The world of investment is a world of diversity in the true sense of the term. You have assorted platforms where you can invest and spread your money – stock markets, commodity market, mutual funds, forex trading, and what not. If you think you can do away with risks, it is an impossibility! Yet, there are investors who sail against the volatility storm by getting themselves involved in thorough research, staying updated with latest stock markets statistics, commodity prices, best mutual funds, market India news, and more. For them the current ebb and flow hardly affects them. You can be well part of the race provided you follow the aforesaid mantra.

When we speak about the best mutual funds, the term ‘best’ is not limited to a certain category. Yes, there are different categories to choose from ranging from equity, ELSS, balanced, MIP to debt floater, debt LTP, debt STP, liquid, and more. Performance of the mutual funds does change according to the fluctuations in prices witnessed in the stocks market. For example, the best mutual funds at present under the category of equity are SBI Magnum Emerging Busi (G), IDFC Sterling Equity Fund – G, IDFC Premier Equity – A (G), HDFC MidCap Opportunities (G), and UTI Wealth Builder Sr-2 RP (G). The statistics may change the next day. It will be wise on your part to keep a close watch of the stock markets not to mention the performance of the best mutual funds.

]]>

According to the latest (18th Oct.) market India news, commodity prices of gold and silver have gone down considerably. Canada white peas gained to some extent in the closing session of trade at the Mumbai pulses market. Export demand of cotton was limited with its weak produce in western India. Desi chana commodity prices were quoted up Rs 50-100 in spot markets. Visit a news portal to know more about commodity prices and news.

If BSE metal stocks are what magnetize you the most for investment, you have a range of options to choose from. There are numerous BSE metal companies listed in the Indian stock markets. As per the latest market India news, top performing companies in this segment are Jindal, SAIL, and Tata Steel. But companies witnessing an uptrend today may exhibit a downtrend tomorrow. Other BSE metal companies that you may consider investing on are Hindalco, HindZinc, NMDC, STER, WELCORP, SESAGOA, and more.

Sourav Sharma is freelance market analyst and is writing reviews articles and gives you updates on stock markets,   and commodity prices and India news etc. Read more at in.reuters.com. Article Source

Overnight Developments

• Global stocks are mostly lower with the European Euro Stoxx 50 Index down -1.14% and Sep S&Ps down -4.50 points. The dollar and Treasuries are stronger while most commodities are weaker. European stocks declined on valuation concerns as investors fear that stock prices have outpaced the prospects for company earnings and economic growth. BNP Paribas fell 3.4% and led bank stocks lower after Fitch Ratings cut the long term credit rating of France’s largest bank one step to AA-, the fourth-highest investment grade, from AA citing a "deterioration" of the company’s asset quality. Bank stocks were also pressured after comments from ECB Council member Noyer who said "some banks have started facing increasing funding problems and that the situation reflects a general state of uncertainty which, left unchecked, could have significant consequences on financial stability and the real economy, as was the case during the last part of 2008." European debt concerns also undercut stock prices after Standard & Poor’s lowered its economic growth forecast for Spain to an average of 0.7% a year through 2016 from 1.0%, saying Spanish banks face mounting credit losses and "substantial strain" on revenue generation. Limiting losses in European stocks was the unexpected increase in German business confidence after the Jun German IFO business climate rose +0.3 to a 2-year high of 101.8 as the euro’s depreciation and a global economic recovery brightened the outlook for exports.
• The Asian markets today closed mostly lower with Japan down -1.22%, Hong Kong -0.45%, China +0.11%, Taiwan -0.30%, Australia -1.18%, Singapore -0.46%, South Korea -0.54%, India -0.71%. Asian shipping companies closed lower after freight rates slumped for a 17th consecutive day and basic resource companies fell as most commodity prices declined. Japan’s fiscal strategy released today has yet to impress upon the ratings’ agencies the ability of Japan’s government to cut the country’s massive debt. Under the plan, Prime Minister Kan’s administration pledged to balance its books in 10 years, restrict bond sales and overhaul the tax system. Annual spending will be capped at 71 trillion yen ($781 billion) over the next 3 years, and the government will decide changes to the tax regime "soon." The director of sovereign ratings at Standard & Poor’s in Singapore said that while the strategy is "better than nothing," the country’s credit quality is &quo t;still eroding slowly," while the director of Fitch Ratings’ Asia-Pacific sovereign group said the plan "does not have enough details for us to reach a firm conclusion or for us to say that we have confidence that Japan has a detailed fiscal consolidation plan."

Click here to read the complete Morning Call and to get your own free copy.

Daily S&P Report by Sean Lusk of PFGBest Stock futures turned in a small gain Friday as investors weighed a better than expected reading on consumer sentiment against a disappointing retail sales report. The Mini Dow Futures contract rallied 51 points for the day. That helped the Dow snap a three week losing streak, with the blue chip index finishing up 2.8 percent for the week. It also pulled the Dow out of correction territory, down more than ten percent from their April high.   Read the full story

Overnight Developments

• Global stocks are mostly higher with the European Euro Stoxx 50 Index up +0.57% and June S&Ps up +12.20 points. The dollar and Treasuries are weaker and commodity prices rose after economic reports from Asia show accelerating growth. China’s exports in May jumped by the most in 6 years, while Q1 Japan GDP was unexpectedly revised higher. Daimler AG climbed 4% after forecasting Mercedes-Benz sales will advance at twice the rate of the overall market on demand from China, while Lafarge SA, the world’s biggest cement maker, gained 4.3% after Citigroup recommended buying the shares. Overnight deposits at the ECB rose to a record 369 billion euros ($444 billion) today, the most since the start of the euro currency in 1999, as an increase in counterparty risks prompts European banks to deposit their excess funds with the ECB’s overnight deposit facility rather than lend. As expected, the Bank of England maintained its benchmark interest rate at 0.50% and held its asset purchase target at 200 billion pounds.
• The Asian markets today closed mostly higher with Japan up +1.10%, Hong Kong +0.06%, China -1.15%, Taiwan +1.56%, Australia +1.14%, Singapore +1.23%, South Korea +0.22%, India +1.59%. Japanese stocks closed higher after Japan’s Q1 GDP was unexpectedly revised up to a 5.0% annualized rate from 4.9%, driven by exports and an upward revision to consumer spending (+0.4% q/q from the previously reported +0.3% q/q). In a separate report, May Japan CGPI rose +0.4% y/y, the first increase in producer prices in 17 months, which may ease deflation concerns as an increase in raw-material costs fueled price gains. Aussie stocks closed higher after Australia’s jobless rate declined -0.2 to a 16-month low of 5.2% in May when employers added 26,900 to payrolls, more than market expectations of 20,000. China’s May exports rose +48.5% y/y, the biggest gain in more than six years, which indicates the European debt crisis has yet to slow the world’s fastest-growing major economy. Desp ite the strong export figure, China’s Shanghai Stock Index closed lower after China’s property prices jumped +12.4% y/y in May, the second-fastest pace on record, which raises concern the government will step up tightening measures to cool the property market.

Click here to read the complete Morning Call and get your own free copy.

Overnight Developments

• Global stocks are mostly lower with the European Euro Stoxx 50 Index down -0.55% and June S&Ps down -7.40 points. The euro sank to a 4-year low and is undercutting European stock prices after Hungarian Prime Minster Orban said Hungary’s economy is in a "very grave situation" because the previous government manipulated figures and lied about the state of the economy and that talk of a default is "not an exaggeration." The dollar and Treasuries rallied on the Hungary news, which undercut commodity prices. Limiting losses in stocks today is speculation that the US payrolls report, released later this morning, will show a fifth month of gains and add to evidence that the economy is gaining momentum. Q1 Euro-Zone GDP was revised up to +0.6% y/y from +0.5% y/y, the first annual gain since Q3 of 2008, led by a +6.0% y/y jump in exports and a +2.0% y/y increase in government spending. European technology stocks rallied, led by a 2.9% advance in S TMicroelectronics; after UBS raised its recommendation on Europe’s largest chipmaker to "neutral" from "sell," saying the chipmaker was a "strong beneficiary" from recent currency moves. Infineon Technologies AG gained 2.7% and ASML Holding NV rose 3.1% after the Dramexchange Index, which tracks prices of the most widely used computer memory chips, rose 1.2% and indicates an increase in demand.
• The Asian markets today closed mostly lower with Japan down -0.13%, Hong Kong -0.03%, China +0.30%, Taiwan -0.21%, Australia -0.82%, Singapore +0.47%, South Korea +0.21%, India +0.56%. South Korean stocks closed higher after the country’s Q1 GDP was revised up to a gain of +2.1% q/q from April’s initial estimate of +1.8% q/q, as exports surged and domestic demand strengthened. The South Korean Finance Ministry said in its monthly economic report today that the government will keep its expansionary economic-policy stance "for the time being" to support the recovery, citing risks from Europe and North Korea tensions. Japanese stocks were little changed as the Democratic Party of Japan is scheduled to vote on a new prime minister today to replace Yukio Hatoyama who resigned earlier this week. Asian mining companies closed lower and limited gains in other sectors after the CEO of Freeport-McMoRan said that China is a "risk to the world’s market place in t he near term" as it takes measures to cool its economy.

Overnight U.S. Stock News

• June S&Ps this morning are trading down -7.40 points on concern that Hungary may default on its sovereign debt. The US stock market yesterday finished with modest gains (Dow Jones +0.06%, S&P 500 +0.41%, Nasdaq Composite +0.96%). All of the stock indexes climbed to 2-week highs. Bullish factors included (1) optimism the economy is strengthening after Apr factory orders gained for the eighth consecutive month (+1.2% m/m) and the May ISM non-manufacturing index expanded for the fifth straight month (unchanged at 55.4), (2) strength in retailers after May ICSC chain store sales rose +2.6% y/y, their sixth straight monthly increase, and (3) Goldman Sachs’ hike in its May US payroll forecast to increase +600,000 from +500,000.
• Bearish factors included (1) concerns that the European debt crisis will worsen after the euro weakened on liquidity concerns as overnight deposits with the ECB rose to a record 320.4 billion euros ($394 billion), the fifth consecutive day deposits with the ECB have exceeded 300 billion euros as the sovereign debt crisis makes banks wary of lending to each other, (2) the weaker-than-expected May ADP employment change (+55,000 versus expectations of +70,000), and (3) weakness in mining companies and raw material producers after the CEO’s of Codelco and Freeport-McMoRan, the two largest copper producers, said that China’s plans to slow its economy threatens to reduce demand for metals and other commodities.
• Comtech (CMTL) gained 5.5% in pre-market trading after the provider of mobile-data communications equipment reported Q3 revenue of $216.3 million, well ahead of analysts’ estimates of $190.3 million.

Click here to read the complete Morning Call and to get your own Free e-mail of Morning Call.