During 2010-11, Indian merchandise drew demand from western economies, Latin America and Africa. The trade deficit for 2010-11 stood at $104.82 billion.

The Indian currency has refused to buckle under the onslaught of rising global oil prices, thanks to a surge in exports.

The union budget for 2011-12 is set to give fresh impetus to infrastructure. We tell you how to look at investing in companies in this space.

The country is estimated to have recorded an annual GDP growth rate of 8.2 per cent during the 11th plan (2007-12), which is below the target of nine per cent.

Standard & Poor's revising the long-term sovereign rating of the US to 'Negative' from 'Stable' is set to benefit India by increasing foreign investment inflows.

Exports registered the highest ever growth of 37.5 per cent at $245.9 billion during 2010-11, demonstrating a robust demand for Indian merchandises in the global markets.

The political unrest in the West in the past few months sent crude prices soaring. This will impact the macroeconomic scenario in India as high international crude prices stoke inflation and also substantially raise the risk of a rise in the fiscal deficit.

Global crude prices eased a dollar each by evening on Monday - Brent (European market) crude oil fell below $126 per barrel and US crude futures slipped under $112.

Exports went up by 49.7 per cent year-on-year during February to $23.5 billion, taking the April-February 2010-11 figure to $208.2 billion

Pranab Mukherjee said the GDP growth in 2010-11 has been swift and broadbased. He feels that the economy is back to its pre-crisis growth trajectory.

The Budget often changes the investing arena and offers an opportunity to review your portfolio. A few experts tell Rahul Oberoi their recommendations.

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.

Part of your savings should be invested in fixed-income instruments to stave off the risks inherent in equity instruments.

Barring a swift resolution of the turmoil in West Asia or the release of strategic stocks by the International Energy Agency or IEA, crude oil prices will remain high in the coming months.

The commerce ministry, on the other hand, wants the tax to be rolled back as it views these zones as engines of growth that have led to a quantum leap in the country's exports.

RBI is likely to hike both the policy rates by 0.25 per cent in the forthcoming review on Thursday.

In its bid to ensure that the country's trade deficit does not go up, the government is looking at doubling exports to $50 billion in the next three years, a senior foreign trade official said on Friday.

The government on Friday sought Parliament's nod for the sanction of an additional Rs 79,590 crore to meet extra expenses related to oil and fertiliser subsidies during the current fiscal, over and above the funds allocated earlier.

Pranab Mukherjee's third budget for UPA-II was workmanlike and plodding, with only an occasional spring in its step.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is either incredibly clever or a budding illusionist. Little else can explain his presentation of the Union Budget on Monday, February 28.