Ahluwalia's remarks came a day after IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said next heads of the Fund and World Bank should be from outside US and Europe.

Without naming Ahluwalia, Strauss-Kahn fuelled hopes of an Asian taking over the top job at Bretton Woods, which has been headed until now either by a European or American.

The 30-share BSE benchmark, which had lost nearly one per cent at the outset, bounced back to close with a gain of 116.15 points at 19,521.25.

Yes, because all the factors that had contributed to the rise in the price of gold in 2008-10 are in play again and analysts expect the yellow metal to do well in the coming months.

While respondents in markets such as Germany, Japan, Netherlands and the UK believe that things will essentially stay the same over the next six months.

Sensex declined sharply by 848 points and the Nifty by 241 points due to weak industrial output data amid distinctly sluggish global advices.

Tourism Secretary R H Khwaja told reporters that despite the negative publicity in the run up to the Games, an estimated 4.87 lakh foreign tourists visited India in October.

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said valuation of the Chinese currency is not the single biggest factor delaying economic recovery.

Although Barack Obama entered the White House with less political experience than any recent United States President, his life journey and personal values uniquely qualify him to offer a new vision of international leadership for America.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the government is encouraging oil firms to buy blocks abroad to help meet the deman-supply gap for oil over the coming years.

A senior finance ministry official said the government is keeping a close watch on FII inflows, which have already touched a record $22 billion during the current year.

The visit of a galaxy of heads of states to India is an opportunity for the UPA government to set the agenda on issues of national and global importance, argues Arvind Panagariya.

China is no longer just a threat on the horizon for Indian IT and BPO firms - it is building scale with clinical efficiency.

With the highly-valued metal breaching Rs 19,000 in the domestic market, it is time to rejig your investment portfolio.

Disciplined investment has helped the MONEY TODAY-Value Research Lifestage Portfolios perform well yet again despite the prevailing uncertainty in the rising market.

The barometer closed at 20,001.55, up 95.45 points - its best since January 15, 2008, when the index ended at 20,251.09 points.

Even as the Indian IT industry finds the recent speech by US President Barack Obama disturbing, industry experts says that the anti-outsourcing move will not have any immediate impact on its revenues.

Brokers said some profit-booking amid the overall bullish sentiment pared the gains, ahead of a three-day long week end.

Renewed buying by foreign funds, strong auto sales, impressive 8.8 per cent GDP growth and smart growth in Australia's economy in Q2 helped the Sensex post impressive gains.

Though metal stocks have been resurgent, their inherent volatility makes them a risky investment currently.