Highlighted stocks include Sempra Energy (SRE), Allegheny Energy, inc. (AYE), The Hershey Company (HSY), Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) and Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (ETP).Given where the bottom-up analyst forecasts are for the S&P 500 -- currently at about $62.50 for 2009 -- and the rate of decline of the forecasts, it seems likely that the eventual actual earnings for the S&P 500 will be about $50. This refers to operating earnings, excluding one time charges and gains.There will be far more charges than gains, so the level of reported earnings will be well south of $50. We will most likely see a bit of an economic recovery in 2010, but it will be anemic. As with 2009, the bottom-up forecast is both far too optimistic and falling fast. It currently stands at $78.34.  Based on a much longer time frame, ...

I've been reluctant to make any meaningful investments in India because of the woefully inadequate infrastructure (roads, utilities, airports, public transportation, etc) and the extreme poverty. Here is a story about the pathetic poverty in India. The state government of Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta) has banned the human-powered rickshaws as inhumane, At 44 cents for a 15-minute trip, these human mules struggle to make a few dollars a day.

Hedge Funds in IndiaThe Benefits of Offering Hedge Funds in IndiaHere's a short article on how the Committee of Financial Sector Reforms in India might introduce hedge funds and why this would be a positive move for the Indian markets and fund industry as a whole.______________________ The Draft Report of the Committee on Financial Sector Reforms headed by Professor Raghuram Rajan was issued for comment in April 2008. Among the proposals that the high-level committee made was the introduction of domestic hedge funds. The committee feels that, “The presence of hedge funds would induce greater competitive pressure for other regulated fund management channels such as mutual funds.” This week’s article discusses the benefits of introducing hedge funds in the Indian market. It shows how ...