Mahant!

There are few major differences between a Knowledge process outsourcing and business process outsourcing The BPO space took off to reach several lacs of outsourced jobs in a short time but the similar numbers are not visible in KPO space even though underlying dynamics are similar. This exemplifies KPO is an altogether different breed, even though they are children of same mother. BPO space triggered the first success by leveraging the improved communication techniques by using off-shoring and cost advantages. One of the first processes/ activities outsourced were the non-critical activities which do not carry business or reputation risks. For KPO though the fundamental cost arbitrage remains crucial but there are other factors like access to talent which are also key drivers for the business acceptances. KPO activities are designed to help the management of the company to grow bigger and stronger. The ultimate goal of KPO is to increase the profitability of the com...

These days everybody hates oil. It is so easy to forget we wouldn’t have been in this state of development had it not been for oil. When you look at history, oil was part of glorious revolution that hit mankind, the harbinger of industrial and machine age. Few photographs from University of Purdue .

400 BC: Greeks used passive solar to heat Buildings 100: Romans improved by using glass to trap heat in the buildings and green houses 1700: Antoine LaVoisier built a solar heater 1839-Edmund Becquerel discovers photovoltaic effect while working with electrolytic cell 1860: The First Solar Motor, heated water used to drive a steam motor, Auguste Mouchout 1877- Photovoltaic effect observed in solid Selenium and first selenium cell produced 1883- First solar cells described 1900: The photoelectric effect was discovered. 1904- Einstein published paper on photovoltaic effect 1916- Millikan provided experimental proof of photoelectric effect 1918: Polish scientist Czochralski developed a way to grow single-crystal silicon. 1941: American Russell Ohl invented a silicon solar cell 1953- American scientist makes first theoretical efficiency calculations based on sun’s spectrum 1954- First demonstrations of solar cells 1955 First International Conference on Solar Energy ...

While doing some research on alternative energies, I looked up at Wikipedia for some info on solar energy and what I found was shocking. Wikipedia is a volunteer encyclopedia, so I understand there will be goof ups. I have always been 'Wiki it' 'Google it' person, but if this is the "quality" of free, then we certainly have to evaluate its value. My recent post wherein I mentioned my Yahoo email being blocked also represents the helplessness in these free-offerings. You do not have any recourse to them. I guess, you read the 'Terms and conditions' or just skipped it? Feeling a deja vu with lots of 'free' offerings on net of the famous dot.com bubble. Economically, how long can these sites run free? Wasn't that the question that brought down the house of dot.com bubble. Things have not changed much. Ad revenues are not going to keep the sites afloat for long. This is very similar to 'grab the eyeballs' strategy of 2000. How long will...

Got a little shock now, Yahoo has blocked my e-mail id because it has detected some unusual activity!!! God knows what the activities are but I don't have any identity for next 48 hours. :( A timely reminder though, a free account is what it is a free account. Millions of people use Yahoo and Google to backup their documents. Just imagine what will happen if Yahoo and Gmail servers are taken down!

From DailyFx

NYT published an article on Mukesh Ambani yesterday. A nice article which talks about Mukesh. I can't point a finger at it, but this article is very different from Mukesh's interviews I have seen or read. He is usually mild and humble. It doesn't seem so here. In this article he appears to be bossy and ruthless. Yes, ruthless. The writer mentions that by putting words into anonymous sources' mouths. The whole article seems skewed because at each paragraph the writer quotes anonymous friends and sources, who are afraid to spoil their relationship with Mukesh, creating a phobia about Mukesh. I could come across six instances of this being repeated. This writer effectively turned Mukesh into a devil, oligarch and ruthless. A mediocre piece from NYT, sad. Mukesh is still the most admirable businessman around. But his father is the most inspiring. The only good thing about the article are the photographs of Dhirubhai. I am afraid I might just frame this photo! :)

This is in continuation and update to our previous analysis. You can find the post here Rice has reacted exactly as had hoped. I guess, it is likely to see some range bound action in next few sessions, basically stemming from the fact the prices are likely to stay below the falling angles which are near 20. The fact that it has retraced 61% will be good for its next rally. The zone of 18 - 17 will act as a good support. Soybeans have given a break out exactly as we had expected. It has now made an ascending triangle. Prices would ideally retrace to retest the supports at 1400s. The momentum indicators are looking good. May be headed to 16 + levels. The triangle target would however be at 19. Wheat has also played exactly as we expected, with the bottom forming. The indicators have all taken a turn for good. This is likely to have a good rally once the momentum picks up. The MACD is on the verge of moving into positive territory. All have played out good, over past two weeks. It is like...

It is very likely that Sensex is headed south towards the 12000 regions. It may bounce from these levels to hit the NLs at 17000. One possibility is that rally would be triggered by the dollar appreciation and crack in oil prices.

I have not updated the chart or any other elements as it is stays relevant.

Reach up your hand ... and take a star If you are not appearing ... you are disappearing

The fall in the sensex has not have come as a big surprise given the negativeness in the arena. As reported in the May 26th newsletter, the market lost its footings once the levels of 15800 were cracked. Technically this has opened up a possibility of new formations which we will discuss shortly. Commentaries cannot stand in isolation and so does fundamentals. The movements of prices are very much dependent on what is fundamentals are shaping up and a good fundamentals cannot alone guarantee a good upswing. It is the cycle of these two forces coming together that often gives valuable indication of direction. At present for Indian markets the direction seems to be headed south. And if you were to look at some possible formations – deep south. At the same time what is the direction the fundamentals are pulling, at this point in time, it too is pulling south. For a bear this seems to be a perfect storm brewing. The long term trendline moving from early 2006 has been broken and this has le...