Panic buying?

With the Sensex surging 1,000 points in the past week, many market experts are calling it a case of "panic buying". "There is complete panic in Indian markets today. Buying panic," tweeted Samir Arora, fund manager at Helios Capital Management. Experts are positive about the Indian market's prospects because of the easy monetary stance by global central banks and improving domestic economy. "People say market is up but nothing has changed on the ground. Why not say nothing has changed and the market is up. Imagine what happens when there is change (sic)," Arora tweeted.

Traders will stay light this week

With two holidays on alternate days this week - Tuesday for Muharram and Thursday for Guru Nanak Jayanti - market participants are unsure where the Sensex is headed in the coming week. Since global markets, which have run up quite well so far, will remain open on these two trading days, there are expectations of a small correction during the week. However, in the Indian context, traders aren't sure whether it will happen on Wednesday or Friday. Another thing that will keep the traders on their toes is the T+2 settlement cycle. Trades on Monday will be settled on Friday and the ones on Wednesday, next Monday. As a broker says, traders don't like to keep open positions when there are mid-week holidays. Expect them to be less committed, this week.

Realty analysts in high demand

Though realty stocks have not been doing so well, both Indian and foreign brokerages are rushing to recruit realty analysts. But there doesn't seem to be much talent available. A human resource head of a foreign brokerage house said she had been trying to get a research analyst for the realty division for some time but the effort has been in vain. Even domestic brokerage houses are struggling to find people. "If brokerages are looking at people who will do equity analysis as well as field research, it is a tough combination. They will have to hire from the industry and train them," says an industry player.