There are times when you want to invest but looking at all the factors around you, you are put off. This is one such time. Equity is down 10% year to date but up by close to 3% from pre budget lows, with the Sensex at current levels of 18000 up from levels of 17500 seen in February 2011.

Firstcall Research is bullish on Novartis India and has recommended buy rating on the stock with a target of Rs 744 in its March 24, 2011 research report.

Foreign Exchange Turnover Data

Acropetal Technologies touched an intraday high of Rs 75.90 and an intraday low of Rs 68.90. At 14:06 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 72.70, down Rs 3.85, or 5.03%.

Axis Bank touched an intraday high of Rs 1,363 and an intraday low of Rs 1,326.90. At 14:03 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 1,358.90, up Rs 42.40, or 3.22%.

DLF was the top gainer on the Nifty. It touched an intraday high of Rs 249.40 and an intraday low of Rs 236.10. At 14:00 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 247.35, up Rs 13.15, or 5.61%.

Wipro touched an intraday high of Rs 455.65 and an intraday low of Rs 443. At 13:59 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 453.45, up Rs 13.80, or 3.14%.

The benchmark Nifty has touched the 5600 mark - an important psychological level - for the first time in last three weeks on the back of positive global cues. European markets too started the trade in a positive terrain, taking cues from US and Asian markets

The government will borrow Rs 2.5 trillion (USD 56 billion) in the first half of the fiscal year that begins April 1, Economic Affairs Secretary R Gopalan said on Friday, which is 60% of the full-year target.

Monetary policy will continue to be tight, C Rangarajan, the top economic adviser to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, said on Friday.

TCS has target of Rs 1365, says Devang Mehta from Anand Rathi Financial Services.

In an interview with CNBC-TV18, Devang Mehta of Anand Rathi Financial Services, spoke about his views on various stocks and sectors.

Videocon Industries is in talks to sell stake in oil & gas unit, quoting Agencies, reports CNBC-TV18. It touched an intraday high of Rs 194.80 and an intraday low of Rs 188.95. At 13:23 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 190.40, down Rs 0.55, or 0.29%.

RBI Reference Rate for US $ and Euro

The Indian rupee staged a steady performance today. It has been trading at the 44.68 the range for most part of the day.

Hindalco Industries has target of Rs 280, says Manoj Singla, MD & Co- Head Product, Religare Capital Markets.

In a block deal on NSE, 3,64,508 shares of Sun TV Network changed hands at Rs 440.

The benchmark Sensex added nearly 200 points in trade today at 12 hours, supported by heavyweights like Infosys, TCS, Wipro, L&T, NTPC, ONGC, ITC, HDFC, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Bharti Airtel. However, indices were seeing some profit booking at higher levels.

The dream run of Fame India has come to an end. After rallying almost 100% in 15 days, the stock has cooled off. Fame India has touched an intraday high of Rs 70.15 and an intraday low of Rs 68.55. At 12:14 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 68.55, down Rs 3.60, or 4.99%.

Manoj Singla, MD & Co- Head Product, Religare Capital Markets is positive on JP Associates on the margin front.

Hundreds of customers lined up outside Apple stores in Australia and New Zealand on Friday for the international launch of the iPad 2, which has flown off the shelves in the United States leaving the company struggling to meet demand.

AT&T Inc's USD 39 billion bid to buy Deutsche Telekom AG's T-Mobile casts doubt on the U.S. government's ability to swiftly deliver policy to meet the booming demand for wireless services.

BHP Billiton has approved USD 9.5 billion of capital investment to expand its Australian iron ore and coal mining operations, showing that planned mining and carbon taxes are not crimping its growth plans.

A charitable group backed by pop star Madonna has scrapped its plan to build a school for impoverished girls in Malawi due to mismanagement, the New York Times reported on Thursday.

State-run energy explorer Oil and Natural Gas Corp hopes to launch its follow on share sale in June-July, Chairman AK Hazarika said on Friday.