Wrap up: Cyber space retail; time to buy infra stocks?

Confused and intimidated by the amount of news hurtling at you everyday? Well, to make your life easier, here’s a quick round-up of the major local and international business and economic news events.

• Debates around FDI in retail continued for another day with an all-party meeting not being able to bring about any consensus. With what could be another nuclear deal moment for Manmohan Singh, the prime minister today said FDI in retail is India’s answer to high inflation. He added that the money generated would increase agricultural productivity besides securing the future of farmers. Here is what he said .

• The Indian economy could grow at a rate as low as 6.9-7 percent this and the next year according to many analysts. The much-awaited economic reforms could be a relief for the Indian economy, by getting foreign investment and growth in the right place. But dreams are being shattered each day with the FDI in retail facing tough resistance. Is the economy losing out? Read on .

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• Firstpost also draws your attention to retailers in cyber space, that no one complains about. So what we have now, is no restriction on the net,no restriction on Indian corporates getting into any aspect of retail, but, a huge brouhaha over foreign investment in retail. We discuss the logic or lack thereof.

[caption id=“attachment_143680” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is seen flanked by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee (left) and Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Reuters”]  [/caption]

• Tainted by corruption scandals and frozen into a policy paralysis, the UPA government today finds itself in a hopeless political bind. Here is a look at how this masterly inactivity affects us .

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• Property sales in Mumbai’s overheated market have dipped by a jaw-dropping 70 percent from 2007 peak levels, but overall prices have risen 20 percent. According to the latest report by property consultant Knight Frank, higher interest rates, rising inflation and increasing construction costs have not only dampened demand but also investor appetite for the real estate portfolio. Read on .

• In a volatile market where nothing works against negative sentiments, consumer good companies have definitely done well for themselves. Unfortunately, these stocks have become too expensive. So those looking to cash in by entering FMCG stocks now, are too late. And this is where infra comes into the picture. Is it time to buy infra stocks now? Find out .

• After touching a low of Rs 412 on 24 November, 2011, Ranbaxy in a span of three trading days has touched a high of Rs 464. The sharp move is attributed to an expectation that the company will be able to launch the generic version of world’s largest selling drug, Lipitor. We tell you why this excitement could be shortlived.

• After falling credit demand, rising bad loans and poor profit margins, Indian banks have something more to worry about: NRI deposits. According to a report by SMC Global Securities, banks might have to cough up an additional Rs 49,000 crore, or $9.47 billion, on the deposits NRIs hold in Indian banks because of the rupee’s fall against major currencies. Here is the story .

• According to an article in the Economic and Political Weekly, the RBI must share the blame for failure of micro finance institutions as they did not allow them to take deposits. Deposits would have acted as buffer against non payment of loans by borrowers. Here is the story .

• Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal will soon meet telecom industry leaders to work out an amicable resolution to the dispute between the government and service providers over a 3G roaming pact. Read more on this here .