We explore stocks and sectors that have limiteddownside for those who wish to be safe and yet do not want to miss the bus incase the markets rise in 2012.

President Dmitry Medvedev said that Russian natural gas monopoly Gazprom has inked the memoranda covering major supplies of LNG to India with several Indian companies.

This includes India's anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare and Tunisia's street vendor Mohammed Bouazizi, who set himself on fire sparking the Arab Spring.

The discerning traveller has evolved beyond standardised itineraries and prefers bespoke travel. Here are the go-to hotspots for experience-based vacations in 2012. Here's to the endless virtues of globetrotting.

The $8.8 billion in foreign direct investment in November - down 9.8 per cent from a year earlier - was a sudden deterioration compared with an increase of 8.8 per cent in October.

\"I will discuss mechanisms to further expand our bilateral cooperation, particularly in the trade, economic and commercial fields,\" Manmohan Singh said in his statement.

Illicit financial outflows that cost developing countries a whopping $903 billion in 2009, according to a study.

With the winter session of Parliament concluding on December 22, there is not much time for the Bill to be passed. The PM is leaving for a three-day visit to Russia on Thursday.

With the standing committee on the Lokpal receiving as many as 17 dissenting notes, the Congress managers are racing against time to narrow down major differences between the two camps.

For all those who twiddle their thumbs waiting for the microwave oven to ping when its done, here is what four young tyros built in just 40 hours at the University of Pennsylvania.

The World Bank expects continued growth in remittance flows going forward, by 7.3 per cent in 2012, 7.9 per cent in 2013 and 8.4 per cent in 2014.

Google India MD Rajan Anandan says Internet on mobile phones and e-commerce are set to lead the trend in the IT sector.

Swigging malts like the Scots or guzzling beer with the Danes, let's trace cultural diversity through drinking cultures.

Computer-maker Dell warns that its full-year revenue could be impacted by the uncertain macroeconomic environment and an industry-wide shortage of hard drives.

The turnaround at Tata-owned car-maker Jaguar Land Rover accelerated in the July-September quarter as booming demand in China helped drive a 30 per cent rise in sales.

\"Reforms in multilateral agencies like IMF and WB are necessary to give fair representation to the countries that are providing stability to the global economy,\" said commerce minister Anand Sharma.

Middle East countries are major importers of India tea. But the amount of export to the region is down this year due to political turmoil in countries like Libya and Syria.

India witnesses net foreign institutional investment outflows from equities worth $281 million (Rs 1,379 crore) (at Rs 49.08 per dollar) for the month ended Oct 26, despite net ETF flows into India seeing inflows of $61 mn (about Rs 300 crore) for the same period.

The big takeaway from last week's G-20 summit is that Europe has learnt there are no freebies international relations.

\"All members of the international community should follow the all-in-the-same-boat spirit and join hands to ride out the current woes,\" Chinese premier Hu Jintao said.