Two arrested with heroin near LoC in J&K’s Rajouri

Mumbai, Dec 22 (IANS) The market outlook for next week will depend upon several global and domestic cues, including factors linked to the US market, and FII data, according to experts on Sunday.

The US factors are — bond yields, the dollar Index, initial jobless claims, new home sales data, and Durable Goods Orders data.

The global and Indian stock markets will remain closed on Wednesday, December 25, in observance of Christmas. This will result in a four-day trading week instead of the usual five days. Both markets reflect a “Santa effect” but in red, as heavy profit booking was witnessed before Christmas.

The Indian stock market witnessed a sharp decline in the trading session from December 16-20. Nifty fell 1,180 points or 4.77 per cent to 23,587 and Sensex fell 4,091 points or 4.98 per cent to close at 78,041 breaking the important support of 80,000. Meanwhile, Bank Nifty closed at 50,759, falling 2,824 points or 5.27 per cent.

Last week, only the pharma sector closed with gains, while all other sectors saw selling.

The reason for this decline is attributed to FII selling and the US Fed’s outlook on interest rates, which has projected only two rate cuts in 2025.

Last week also, FIIs sold Rs 15,828 crore in the cash market. However, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) invested Rs 11,874 crore.

Puneet Singhania, Director at Master Trust Group said, “The Nifty50 experienced a significant breakdown, losing 4.77 per cent this week and closing near 23,600, below the crucial 23,800 support level and the 21week-EMA. This triggered broad-based selling across sectors. The next key support is at 23,200, where prices may find some cushioning. On the upside, strong resistance lies in the 23,800-23,900 zone, and a break above this could drive the index towards 24,300.”

“However, the broader market sentiment remains bearish, with a “sell-on-rise” approach prevailing. Traders should exercise caution, closely monitoring support and resistance levels amid heightened volatility and weak technical signals,” he added.

Pravesh Gour, Senior Technical Analyst at Swastika Investmart, said “The Bank Nifty has found support at its 200-day moving average (200-DMA), while the 100-day moving average (100-DMA) at 51,600 serves as an immediate hurdle. A breakdown below 50,400 could trigger additional selling pressure, potentially pushing the index down to 49,600. Conversely, a breakout above 51,600 may encounter resistance in the range of 51,800–52,000.”

–IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) On a day when former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal thanked Delhi Lt Governor V.K. Saxena for highlighting civic shortcomings in Rangpuri Pahari area in south Delhi, the latter exposed his gimmick by reminding him not to try and take credit for the remedial action ordered in the area by Raj Niwas.

A day after Saxena flagged miserable civic conditions in south Delhi’s colony, the L-G wrote to Kejriwal in response to his post on Monday on X, saying that though “belatedly you have finally woken up and acknowledged the civic mess in the city”.

Kejriwal had thanked the L-G for highlighting the problem in Rangpuri and assured that “our team” would take remedial action.

In his letter in Hindi, the L-G said: “The ‘our team’ you have mentioned in today’s post on ‘X’ is the same officer/department who accompanied me on the tour of Rangpuri and Kapashera on December 21,2024 and to whom I had requested for solution of the problems.”

In a stinging criticism of the AAP convenor ahead of Assembly elections, the L-G said: “You will recall that on many occasions during the last two and a half years, either in writing or in personal discussions, I have drawn your attention to the many grave problems of Delhi and Delhiites and requested you to resolve them. Some of those issues were pollution in the Yamuna, cleaning of the Najafgarh drain, desilting of sewer lines, dilapidated condition of roads, water shortage, delay in construction of hospitals and air pollution.”

Blasting the AAP government for failure on multiple fronts, the L-G said: “I would have been happy if you had paid attention to those Delhi government schools as well, where students of two classes are taught by ghost teachers in the same room with their backs to each other, taken cognizance of those mohalla clinics, where the condition is pathetic and doctors write tests of ghost patients without coming to the clinic, improved those government hospitals where medicines are not available, there is a pile of garbage and doctors are absent, and solved the problems of those poor people who are getting bills of thousands of rupees for water and electricity.”

Slamming Kejriwal for not visiting city neighbourhoods to review amenities, the L-G said: “You have failed to pay heed to my suggestions to step out and take a first-hand view of the state of civic amenities but to no avail.”

Saxena also took umbrage to Kejriwal sending “temporary Chief Minister” Atishi to the colony instead of going there himself.

“Anyway, it is a matter of joy that now you have started taking cognizance of your responsibilities and even after ten years, you have started seeing the worsening condition of Delhi and the plight and helplessness of the people. I assure you that I will continue to draw your attention to these issues in future as well,” said the L-G.

Earlier in the day, the L-G sanctioned the suspension from service for two senior officials of Delhi government’s fire safety department – Ved Pal and Udai Vir Singh – over the death due to drowning in the basement of Old Rajendra Nagar-based coaching centre in July.

–IANS

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Kochi, Dec 17 (IANS) As part of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Smpada Yojana (PMMSY) Blue Growth Project and to address the alarming decline in the short neck clam population, the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) launched a stock enhancement programme by releasing three lakh short clam seeds into Kerala’s Ashtamudi Lake on Tuesday.

According to CMFRI estimates, recent annual catches have fallen below 1,000 tones as against 10,000 tones during the early 1990s.

This clam species has substantial export potential, as international demand for clams continues to rise, offering significant economic opportunities for local communities.

These seeds, produced in the hatchery of Vizhinjam Regional Centre of the CMFRI, were released into the Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam district, where depletion of this species has been reported.

The ranching is a sustainable solution by replenishing the clam stocks and ensuring the continuity of this critical resource in the backwaters. It is aimed at restoring the clam stocks, ensuring sustainability, supporting local fishermen and providing leverage for boosting export revenues.

The stock enhancement programme was made possible after the CMFRI’s year-long research efforts led to the successful development of captive breeding technology for this clam species, enabling the production of seeds for the release.

M.K. Anil, Principal Scientist at the CMFRI’s Vizhinjam Regional Centre, said the short neck clam is a treasured resource in Ashtamudi Lake with significant economic and ecological importance.

“However, in recent years, the fishery of this clam has witnessed a drastic decline, threatening the livelihoods of thousands of fishermen who rely on this resource,” he said.

CMFRI scientists pointed out that key issues such as environmental pollution, invasion of non-native species like the Charru mussel, and the impacts of climate change, including altered salinity and water temperature, have significantly reduced the clam population.

The event also witnessed the launch of hatchery facilities to produce bivalves for enhancing sustainable aquaculture practices and meeting the growing demand for high-quality seeds. Mussel seeds were distributed to local farmers, providing them with resources to strengthen their aquaculture operations and improve their livelihoods.

–IANS

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