Pointing at an Upswing ?????

In my earlier post, I had indicated that there were evident indicators that the stock market was oversold. Around that time financial wise-guys on renowned TV channels were predicting to see the markets increase by over 25….Now, approximately 30 days later, the S&P500 has increased by 26% and the Dow Jones Industrial Averages has increased by 24.5%. Today’s sell off with flu fear doesn’t really indicate much of anything …A major portions of these gains were allocated in financial services, technology, large cap and small cap growth stocks, consumer retail, basic materials, international emerging markets and high yield bonds. Although fact remains that through April 13, 2009, the Dow Jones is down about 8% and the S&P500 Index has declined by approximately 5%. The often asked question is whether we have seen the bottom of the market earlier in the year, and now will move forward or if this is a bear market rally. The stock market has had several rallies so far this year exceeding 20% gains only to give it all back and establish new lows. No one can attempt to predict the market unless you are a fortune teller (I am starting to believe that theory now) But by adapting to the changing trends has potential to the greatest probability of success. Is it time to move offense onto the field and increasing the equity allocation???? That’s the million dollar questions. We are yet to see if the bulls start running all over again and bears take the shield. But it certainly possible that market will hover around 8000 range for good amount of time ahead. Gold has shown a strong resistance at 1000 level. Not a long ago a number of analysts were predicting Gold to make it to $2000. it almost looks like oil at $200 type of scenario. Somehow for last several months Gold has not managed to move out 800-900 range and it’s not looking very promising to go beyond that in near future. And then there is Oil. Not much surprise that oil is starting to climb up not as much as last year but up with summer approaching.. Funny how it always has an upswing beginning of summer year after year. There is more to it than just supply /demand price adjustment but for couple more months, Oil will have its good days of the year.. I personally hope the flu news doesn’t take the wind out of sail. But we will have to watch and see. For now, a number of indicators including better than expected earnings from several corporations give an optimism of upswing. And we need that more than anything. Too much prolonged depressing news is not good for anyone’s well being. We have to plough through these pockets of good news and keep going…!!!!!

My take on Self-improvement

Ever since somebody invented spam on internet, inbox cluttered with forwarded messages of various kinds has become sort of daily ritual for almost all of us. There is one thing to get information and there is another to get overloaded with information. I am not sure when the line crosses between the two. Some send me jokes, some good quotes and some information of every possible kind...But everyday, as I open up my e-mail and check and delete big portions of these forwarded messages I am sort of frustrated. Not today....Today was different …blame it on lousy weather day ;) Today I decided to actually read a few… ( now please don’t raise a eyebrow thinking that I have nothing better to do. I really do..… and BTW, I do see those pouting faces, smug expressions towards this stay at home mom trying to kill time reading forwarded messages… ouch… its OK I get it) Anyway getting back to my story…A lot of times we want to read these inspiring messages. But mainly they are worth a glance and delete…But today whatever I got through was a cornucopia of information. After I got through a few, it seriously caught my attention. Sure these inspiring messages do make you feel good for a while and then we forget all about it. But what if we really decide to act on these in real life? Will it make everyone’s life better? Will it make us more happy and content? Sure we can compare ourselves to a given situation …personality quiz kind of… we can evaluate our behavior against the best possible behavior under given circumstances. And maybe.. just maybe try to implement some of those traits to become better individual… what’s wrong in that? I am not sure there exists an ideal character. All of us are bound to have those doh moments where we think we could be better. That where the process of self evaluation comes into play. One can just analyze oneself, try to figure out what could be better and figure out ways to improve upon those.. a continuous self improvement process that can make us better…( possibly better at everything ) I have reputedly heard that personal characteristic traits don’t change. As you grow up character is not easily impressionable either. I am not sure I totally agree with that. I do believe that if we start to change our thinking pattern positively, it is possible to change our behavior patterns positively too. Regardless of the age and circumstances. Powerful thoughts bring lasting impressions on the behavior. After all, all grown ups at least want to be best role models for their children. So it’s tough but doable to be roll model after all….(…….now I see…..doh again….) As one of my forwarded MESSAGE goes, “In my mind I'm the one so I'm shining like the sun"

Living up to the potential

This is how it happens all the time...when I return from India after my long trip, the nostalgic feelings sets in invariably.... No doubt I miss my family more than anything but along the way I also miss being first class citizen, I miss people, food, pollution, noise and everything that defines India... I know the fact that the grass is always greener on the other side. Besides US is after all a dreamland of the world..... On the contrary, I feel almost scared about what to expect next when I do return to my birth land... I have a snapshot of the things I love about India... and every trip back home makes me feel displaced in time. Malls on every corner, school kids with cell phones, multiplexes, bistros, baristas, McDs... All these were not necessarily part of my 'Indian dream'. The world is becoming a global village and all countries are starting to look like mirror images of America…..in varying degrees maybe but not by too much margin... I had been warned about several things that strike a 'returning' Indian. The noises, the throngs of people everywhere, the stench of human excrements, and the general hum and buzz of everyday life in a country alive with diversity. True to these expectations, I did realize many of these things to be true…..They were not hard hitting and they didn’t unduly bother me. But the main thing that did become painfully noticeable was the level of expectations from this country. It's surprising that each and every thing seems to be rid with a kind of mediocrity and substandard-ness. The quality of roads, services, products, in fact, of time and value... I am still trying to figure out why there is so much discrepancy between the amount of talent in this fertile nation and the output or infrastructure it bears. Agreed, populations are so large that it is but natural that sustenance goes beyond available means. But does this mean that it will forever operate only at a certain percentage of its possible potential? When and how will this change? And then comes the painful thought of realizing and achieving our own potential.. Its more like dreams unlimited situation.. All of us have such a huge potential yet I read that average human being uses only about 20% of that brain power over the course of life... So where's the hindrance... what's there that stops us? Lack of imagination or too much influential stuff cluttering our minds and consequently limiting our potential? ...Is it the catch up game or the palpably false phenomena? I am not sure I know the answer... but somewhere deep down the fact of not living up to the potential does bother me... whether its me personally or the country which I care about deeply….. Both ways......I will just leave this tinkering thought here for now….

One day without pitter-patter ;)

Today we are forgetting the words silence, quietness and peace. Chaos, clutter, noise, loud speakers, sound pollutions have become all but unfortunate part of our life. Blood pressure, headaches, deafness are becoming common illnesses. We try get a break, to attain peace, we run to beaches, resorts, forests, tourist destinations away from big cities. Then again all those places are crowded too. Peace of mind brings concentration. Peace of mind also helps you be introspective. Moreover it can help you think .I think in this world littered with propaganda advertisements, we need to focus back on thinking independently. Creativity needs peace of mind. Mind feels tired and exhausted with constant noise and chaos. Your ability to work reduces in such environment. What if everyone decides to keep a silence for a day? It will be very tough for me with kids around but its worth giving it a try...Remember reading the phrase 'while speech is silver, silence is gold '. So true! Words are effective but sometimes silence is more powerful. Just the way body needs rest, our mouth needs silence to rest. I think if you control your internal chaos through silence and introspection, outside chaos will automatically stop. Silence can bring peace. I am deciding to switch tv off from my life at least for a week. I am consicensoiusly trying to be more pithy with my expressions ;)as well.. I will let you know the results shortly....Stay Tuned !!!