Highlights of 2008 Budget...Part IV

Markets:

. Power transmission cos shares gain on national power fund.
. Pharma stocks gain considerably inspite of budget allocation for healthcare sector.
. Securities Transaction Tax to be treated like deductible expenditure.
. Commodities Transactions Tax to be introduced.
. Tea stocks gain on Rs 40 crore fund
. Education cos gain on FM proposal for 20% higher education spending.
. Develop market for currency and interest rates.
. Capital inflows in excess of economic deficit .
. Increased allocation to Bharat Nirman Program; positive for Infra sector.
. PSU Bank stocks down after marginal farmers' debts waived off.
. Wipro (2.53%), Bharti Airtel (2.31%), Tata Motors (2.22%), Hindalco Industries (2.08%) and

ICICI Bank (2.04%) were the biggest Sensex losers.
. The market lost some ground as Chidambaram made higher allocation for education and

healthcare, with little mention about capital markets.
. Govt will closely monitor capital inflows.
. Biggest index losers - HDFC (down 1.27%), ICICI Bank (1.22%), Infosys Technologies (1.22%),

HDFC Bank (0.89%) and Bharti Airtel (0.89%).
. Sensex recovers by 53 points.
. Sensex down by 184 points.
. Rupee inches lower, awaits budget
. Sensex opens 0.25 pct down ahead of budget.
. Brokerages anticipate pleasant surprises in Budget, bet on rally.
. Govt hints at pro-market policies; greater role for MFs, insurance cos.
. Watch this space for latest on markets.
. Markets waiting for goodies from PC.