Zoozoos(The best of 2009)

The white egg-headed alien-like animated characters called 'Zoozoo' that captured the imagination of millions during the IPL Season 2, were indeed human. They were created by the ad agency Ogilvy & Mather to promote Vodafone's value-added services. The commercials were shot by ad filmmaker Prakash Varma, over a period of 10 days with a total budget of 30 million rupees.

The popular 'Zoozoos' struck a chord with audience across all ages and also in the social media, with Facebook garnering over 3 lakh fans. Women were cast in the shoot, as the bodysuits required thinner limbs. The sets were huge and an illusion was created that the characters were much smaller than human. These lovable characters are here to stay.

SEBI directs MFs not to ask for NOCs from investors

Making it easier for mutual fund investors to switch their distributors, market regulator SEBI on Friday said it is doing away with the practice of obtaining a no objection certificate (NOC) from existing distributors.

In a circular to all mutual funds and asset management companies (AMCs) the market regulator said, "You are advised to ensure compliance with the instruction of the investor informing his desire to change his distributor and or go direct, without compelling that investor to obtain an NOC from the existing distributor."

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) said that MF industry body Association of Mutual Funds of India (AMFI) in September mandated 2007 that AMCs will act on instruction of the investors if they desire to change their distributor.

"It appears that this mandate is not being followed by the mutual fund industry...Some AMCs are insisting on the investor procuring a No Objection Certificate from the existing distributor for this switch over," SEBI said.

The market regulator said it has come to notice that unwarranted hardship was being caused to investors in mutual fund schemes.

Mutual fund tracking firm ValueResearch Online CEO Dhirendra Kumar said, "The decision is pro-consumer in spirit and will drive distributors to provide satisfactory after-sales services to investors. As investors would have the choice to switch their existing distributor if they are unsatisfied with its performance."

The NOC clause had been introduced in the first place to curb practice of mostly high net worth investors constantly changing distributors based on pass-backs received or promised. However in 2003, SEBI prescribed a code for distributors whereby pass-backs to investors were prohibited.

In 2007, AMFI withdrew the NOC clause and a working group recommended that when an investor indicated his desire to change distributor, the AMC should act on the instruction. It also deemed that once the distributor was changed, the trail commission thereafter for all business done by old distributor maybe payable to new distributor on a prospective basis.

An industry official said that though the Sebi move was in favour of investor, it may lead to some aggressive distributor luring customers with some cash incentives among other things.

Audi A3 TDI is 'Green Car' of the year

Green and performance luxury needn't be mutually exclusive concepts. That's a core belief at Audi. Today, that philosophy paid off with the all-new A3 TDI earning the prestigious title of 2010 Green Car of the Year at the Los Angeles Auto show.
The 2010 Audi A3 TDI arrived at U.S. dealerships last month and initial sales have been promising. The A3 TDI is the latest example of the fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions benefits provided by the critically acclaimed TDI clean diesel product line, following the wildly popular Q7 TDI, which launched in June 2009.
The revolutionary TDI 2.0 engine available in the A3 delivers 140 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque, yet achieves an EPA-estimated 42 mpg highway fuel economy that is the best of any luxury car sold in America. That means the Audi A3 TDI achieve 50 per cent better fuel economy than a comparable gasoline engine.
TDI clean diesel technology was first developed by Audi 20 years ago and has come to signify the brand's commitment to trailblazing automotive performance executed in an environmentally responsible way. In addition to setting the new industry standard in fuel efficiency, the 2010 A3 TDI remains a stylistic pacesetter as well.
Toyota Motor Corp's market-leading hybrid was widely seen as the front-runner for the prize by virtue of its huge commercial success and its status as the most fuel-efficient mass-market sedan on the road. But Ron Cogan, editor of Green Car, said jurors were impressed that the Audi A3 with TDI, which stands for turbo diesel direct injection, achieved "50 percent better fuel efficiency than the gasoline-engine (A3 model) without sacrificing anything." "The Audi A3 TDI really defines what a 'green' car should be," added Cogan.

Positive global markets push Sensex up

Indian stock markets were moderately up amid positive global cues. Asian stock markets were mostly up on Thursday, with Japan surging more than 2 per cent.

The Sensex was up 83 points at 17,253 while Nifty added 22 points to trade at 5,145.

Overnight, US stock market struggled but held its ground on Wednesday as an upbeat assessment of the economy from the Federal Reserve offset drops in banks and energy companies. The Dow fell 18.90, or 0.2 per cent, to 10,452.68. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index edged up 0.38, or less than 0.1 per cent, to 1,109.24, and the Nasdaq composite index rose 9.22, or 0.4 per cent, to 2,185.03.

"As long as market stay above 5100 levels, investors can take a long position," says Siddharth Sthalekar, manager of derivative sales at Edelweiss Securities. He remains bullish on pharma, metal and some banking stocks.

In the Indian markets, metal, realty and healthcare stocks saw some buying action. Among the Sensex stocks, Sterlite Ind, Hindalco, RCom and Bharti were up between 1.5 per cent and 2.4 per cent.

Maoists kill securityman as polling begins in Jharkhand

Ranchi: Maoist rebels targeted a polling team killing one securityman in Giridih district on Wednesday morning as the second phase of polling for 14 of the 81 Assembly seats in Jharkhand began.

"Maoist rebels triggered an IED (improvised explosive device) blast when polling team members were going to the polling booth around 0500 hrs IST. In the blast one security personnel of CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) has been killed. Polling team members were going by foot when the blast took place," Jharkhand Police spokesperson VH Deshmukh told IANS.

The blast took place near Teliabahiyar village under Pirtand police station of Giridih district, about 190 km from Ranchi.

Due to security reasons, polling hours have been shifted to 0700 hrs IST -1500 hrs IST.

There are 259 candidates in the fray in the second phase.

Four helicopters of the Indian Air Force and Border Security Force have been pressed into service for heightened surveillance.

Around 35,000 security personnel including paratroopers have also been deployed.

The fate of six former ministers, including All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) President and former home minister Sudesh Mahto, will be decided in this round of polling.

Another key candidate is Masi Charan Munda, 34, a jailed Maoist who is contesting from Khuti constituency on a Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) ticket.

Obama asks Pak to fight 'cancer' of extremism

West Point (USA): US President Barack Obama said on Tuesday the United States would not tolerate Pakistan allowing its territory to be a safe haven for militants and urged Islamabad to fight the "cancer" of extremism.

In an address to unveil a new strategy for the eight-year war in Afghanistan, Obama said a cancer had taken root in Pakistan's border region with Afghanistan and promised US help to end it.

"We will strengthen Pakistan's capacity to target those groups that threaten our countries, and have made it clear that we cannot tolerate a safe-haven for terrorists whose location is known and whose intentions are clear," Obama said.

"We need a strategy that works on both sides of the border," he added, outlining a plan to send 30,000 additional US troops to Afghanistan.

Obama praised Pakistan for its recent efforts to rout extremism in the Swat region and South Waziristan. "There is no doubt that the United States and Pakistan share a common enemy," he said.

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Obama to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan
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Obama flayed for pullout deadline in Afghanistan

But he offered no details on how the United States would help Pakistan fight extremism.

In October, the United States pledged a new aid programme for Pakistan, tripling nonmilitary assistance to $1.5 billion a year for the next five years. But Pakistan's military complained there were too many conditions attached.

"Going forward, the Pakistani people must know: America will remain a strong supporter of Pakistan's security and prosperity long after the guns have fallen silent, so that the great potential of its people can be unleashed," said Obama.

The pledge for a closer relationship comes as Pakistan's civilian government is teetering. Some officials in Islamabad fear the US surge in Afghanistan will further destabilize their country.

Obama tried to allay those concerns, saying his new strategy would help stabilise the region.

"I make this decision because I am convinced that our security is at stake in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This is the epicenter of the violent extremism practiced by al-Qaeda."

SeNsex joins globaL Rally As DubAi feArs fAde

Indian stocks posted big gains on Tuesday on buying support amid positive global markets. Investor sentiments in most global markets were lifted as worries about the potential fallout from the Dubai's debt crisis abated.

Dubai World has said it is in talks with lenders to restructure about $26 billion in debt out of the estimated $59 billion it owes.

The Sensex advanced 272 points to close at 17,198 while Nifty added 89 points to finish at 5,122. On the BSE, gainers easily outnumbered losers by 2,025 to 720 while 75 stocks remained unchanged.

Most of the Asian stock markets were up 1 per cent or more, with the Japanese stocks up close to 2.5 per cent. In early trade European markets had posted gains of at least 1.5 per cent or more. And Dow futures indicated a firm opening on Wall Street.

Rajesh Jain, director & CEO of Marwadi P-Sec Securities, said markets have shrugged off the Dubai crisis in some way, expecting the Middle East problem not to have a cascading effect over the global financial system.

Despite the Dubai crisis and the recent correction, some fresh buying has been seen in Indian markets, he said. “If markets succeed in getting past 5,200, then it may reach pre-budget levels of around 5500,” he said.

In the Indian markets, the realty sectoral index on the BSE was up over 6 per cent. Unitech lead the realty gainers with an 11 per cent surge. DLF and HDIL were up close to 5 per cent.

Auto, healthcare, banking, oil & gas and metal stocks also recorded good gains, with their sectoral indices up over 2 per cent. Global metal prices rebounded on Monday, rising as fears over a Dubai debt crisis eased and the dollar resumed its decline. Auto stocks were under focus as many manufacturers reported good November numbers.

Among the Sensex stocks, Tata Motors was up over 6 per cent to be the biggest percentage gainer among the pack. Sun Pharma, DLF, and M&M saw nearly 5 per cent gains. Sensex heavyweight RIL was up over 3 per cent.

Pharma major Cipla was up nearly 3 per cent after NDTV Profit reported that leading the Indian drug manufacturer is in talks with the world's largest pharmaceutical firm, Pfizer Inc, for a strategic alliance which would serve to Pfizer's needs in the emerging markets.