The Sensex crashed by 807 points to drop below 23,000-mark on February 11, dragged down by the concerns over global economy and mounting bad loans.While the mid-cap index fell by 12 per cent to 9,802.The broader market performance is complete opposite to last year, where it was minnows who ruled in 2015 as mid-cap and small-cap stocks beat their blue-chip peers for the second year in a row with an average return of up to 7.15 and 9,400.77 points, losses were more sharper in the small-cap index which plunged 16.64. In market terms, a fall of 20 per cent from an all-time peak is considered to be as a ‘bear market’.53.5 per cent against nine per cent decline in the 30-stock Sensex so far this year.
The mid-cap index tracks companies with a market value that is on an average one-fifth of blue-chips or large firms.39 China small bearing Manufacturers on February 12.The mid-cap index is also down 15.Experts said domestic woes, including ballooning bad debts reported by public sector and private sector banks and weak quarterly earnings in various other sectors, have also added to the market weakness.4 per cent.Market players say smaller stocks are generally bought by local investors, while overseas investors focus on blue-chips.97 per cent from its all-time high of 11,666. It touched its 52-week low of 22,600.In comparison, the ben-chmark Sensex dipped by 9.37, respectively, on February 12.22 per cent to 23,709.The investor sentiment was hit mostly by volatility in global crude oil prices, concerns over the health of the Chinese economy and fears of a global slowdown.The mid-cap and small-cap indices also hit their all-time low mark of 9,393.88 points, or five per cent, after gaining nearly 30 per cent in 2014.56 per cent to 9,876..In 2015, Sensex fell by 1,381.The Sensex has also come off 21 per cent from its all-time high of over 30,000, scaled on March 4, 2015. Small-cap firms typically have one-tenth of the valuation that a blue chip company companies.24, while small-cap has come down by 19 per cent from its record peak of 12,203.Small and medium companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) have taken a bigger hit compared to their bigger peers amid extreme weakness in the broader market as the two indices has cracked by up to 16.15
Small businesses in emerging markets are less likely to have websites, a foundation for Google ad campaigns but unnecessary for Facebook.Facebook ads, compared with those on Google search or YouTube, tend to transcend language barriers more easily because they rely more on visual elements, said Narayan Murthy Ivaturi, vice president at FreakOut Pte Ltd, a Singapore-headquartered digital marketing firm.NEW TACTICSFor many years Google designed its services for early adopters of new technology, who tended to be in Silicon Valley, said Nelson Mattos, who oversaw Google’s Europe and Africa operations for several years."India is the most important market for the ‘Next Billion Users’ initiative," Caesar Sengupta, the head of the effort, told Reuters on the sidelines of the annual "Google for India" event in New Delhi last small bearing week.Facebook’s success has shaken Alphabet’s Google, led by an Indian-born CEO, Sundar Pichai, who has made developing markets a priority.Facebook, meanwhile, is already on to commercialising such behaviour. Indian users during the first half of this year spent more time on Google services than on Facebook services, according to estimates from audience measurement firm Comscore. A handful of Google executives, including leaders for display ads and small business advertisers, travelled to India earlier this year in a previously unreported trip to better understand the needs of Indian clients.Eight Indian ad buyers interviewed by Reuters were divided on whether Facebook would overtake Google in Indian ad revenue."Facebook is a far more user-friendly platform even though they haven’t created features specifically for Indian advertisers," said Vikas Chawla, who runs a small ad-buying agency in India.
The efforts are bearing fruit.Facebook and Google between them took 68 per cent of India’s digital ad market last year, according to advertising buyer Magna.And Facebook is succeeding in India, which boasts the fastest-growing digital ad market of any major economy, despite the internal turmoil and political controversy.Google is now pushing back, attempting to lure customers with better ad-buying tools and more localized services. Over a similar period a year ago, Facebook came out on top.The battle in India reflects an epic challenge for Google in developing markets around the world that are crucial to the company’s long-term growth - many consumers in those countries are gravitating to Facebook and it’s siblings, Instagram and WhatsApp, at the expense of Google search and YouTube, and advertising dollars are quick to follow.. Just weeks ago, it began charging for text-based marketing features on WhatsApp, with video ads expected to launch next year."There’s definitely a sea change," said Asif Baki, a user researcher at Google who oversees two-week "immersion trips" in developing markets for senior executives and staff.Shortly after taking the helm three years ago, Pichai mapped a new strategy for places such as India: More services tailored to locals; more marketing on radio, billboards and TV; more local staff and start-up investment.The Facebook phenomenon is evident close to home for Google.Extending those gains to the ad business is a work in progress. The revamped strategy mirrors initiatives that have succeeded in boosting the time Indian consumers spend with Google services.Google retains only a slight lead over Facebook in the competition for digital ad dollars in the crucial India market, sources familiar with the figures say, even though the search giant has been in the country far longer and has avoided the controversies that have dogged its rival. Google officials in India earlier this year were alarmed to learn that Facebook Inc was likely to generate about $980 million in revenue in the country in 2018, according to one of the sources. It has been without a country head for the last year and has faced a series of incidents in which rumours circulating on Facebook and WhatsApp have prompted mob violence. Google’s India revenues reached $1 billion only last year. All 10 said they regularly used Whatsapp.Google’s India workforce has more than doubled since to more than 4,000 employees, or about eight times Facebook’s presence, according to a tally of LinkedIn profiles and company statements."Over time, as you saw the growth of Facebook, the importance of WhatsApp and other tools in these new markets, and not the same adoption of Google, the company started to realize that maybe they had to change that approach," Mattos said. Smartphone apps such as Files Go and Tez - rebranded last week as Google Pay - were aimed at Indians. That such a question would even be debated explains why Pichai, Google’s chief executive, has pressed to flip the company’s approach to emerging markets. Great products would then find a broad global audience.The visit spurred them to consider ideas such as enabling advertisers to reach users only in a particular Indian state, since language and literacy vary greatly around the country, according to a person familiar with the discussions. Facebook and Google declined to comment on Indian revenue figures or the competition between the two companies. Media agency GroupM estimates digital advertising spending will grow 30 per cent in India this year. Pinpointing younger consumers and rural populations are easier with Facebook and its Instagram app, he and other ad buyers said.Executives met with one Indian merchant who recorded product videos on YouTube then messaged the links to potential customers on WhatsApp, said Kim Spalding, the company’s general manager and product lead for small business ads. During a recent lunch period, six out of 10 people who walked out of Google’s Bangalore offices while looking at their phones told Reuters they were checking WhatsApp.At the New Delhi event, Google unveiled a plan to bring Indian newspaper content online, to increase the supply of search results - and ads - available in regional languages. Its products evolved too, becoming easier to use with low data plans.Google still has to reckon with other issues
"Tightening of H-1B norms and the changes thereof will disqualify certain positions currently eligible for H-1B visas, thereby impeding the movement of low-cost skilled labour from India and; will have direct bearing on margins," said Mr Gaurav Jain, vice president, Corporate Sector ratings, Icra.Further, while the current H-1B system is lottery based, thereby giving equal selection rights to all applications, the DHS is also contemplating awarding visas to the most skilled or to highest-paid beneficiary.US government through Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is undertaking a study to review the definition of specialty occupation that is positions which are eligible for H-1B visas along with guidelines to ensure employers pay appropriate wages to H-1B visa holders."Such changes could be in the form of filtering various computer-related occupations, which require a bachelor’s degree (a pre-requisite for being classified as specialty occupation) or mandating a combination of education and the kind of work required to qualify as a specialty occupation," said Icra.
This will work against the Indian IT services sector (H-1B motorcycle bearing Manufacturers dependent) as the average wage is approximately lower by 25 per cent compared to companies that are not dependent on H-1B visas as per estimates. An entity is defined as H-1B dependent if more than 15 per cent of its US full time employees are on an H-1B visa," Icra said. However, the impact will be company specific and relative to H-1B visa dependence," said Mr Jain. The guidelines are expected to be issued by October 2018.He said that similarly, the awarding of H-1B visas, based on highest skill or compensation, will leave less headroom for Indian companies to get such visas.New Delhi: United States’ move to tighten the H-1B visa norms is likely to have a negative bearing on H-1B-visas-dependent Indian IT services companies, according to a report. "Consequently, increased onsite hiring or raising the compensation for H-1B visa applicants will significantly impact companies’ margin and will be credit negative.
Notably, the Western half of this bypass linking Kundli to Faridabad via NH-10 and NH-8 was designated as the WPE, and the Eastern half of this bypass was designed as EPE.50 crore has already been paid by Delhi. Of this amount, Rs 53.The construction of twin expressways — totalling 270 km — was initiated as per a Supreme Court ruling to get Delhi rid of unwanted traffic. Official said that Delhi was not responsible for delay of the project and it has already paid its share and as such won’t pay any further.Sources said that the land acquisition cost of the project was Rs 844 crore when the project was conceived in 2005.
The inordinate delay in execution of the project has not only increased the project cost but has also jacked up land acquisition rate to the tune of Rs 7,800 crore in 2017 The city government is bearing 50 per cent cost of the total land acquisition in the entire project.New Delhi: The Union ministry of road transport and highways has asked the Delhi government to pay Rs 3,890 crore towards the cost of land acquisition for the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressway projects."Due to non-completion of the project in time, Delhi was unnecessarily burdened with higher land acquisition costs and the target to decongest Delhi was not achieved," a senior officer told this newspaper.After 14 years, the Western and Eastern Peripheral Expressway projects has china motor bearing Factory been completed by about 40 to 50 percent.The project has been inordinately delayed despite being regularly monitored by the Supreme Court and the Prime Minister’s Office.Having given commitment to the project 10 years ago, Delhi is bearing the burnt of continued movement of transit traffic, its hazards and resultant pollution as well as repeated demands of additional funds for the project.. The Delhi government has already paid its share of Rs 653 crore for the project.This means that the Delhi government’s contribution towards the project will now work out to the tune of Rs 3,890 crore
Introduction of a health insurance scheme for employees and pensioners has been recommended. Within this, the increase in pay will be 16 per cent, in allowances 63 per cent and in pension it would be 23.Panel approves 23."In percentage terms, the overall increase in pay and allowance and pensions over the business-as-usual scenario will be 23.55 per cent total increase in salary, allowances and pension along with a virtual one-rank-one-pension for civilians, involving an additional expenditure of Rs 1. At the bottom of the matrix, it has been raised from Rs 30 per month to Rs 1,500 and the cover hiked from Rs 30,000 to Rs 15 lakh.55 per cent hike; favours OROP for civilians New Delhi: The seventh Central Pay Commission rolled out a year-end bonanza for 47 lakh Central Government employees and 52 lakh pensioners across the country as it recommended a 23.In case of retired Government servants, it said, their pension should not be deducted from their consolidated pay.
The total salary and pension bill of the Central Government, which will also include railway employees, will go up from estimated Rs 4.Without calling it one-rank-one-pension (OROP), the Pay Commission recommended a revised pension formulation for the Central Government employees, including para-military personnel as well as for defence staff who have retired before January 1, 2016.33 lakh crore to Rs 5.35 lakh crore during 2016-17.5 lakh per month has been recommended by the Commission, headed by Justice A.5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh.Meanwhile the agencies reported that the Chairman and other member Dr Rathin Roy recommended the age of superannuation for all central armed forces personnel to be raised to 60 years from the current 58 years, another member Vivek Rae did not agree with it.In the new pay structure, the grade pay has been subsumed in the pay matrix and the status of the employee, now determined by grade pay, will now be determined by the level in the matrix.All postal pensioners must be covered under CGHS.K.The Commission recommended abolition of all non-interest bearing advances and increased the limit for small bearing Factory interest-bearing advances for buying home from Rs 7.02 lakh crore a year. He endorsed the stand of Home Ministry. All postal dispensaries should be merged with CGHS.Under the central government employees group insurance scheme, the rates of contribution as well as insurance coverage have now been enhanced suitably.
The panel has suggested abolition of the pay band and the grade pay, though it retained the annual increment of 3 per cent.It has also recommended a fitment factor of 2.In view of grievances relating to New Pension Scheme (NPS), it suggested steps to improve the functioning of scheme and establishment of a strong grievance redressal mechanism.The award of the pay panel will also benefit staff of autonomous bodies, universities and public sector units, Mr Jaitley said after receiving the report.The Commission has recommended a consolidated monthly pay package of Rs 4.In a significant recommendation, it enhanced the ceiling of gratuity from the existing Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. Monthly deduction has been raised from Rs 120 per month to Rs 5,000 and insurance cover from Rs 1. Meanwhile for the benefit of pensioners outside the Central Government Housing Scheme (CGHS) areas, CGHS should empanel those hospitals which are already empanelled under CS(MA)/ECHS for catering to the medical requirement of these pensioners on a cashless basis. And the same will be raised by 25 per cent whenever DA be raised by 50 per cent.A minimum pay of Rs 18,000 per month and a maximum of Rs 2..57, which will be applied uniformally to all employees. The consolidated pay package should be raised by 25 per cent and Dearness Allowance by 50 per cent.The recommendations are to be implemented from January 1, 2016, and the financial impact of these will be to the tune of Rs 1. Mathur, which presented its voluminous 900-page report to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday.2 lakh to Rs 50 lakh for senior most level.55 per cent," the report said.The formulation will bring parity between past pensioners and current retirees for the same length of service in the pay scale at the time of retirement.6 per cent, it said.50 lakh and Rs 4 lakh for chairpersons and members respectively of the regulatory bodies.02 lakh crore, out of which it would be Rs 73,650 crore on Central Budget and Rs 28,450 crore on the Railway Budget
Reflections of villagers in a pool of oil leaking from a crashed helicopter in Budgam district. "Whether you are standing and there is a reflection, or a child sitting in front of you, or a security person in a bunker; everything tells a story. Since then, she has never let the camera slip even for a second when on the streets of Kashmir. In the same mosque, a boy walked up to me and asked from which side (India or Pakistan) I was. A woman sits on a bench bearing the heat. For someone who has shot through vulnerable situations — between stone-pelting, hospitals, visiting ex-militants houses, to capturing daily life in the villages — Avani never leaves home in Kashmir without her camera. Infact, had it not been for the documentary she was making on her father, Avani’s relationship with acamera wouldn’t have evolved.In Baramulla men and children in phiran come out in the open as spectators to the happenings. Not sure what to answer, I asked him the same question and he replied, ‘I am from Allah’s side," narrates the documentarian. "I was shooting at Khanqah mosque and a woman came up to me, held my hand and kissed me.".
These men of the house are either shot in an encounter or have disappeared," shares the 27-year-old adding that everything in Kashmir is a canvas.Out on the lanes of Kashmir are not china motor bearing Factory just the locals, but doctors too. "I have shot most with women and children as they are the ones suffering at home after their husbands, fathers, and sons leave them. And most importantly she says, "Is the fact that people will remember you, always.And her endeavour has resulted in the series Exhibit A that documents a section of Kashmir suffering silently far away from the chaos that has engulfed the Valley. Her relationship with photography began when her documentary brought her to Kashmir in 2014. She then asked me where was I from and didn’t let me go until I had tea with her family. Unaware of Kashmir’s complexities then and concentrating on filming the climax of her documentary, Avani returned right in time of the Burhan Wani mayhem in 2016 marking the onset of her relationship with the Valley and its people.For the veteran photographer Raghu Rai’s daughter Avani Rai, photography wasn’t something that came naturally to her.Taken in Srinagar on day seven." While she attributes Kashmir to be the reason for her photography voyage, Avani emphasises that the way natives opened up to her made her work joyous and easy