer, and holds a PGDM, from IIM, Ahmedabad. He joined Deutsche Asset Management Pvt. Ltd. in May 2007.Prior to this, he was with ICICI Prudential AMC for 3 years and has also worked with DBS Cholamandalam AMC and UTI AMC.
ICICI Pru Infrastructure-G	Average Risk Open End Growth Diversified, SIP available NRIs allowed, Repatriable No Swap No reinvestment Launch Aug 2005	Not bad this year High on good years (only one) Benchmark S&P CNX Nifty Return Since Launch - 20.49 Manage > 3500 crs	High on energy. Metals, Diversified Top 10 Holdings are 53 % More Debt portion currently	2.25 % entry, 1 % exit within 180, 0.5% within a year	www.icicipruamc.com Sankaran Naren Since: Oct - 2005 Mr. Naren is a B.Tech from IIT, Madras and holds a PGDM from IIM Calcutta. Prior to joining Pru ICICI AMC, he has worked with Refco Sify Securities, HDFC Securities and Yoha Securities. Mrinal Singh Since: Aug - 2008 Mr. Singh is Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) and PGDM from SPJIMR, Mumbai. He has over 6 yrs. of experience of which 3 months in equity market.
Kotak Opportunities-G	Average Risk Open End Growth Diversified, SIP available NRIs allowed, Repatriable No Swap No reinvestment Launch Aug 2004	Bad this year Above Ave on good years (only one) Benchmark S&P CNX 500 Return Since Launch - 23.46 Manage > 756 crs	High on Financial Services. Technology, Energy Top 10 Holdings are 38.05 %	2.25 % entry, 1 % exit within a year	www.kotakmutual.com Anurag Jain Since: Jul - 2007 Mr.Jain is a Chemical Engineer and holds a Diploma in Management from IIM Kolkata. Joined the equity markets in 2001 working with SBI Mutual Fund, ICICI Bank followed with SSKI securities. He joined the AMC in August 2005, as a part of the equity fund management team for evaluating investment opportunities in equities. Krishna Sanghvi Since: Jul - 2007 Mr.Sanghvi is a Commerce Graduate, pursued Cost & Work Account from ICWAI, Master of Management Studies (Finance) from NMIMS, Mumbai and CFA from ICFAI. Has an experience in Credit Appraisal & Credit Risk Management. Prior to joining Kotak AMC, had worked with Kotak Mahindra Primus Ltd., Kotak Mahindra Finance Ltd. & Kotak Mahindra Old Mutual Life Insurance Ltd. He has also worked with IDBI for nearly 2 yrs.
Magnum COMMA-G	Above Average Risk Open End Blend Diversified, SIP available NRIs allowed, Repatriable No Swap No reinvestment Launch Jul 2005	Bad this year Average on good years (only one) Benchmark BSE 200 Return Since Launch - 9.28 Manage > 508 crs	Very High on Energy. Metals, Chemicals since it is for investing in commodities Top 10 Holdings are 55.28 %	2.25 % entry, 1 % exit within 180, 0.5% within a year	www.sbimf.com Sudhanshu Asthana Since: Oct - 2007 Mr.Asthana ia a M.A in Economics from Mumbai University and holds a Diploma in Investment Management from NMIMS Has more than 7 years of experience in the financial services industry. Before being designated as fund manager had worked in same capacity and as Equity Analyst with the Quantum AMC for 1 year, for 5 months was with Quantum Advisors Pvt. Ltd.
Magnum Contra –G	Below Average Risk Open End Blend Diversified, SIP available NRIs allowed, Repatriable Swap Yes No reinvestment Launch Jul 1999	Bad this year High on good years Benchmark BSE 100 Return Since Launch - 24.74 Manage > 2050 crs	High on Energy, Financial Services. Technology, Top 10 Holdings are 32.50 %	2.25 % entry, 1 % exit within 180, 0.5% within a year	Pankaj Gupta Since: May - 2007 Mr. Gupta is a Commerce Graduate and MBA from IIM, Luchnow. Has over 4 yrs. of experience in Mutual Fund, Equity Research and Corporate Banking. He had his previous assignment with ICICI Bank Ltd.
Reliance Regular Savings Equity	Below Average Risk Open End Growtjh - MidCap Diversified, SIP available NRIs allowed, Repatriable No Swap No reinvestment Launch May 2005	Average this year High on good years Benchmark BSE 100 Return Since Launch - 11.53 Manage > 733 crs	Mid Cap oriented High on Energy, Financial Services. Technology, Top 10 Holdings are 32.43 %	2.25 % entry, 1 % exit within a year	www.reliancemutual.com Arpit Malaviya Since: Oct - 2007 Mr.Malaviya is a Commerce Graduate and holds a CA degree. Prior to joining Reliance AMC, he had worked with JM Financial AMC and ICAP India Pvt.Ltd. as fixed income securities dealer and also with Haribhakti & Co. OmPrakash Kuckien Since: Nov - 2007 Mr. Kuckian holds an AICWA degree. He has more than 18 years of experience. Prior to this he was associated with HDFC Securities Ltd, SMIFS Securities Ltd, and Canbank Financial Services.
Sundaram BNP Paribas Select Focus Reg-G	Below Average Risk Open End Growtjh Diversified, SIP available NRIs allowed, Repatriable No Swap No reinvestment Launch Jul 2002	Good this year High on good years Benchmark S&P CNX Nifty Return Since Launch - 32.46 Manage > 916 crs	High on Energy, Financial Services. Technology, Top 10 Holdings are 41.14 % Has about 28% in debt and other instruments currently	2.25 % entry, 1 % exit within a year	www.sundarambnpparibas.in Srividhya Rajesh Since: Jul - 2002 She is an alumnus of BITS Pilani. Prior to joining Sundaram, she has worked for two years in Kotak Mahindra.
Tata Infrastructure-G	Average Risk Open End Growtjh Diversified, SIP available NRIs allowed, Repatriable No Swap No reinvestment Launch Dec 2004	At par this year High on good years Benchmark Sensex Return Since Launch - 23.22 Manage > 2046 crs	Very High on Energy, Financial Services. Basic Engg, Top 10 Holdings are 44.51 %	2.25 % entry, 1 % exit within 180 days	www.tatamutualfund.com M Venugopal Since: Feb - 2005 Mr Venugopal is B.Sc in Mathematics and also holds an MBA degree with specialisation in Finance. From August 1995 to September 1997, gained good understanding of the stock market having worked as dealer at Tata Asset Management Ltd for about two years after which he assumed equity fund management responsibility. Has good exposure to large number of industries and companies having done fundamental research over the years
UTI Infrastructure-G	Average Risk Open End Growtjh Diversified, SIP available NRIs allowed, Repatriable Swap Yes No reinvestment Launch Apr 2004	Bad this year High on good years Benchmark BSE 100 Return Since Launch - 22.75 Manage > 1625 crs	High on Energy,Basic Engg, Diversified, Technology Top 10 Holdings are 43.77 % Hard Core infra fund	2.25 % entry, 1 % exit within 180 days	www.utimf.com Sanjay Ramdas Dongre Since: Nov - 2005 Mr. Dongre holds a B.E. and a post-graduate degree in management from IIM (Kolkata). He joined UTI in 1994.Initially, he was asigned a job of Debt analyst which was acting as a support service for fund management activity. He also worked as Equity Research analyst covering wide range of corporates and industries. Subsequently he worked as

Iceland gets swamped by the financial crisis

We have heard some of the major investment banks go bust during the current financial crisis but what a whole country? But it could really happen and pretty soon if things don't work out well for Iceland!

All the top 3 banks in Iceland have run into trouble and no Western European country has come to its rescue so far. All they need is 4 billion euro and none of its friends have come forward. On the contrary to its NATO members response Russia has shown interest and is in talks at the moment and obviously they are doing it for much more than economic reasons. But this does not come out well then Iceland can go bankrupt. The following is the excerpt from a news report

Iceland took control on Thursday of its biggest bank, Kaupthing, to try to shore up a teetering banking system.

The state has now seized control of three of the nation's major banks after Landsbanki and Glitnir were taken over earlier this week.

At the center of a financial hurricane which has claimed several of the world's biggest banks, Iceland's prime minister has warned of the risk of national bankruptcy.

The central bank has tried then abandoned attempts to prop up its battered currency.

Valuable lessons taught by Stock Markets in 2008

As a novice to investing and still in my first year I truly believe that this period is teaching me valuable lessons in having ones patience and courage and also in not taking the markets for granted. This period showcases the risk that's inherent in investing in stocks which everyone seemed to have forgotten in the ensuing great bull run. In these dark days teachings or principles of Warren Buffet prove so correct. I mean his emphasis on preservation of capital as the most important aspect of investing.

My emotions keep varying during these days but I still drum up the courage to continue with my SIPs and I now tend to think that markets are now at the last phase of this bear run. Lets see whats in store for the rest of year.

RK