The BSE Sensex hit a fresh record high of 34,487.52 while NSE Nifty touched life-time high of 10,659.15 in the opening session on Tuesday on smart gains in Coal India, Tata Motors and SBI.

Rising for the third straight day, the 30-share index spurted by 134.73 points, or 0.39 per cent, to hit a new peak of 34,487.52.

The gauge gained 559.41 points in previous three sessions to close at a record high at 34,352.79 in Monday&#39;s session. It had also touched an intra-day lifetime high of 34,385.67 in the previous session.

Sectoral indices, led by IT, teck and metal were trading in the positive zone with gains up to 0.22 per cent.

The 50-share NSE Nifty gained 35.55 points, or 0.33 per cent, to scale its lifetime high of 10,659.15. The gauge had touched an intra-day high of 10,631.20 on Monday.

Coal India soared by over seven per cent after its board approved a hike in prices of non-coking coal for power and non-power sectors with immediate effect.

The price hike would boost its revenue by Rs 1,956 crore in the remaining part of the 2017-18 fiscal.

Among other gainers, Wipro, ONGC, Tata Motors, M&amp;M, SBI, Infosys, Hindustan Unilever, Tata Steel, HDFC Ltd, TCS, Axis Bank, Bharti Airtel, Kotak Bank and Maruti Suzuki rose up to two per cent.

Continuous foreign fund inflows and raising of bets by investors amid optimism over third quarterly earnings and upcoming budget helped the key indices to hit record hits, traders said.

Meanwhile, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 692.83 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares worth Rs 206.30 crore yesterday, according to provisional exchange data.

Among other Asian markets, Hong Kong&#39;s Hang Seng gained 0.26 per cent, while Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.13 per cent in their early deals. Japan&#39;s Nikkei too edged higher 0.54 per cent.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, closed 0.05 per cent lower yesterday.

Rising for the third straight day, the 30-share index spurted by 134.73 points, or 0.39 per cent, to hit a new peak of 34,487.52.

The BSE Sensex hit a fresh record high of 34,487.52 while NSE Nifty touched life-time high of 10,659.15 in the opening session on Tuesday on smart gains in Coal India, Tata Motors and SBI. Rising for the third straight day, the 30-share index spurted by 134.73 points, or 0.39 per cent, to hit a new peak of 34,487.52. The gauge gained 559.41 points in previous three sessions to close at a record high at 34,352.79 in Monday's session. It had also touched an intra-day lifetime high of 34,385.67 in the previous session. Sectoral indices, led by IT, teck and metal were trading in the positive zone with gains up to 0.22 per cent. The 50-share NSE Nifty gained 35.55 points, or 0.33 per cent, to scale its lifetime high of 10,659.15. The gauge had touched an intra-day high of 10,631.20 on Monday. Coal India soared by over seven per cent after its board approved a hike in prices of non-coking coal for power and non-power sectors with immediate effect. The price hike would boost its revenue by Rs 1,956 crore in the remaining part of the 2017-18 fiscal. Among other gainers, Wipro, ONGC, Tata Motors, M&M, SBI, Infosys, Hindustan Unilever, Tata Steel, HDFC Ltd, TCS, Axis Bank, Bharti Airtel, Kotak Bank and Maruti Suzuki rose up to two per cent. Continuous foreign fund inflows and raising of bets by investors amid optimism over third quarterly earnings and upcoming budget helped the key indices to hit record hits, traders said. Meanwhile, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 692.83 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares worth Rs 206.30 crore yesterday, according to provisional exchange data. Among other Asian markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 0.26 per cent, while Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.13 per cent in their early deals. Japan's Nikkei too edged higher 0.54 per cent. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, closed 0.05 per cent lower yesterday.

Sensex, Nifty scale fresh record high as Coal India spurts

Alphabet Inc&#39;s Google said on Monday its voice-controlled virtual assistant will show up this year in new tablet-like devices designed by LG Electronics Inc and Sony Corp as the technology company seeks to challenge Amazon.com Inc&#39;s dominance in a fledgeling market.

Dubbed smart displays by Google, the new devices introduce tablet-like screens to speakers that can obey oral commands to perform tasks like playing music, dimming lights, locking doors and setting alarms.

JBL and Lenovo Group Ltd also are developing smart displays, Google said.

Amazon kick-started the market for smart speakers in 2014 with its Echo device, which included the Alexa virtual assistant. The company added a screen for the first time in June, calling the device the Echo Show.

Neither Apple Inc&#39;s assistant Siri nor Microsoft Corp&#39;s Cortana is currently available on a speaker with a tablet-like display.

The new Google Assistant gadgets unveiled Monday at the CES trade show in Las Vegas marked the first challenge to Amazon&#39;s Echo Show and the smaller Echo Spot, which also has a display. The Show went on sale in June for $230 and the Spot in December for $130.

Users of the smart displays being unveiled by Google cannot browse the Web or install apps as they would on a tablet, but the new gadgets are optimized for sound quality and listening to voice commands. Information related to the commands is brought up on the touchscreen.

Lenovo&#39;s version of the smart display will come with an 8-inch screen for $200 or a 10.1-inch screen for $250. The device will go on sale &quot;early this summer&quot; and includes a camera that shoots in 720p high definition, Lenovo said.

JBL, part of Samsung Electronics&#39;&nbsp;Harman Kardon subsidiary, LG and Sony did not announce pricing and release dates.

The partnerships are important for Google as it tries to catch up with Amazon in the new category of smart speakers that both play music and function as voice-controlled electronic assistants.

About 45 million people in the United States will use smart speakers in 2018, research firm EMarketer estimates, and Amazon has about two-thirds of the U.S. market.

Amazon did not immediately respond to a request to comment.

Steep discounts during the holidays on the most affordable models of Google&#39;s Home smart speakers and the Amazon Echo likely meant both companies were taking losses to get them into millions of homes, analysts told Reuters.

In a sign of the stakes involved, Google last year cut off the Echo Show&#39;s access to YouTube and took the rare step of explicitly saying it was acting in retaliation for Amazon refusing to sell Google products.

Displaying YouTube videos and showing recipes are top selling points for smart displays, said Gummi Hafsteinsson, the Google product director overseeing Assistant.

The devices can show details about restaurants, launch a video chat over Google Duo and pull up images hosted on Google Photos. 
Google did not announce its own hardware plans on Monday.&nbsp;

The company has experimented with developing a version of Google Home with a screen, Rishi Chandra, vice president of the division, told Reuters in August.&nbsp;

Neither Apple Inc's assistant Siri nor Microsoft Corp's Cortana is currently available on a speaker with a tablet-like display

Alphabet Inc's Google said on Monday its voice-controlled virtual assistant will show up this year in new tablet-like devices designed by LG Electronics Inc and Sony Corp as the technology company seeks to challenge Amazon.com Inc's dominance in a fledgeling market. Dubbed smart displays by Google, the new devices introduce tablet-like screens to speakers that can obey oral commands to perform tasks like playing music, dimming lights, locking doors and setting alarms. JBL and Lenovo Group Ltd also are developing smart displays, Google said. Amazon kick-started the market for smart speakers in 2014 with its Echo device, which included the Alexa virtual assistant. The company added a screen for the first time in June, calling the device the Echo Show. Neither Apple Inc's assistant Siri nor Microsoft Corp's Cortana is currently available on a speaker with a tablet-like display. The new Google Assistant gadgets unveiled Monday at the CES trade show in Las Vegas marked the first challenge to Amazon's Echo Show and the smaller Echo Spot, which also has a display. The Show went on sale in June for $230 and the Spot in December for $130. Users of the smart displays being unveiled by Google cannot browse the Web or install apps as they would on a tablet, but the new gadgets are optimized for sound quality and listening to voice commands. Information related to the commands is brought up on the touchscreen. Lenovo's version of the smart display will come with an 8-inch screen for $200 or a 10.1-inch screen for $250. The device will go on sale "early this summer" and includes a camera that shoots in 720p high definition, Lenovo said. JBL, part of Samsung Electronics' Harman Kardon subsidiary, LG and Sony did not announce pricing and release dates. The partnerships are important for Google as it tries to catch up with Amazon in the new category of smart speakers that both play music and function as voice-controlled electronic assistants. About 45 million people in the United States will use smart speakers in 2018, research firm EMarketer estimates, and Amazon has about two-thirds of the U.S. market. Amazon did not immediately respond to a request to comment. Steep discounts during the holidays on the most affordable models of Google's Home smart speakers and the Amazon Echo likely meant both companies were taking losses to get them into millions of homes, analysts told Reuters. In a sign of the stakes involved, Google last year cut off the Echo Show's access to YouTube and took the rare step of explicitly saying it was acting in retaliation for Amazon refusing to sell Google products. Displaying YouTube videos and showing recipes are top selling points for smart displays, said Gummi Hafsteinsson, the Google product director overseeing Assistant. The devices can show details about restaurants, launch a video chat over Google Duo and pull up images hosted on Google Photos. Google did not announce its own hardware plans on Monday. The company has experimented with developing a version of Google Home with a screen, Rishi Chandra, vice president of the division, told Reuters in August.

Google teams with Sony, Lenovo for smart speakers with touchscreens

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd on Tuesday estimated a 64 per cent jump in fourth-quarter operating profit to a new record, but the guidance fell short of market expectations as the strong won and year-end bonuses dented profits.&nbsp;

The global memory chip leader and Apple Inc smartphone rival said its October-December profit was likely 15.1 trillion won ($14.1 billion), compared with a 15.9 trillion won average estimate from 17 analysts surveyed in a Thomson Reuters poll.&nbsp;

Based on the guidance, Samsung&#39;s 2017 operating profit is likely 53.6 trillion won, compared to the previous year&#39;s 29.2 trillion won, putting the South Korean tech giant on course for a record annual profit as strong DRAM memory chip prices continued to fatten margins.&nbsp;

Revenue was estimated to have increased 24 percent to 66 trillion won, versus the analysts&#39;&nbsp;average forecast of 66.8 trillion won.&nbsp;

Samsung did not elaborate on its October-December performance and will disclose detailed results at the end of January.&nbsp;

The continued rise in the price of DRAM chips, in especially hot demand for data centre servers, more than made up for a drop in NAND chip prices and a stronger won, analysts said.&nbsp;

But the outlook for semiconductors in 2018 is mixed, and Samsung shares have fallen 9.6 percent from their all-time high in early November as some investors bet on an end to the memory chip boom.

NAND flash memory chips, used in things like digital cameras and USB drives, have entered a down-cycle and some analysts say DRAM market conditions also will soften later this year.&nbsp;

Others, however, expect DRAM supply to remain tight throughout 2018 as Google, Amazon and Facebook expand data centres used for cloud storage and computing.&nbsp;

The outlook for smartphones and other mobile devices, which analysts expect to contribute about 17 percent to Samsung&#39;s fourth-quarter earnings, is also uncertain due to competition from Chinese rivals in markets like Europe and Asia, analysts said.

Tom Kang, research director at data provider Counterpoint, said Samsung&#39;s mobile division should show &quot;moderate&quot; shipment growth of about 1-2 percent in 2018.&nbsp;

Analysts expect Samsung&#39;s display profits to grow this year thanks to sales of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screens for Apple iPhones as well as Samsung`s own handsets.

South Korean exporters like Samsung will be keeping a close eye on the won in 2018. The currency traded as high as 1,058.8 against the dollar on Monday, its highest in more than three years.&nbsp;

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd on Tuesday estimated a 64 per cent jump in fourth-quarter operating profit to a new record

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd on Tuesday estimated a 64 per cent jump in fourth-quarter operating profit to a new record, but the guidance fell short of market expectations as the strong won and year-end bonuses dented profits. The global memory chip leader and Apple Inc smartphone rival said its October-December profit was likely 15.1 trillion won ($14.1 billion), compared with a 15.9 trillion won average estimate from 17 analysts surveyed in a Thomson Reuters poll. Based on the guidance, Samsung's 2017 operating profit is likely 53.6 trillion won, compared to the previous year's 29.2 trillion won, putting the South Korean tech giant on course for a record annual profit as strong DRAM memory chip prices continued to fatten margins. Revenue was estimated to have increased 24 percent to 66 trillion won, versus the analysts' average forecast of 66.8 trillion won. Samsung did not elaborate on its October-December performance and will disclose detailed results at the end of January. The continued rise in the price of DRAM chips, in especially hot demand for data centre servers, more than made up for a drop in NAND chip prices and a stronger won, analysts said. But the outlook for semiconductors in 2018 is mixed, and Samsung shares have fallen 9.6 percent from their all-time high in early November as some investors bet on an end to the memory chip boom. NAND flash memory chips, used in things like digital cameras and USB drives, have entered a down-cycle and some analysts say DRAM market conditions also will soften later this year. Others, however, expect DRAM supply to remain tight throughout 2018 as Google, Amazon and Facebook expand data centres used for cloud storage and computing. The outlook for smartphones and other mobile devices, which analysts expect to contribute about 17 percent to Samsung's fourth-quarter earnings, is also uncertain due to competition from Chinese rivals in markets like Europe and Asia, analysts said. Tom Kang, research director at data provider Counterpoint, said Samsung's mobile division should show "moderate" shipment growth of about 1-2 percent in 2018. Analysts expect Samsung's display profits to grow this year thanks to sales of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screens for Apple iPhones as well as Samsung`s own handsets. South Korean exporters like Samsung will be keeping a close eye on the won in 2018. The currency traded as high as 1,058.8 against the dollar on Monday, its highest in more than three years.

Samsung Electronics tips record fourth-quarter profit misses expectations on strong won

After a rollercoaster year for the tech world, many industry leaders are looking to the cutting edge for salvation.

As tech industry players converge in Las Vegas for the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show, an overriding theme is that gizmos, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and superfast internet connections hold answers to many if not all ills -- the new religion.

One of the world&#39;s largest trade shows, CES is drawing an expected 170,000 people and 40,000 exhibitors from dozens of countries showing wares in robotics, digital health, artificial intelligence, sports and more.

Technology will continue to improve communication, enchanting us with bolder and brighter screens, exhibitors say -- but it additionally vows to end urban congestion, treat cancer and depression, and help us live fitter and more productive lives.

Jensen Huang, chief executive of the computer chip and artificial intelligence group Nvidia, said advances in machine learning have opened up vast possibilities, including the ability of software writing software.

&quot;This means we can solve previously unsolvable problems,&quot; Huang told a media event Sunday, ahead of the official Tuesday opening of the trade event.

Some exhibitors envision a world where self-driving cars could be summoned any time of the day, eliminating struggles to find parking or petrol stations.

Machines would tend to the tedium of traffic, which would run smoother since vehicles would wirelessly &quot;talk&quot; to one another to optimize travel efficiency.

A new &quot;intuitive and intelligent&quot; car from Chinese startup Byton aims to tackle the billions of hours lost to traffic congestion around the world each year.&nbsp;

Those times lost &quot;could be used for things which are so much more fulfilling,&quot; Henrik Wenders, vice president of Byton, said Sunday at one of the first media events at the show.

While tech is being touted as a solution to many ills, there is also a darker side, noted analyst Bob O`Donnell of Technalysis Research.

&quot;Tech is being seen as the cure for everything, but it can also be the cause of societal issues,&quot; O&#39;Donnell said, citing concerns over cybersecurity and a recently revealed flaw in computer chip technology that could leak data.

&quot;Most people in tech are optimistic, but they may be naively optimistic.&quot;Robin Raskin, who heads the CES segment called Living in Digital Times, pointed to advances in health and medicine in recent years, particularly new technologies to assess cancer and treatment possibilities.

Startups and major firms are also using new apps and technologies to tackle diabetes and depression.

One startup on Sunday unveiled eye-tracking technology to analyze ailments including autism, concussions and Parkinson&#39;s disease.

RightEye co-founder and chief executive Adam Gross heralded the technology as &quot;a game-changer&quot; for the healthcare and sports industries, emphasizing the ability to quickly and accurately generate &quot;amazing insights&quot; into health, vision and performance.

In collaboration with doctors or trainers, the information could be used to guide therapies or exercise routines.

&quot;The potential for this technology to change people`s lives around the world is incredible and really exciting,&quot; Gross said.

Technology will automate and augment the treatment of disease in the years ahead, predicted Consumer Technology Association research manager Lesley Rohrbaugh.

&quot;You can talk with a health care provider through an app, and get remote monitoring,&quot; Rohrbaugh said, speaking at CES.

&quot;You can visit your doctor without actually physically visiting them.&quot;

Virtual reality is also being incorporated into therapy, used to treat traumas, phobias and even dementia from ageing, according to Rohrbaugh.

As much of the global population migrates to urban areas, technology is powering &quot;smart cities&quot; -- where sensors, cameras and cloud computing work like house elves to manage needs like recycling, trash disposal, traffic, pollution and road repairs.

Inside homes, devices can make sure water and air stay clean, and that people are sleeping well.

Technology can also keep us safe, exhibitors say. Biometrics including fingerprint, iris and facial recognition are being built into smartphones, computers and padlocks as security features.

Robots, meanwhile, are being designed to do everything from patrol oceans for fish poachers to watching after us, especially as we age.

Tech industry players converge in Las Vegas for the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show

After a rollercoaster year for the tech world, many industry leaders are looking to the cutting edge for salvation. As tech industry players converge in Las Vegas for the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show, an overriding theme is that gizmos, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and superfast internet connections hold answers to many if not all ills -- the new religion. One of the world's largest trade shows, CES is drawing an expected 170,000 people and 40,000 exhibitors from dozens of countries showing wares in robotics, digital health, artificial intelligence, sports and more. Technology will continue to improve communication, enchanting us with bolder and brighter screens, exhibitors say -- but it additionally vows to end urban congestion, treat cancer and depression, and help us live fitter and more productive lives. Jensen Huang, chief executive of the computer chip and artificial intelligence group Nvidia, said advances in machine learning have opened up vast possibilities, including the ability of software writing software. "This means we can solve previously unsolvable problems," Huang told a media event Sunday, ahead of the official Tuesday opening of the trade event. Some exhibitors envision a world where self-driving cars could be summoned any time of the day, eliminating struggles to find parking or petrol stations. Machines would tend to the tedium of traffic, which would run smoother since vehicles would wirelessly "talk" to one another to optimize travel efficiency. A new "intuitive and intelligent" car from Chinese startup Byton aims to tackle the billions of hours lost to traffic congestion around the world each year. Those times lost "could be used for things which are so much more fulfilling," Henrik Wenders, vice president of Byton, said Sunday at one of the first media events at the show. While tech is being touted as a solution to many ills, there is also a darker side, noted analyst Bob O`Donnell of Technalysis Research. "Tech is being seen as the cure for everything, but it can also be the cause of societal issues," O'Donnell said, citing concerns over cybersecurity and a recently revealed flaw in computer chip technology that could leak data. "Most people in tech are optimistic, but they may be naively optimistic."Robin Raskin, who heads the CES segment called Living in Digital Times, pointed to advances in health and medicine in recent years, particularly new technologies to assess cancer and treatment possibilities. Startups and major firms are also using new apps and technologies to tackle diabetes and depression. One startup on Sunday unveiled eye-tracking technology to analyze ailments including autism, concussions and Parkinson's disease. RightEye co-founder and chief executive Adam Gross heralded the technology as "a game-changer" for the healthcare and sports industries, emphasizing the ability to quickly and accurately generate "amazing insights" into health, vision and performance. In collaboration with doctors or trainers, the information could be used to guide therapies or exercise routines. "The potential for this technology to change people`s lives around the world is incredible and really exciting," Gross said. Technology will automate and augment the treatment of disease in the years ahead, predicted Consumer Technology Association research manager Lesley Rohrbaugh. "You can talk with a health care provider through an app, and get remote monitoring," Rohrbaugh said, speaking at CES. "You can visit your doctor without actually physically visiting them." Virtual reality is also being incorporated into therapy, used to treat traumas, phobias and even dementia from ageing, according to Rohrbaugh. As much of the global population migrates to urban areas, technology is powering "smart cities" -- where sensors, cameras and cloud computing work like house elves to manage needs like recycling, trash disposal, traffic, pollution and road repairs. Inside homes, devices can make sure water and air stay clean, and that people are sleeping well. Technology can also keep us safe, exhibitors say. Biometrics including fingerprint, iris and facial recognition are being built into smartphones, computers and padlocks as security features. Robots, meanwhile, are being designed to do everything from patrol oceans for fish poachers to watching after us, especially as we age.

Tech loyalists gather to worship at Mecca of innovation

Stocks rose to fresh life-time closing high levels on optimism over earnings, growth and budget, with the benchmark BSE Sensex jumping by 199 points to end at record 34,352.79.&nbsp;

The broader NSE Nifty for the first time closed above 10,600 mark after consistent buying by domestic and foreign investors.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Gains in key IT, capital goods, healthcare and metal stocks helped both the key indices to scale new peaks.&nbsp;

&nbsp;The 30-share Sensex continued its upward march to touch a new intra-day record high of 34,385.67, surpassing its previous high of 34,188.85 hits on January 5.&nbsp;

But it lost some ground due to profit-booking and settled at a new closing peak of 34,352.79, up 198.94 points, or 0.58 per cent. The Sensex bettered its previous record of 34,153.85 touched on January 5.&nbsp;

In last two days, the index has gained 360.47 points.&nbsp;

Similarly, the broader 50-issue NSE Nifty hit a new intra-day high of 10,631.20, smashing its previous record of 10,566.10 hit on January 5.&nbsp;

&nbsp;However, it shed some grounds to close at 10,623.60, still a new closing high, up by 64.75 points or 0.61 per cent. It broke the previous record of 10,558.85 reached on January 5.&nbsp;

Traders said sentiment remained upbeat on continuous foreign fund inflows and unabated buying by investors amid expectations of encouraging quarterly earnings and hopes of the growth-oriented budget next month.&nbsp;

Firm global cues with most other Asian markets rising with the corporate earnings season about to kick off amid more records on Wall Street, too positively impacted on the domestic bourses here.&nbsp;

India&#39;s economic growth is estimated to slow down to 4- year low of 6.5 per cent this fiscal, the lowest under the NDA regime, mainly due to GST impact on manufacturing and subdued farm output.&nbsp;

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 7.1 per cent in 2016-17 and 8 per cent in the preceding year. It was 7.5 per cent in 2014-15.&nbsp;

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have been supporting the ongoing rally in the new year by pumping in sizeable money into the market. FPIs bought shares to the tune of Rs 581.43 crore while domestic institutional investors(DIIs) purchased shares worth a net Rs 243.13 crore last Friday, as per provisional data from the stock exchanges.

The 30-share Sensex continued its upward march to touch a new intra-day record high of 34,385.67, surpassing its previous high of 34,188.85 hits on January 5.

Stocks rose to fresh life-time closing high levels on optimism over earnings, growth and budget, with the benchmark BSE Sensex jumping by 199 points to end at record 34,352.79. The broader NSE Nifty for the first time closed above 10,600 mark after consistent buying by domestic and foreign investors. Gains in key IT, capital goods, healthcare and metal stocks helped both the key indices to scale new peaks. The 30-share Sensex continued its upward march to touch a new intra-day record high of 34,385.67, surpassing its previous high of 34,188.85 hits on January 5. But it lost some ground due to profit-booking and settled at a new closing peak of 34,352.79, up 198.94 points, or 0.58 per cent. The Sensex bettered its previous record of 34,153.85 touched on January 5. In last two days, the index has gained 360.47 points. Similarly, the broader 50-issue NSE Nifty hit a new intra-day high of 10,631.20, smashing its previous record of 10,566.10 hit on January 5. However, it shed some grounds to close at 10,623.60, still a new closing high, up by 64.75 points or 0.61 per cent. It broke the previous record of 10,558.85 reached on January 5. Traders said sentiment remained upbeat on continuous foreign fund inflows and unabated buying by investors amid expectations of encouraging quarterly earnings and hopes of the growth-oriented budget next month. Firm global cues with most other Asian markets rising with the corporate earnings season about to kick off amid more records on Wall Street, too positively impacted on the domestic bourses here. India's economic growth is estimated to slow down to 4- year low of 6.5 per cent this fiscal, the lowest under the NDA regime, mainly due to GST impact on manufacturing and subdued farm output. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 7.1 per cent in 2016-17 and 8 per cent in the preceding year. It was 7.5 per cent in 2014-15. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have been supporting the ongoing rally in the new year by pumping in sizeable money into the market. FPIs bought shares to the tune of Rs 581.43 crore while domestic institutional investors(DIIs) purchased shares worth a net Rs 243.13 crore last Friday, as per provisional data from the stock exchanges.

Sensex, Nifty scale new peaks as investors eye earnings, budget 

Remember Lisa? Apple&#39;s personal computer device came way before the much-loved Macbook of the 21st century.&nbsp;

According to reports, California&#39;s Computer History Museum has managed to recover the source code which will facilitate the release of Lisa operating system (OS).

The source code for the OS as well as the applications now rests with Apple for review.&nbsp;

Lisa OS will be made available for free this year once Apple clears it for a release.&nbsp;

Lisa was released in the year 1983 and managed to sell close to ten thousand units.&nbsp;

Lisa&#39;s apparent failure is often believed to be the reason behind Steve&#39;s Job&#39;s shift from the company after which he founded NeXT Computer.

The company was eventually overtaken by Apple.&nbsp;

Lisa OS will be made available for free this year once Apple clears it for a release.

Remember Lisa? Apple's personal computer device came way before the much-loved Macbook of the 21st century. According to reports, California's Computer History Museum has managed to recover the source code which will facilitate the release of Lisa operating system (OS). The source code for the OS as well as the applications now rests with Apple for review. Lisa OS will be made available for free this year once Apple clears it for a release. Lisa was released in the year 1983 and managed to sell close to ten thousand units. Lisa's apparent failure is often believed to be the reason behind Steve's Job's shift from the company after which he founded NeXT Computer. The company was eventually overtaken by Apple.

Apple likely to release Lisa OS for free this year

Just days after aviation minister <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/now-air-india-looks-for-rs-1500-crore-short-term-loans-22668">Raju said the government does not want </a>Air India to &quot;go the Kingfisher way&quot;, Vistara&#39;s CEO Leslie Thng said today that Tata Group and Singapore Airlines are &quot;open to bid&quot; for Air India.

Vistara Airlines which started operations in India two years ago is a joint venture between Tata group and Singapore Airlines.

&quot;The two promoters are open to evaluate bids for Air India. They keep an open mind,&quot; Vistara CEO&nbsp;Thng said.

Tata group chairman N. Chandrasekaran had said last year that his group was ready to bid for the state-run airlines.

Civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju had said in Lok Sabha last week: &quot;We don&#39;t want Air India to go the Kingfisher (Airlines) way,&quot;&nbsp;adding,&quot;We want the Air India to serve the nation, to serve the people and fly high.&quot;

The minister had told India&#39;s lower house that a ministerial committee headed by finance minister Arun Jaitley is looking into the matter of disinvestment of Air India.

Niti Aayog&nbsp;has recommended complete privatisation of Air India which has been running at a loss for decades.&nbsp;

In 2012, the UPA government headed by PM Manmohan Singh had extended a bailout package of 30,000 crore as the national airways struggled to keep afloat.

The airline has a debt of more than Rs 52,000 crore.

Tata group chairman N. Chandrasekaran had said last year that his group was ready to bid the state-run airlines.

Just days after aviation minister Raju said the government does not want Air India to "go the Kingfisher way", Vistara's CEO Leslie Thng said today that Tata Group and Singapore Airlines are "open to bid" for Air India. Vistara Airlines which started operations in India two years ago is a joint venture between Tata group and Singapore Airlines. "The two promoters are open to evaluate bids for Air India. They keep an open mind," Vistara CEO Thng said. Tata group chairman N. Chandrasekaran had said last year that his group was ready to bid for the state-run airlines. Civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju had said in Lok Sabha last week: "We don't want Air India to go the Kingfisher (Airlines) way," adding,"We want the Air India to serve the nation, to serve the people and fly high." The minister had told India's lower house that a ministerial committee headed by finance minister Arun Jaitley is looking into the matter of disinvestment of Air India. Niti Aayog has recommended complete privatisation of Air India which has been running at a loss for decades. In 2012, the UPA government headed by PM Manmohan Singh had extended a bailout package of 30,000 crore as the national airways struggled to keep afloat. The airline has a debt of more than Rs 52,000 crore.

Disinvestment on cards, Tata group and Singapore Airlines ready to bid for Air India

Shares marked record closing highs on Friday, posting their fifth consecutive weekly gain, as financials and metal stocks rose tracking global markets on strong economic data.

The benchmark BSE Sensex closed up 0.54 percent at 34,153.85, while the broader NSE Nifty ended 0.51 percent higher at 10,558.85.

Both indexes gained nearly 0.3 percent on the week.

The benchmark BSE Sensex closed up 0.54 percent at 34,153.85, while the broader NSE Nifty ended 0.51 percent higher at 10,558.85.

Shares marked record closing highs on Friday, posting their fifth consecutive weekly gain, as financials and metal stocks rose tracking global markets on strong economic data. The benchmark BSE Sensex closed up 0.54 percent at 34,153.85, while the broader NSE Nifty ended 0.51 percent higher at 10,558.85. Both indexes gained nearly 0.3 percent on the week.

Sensex closes at record high of 34153.85; Nifty reaches 10,558.85

The Union Budget <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/union-budget-to-be-presented-on-february-1-28623">set to be announced on February 1</a> is set to include special measures to strengthen women&#39;s safety.

The Railway Ministry is likely to announce 2018 as &quot;Railway Women&#39;s Safety Year&quot;.

The Railways intends to strengthen women&#39;s safety during train journey with a number of steps, sources said.

The budget is likely to have a detailed plan on women&#39;s safety, steps include installation of CCTV cameras in ladies coach especially in suburban rail service.

The budget is also likely to announce increasing the number of washrooms to at least two at each platform for women.

Finance minister Jaitley may also announce deployment of RPF women constables in ladies coach and in long routes

The budget is also likely to allocate&nbsp;of funds for women safety in Railways from Nirbhaya Women Safety Fund which is of Rs 1,000 crore.

The Budget Session of Parliament will commence from January 29th.&nbsp;President Ramnath Kovind will address the joint sitting of the two Houses on January 29 and the Economic Survey will be tabled on the same day.

The first phase of the session will be from January 29 to February 9.&nbsp;

The budget is likely to have a detailed plan on women's safety, steps include installation of CCTV cameras in ladies coach especially in suburban rail service.

The Union Budget set to be announced on February 1 is set to include special measures to strengthen women's safety. The Railway Ministry is likely to announce 2018 as "Railway Women's Safety Year". The Railways intends to strengthen women's safety during train journey with a number of steps, sources said. The budget is likely to have a detailed plan on women's safety, steps include installation of CCTV cameras in ladies coach especially in suburban rail service. The budget is also likely to announce increasing the number of washrooms to at least two at each platform for women. Finance minister Jaitley may also announce deployment of RPF women constables in ladies coach and in long routes The budget is also likely to allocate of funds for women safety in Railways from Nirbhaya Women Safety Fund which is of Rs 1,000 crore. The Budget Session of Parliament will commence from January 29th. President Ramnath Kovind will address the joint sitting of the two Houses on January 29 and the Economic Survey will be tabled on the same day. The first phase of the session will be from January 29 to February 9.

Budget likely to announce several features to strengthen women's safety in Railways

The benchmark Sensex reclaimed the 34,000-mark by surging over 100 points in early trade today on sustained buying by participants amid a firm trend in other Asian markets.

The 30-share index rose 100.48 points, or 0.29 per cent, to 34,070.12, with all sectoral indices led by PSU, consumer durables, auto and metal trading in the positive zone, rising by up to 0.57 per cent.

The gauge had gained 176.26 points in the previous session.

The NSE index Nifty too edged higher by 29.45 points, or 0.28 per cent, to 10,534.25.

Brokers said improved liquidity in the market following continuous foreign fund inflows and increased buying by domestic institutional investors after the government moved forward on its bank recapitalisation programme boosted trading sentiments.

The finance ministry yesterday sought Parliament&#39;s nod for the extra expenditure of Rs 80,000 crore towards recapitalisation of bad loans-saddled public sector banks through bonds.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net of Rs 212.05 crore, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) made purchases worth a Rs 325.24 crore yesterday, as per provisional exchange data.

Prominent gainers in the Sensex kitty were Yes Bank, Bharti Airtel, Adani Ports, SBI, Tata Steel, ITC Ltd, IndusInd Bank, Coal India, TCS, HDFC Ltd and Kotak Bank, gaining by up to 1.86 per cent.

The rupee appreciating to over 2-1/2 year high of 63.31 against the dollar (intra-day) and positive leads from other Asian bourses, led to a better trend in the domestic market here.

Expectations of encouraging third quarterly earnings from blue-chip companies, to be released next week too influenced sentiment. 
Among other Asian markets, Japan&#39;s Nikkei was trading higher by 0.18 per cent, while Hong Kong&#39;s Hang Seng rose 0.51 per cent in their early deals. The Shanghai Composite index too was up by 0.07 per cent.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average continued its record-setting run by ending 0.61 per cent higher in yesterday&#39;s trade.

The 30-share index rose 100.48 points, or 0.29 per cent, to 34,070.12, with all sectoral indices led by PSU, consumer durables, auto and metal trading in the positive zone, rising by up to 0.57 per cent.

The benchmark Sensex reclaimed the 34,000-mark by surging over 100 points in early trade today on sustained buying by participants amid a firm trend in other Asian markets. The 30-share index rose 100.48 points, or 0.29 per cent, to 34,070.12, with all sectoral indices led by PSU, consumer durables, auto and metal trading in the positive zone, rising by up to 0.57 per cent. The gauge had gained 176.26 points in the previous session. The NSE index Nifty too edged higher by 29.45 points, or 0.28 per cent, to 10,534.25. Brokers said improved liquidity in the market following continuous foreign fund inflows and increased buying by domestic institutional investors after the government moved forward on its bank recapitalisation programme boosted trading sentiments. The finance ministry yesterday sought Parliament's nod for the extra expenditure of Rs 80,000 crore towards recapitalisation of bad loans-saddled public sector banks through bonds. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net of Rs 212.05 crore, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) made purchases worth a Rs 325.24 crore yesterday, as per provisional exchange data. Prominent gainers in the Sensex kitty were Yes Bank, Bharti Airtel, Adani Ports, SBI, Tata Steel, ITC Ltd, IndusInd Bank, Coal India, TCS, HDFC Ltd and Kotak Bank, gaining by up to 1.86 per cent. The rupee appreciating to over 2-1/2 year high of 63.31 against the dollar (intra-day) and positive leads from other Asian bourses, led to a better trend in the domestic market here. Expectations of encouraging third quarterly earnings from blue-chip companies, to be released next week too influenced sentiment. Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei was trading higher by 0.18 per cent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.51 per cent in their early deals. The Shanghai Composite index too was up by 0.07 per cent. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average continued its record-setting run by ending 0.61 per cent higher in yesterday's trade.

Sensex builds on gains, regains 34,000 mark in early trade

The BSE Sensex on Friday soared to the life-time high of 34,175.21 and the NSE Nifty scaled the historic 10,562.80 mark in late morning trade as banking, metal and realty stocks advanced following continuous foreign fund inflows and increased buying by domestic institutional investors.

The 30-share Sensex spurted 205 points, or 0.60 per cent, to all-time high of 34,175.21 points, breaching its previous record high (intra-day) of 34,137.97 scaled on December 27.

The gauge had gained 176.26 points in the previous session.

Sentiment got a lift following an improvement in liquidity in the market on sustained inflows by foreign funds amid the government moving forward on its bank recapitalisation programme, brokers said.

The finance ministry yesterday sought Parliament&#39;s nod for extra expenditure of Rs 80,000 crore towards recapitalisation of bad loans-saddled public sector banks through bonds.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net of Rs 212.05 crore, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) made purchases worth a Rs 325.24 crore on Thursday, as per provisional exchange data.

Banking behemoth SBI rallied 0.83 per cent while Punjab National Bank gained 1.50 per cent. Bank of Baroda also gained 0.67 per cent. Private peers ICICI Bank, Yes Bank, IndusInd Bank, HDFC Bank and Kotak Bank too rose by up to 3.15 per cent.

All the sectoral indices led by metal, consumer durables and bank, trading in the positive zone with gains of up to 1.41 per cent.

The 50-share Nifty also hit a new high of 10,562.80 by soaring 58 points, or 0.54 per cent. It also cracked previous record (intra-day) of 10,552.40 points reached on December 27.

Globally, in the Asian region, Japan&#39;s Nikkei rose 0.55 per cent, Hong Kong&#39;s Hang gained 0.18 per cent, while China&#39;s Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.23 per cent in their early deals.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average continued its record-setting run by ending 0.61 per cent higher in yesterday&#39;s trade.

Sentiment got a lift following an improvement in liquidity in the market on sustained inflows by foreign funds.

The BSE Sensex on Friday soared to the life-time high of 34,175.21 and the NSE Nifty scaled the historic 10,562.80 mark in late morning trade as banking, metal and realty stocks advanced following continuous foreign fund inflows and increased buying by domestic institutional investors. The 30-share Sensex spurted 205 points, or 0.60 per cent, to all-time high of 34,175.21 points, breaching its previous record high (intra-day) of 34,137.97 scaled on December 27. The gauge had gained 176.26 points in the previous session. Sentiment got a lift following an improvement in liquidity in the market on sustained inflows by foreign funds amid the government moving forward on its bank recapitalisation programme, brokers said. The finance ministry yesterday sought Parliament's nod for extra expenditure of Rs 80,000 crore towards recapitalisation of bad loans-saddled public sector banks through bonds. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net of Rs 212.05 crore, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) made purchases worth a Rs 325.24 crore on Thursday, as per provisional exchange data. Banking behemoth SBI rallied 0.83 per cent while Punjab National Bank gained 1.50 per cent. Bank of Baroda also gained 0.67 per cent. Private peers ICICI Bank, Yes Bank, IndusInd Bank, HDFC Bank and Kotak Bank too rose by up to 3.15 per cent. All the sectoral indices led by metal, consumer durables and bank, trading in the positive zone with gains of up to 1.41 per cent. The 50-share Nifty also hit a new high of 10,562.80 by soaring 58 points, or 0.54 per cent. It also cracked previous record (intra-day) of 10,552.40 points reached on December 27. Globally, in the Asian region, Japan's Nikkei rose 0.55 per cent, Hong Kong's Hang gained 0.18 per cent, while China's Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.23 per cent in their early deals. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average continued its record-setting run by ending 0.61 per cent higher in yesterday's trade.

Sensex, Nifty hit new record high on fund inflows

The economic growth is expected to slow to a four-year low of 6.5 per cent in 2017-18, the lowest under the Modi-led government, mainly due to poor performance of agriculture and manufacturing sectors.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 7.1 per cent in 2016-17 and 8 per cent in the preceding year. It was 7.5 per cent in 2014-15.

The Narendra Modi-led NDA government had assumed office in May 2014.

&quot;The growth in GDP during 2017-18 is estimated at 6.5 per cent as compared to the growth rate of 7.1 per cent in 2016- 17,&quot; said the Central Statistics Office (CSO) while announcing the first advance estimates of National Income 2017-18.

The growth of real Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2017-18 is anticipated at 6.1 per cent as against 6.6 per cent in the previous year.

Economic activities were affected by demonetisation announced on November 8, 2016 and subsequent implementation of a new indirect tax regime (GST) from July 1 in the current financial year.

As per the CSO data, the expansion in activities in &#39;agriculture, forestry and fishing&#39; is likely to slow to 2.1 per cent in the current fiscal from 4.9 per cent in the preceding year.

The growth in manufacturing sector too is expected to decelerate to 4.6 per cent this fiscal, down from 7.9 per cent in 2016-17.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 7.1 per cent in 2016-17 and 8 per cent in the preceding year. It was 7.5 per cent in 2014-15.

The economic growth is expected to slow to a four-year low of 6.5 per cent in 2017-18, the lowest under the Modi-led government, mainly due to poor performance of agriculture and manufacturing sectors. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 7.1 per cent in 2016-17 and 8 per cent in the preceding year. It was 7.5 per cent in 2014-15. The Narendra Modi-led NDA government had assumed office in May 2014. "The growth in GDP during 2017-18 is estimated at 6.5 per cent as compared to the growth rate of 7.1 per cent in 2016- 17," said the Central Statistics Office (CSO) while announcing the first advance estimates of National Income 2017-18. The growth of real Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2017-18 is anticipated at 6.1 per cent as against 6.6 per cent in the previous year. Economic activities were affected by demonetisation announced on November 8, 2016 and subsequent implementation of a new indirect tax regime (GST) from July 1 in the current financial year. As per the CSO data, the expansion in activities in 'agriculture, forestry and fishing' is likely to slow to 2.1 per cent in the current fiscal from 4.9 per cent in the preceding year. The growth in manufacturing sector too is expected to decelerate to 4.6 per cent this fiscal, down from 7.9 per cent in 2016-17.

India's GDP growth to slow to four-year low of 6.5% in 2017-18

An Indian-origin banker in Singapore has been named as the best central bank governor in Asia-Pacific for 2018, a media report said today.

Ravi Menon, managing director of Singapore&#39;s central bank Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), was recognised by the leading UK-based magazine &#39;The Banker&#39; for his contribution in the makeover of Singapore&#39;s financial system.

The annual recognition is by the magazine, a publication under The Financial Times Group, is based on a selection process involving a survey of bankers and economists.

&quot;The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the country&#39;s central bank, stands out for its cutting-edge regulatory approach to fintech while maintaining macroeconomic stability,&quot; the magazine said in an article.

&quot;These are the key reasons for selecting Ravi Menon, managing director of MAS, as the Central Bank Governor of the Year for Asia-Pacific,&quot; The Straits Times reported, quoting the magazine article.

The article noted that the MAS was among the first regulators to set up a dedicated fintech group that focuses on understanding technology&#39;s risks and benefits.

&quot;You can only encourage technology to the extent that you can also contain and manage its risks. A smart financial centre must be a safe financial centre as well,&quot; Menon was quoted as saying in the article. 
Singapore&#39;s Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat was also named the best banker in 2011. He was then as MAS&#39;s managing director.

Over the last three years, the central bankers of Vietnam, India and Bangladesh were named for the recognition.

Ravi Menon, managing director of Singapore's central bank Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), was recognised by the leading UK-based magazine 'The Banker' for his contribution in the makeover of Singapore's financial system.

An Indian-origin banker in Singapore has been named as the best central bank governor in Asia-Pacific for 2018, a media report said today. Ravi Menon, managing director of Singapore's central bank Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), was recognised by the leading UK-based magazine 'The Banker' for his contribution in the makeover of Singapore's financial system. The annual recognition is by the magazine, a publication under The Financial Times Group, is based on a selection process involving a survey of bankers and economists. "The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the country's central bank, stands out for its cutting-edge regulatory approach to fintech while maintaining macroeconomic stability," the magazine said in an article. "These are the key reasons for selecting Ravi Menon, managing director of MAS, as the Central Bank Governor of the Year for Asia-Pacific," The Straits Times reported, quoting the magazine article. The article noted that the MAS was among the first regulators to set up a dedicated fintech group that focuses on understanding technology's risks and benefits. "You can only encourage technology to the extent that you can also contain and manage its risks. A smart financial centre must be a safe financial centre as well," Menon was quoted as saying in the article. Singapore's Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat was also named the best banker in 2011. He was then as MAS's managing director. Over the last three years, the central bankers of Vietnam, India and Bangladesh were named for the recognition.

Indian-origin banker named the best governor of Asia Pacific

Benchmark Sensex reversed a three-session slide to end at 33,970 today after the government moved forward on its bank recapitalisation programme.

Investors also took heart from upbeat macro indicators and firm global cues, brokers said.

The finance ministry today sought Parliament&#39;s nod for the extra expenditure of Rs 80,000 crore towards recapitalisation of bad loans-saddled public sector banks through bonds.

State-run lenders made handsome gains in today&#39;s session.

Index heavyweight SBI rose 1.72 per cent, while UCO Bank, IDBI, Punjab National Bank, Bank of India, Bank of Baroda and Oriental Bank of Commerce, among others, rallied by up to 8.50 per cent.

Market sentiment was bolstered after a monthly survey showed the Indian services sector returned to marginal growth in December as new orders broadly stabilised.

The BSE benchmark Sensex opened higher at 33,912.49 and hovered in a range of 33,995.40 to 33,802.13 before finishing at 33,969.64, showing a gain of 176.26 points or 0.52 per cent.

The gauge had lost 263.45 points in the previous three sessions.

The NSE 50-share Nifty also closed higher by 61.60 points, or 0.59 per cent, at 10,504.80 after shuttling between 10,513 and 10,441.45.

&quot;Positive global cues and improvement in services PMI data for December helped the market move out of the subdued phase of trading.

&quot;Global growth expectation and continued buying in metal stocks raised the market sentiment, while PSU banks outperformed on account of finalisation of recapitalisation,&quot; said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services.

Meanwhile, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth Rs 96.31 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net sellers to the tune of Rs 269.20 crore yesterday, provisional data showed.

Asian bourses displayed a firm trend, led by Japan which began the first trading of 2018 on a strong footing. European markets opened higher.

Back home, Tata Steel was the biggest gainer in the Sensex kitty, rising 3.74 per cent, followed by Dr Reddy&#39;s, which advanced 3.14 per cent.

Other gainers were L&amp;T, ONGC, Asian Paints, Sun Pharma, Coal India, SBI, IndusInd Bank, Bharti Airtel, TCS, Bajaj Auto, Reliance Industries, Yes Bank, Adani Ports, HDFC Ltd and HDFC Bank, rising by up to 3.08 per cent.

Among the sectoral indices, metal climbed 2.77 per cent, consumer durables 2.53 per cent, capital goods 2.11 per cent, PSU 1.55 per cent, infrastructure 1.03 per cent, healthcare 0.99 per cent, oil and gas 0.80 per cent, bankex 0.51 per cent and power 0.33 per cent.

The broader markets continued to outperform the benchmark. The BSE small-cap and mid-cap indices rose by 0.88 per cent and 0.71 per cent, respectively.

Globally, Asian stocks ended higher as soaring oil prices helped energy firms post bumper gains, following more records on Wall Street.

Japan&#39;s Nikkei rose 3.26 per cent, Hong Kong&#39;s Hang Seng gained 0.57 per cent and Shanghai Composite Index was up 0.49 per cent. In Europe, Frankfurt&#39;s DAX rose 0.94 per cent, while Paris gained 0.85 per cent. London FTSE was up 0.15 per cent.

Index heavyweight SBI rose 1.72 per cent, while UCO Bank, IDBI, Punjab National Bank, Bank of India, Bank of Baroda and Oriental Bank of Commerce, among others, rallied by up to 8.50 per cent.

Benchmark Sensex reversed a three-session slide to end at 33,970 today after the government moved forward on its bank recapitalisation programme. Investors also took heart from upbeat macro indicators and firm global cues, brokers said. The finance ministry today sought Parliament's nod for the extra expenditure of Rs 80,000 crore towards recapitalisation of bad loans-saddled public sector banks through bonds. State-run lenders made handsome gains in today's session. Index heavyweight SBI rose 1.72 per cent, while UCO Bank, IDBI, Punjab National Bank, Bank of India, Bank of Baroda and Oriental Bank of Commerce, among others, rallied by up to 8.50 per cent. Market sentiment was bolstered after a monthly survey showed the Indian services sector returned to marginal growth in December as new orders broadly stabilised. The BSE benchmark Sensex opened higher at 33,912.49 and hovered in a range of 33,995.40 to 33,802.13 before finishing at 33,969.64, showing a gain of 176.26 points or 0.52 per cent. The gauge had lost 263.45 points in the previous three sessions. The NSE 50-share Nifty also closed higher by 61.60 points, or 0.59 per cent, at 10,504.80 after shuttling between 10,513 and 10,441.45. "Positive global cues and improvement in services PMI data for December helped the market move out of the subdued phase of trading. "Global growth expectation and continued buying in metal stocks raised the market sentiment, while PSU banks outperformed on account of finalisation of recapitalisation," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services. Meanwhile, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth Rs 96.31 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net sellers to the tune of Rs 269.20 crore yesterday, provisional data showed. Asian bourses displayed a firm trend, led by Japan which began the first trading of 2018 on a strong footing. European markets opened higher. Back home, Tata Steel was the biggest gainer in the Sensex kitty, rising 3.74 per cent, followed by Dr Reddy's, which advanced 3.14 per cent. Other gainers were L&T, ONGC, Asian Paints, Sun Pharma, Coal India, SBI, IndusInd Bank, Bharti Airtel, TCS, Bajaj Auto, Reliance Industries, Yes Bank, Adani Ports, HDFC Ltd and HDFC Bank, rising by up to 3.08 per cent. Among the sectoral indices, metal climbed 2.77 per cent, consumer durables 2.53 per cent, capital goods 2.11 per cent, PSU 1.55 per cent, infrastructure 1.03 per cent, healthcare 0.99 per cent, oil and gas 0.80 per cent, bankex 0.51 per cent and power 0.33 per cent. The broader markets continued to outperform the benchmark. The BSE small-cap and mid-cap indices rose by 0.88 per cent and 0.71 per cent, respectively. Globally, Asian stocks ended higher as soaring oil prices helped energy firms post bumper gains, following more records on Wall Street. Japan's Nikkei rose 3.26 per cent, Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 0.57 per cent and Shanghai Composite Index was up 0.49 per cent. In Europe, Frankfurt's DAX rose 0.94 per cent, while Paris gained 0.85 per cent. London FTSE was up 0.15 per cent.

Sensex marks first gain of 2018, rebounds 176 points

Benchmark Sensex rebounded by over 176 points to finish at 33,970 on Thursday while the broader Nifty reclaimed the 10,500-mark as investors piled into recently- battered metal, capital goods, and consumer durables stocks.

The BSE benchmark Sensex opened higher at 33,912.49 and hovered in a range of 33,995.40 to 33,802.13 before finishing at 33,969.64, showing a gain of 176.26 points or 0.52 per cent.

The gauge had lost 263.45 points in the previous three sessions.

The NSE 50-share Nifty also closed higher by 61.60 points, or 0.59 per cent, at 10,504.80 after shuttling between 10,513 and 10,441.45.

Investor sentiment was bolstered after a monthly survey showed the Indian services sector returned to marginal growth in December as new orders broadly stabilised.

The BSE benchmark Sensex opened higher at 33,912.49 and hovered in a range of 33,995.40 to 33,802.13 before finishing at 33,969.64, showing a gain of 176.26 points or 0.52 per cent.

Benchmark Sensex rebounded by over 176 points to finish at 33,970 on Thursday while the broader Nifty reclaimed the 10,500-mark as investors piled into recently- battered metal, capital goods, and consumer durables stocks. The BSE benchmark Sensex opened higher at 33,912.49 and hovered in a range of 33,995.40 to 33,802.13 before finishing at 33,969.64, showing a gain of 176.26 points or 0.52 per cent. The gauge had lost 263.45 points in the previous three sessions. The NSE 50-share Nifty also closed higher by 61.60 points, or 0.59 per cent, at 10,504.80 after shuttling between 10,513 and 10,441.45. Investor sentiment was bolstered after a monthly survey showed the Indian services sector returned to marginal growth in December as new orders broadly stabilised.

Sensex rebounds 176 points; Nifty reclaims 10,500-mark

Governments are extremely worried about cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin. These virtual currencies mean you can make payments without involving the banks that most economies and government financial models are built on. People can transfer large amounts of money without the authorities knowing, potentially making it easier to evade tax or launder money.

So several countries&rsquo; central banks, including the Bank of England and the Bank of Israel, are reportedly planning to launch their own digital currencies. This could help lure people back into using an official system that combines some of the benefits of both traditional and crypto- currencies. But the risks involved may be too great for many typical cash users to bear.

One of the major drawbacks of existing cryptocurrencies is that their value tends to swing widely and it is often difficult to pinpoint how much they are really worth. National cryptocurrencies would be tied to the value of the country&rsquo;s official currency, making them less volatile and easier to actually use as a way of spending.

National cryptocurrencies would also make payments much faster because transactions would be recorded instantly and wouldn&rsquo;t have to be cleared by a bank (although some implementations require around eight minutes to be verified). The existing systems for electronic payments and transfers can often involve several banks and companies sending each other data and running security checks that add time and expense to transactions. Cryptocurrencies are able to bypass this clearing process altogether because they don&rsquo;t actually involve transfers from one entity to another.

Instead they use a technology known as a blockchain, which keeps a public but encrypted record of all transactions. Basically, as illustrated in the figure below, the payer (in this case, Bob) signs a transaction to agree to pay someone (Alice) a given amount. The transaction is then validated using Bob&rsquo;s personal encryption code known as his &ldquo;private key&rdquo;. If the transaction is valid, it is added onto the blockchain, recording how much money Alice and Bob now have.

<figure class="align-center "><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/200544/original/file-20180102-26160-12zl5wb.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" />
<figcaption>Outline of traditional transactions and blockchain based ones. Author supplied</figcaption>
</figure>

&nbsp;

Because all transactions would be recorded in this way, the government would have much greater oversight of who is paying whom and how much, helping to crack down on financial crime. Unfortunately, because transactions on blockchain ledger are typically kept as a public record, it might also be possible for other people to access this information and see how much you or anyone else is spending and what you&rsquo;re buying.

Your money might also be at greater risk if it&rsquo;s stored as a cryptocurrency. Currently banks guard your wealth and will always release it if you can prove your identity, while credit card companies insure you against fraud. If your bank account is hacked, there is a good chance you will get your money back. But cryptocurrencies store money in independent digital wallets that can be lost or broken into. If that happens there is no one who can help you.

Currency needs trust

For a typical shopper, there would be little difference between using a national cryptocurrency and something like Apple Pay, which makes payments at the click of a trusted application on a mobile device. I love using Apple Pay on my iPhone to purchase my coffee in the morning, as well as my bus tickets and even my parking. I now have little use of cash and only carry around my credit cards in a wallet as a backup in case my battery fails.

Having found out over Christmas that most supermarkets now do not have a limit on Apple Pay, I see it as one of the most trusted methods of payment, especially as I trust the fingerprint scanner on my phone. I also know that my bank is involved in the transaction. So I believe the days of paper money &ndash; and even carrying around cards &ndash; are rapidly fading. Our mobile phone and our trust in our apps provide us with more trusted ways of making transactions.

But Apple Pay is still backed up by trusted financial institutions. The step to cryptocurrency may be one step too far for most people. Few people would actually understand the risks of storing the cryptocurrency in a digital wallet and could leave themselves open to losing all their money.

I believe that most countries will deal with cryptocurrencies by regulating them and monitoring their use rather than co-opting them. But it will be interesting to see whether regulation or competition will win in the battle of crytocurrencies. While the encryption of crytocurrencies can create strong digital trust in the technology, human trust in the transactions themselves will likely be the key factor that determines whether citizens adopt government-backed cryptocurrencies.

&nbsp;

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-bank-of-england-is-planning-a-bitcoin-style-virtual-currency-but-could-it-really-replace-cash-89585">original article</a>.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

&nbsp;

While the encryption of crytocurrencies can create strong digital trust in the technology, human trust in the transactions themselves will likely be the key factor that determines whether citizens adopt government-backed cryptocurrencies.

Governments are extremely worried about cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin. These virtual currencies mean you can make payments without involving the banks that most economies and government financial models are built on. People can transfer large amounts of money without the authorities knowing, potentially making it easier to evade tax or launder money. So several countries’ central banks, including the Bank of England and the Bank of Israel, are reportedly planning to launch their own digital currencies. This could help lure people back into using an official system that combines some of the benefits of both traditional and crypto- currencies. But the risks involved may be too great for many typical cash users to bear. One of the major drawbacks of existing cryptocurrencies is that their value tends to swing widely and it is often difficult to pinpoint how much they are really worth. National cryptocurrencies would be tied to the value of the country’s official currency, making them less volatile and easier to actually use as a way of spending. National cryptocurrencies would also make payments much faster because transactions would be recorded instantly and wouldn’t have to be cleared by a bank (although some implementations require around eight minutes to be verified). The existing systems for electronic payments and transfers can often involve several banks and companies sending each other data and running security checks that add time and expense to transactions. Cryptocurrencies are able to bypass this clearing process altogether because they don’t actually involve transfers from one entity to another. Instead they use a technology known as a blockchain, which keeps a public but encrypted record of all transactions. Basically, as illustrated in the figure below, the payer (in this case, Bob) signs a transaction to agree to pay someone (Alice) a given amount. The transaction is then validated using Bob’s personal encryption code known as his “private key”. If the transaction is valid, it is added onto the blockchain, recording how much money Alice and Bob now have. Outline of traditional transactions and blockchain based ones. Author supplied Because all transactions would be recorded in this way, the government would have much greater oversight of who is paying whom and how much, helping to crack down on financial crime. Unfortunately, because transactions on blockchain ledger are typically kept as a public record, it might also be possible for other people to access this information and see how much you or anyone else is spending and what you’re buying. Your money might also be at greater risk if it’s stored as a cryptocurrency. Currently banks guard your wealth and will always release it if you can prove your identity, while credit card companies insure you against fraud. If your bank account is hacked, there is a good chance you will get your money back. But cryptocurrencies store money in independent digital wallets that can be lost or broken into. If that happens there is no one who can help you. Currency needs trust For a typical shopper, there would be little difference between using a national cryptocurrency and something like Apple Pay, which makes payments at the click of a trusted application on a mobile device. I love using Apple Pay on my iPhone to purchase my coffee in the morning, as well as my bus tickets and even my parking. I now have little use of cash and only carry around my credit cards in a wallet as a backup in case my battery fails. Having found out over Christmas that most supermarkets now do not have a limit on Apple Pay, I see it as one of the most trusted methods of payment, especially as I trust the fingerprint scanner on my phone. I also know that my bank is involved in the transaction. So I believe the days of paper money – and even carrying around cards – are rapidly fading. Our mobile phone and our trust in our apps provide us with more trusted ways of making transactions. But Apple Pay is still backed up by trusted financial institutions. The step to cryptocurrency may be one step too far for most people. Few people would actually understand the risks of storing the cryptocurrency in a digital wallet and could leave themselves open to losing all their money. I believe that most countries will deal with cryptocurrencies by regulating them and monitoring their use rather than co-opting them. But it will be interesting to see whether regulation or competition will win in the battle of crytocurrencies. While the encryption of crytocurrencies can create strong digital trust in the technology, human trust in the transactions themselves will likely be the key factor that determines whether citizens adopt government-backed cryptocurrencies. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: Can Bitcoin like cryptocurrencies really replace cash?

Security researchers on Wednesday disclosed a set of security flaws that they said could let hackers steal sensitive information from nearly every modern computing device containing chips from Intel Corp, Advanced Micro Devices Inc and ARM Holdings.

One of the bugs is specific to Intel but another affects laptops, desktop computers, smartphones, tablets and internet servers alike. Intel and ARM insisted that the issue was not a design flaw, but it will require users to download a patch and update their operating system to fix.

&ldquo;Phones, PCs, everything are going to have some impact, but it&rsquo;ll vary from product to product,&rdquo; Intel CEO Brian Krzanich said in an interview with CNBC Wednesday afternoon.

Researchers with Alphabet Inc&#39;s Google Project Zero, in conjunction with academic and industry researchers from several countries, discovered two flaws.

The first, called Meltdown, affects Intel chips and lets hackers bypass the hardware barrier between applications run by users and the computer&#39;s memory, potentially letting hackers read a computer&#39;s memory and steal passwords. The second, called Spectre, affects chips from Intel, AMD and ARM and lets hackers potentially trick otherwise error-free applications into giving up secret information.

The researchers said Apple Inc and Microsoft Corp had patches ready for users for desktop computers affected by Meltdown. Microsoft declined to comment and Apple did not immediately return requests for comment.

Daniel Gruss, one of the researchers at Graz University of Technology who discovered Meltdown, called it &quot;probably one of the worst CPU bugs ever found&quot; in an interview with Reuters.

Gruss said Meltdown was the more serious problem in the short term but could be decisively stopped with software patches. Spectre, the broader bug that applies to nearly all computing devices, is harder for hackers to take advantage of but less easily patched and will be a bigger problem in the long term, he said.

Speaking on CNBC, Intel&#39;s Krzanich said Google researchers told Intel of the flaws &quot;a while ago&quot; and that Intel had been testing fixes that device makers who use its chips will push out next week. Before the problems became public, Google on its blog said Intel and others planned to disclose the issues on January 9. Google said it informed the affected companies about the &quot;Spectre&quot; flaw on June 1, 2017 and reported the &quot;Meltdown&quot; flaw after the first flaw but before July 28, 2017.

The flaws were first reported by tech publication The Register. It also reported that the updates to fix the problems could causes Intel chips to operate five per cent to 30 per cent more slowly.

Intel denied that the patches would bog down computers based on Intel chips.

&quot;Intel has begun providing software and firmware updates to mitigate these exploits,&quot; Intel said in a statement. &quot;Contrary to some reports, any performance impacts are workload-dependent, and, for the average computer user, should not be significant and will be mitigated over time.&quot;

ARM spokesman Phil Hughes said that patches had already been shared with the companies` partners, which include many smartphone manufacturers.

&quot;This method only works if a certain type of malicious code is already running on a device and could at worst result in small pieces of data being accessed from privileged memory,&quot; Hughes said in an email.

AMD chips are also affected by at least one variant of a set of security flaws but that it can be patched with a software update. The company said it believes there &quot;is near zero risk to AMD products at this time.&quot;

Google said in a blog post that Android phones running the latest security updates are protected, as are its own Nexus and Pixel phones with the latest security updates. Gmail users do not need to take any additional action to protect themselves, but users of its Chromebooks, Chrome web browser and many of its Google Cloud services will need to install updates.

Amazon Web Services, a cloud computing service used by businesses, said that most of its internet servers were already patched and the rest were in the process of being patched.

The defect affects the so-called kernel memory on Intel x86 processor chips manufactured over the past decade, The Register reported citing unnamed programmers, allowing users of normal applications to discern the layout or content of protected areas on the chips.

That could make it possible for hackers to exploit other security bugs or, worse, expose secure information such as passwords, thus compromising individual computers or even entire server networks.

Dan Guido, chief executive of cyber security consulting firm Trail of Bits, said that businesses should quickly move to update vulnerable systems, saying he expects hackers to quickly develop code they can use to launch attacks that exploit the vulnerabilities. &ldquo;Exploits for these bugs will be added to hacker&rsquo;s standard toolkits,&rdquo; said Guido.

Shares in Intel were down by 3.4 per cent following the report but nudged back up 1.2 per cent to $44.70 in after-hours trading while shares in AMD were up one per cent to $11.77, shedding many of the gains they had made earlier in the day when reports suggested its chips were not affected.

It was not immediately clear whether Intel would face any significant financial liability arising from the reported flaw.

&quot;The current Intel problem, if true, would likely not require CPU replacement in our opinion. However the situation is fluid,&quot; Hans Mosesmann of Rosenblatt Securities in New York said in a note, adding it could hurt the company&#39;s reputation.

Shares in Intel were down by 3.4 per cent following the report but nudged back up 1.2 per cent to $44.70 in after-hours trading.

Security researchers on Wednesday disclosed a set of security flaws that they said could let hackers steal sensitive information from nearly every modern computing device containing chips from Intel Corp, Advanced Micro Devices Inc and ARM Holdings. One of the bugs is specific to Intel but another affects laptops, desktop computers, smartphones, tablets and internet servers alike. Intel and ARM insisted that the issue was not a design flaw, but it will require users to download a patch and update their operating system to fix. “Phones, PCs, everything are going to have some impact, but it’ll vary from product to product,” Intel CEO Brian Krzanich said in an interview with CNBC Wednesday afternoon. Researchers with Alphabet Inc's Google Project Zero, in conjunction with academic and industry researchers from several countries, discovered two flaws. The first, called Meltdown, affects Intel chips and lets hackers bypass the hardware barrier between applications run by users and the computer's memory, potentially letting hackers read a computer's memory and steal passwords. The second, called Spectre, affects chips from Intel, AMD and ARM and lets hackers potentially trick otherwise error-free applications into giving up secret information. The researchers said Apple Inc and Microsoft Corp had patches ready for users for desktop computers affected by Meltdown. Microsoft declined to comment and Apple did not immediately return requests for comment. Daniel Gruss, one of the researchers at Graz University of Technology who discovered Meltdown, called it "probably one of the worst CPU bugs ever found" in an interview with Reuters. Gruss said Meltdown was the more serious problem in the short term but could be decisively stopped with software patches. Spectre, the broader bug that applies to nearly all computing devices, is harder for hackers to take advantage of but less easily patched and will be a bigger problem in the long term, he said. Speaking on CNBC, Intel's Krzanich said Google researchers told Intel of the flaws "a while ago" and that Intel had been testing fixes that device makers who use its chips will push out next week. Before the problems became public, Google on its blog said Intel and others planned to disclose the issues on January 9. Google said it informed the affected companies about the "Spectre" flaw on June 1, 2017 and reported the "Meltdown" flaw after the first flaw but before July 28, 2017. The flaws were first reported by tech publication The Register. It also reported that the updates to fix the problems could causes Intel chips to operate five per cent to 30 per cent more slowly. Intel denied that the patches would bog down computers based on Intel chips. "Intel has begun providing software and firmware updates to mitigate these exploits," Intel said in a statement. "Contrary to some reports, any performance impacts are workload-dependent, and, for the average computer user, should not be significant and will be mitigated over time." ARM spokesman Phil Hughes said that patches had already been shared with the companies` partners, which include many smartphone manufacturers. "This method only works if a certain type of malicious code is already running on a device and could at worst result in small pieces of data being accessed from privileged memory," Hughes said in an email. AMD chips are also affected by at least one variant of a set of security flaws but that it can be patched with a software update. The company said it believes there "is near zero risk to AMD products at this time." Google said in a blog post that Android phones running the latest security updates are protected, as are its own Nexus and Pixel phones with the latest security updates. Gmail users do not need to take any additional action to protect themselves, but users of its Chromebooks, Chrome web browser and many of its Google Cloud services will need to install updates. Amazon Web Services, a cloud computing service used by businesses, said that most of its internet servers were already patched and the rest were in the process of being patched. The defect affects the so-called kernel memory on Intel x86 processor chips manufactured over the past decade, The Register reported citing unnamed programmers, allowing users of normal applications to discern the layout or content of protected areas on the chips. That could make it possible for hackers to exploit other security bugs or, worse, expose secure information such as passwords, thus compromising individual computers or even entire server networks. Dan Guido, chief executive of cyber security consulting firm Trail of Bits, said that businesses should quickly move to update vulnerable systems, saying he expects hackers to quickly develop code they can use to launch attacks that exploit the vulnerabilities. “Exploits for these bugs will be added to hacker’s standard toolkits,” said Guido. Shares in Intel were down by 3.4 per cent following the report but nudged back up 1.2 per cent to $44.70 in after-hours trading while shares in AMD were up one per cent to $11.77, shedding many of the gains they had made earlier in the day when reports suggested its chips were not affected. It was not immediately clear whether Intel would face any significant financial liability arising from the reported flaw. "The current Intel problem, if true, would likely not require CPU replacement in our opinion. However the situation is fluid," Hans Mosesmann of Rosenblatt Securities in New York said in a note, adding it could hurt the company's reputation.

Major security flaw in Intel and AMD chips revealed, virtually all phones & computers at risk

BlackBerry Ltd and Chinese internet search firm Baidu Inc on Wednesday signed a deal to jointly develop self-driving vehicle technology, sending BlackBerry&#39;s Toronto-listed shares up 13 percent to a four-year high.

The deal follows similar agreements with firms including Qualcomm Inc, Denso and Aptiv Plc to develop autonomous-driving technology with BlackBerry&#39;s QNX software, which are expected to start generating revenue in 2019.

Investors and analysts are closely watching what comes of those agreements amid expectations that QNX could become a key technology in the burgeoning self-driving vehicle industry, serving as the operating system for computer chips used to run self-driving vehicles.

QNX will be the operating system for Apollo, a platform for self-driving vehicles that Baidu announced in April and has billed as the &quot;Android&quot; of the autonomous driving industry.

&quot;The opportunity is global, it&#39;s for a very large market and I think it&#39;s a very solid win for BlackBerry,&quot; said CIBC Capital Markets analyst Todd Coupland.

Apollo has since signed up several major automakers, including Ford Motor Co, Hyundai Motor Group and several Chinese carmakers.

QNX has long been used to run car infotainment consoles. BlackBerry has recently developed the software to run sophisticated computer chips for autos that manage multiple safety-critical systems.

BlackBerry shares rose 13 per cent in Toronto to C$16.95, their sharpest one-day gain since April and highest close since March 2013.

The two companies said they will also integrate Baidu&#39;s CarLife, a leading smartphone integration software for connected cars in China, its conversational AI system and high definition maps with BlackBerry&#39;s infotainment platform.

BlackBerry shares rose 13 per cent in Toronto to C$16.95, their sharpest one-day gain since April and highest close since March 2013.

BlackBerry Ltd and Chinese internet search firm Baidu Inc on Wednesday signed a deal to jointly develop self-driving vehicle technology, sending BlackBerry's Toronto-listed shares up 13 percent to a four-year high. The deal follows similar agreements with firms including Qualcomm Inc, Denso and Aptiv Plc to develop autonomous-driving technology with BlackBerry's QNX software, which are expected to start generating revenue in 2019. Investors and analysts are closely watching what comes of those agreements amid expectations that QNX could become a key technology in the burgeoning self-driving vehicle industry, serving as the operating system for computer chips used to run self-driving vehicles. QNX will be the operating system for Apollo, a platform for self-driving vehicles that Baidu announced in April and has billed as the "Android" of the autonomous driving industry. "The opportunity is global, it's for a very large market and I think it's a very solid win for BlackBerry," said CIBC Capital Markets analyst Todd Coupland. Apollo has since signed up several major automakers, including Ford Motor Co, Hyundai Motor Group and several Chinese carmakers. QNX has long been used to run car infotainment consoles. BlackBerry has recently developed the software to run sophisticated computer chips for autos that manage multiple safety-critical systems. BlackBerry shares rose 13 per cent in Toronto to C$16.95, their sharpest one-day gain since April and highest close since March 2013. The two companies said they will also integrate Baidu's CarLife, a leading smartphone integration software for connected cars in China, its conversational AI system and high definition maps with BlackBerry's infotainment platform.

BlackBerry surges on deal with Baidu for self-driving cars

Allahabad Bank has said the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has initiated &#39;prompt corrective action&#39; (PCA) against the state-run lender over its high bad loans.

High net non-performing assets (NPA) and a negative Return On Assets (ROA) for two years in a row has prompted the action, the bank said in a statement late on Wednesday, although it added the action would help improve its risk management, asset quality and profits.

The central bank has so far ordered corrective action for about 10 lenders, mostly due to their high bad loan ratios.

Depending on the risk thresholds set in the Reserve Bank of India corrective action rules, lenders can be asked by the regulator to restrict branch expansion and make higher provisions on sour loans, among other curbs.

Allahabad Bank shares fell as much as 2.6 per cent in Thursday morning trade in a Mumbai market that was trading 0.1 per cent higher.

The central bank has so far ordered corrective action for about 10 lenders, mostly due to their high bad loan ratios.

Allahabad Bank has said the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has initiated 'prompt corrective action' (PCA) against the state-run lender over its high bad loans. High net non-performing assets (NPA) and a negative Return On Assets (ROA) for two years in a row has prompted the action, the bank said in a statement late on Wednesday, although it added the action would help improve its risk management, asset quality and profits. The central bank has so far ordered corrective action for about 10 lenders, mostly due to their high bad loan ratios. Depending on the risk thresholds set in the Reserve Bank of India corrective action rules, lenders can be asked by the regulator to restrict branch expansion and make higher provisions on sour loans, among other curbs. Allahabad Bank shares fell as much as 2.6 per cent in Thursday morning trade in a Mumbai market that was trading 0.1 per cent higher.

RBI puts Allahabad Bank under prompt corrective action

The Nokia 6 (2018) will be officially announced on Friday by HMD Global.&nbsp;

A day before its official announcement the specifications and details of the handset are already out on a Chinese microblogging site.&nbsp;

The phone, which will be a revised version of Nokia 6, will be released first in China. Later,&nbsp;it may hit&nbsp;other markets including in India.&nbsp; 
 
Nokia 6 was released last year.&nbsp;

The new handset measuring 148.8 x 75.8 x 8.15 mm with a weight of 172 g is designed with a fingerprint scanner on the back. The phone has redesigned accents around the edges and the camera.

The audio recording and photos feature is similar to that of Nokia 8.

Incorporated with Snapdragon 630 chipset the model is built with near-stock Android 7.1.1. Nougat Operating System.

The handset has 4GB RAM with two additional internal storage versions- 32 or 64 GB. The memory can be extended with a microSD for up to 128 GB.

The 3,000 mAh battery will be charged via the micro USB port.

The back camera is 16 MegaPixel with f/2.0 lens, while the front camera has an 8-megapixel sensor. It comes with OZO Audio recording.&nbsp;

The handset will be available in Black with Orange accents and White with Red accents.&nbsp;

The phone, which will be a revised version of Nokia 6, will be released first in China. Later,?it may hit?other markets including in India

The Nokia 6 (2018) will be officially announced on Friday by HMD Global. A day before its official announcement the specifications and details of the handset are already out on a Chinese microblogging site. The phone, which will be a revised version of Nokia 6, will be released first in China. Later, it may hit other markets including in India. Nokia 6 was released last year. The new handset measuring 148.8 x 75.8 x 8.15 mm with a weight of 172 g is designed with a fingerprint scanner on the back. The phone has redesigned accents around the edges and the camera. The audio recording and photos feature is similar to that of Nokia 8. Incorporated with Snapdragon 630 chipset the model is built with near-stock Android 7.1.1. Nougat Operating System. The handset has 4GB RAM with two additional internal storage versions- 32 or 64 GB. The memory can be extended with a microSD for up to 128 GB. The 3,000 mAh battery will be charged via the micro USB port. The back camera is 16 MegaPixel with f/2.0 lens, while the front camera has an 8-megapixel sensor. It comes with OZO Audio recording. The handset will be available in Black with Orange accents and White with Red accents.

Nokia 6 features released before launch

The move signals closer cooperation between New Delhi and Moscow to bolster Afghanistan's air capabilities.

India's bid to boost Afghan air support

China&#39;s ambition of becoming a world leader in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-using-artificial-intelligence-to-spot-signs-of-suicide-25299" target="_blank">Artificial Intelligence</a> is all set to&nbsp;take off with the country&#39;s new AI development park.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" gesture="media" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8BrVOPdaY0U" width="560"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

China is planning to build a 13.8 billion yuan ($2.12 billion) <a href="http://www.wionews.com/science-tech/acquisitions-accelerate-as-tech-giants-seek-to-build-ai-smarts-16103" target="_blank">artificial intelligence</a> development park.&nbsp;

The project will be developed by Zhongguancun Development Group in collaboration with foreign universities.

It will be designed to attract enterprises that work on big data, biometric identification, deep learning and cloud computing.&nbsp;

The park will be constructed&nbsp;to house up to 400 enterprises and to yield an annual output of 50 billion yuan.&nbsp;

It will be built in west Beijing.&nbsp;

Also&nbsp;read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/this-black-metal-album-was-created-using-artificial-intelligence-and-sounds-just-like-a-human-band-26258" target="_blank">This black metal album was created using Artificial Intelligence and sounds just like a human band</a>

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/opinion-revolutionise-talent-management-with-chatbots-ai-26231" target="_blank">Opinion: Chatbots &amp; AI to revolutionise talent management</a>

China aspires to become a world leader in Artificial Intelligence by 2025.

There is an increasing competition between China and United States of America for utilising the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/is-artificial-intelligence-boon-or-bane-4703" target="_blank">Artificial Intelligence technology</a> in the military.&nbsp;

In the development roadmap released by the country in 2017, China unwrapped a series of plans to boost talent, investment and research in Artificial Intelligence. The roadmap also wanted collective efforts from private, public and military firms on national AI goals.&nbsp;

AI is the intelligence displayed by machines, wherein the device perceives its environment and takes action.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

It will be designed to attract enterprises that work on big data, biometric identification, deep learning and cloud computing

China's ambition of becoming a world leader in Artificial Intelligence is all set to take off with the country's new AI development park. × China is planning to build a 13.8 billion yuan ($2.12 billion) artificial intelligence development park. The project will be developed by Zhongguancun Development Group in collaboration with foreign universities. It will be designed to attract enterprises that work on big data, biometric identification, deep learning and cloud computing. The park will be constructed to house up to 400 enterprises and to yield an annual output of 50 billion yuan. It will be built in west Beijing. Also read: This black metal album was created using Artificial Intelligence and sounds just like a human band Also read: Opinion: Chatbots & AI to revolutionise talent management China aspires to become a world leader in Artificial Intelligence by 2025. There is an increasing competition between China and United States of America for utilising the Artificial Intelligence technology in the military. In the development roadmap released by the country in 2017, China unwrapped a series of plans to boost talent, investment and research in Artificial Intelligence. The roadmap also wanted collective efforts from private, public and military firms on national AI goals. AI is the intelligence displayed by machines, wherein the device perceives its environment and takes action.

China to construct $2 billion Artificial Intelligence development park

The benchmark Sensex staged a strong come back in early trade today gaining over 158 points on widespread buying by participants in banking, auto, pharma and oil and gas stocks.

Asian stocks notched moderate gains, tracking sizable increases seen on Wall Street overnight also boosted the sentiments.

The 30-share index was trading higher by 158.35 points, or 0.46 per cent at 33,970.61.

All the sectoral indices led by metal, consumer durables, power, bank and infrastructure were trading in the green with gains up to 0.79 per cent.

The 30-share Sensex had lost 244.57 points in the previous two sessions.

Also, the NSE Nifty went up by 43.30 points or 0.41 per cent to 10.485.50.

Major gainers were ICICI Bank, Reliance industries, SBI, Adani Ports, TCS, Tata Steel and Power Grid, rising up to 1.84 per cent.

Brokers said buying by domestic institutional investors (DIIs) and foreign funds amid a firm trend at other Asian bourses following yet another record close on Wall Street improved the market sentiment.

In the Asian region, Hong Kong&#39;s Hang Seng was up 0.23 per cent and Shanghai Composite Index by 0.82 per cent in early trade. Japan&#39;s Nikkei remained closed today.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.42 per cent higher yesterday.&nbsp;

The NSE Nifty was up by 43.30 points or 0.41 per cent to 10.485.50

The benchmark Sensex staged a strong come back in early trade today gaining over 158 points on widespread buying by participants in banking, auto, pharma and oil and gas stocks. Asian stocks notched moderate gains, tracking sizable increases seen on Wall Street overnight also boosted the sentiments. The 30-share index was trading higher by 158.35 points, or 0.46 per cent at 33,970.61. All the sectoral indices led by metal, consumer durables, power, bank and infrastructure were trading in the green with gains up to 0.79 per cent. The 30-share Sensex had lost 244.57 points in the previous two sessions. Also, the NSE Nifty went up by 43.30 points or 0.41 per cent to 10.485.50. Major gainers were ICICI Bank, Reliance industries, SBI, Adani Ports, TCS, Tata Steel and Power Grid, rising up to 1.84 per cent. Brokers said buying by domestic institutional investors (DIIs) and foreign funds amid a firm trend at other Asian bourses following yet another record close on Wall Street improved the market sentiment. In the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 0.23 per cent and Shanghai Composite Index by 0.82 per cent in early trade. Japan's Nikkei remained closed today. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.42 per cent higher yesterday.

Sensex rises 158 points in early trade

Euro zone manufacturers ended 2017 by ramping up activity at the fastest pace in more than two decades, a survey showed on Tuesday, and rising demand suggests they will start the new year on a high.

The bloc&#39;s economy outpaced its peers last year, and the European Central Bank plans to scale back its stimulus programme from this month.

IHS Markit&#39;s December final manufacturing Purchasing Managers&#39; Index for the bloc was 60.6, matching an earlier preliminary reading and above November&#39;s 60.1. That was the highest since the survey began in June 1997.

An index measuring output, which feeds into a composite PMI due on Thursday and seen as a good guide to economic health, rose to 62.2 from November&#39;s 61.0 - its highest in over 17 years and has only been above that once in the survey&#39;s history.

&quot;The euro zone manufacturing boom gained further momentum in December, rounding off the best year on record and setting the scene for a strong start to 2018,&quot; said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit.

&quot;Forward-looking indicators bode well for the new year: new orders rose at a near-record pace while purchasing growth hit a new peak as firms readied themselves for higher production. Meanwhile, job creation was maintained at November&#39;s record pace.&quot;

Despite factories raising prices again last month, albeit, at a slightly weaker rate than in November, an index measuring new orders nudged up to 61.5 from 61.4, a level not seen since around the start of the century.

Inflation was 1.5 per cent in November, below the ECB&#39;s 2 per cent target ceiling, but the central bank announced in October it will halve its monthly asset purchases to 30 billion euros from January.

A majority of economists in a Reuters poll last year said they thought the ECB should shut the door on the programme in September, but they were split on whether it actually would.

Eurozone manufacturers ended 2017 by ramping up activity at the fastest pace in more than two decades, a survey showed on Tuesday, and rising demand suggests they will start the new year on a high

Euro zone manufacturers ended 2017 by ramping up activity at the fastest pace in more than two decades, a survey showed on Tuesday, and rising demand suggests they will start the new year on a high. The bloc's economy outpaced its peers last year, and the European Central Bank plans to scale back its stimulus programme from this month. IHS Markit's December final manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index for the bloc was 60.6, matching an earlier preliminary reading and above November's 60.1. That was the highest since the survey began in June 1997. An index measuring output, which feeds into a composite PMI due on Thursday and seen as a good guide to economic health, rose to 62.2 from November's 61.0 - its highest in over 17 years and has only been above that once in the survey's history. "The euro zone manufacturing boom gained further momentum in December, rounding off the best year on record and setting the scene for a strong start to 2018," said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit. "Forward-looking indicators bode well for the new year: new orders rose at a near-record pace while purchasing growth hit a new peak as firms readied themselves for higher production. Meanwhile, job creation was maintained at November's record pace." Despite factories raising prices again last month, albeit, at a slightly weaker rate than in November, an index measuring new orders nudged up to 61.5 from 61.4, a level not seen since around the start of the century. Inflation was 1.5 per cent in November, below the ECB's 2 per cent target ceiling, but the central bank announced in October it will halve its monthly asset purchases to 30 billion euros from January. A majority of economists in a Reuters poll last year said they thought the ECB should shut the door on the programme in September, but they were split on whether it actually would.

Euro zone factories ended 2017 with record high growth: PMI

Indian shares closed little changed on Tuesday as caution prevailed ahead of corporate results next week, while oil retailers such as Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd fell after crude prices strengthened.

The benchmark BSE index ended flat at 33,812.26, while the broader NSE index closed 0.06 per cent higher at 10,442.20.

BPCL closed 2.5 per cent lower.

Indian shares closed little changed on Tuesday as caution prevailed ahead of corporate results next week, while oil retailers such as Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd fell after crude prices strengthened

Indian shares closed little changed on Tuesday as caution prevailed ahead of corporate results next week, while oil retailers such as Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd fell after crude prices strengthened. The benchmark BSE index ended flat at 33,812.26, while the broader NSE index closed 0.06 per cent higher at 10,442.20. BPCL closed 2.5 per cent lower.

Sensex, Nifty close little changed ahead of corporate results

In a move aimed at electoral reforms, finance&nbsp;minister Arun Jaitley today announced guidelines for electoral bonds for funding of political parties.

The finance minister said the electoral bonds would be available in multiples of Rs 1,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 1 lakh, Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore.

&quot;Interest-free bonds for donation to political parties can&nbsp;be purchased from SBI for 10 days in the months of January, April, July and October,&quot; Jaitley said.

The finance minister in his budget last year had announced the introduction of &quot;electoral bonds&quot; aimed at improving transparency in funding of political parties.

The bonds can only be issued by a notified bank and can be bought using cheques or digital payment, negating the prevalence of hawala money.

All political parties are required to inform the Election Commission about the bonds and from where it would be accessed.

The finance minister in his budget last year had announced the introduction of "electoral bonds" aimed at improving transparency in funding of political parties.

In a move aimed at electoral reforms, finance minister Arun Jaitley today announced guidelines for electoral bonds for funding of political parties. The finance minister said the electoral bonds would be available in multiples of Rs 1,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 1 lakh, Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore. "Interest-free bonds for donation to political parties can be purchased from SBI for 10 days in the months of January, April, July and October," Jaitley said. The finance minister in his budget last year had announced the introduction of "electoral bonds" aimed at improving transparency in funding of political parties. The bonds can only be issued by a notified bank and can be bought using cheques or digital payment, negating the prevalence of hawala money. All political parties are required to inform the Election Commission about the bonds and from where it would be accessed.

Finance minister Jaitley announces guidelines for electoral bonds