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COVER STORY
China's Forex Reserve : Dollar Woes
- Amit Singh Sisodiya and Ramana Pemmaraju
A weak dollar is the last thing China would ever desire. It was this fear that led China to
recently make a clarion call for the US to cut down on its profligacy and, importantly, for the creation of a
new international currency to replace the US dollar. China's worry stems from its burgeoning
forex reserve, which is overexposed to the greenback. Beijing's call for creating a new global
currency, however, has the Obama Administration in a state of `shock and awe'.
BYIN VITATION
Global Economy : In for a Deflationary Shock?
- Heiner Flassbeck and Sonia Boffa
With many input prices, like those for commodities, falling already, deflation, an absolute fall of the price
level, can no longer be avoided.
BYINVITATION
Geithner-Summers Plan : Setting a Bad Precedent?
- Sunil Puliyakot
To prevent the mistakes of the subprime era from recurring again, we may have to opt for operational
regulations which promote more of cash flow-based lending, instead of the present collateral-based lending, and a
whole array of systems to support the implementation and monitoring of the same.
INDUSTRY
Private Equity : Boom Time Ahead?
- Bundeep Singh Rangar
With the economic downturn in developed economies intensifying and the application of capital
becoming dearer and shrinking the expected Return on Investments (RoI), PE firms are finding their way into
safer investment havens, that is, emerging markets.
INDUSTRY
Passenger Carmakers : On a Bumpy Ride
- Amit Singh Sisodiya and Sudesh Gonela
If the current fiscal's first 10-month sales are any indication, passenger carmakers in India are staring at one
of the worst slumps in many years.
INDUSTRY
Indian Outsourcing Sector : Is the Party Over?
- Y Bala Bharathi and G P Mrudhula
The euphoria surrounding the Indian outsourcing sector seems to be evaporating as it is getting mired
in the downturn. Does this signal the end of the heyday of the decade-old fastest growing sector?
INDUSTRY
Mobile VAS : Content Is King
- Amit Singh Sisodiya and Sudesh Gonela
India is all set to witness an explosive growth in the Mobile Value-Added Services (MVAS) arena.
INTERNATIONAL BANKING
Swiss Banking Secrecy : Beginning of the End?
- N Janardhan Rao and PS Sarath Chandra
Amidst rising global pressure to crack down on non-cooperating tax zones, tax havens like Switzerland
are starting to rethink their secrecy laws that have allowed the $7-tn offshore industry to thrive. Is the age
of banking secrecy over?
ARTS & ARTISTS
Great Expectations : A Slice of Life
- Nirmala PG
As you try to reflect and recall those
moments in Great Expectations—scenes that would remain etched in
your memory for a long time—some images loom large. And these scenes also
happen to be closely knit with Charles Dickens' great themes: poverty,
injustice, crime and so on.
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
Recession and Trade Protection : Solution Lies Elsewhere
- Deepika M G
Protectionism often proves to be counterproductive and self-defeating.
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
Indian Economy : Reeling Under the Global Slowdown
- N Janardhan Rao
The global financial turmoil has taken a toll on one of the fastest growing economies in the world and is
now dragging down all sectors of the economy amidst a scary fiscal scenario.
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY
Japan's Trade : Fall from Grace
- T Jyotsna
The highly export-reliant Japanese economy is currently plagued by plunging exports.
INTERNATIONAL FINANCE
Quantitative Easing : Remedy of Last Resort
- T Jyotsna
As the leading central banks across the globe cannot bring down the interest rates any more, they
are charting the unconventional route of creating new money in order to inject liquidity into their economies.
CORPORATE FINANCE
FCCB Buyback : Advantage India Inc.
- T Jyotsna
Amidst rising redemption pressure and ensuing accounting challenges, RBI's move to help
companies buyback FCCBs comes as a blessing in disguise to India Inc.
CORPORATE STRATEGY
Free Phone Manager : Will Google's New Bet Pay Off?
- Amit Singh Sisodiya and Ramana Pemmaraju
Google's free phone manager service is being touted as potentially disruptive for the telecom industry
in the US. But Google has struggled to find success beyond search, its forte so far, and online ads.
CORPORATE STRATEGY
Airtel : Tunes in to Success
- Y Bala Bharathi and Sanjoy De
Bharti Airtel has retained its top slot and is further racing ahead even in times of slowdown, thanks to
its smart strategy and sound execution.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Life Insurance Industry : Signs of Slowdown
- Y Bala Bharathi and Sanjoy De
The current slowdown in the equity markets and the real economy has taken a toll on the life
insurance industry in India. The prospect for the industry is bleak in the short run, and hence consolidation seems
to be inevitable to rev up the business in these times of crisis.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
New Pension System : Securing Sunset Years
- N Janardhan Rao and V Ratna
The new pension system promises to change the investment habits of ordinary people, while
boosting India's social security system. However, it all depends on how successful the marketing efforts will prove
to be in creating awareness about the scheme.
FINANCIAL MARKETS
US IPOs : Dead as a Doornail
- Y Bala Bharathi and Sanjoy De
The US primary market has virtually come to a halt in recent times with companies' plans to raise
funds stuck in a deadlock.
PERSPECTIVE
Capitalism Conundrum : The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
- R Venkatesan Iyengar
Though capitalism, like democracy, is based on individual liberties, it too requires rules to guide its
main behaviorwealth creation.
PERSPECTIVE
English : Can We Do Without It?
- GRK Murty
APOLITICAL
SDRs : The Yin and Yang of China's Demand
- grk
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