Here's a list of what we expect 2008 to bring for us in terms of investments, and finance in general. Take a look.
Your income: About 14% increase in private sector salaries, forecasts Hewitt
Your wallet: Petrol bills may finally go up as rise in global oil prices is passed on to consumers
Sensex: Most difficult forecast to get. JP Morgan sees Sensex at at 22,500 by December 2008
Real estate: Confusing and contrary signals in the market. Prices could rise by 10-12%
Tax: After 11 years, there may be a reduction in tax rates, given 40% rise in direct tax collections this year
Equities: If the Left and UPA impasse leads to general elections, markets may be more volatile
Sectors: The hottest among them all will be infrastructure
Insurance: Single-premium health insurance plans maybe launched
Banking: Mobile banking to be hotter than online banking
| Re/$ exchange rate | Consumer Price Index | |
| Goldman Sachs | 42.4 | 4.7 |
| UBS | 37 | 5 |
| Merrill Lynch | 40.3 | 5 |
| HSBC | 37.5 | 5.9 |
| Predictions as on December 5, 2007 Source: securities.com Rupee to remain strong. Inflation moderate | ||
1. Instant clearance of all cheques
2. All ATM cards universally acceptable
3. A do-not-call registry that works
4. No penalty on pre-payment of loans
5. Lower fee on mutual fund investments
6. Fast and hassle-free refund of income tax
7. Lower interest on credit card rollovers
8. Transparent and credible credit assessment
