Since mid-2007, the global economy has been unravelling in disconcerting fashion. That has taken governments and `aam aadmi' by surprise in most countries. The nature and speed of this `unravelling' has been discomfiting. It affects everyone: i.e. individuals, poor, middle-income, or rich, multinational and domestic firms, academics, governments or regulators.

Global turbulence is certainly affecting India. We can see that in sudden changes in our inflation rate, growth rate, exchange rate, and in our capital markets. We can see it in the stresses and strains it is putting on fiscal, monetary and social policy. But, by and large, the impact of global ructions has so far been less on India than on other energy importing countries. The continental dimensions of the Indian domestic market are now generating a powerful internal growth dynamic with rising domestic incomes. That provides India with some shelter from this global storm.

As gloom besets capital markets in the developed world, the prospects of emerging ones continue to shine.

The credit crunch that erupted in mid-2007 has already taken many new twists in the first half of 2008. But new McKinsey research shows that, amid the general uncertainty, the outlook for investment banking in emerging markets remains relatively bright. Full report by Mckinsey

The Finance Minister dedicated to the financial services community, a new product - Currency Futures on 29th August, 2008. And ever since, Ajay Shah is busy on the NSE web page with its live display of currency futures.

While risk is a part of equity trading, it is important to know what amount of risk you are undertaking to capture a potential return on your investment. Here’s a tool that could help you gauge the risk-return potential of your equity investments.