The 15 per cent Sensex rally in the first two months of 2012 seems to have stoked the embers back to life when hope was dying at the end of 2011 after a year of slide in stock indices.

Fiscal deficit feeds into inflation, pushes up interest rates and pulls down growth. In 2011/12, India's fiscal deficit was 5.9 per cent of GDP, 1.3 percentage points more than what was forecast in Budget 2011. This comes on the heels of a fiscal deficit of over six per cent of GDP in two of the last three years.

The combined market capitalisation (m-cap) of five of the top-10 Sensex companies slipped by Rs 24,310 crore last week.

Stocks of power companies have underperformed this year. This maybe the right time to gain from the low valuations.

The BSE benchmark Sensex dropped by 242.19 points to end the week at 17,562.61 from its last weekend's close after moving in a range of 17,813.11 and 17,278.03. Nifty also fell by 76.50 points to finish the week at 5,284.20.

Indian markets ended sharply higher on Monday, aided by strong global cues after the leaders of France and Germany promised action on Europe's debt crisis.

We bring you six index heavyweight stocks that are capable of delivering steady returns in the long run.

Blue-chips like Reliance Industries, TCS, Tata Steel and Infosys plunged into deep red on stock market on Friday, as investors dumped stocks with significant export exposure after an overnight sell-off in the US market.

When you are uncertain over the future of the market it may be time to go into a defensive mode.

Equities that you should aim to have in your portfolio.

India's largest software company TCS on Wednesday briefly toppled ONGC as the country's third most valued company with its market capitalisation soaring to over Rs 2.31 lakh crore, driven by a spurt in share price.

The IT bellwether slumped 7.26 per cent on BSE, followed by Wipro (4.34 per cent) and India's largest IT major Tata Concultancy Services, which declined 1.90 per cent.

The current stock market volatility has changed nothing for those who believe in the maxim that the bulls prevail over the bears in the long run.

Overseas investors are increasingly reposing their faith and money in PSUs, with as many as nine public sector firms including Coal India , PowerGrid Corp and NTPC, recording an increase in FII holdings over recent months.

The 30-share index, which gained 230 points in the previous session, rose another 133.04 points to reach 20,389.07. Brokers said it was the best performer in Asia.

After a big-bang debut on the stock exchange in the morning on Thursday, the state-owned coal major registered m-cap of Rs 2.03 lakh crore withing first hour of trade.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee says the Centre would not create a situation in the market where the shares of PSUs get \"underpriced\".

The 30-share index rose by 87.49 points, or 0.45 per cent to 19,959.64 points on the back of recovery in oil and gas, metal, banking and realty sector stocks. Nifty moved up by 28.65 points or 0.47 per cent to 6,010.75 points.

Indian markets opened lower Wednesday, following a fall in Asian stocks. Metals were the worst hit, followed by weakness in realty, consumer durables, FMCG, banking, capital goods, oil & gas, power, and auto.

Stocks recover on fresh buying by funds and retail investors after IT bellwether Infosys Technologies reported 13.15 per cent growth in its consolidated net profit for the second quarter.