Stocks to watch-Dec 31

    GLOBAL MARKETS ROUNDUP   
    * Nifty futures on the Singapore Exchange falls 0.1
percent. The MSCI-Asia Pacific index, excluding Japan
 is flat.   
    * Financial markets across Asia and Western Europe were
either closed or closing early on Monday, abandoning the field
as the U.S. Congress and the White House battled it out for a
solution to the impending "fiscal cliff".       
    * U.S. stocks fell for a fifth straight day on Friday,
dropping 1 percent and marking the S&P 500's longest
losing streak in three months as the federal government edged
closer to the "fiscal cliff" with no solution in sight.    
     
    FACTORS TO WATCH 
    * Current account, balance of payments data for July-Sept
quarter. (1130GMT) 
    * Fiscal deficit, infrastructure data for November. 

    FINANCIAL/REGULATORY
    * India's current account data for July-September due on
Monday is emerging as the biggest domestic factor amid concerns
it will show a record high deficit, leading to a negative
balance of payments. (Reuters) 
    * Piramal Group is in advanced talks to buy TPG Capital's
 20.27 percent stake in India's largest truck financier,
Shriram Transport Finance Ltd, for around 35 billion rupees, two
people with direct knowledge of the negotiations said. (Economic
Times)
here
    * Risks to India's macro-economic stability have increased
on the back of an economic slowdown, high inflation, and
ballooning fiscal and current account deficits, the Reserve Bank
of India said in a report on Friday. (Reuters) 
    * India will start implementing new global capital rules for
banks, known as Basel III, from April 1, 2013 rather than the
beginning of January, the Reserve Bank of India said on Friday.
(Reuters) 
    * HDFC Bank has decided to cut its base rate by 10
basis points, a reduction that comes close on the heels of
similar steps by other banks and financiers. (Times of India)
toi.in/qONwHZ
    * The $4-billion Essel Group, a media conglomerate, has made
a foray into the financial services sector by setting up a new
arm, Essel Financial Services Ltd. (Business Standard)
here
   
    ENERGY/COMMODITIES
    * Reliance Industries has bought back shares worth
over 38 billion rupees from public shareholders since the launch
of its share repurchase programme in February -- achieving 37
percent of the target with less than a month left for its
completion. (Business Standard)
here
    * Ambuja Cements Ltd has drawn up an investment
plan of some 20 billion rupees entailing enhancement of its
cement capacities in Rajasthan and northern regions, CEO Ajay
Kapur said. (Economic Times)
here
    
    INDUSTRIAL
    * The promoters of Hinduja Foundries Ltd are to
provide financial support in reviving the auto parts maker, said
R. Seshasayee, executive chairman of the company, at the annual
general meeting on Friday. (Mint)
    Hinduja Automotive Ltd and Ashok Leyland Ltd are
the major shareholders in the company.
here

    RETAIL
    * The government has decided to apply the foreign trade
policy's definition of 'group company' for sourcing norms in the
retail sector that prevent foreign cash-and-carry firms from
selling more than a fourth of their goods to affiliated
entities. (Economic Times)
here
    
    TELECOMMUNICATIONS
    * Reliance Communications has told the government
that it lost 11.2 percent of its customers in December as it
deactivated 15 million subscribers who have not used their
phones for more than two months. (Economic Times)
here

Posted in: STOCKS TO WATCH