Deutsche Telekom's business client unit, T-Systems, has announced a global services partnership with German enterprise software firm SAP. Signed during the CeBIT technology fair, which was held in Hanover (Germany) last week, the contract will have a particular focus on the development of solutions that will extend features of...

France Telecom has announced that it has signed two deals with trade unions designed to improve working conditions for employees. The first deal involves the transfer of employees and states that this will only happen on a voluntary basis from now on, thus eliminating the practice of rotating senior managers every three years. The...

The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) has announced new rules to curb telecoms companies' marketing spending to less than 20% of sales by 2011. The new policy is in response to the fact that heavy marketing costs incurred by the country's major telcos in recent years amid intense competition have severely dragged down...

Until now, most of the industry’s focus has been on the technologies of long-term evolution (LTE); however, technology itself does not generate profits. Understanding the impact of LTE on your business and selecting a way forward that matches your business model is critical to ensuring your success in the future market. ...

Wireless operators are beginning to step up their investment levels after what has been an economically challenging year, but their subscribers might not be as ready to up their wireless investment as well. According to ABI Research, mobile capital expenditures (capex) will grow by more than 4% year-on-year in 2010, after...

If anyone has any questions as to Google's plans for the mobile space, it appears they'll find some answers. According to a press release, Google will hold a March 15 "educational webcast for investors, financial analysts and members of the press, focusing on Google's mobile business." Google is no longer...

As Ericsson AB has so much it wants to show and tell the world, what might it choose to talk about in just a few minutes at the recent Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona? With the booths of some of its keenest rivals already visited and snapped, Light Reading set the Swedish giant's staff the same task as the others:...

Unified communications (UC) has long been touted as a money saver and productivity booster, and according to a new vendor-backed study, the technology may be making good on that promise. For the second year, technology products and services provider CDW has conducted its Unified Communications Tracking Poll, surveying 915 IT...

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. --  While it would be expected that enterprises would express concern over the security of Wi-Fi hotspots, it is actually the individual that is driving these concerns, reports In-Stat. According to In-Stat’s hotspot research, over three-quarters of survey respondents are personally aware of and...

A fresh round of profit booking towards the end of the day led to the benchmark indices once again slipping into the red and eventually ending the day below the dotted line. Thus, while Sensex closed with a decline of around 50 points (down 0.3%), NSE Nifty edged lower by around 20 points (down 0.4%). Declines in BSE Midcap and Small cap indices were slightly higher, with both indices losing in the range of 0.7%. On the Sensex, two stocks fell for every one that closed higher.

While Asian indices closed mixed today, Europe was seen trading largely negative today. The rupee was seen trading Rs 45.5 to the dollar at the time of writing.

Indian markets had a strong start to a new week today, as buying in auto and banking stocks pushed the markets higher. Realty stocks however closed in the red. On the broader BSE, two stocks gained today for every one that closed in the red.

The BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty closed with gains of around 110 points (0.6%) and 30 points (0.6%) respectively. Mid and small cap stocks followed suit. The BSE Midcap and BSE Smallcap indices closed up by 0.8% and 1.3% respectively. Among other Asian markets, China (up 0.7%), Hong Kong (up 2%), and Japan (up 2%) closed in the positive. European markets have also opened the day on a strong note.

The indices began the day on a robust note but as the day progressed profit booking at higher levels took its toll. From thereon, the indices oscillated to either side of yesterday's close. However, towards the fag end of the session, renewed buying activity ensured that the markets closed barely above the dotted line. While the BSE Sensex closed higher by around 8 points, the NSE Nifty also gained around 8 points. The midcap and small cap stocks did better to notch gains of 1% each. Gains were largely seen in oil & gas, FMCG and healthcare stocks while metals stocks were at the receiving end.

As regards global markets, Asian indices closed firm today while European indices have also opened on a strong note. The rupee was trading at Rs 45.68 to the dollar at the time of writing.

By Brandon Clay

When it comes to emerging markets, investors focus a lot of attention on the BRIC nations, Brazil, Russia, India and China. When it comes to BRIC, Brazil and China get most of the attention. China is a once-in-a-lifetime growth story, and Brazil has become the tenth largest economy in the world due to its natural resources. Russia is somewhat overlooked because of its contentious political history.

The benchmark Indian indices which showed signs of wearing off since the start of the session today failed to make a recovery till the final hour. Besides profit booking across heavyweights, the acceleration in food inflation acted as a major dampener. The food price index rose 17.9% in the 12 months to February 20 (17.6% last week) and the fuel price index was up 9.6%. Defying the government’s predictions that price rises would start to moderate, the higher inflation number adds to the pressure on RBI to raise interest rates further in April. The government's decision to raise petrol prices by about 6% and diesel by 7.8% in last week's budget to help curtail the fiscal deficit may prevent food prices from easing in the near term. Stocks from commodity, auto, and software sectors led today’s losers.

The BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty closed with losses of around 28 points (0.2%) and 8 points (0.2%) respectively. Mid- and smallcap stocks however bucked the trend. The BSE Midcap and BSE Smallcap indices closed higher by 0.8% each. Among key Asian markets, while China and Hong Kong closed marginally in the red, India and Korea were among the lead gainers. European markets have opened lower today. The rupee is trading at 45.81 to the dollar.

In a question and answer segment on his firm's web site, Templeton Asset Management Executive Chairman Mark Mobius recently offered his 2010 outlook for the BRIC nations -- Brazil, Russia, India, and China.

Mobius says he’s keying in on two major areas when it comes to BRIC equities: commodity and consumer stocks. He also said that, while investors should expect volatility in these areas of the market in the short term, all four BRIC countries are offering good opportunities. “Our largest holdings are in Brazil, China and India but we are continuing to hold and purchase Russian stocks due to their attractive valuations and long-term potential,” he says. “All four markets present opportunities at the moment and it is difficult to pick any one over the others.”

Strong buying activity across index heavyweights throughout the session today ensured that the indices closed well above the dotted line. While the BSE Sensex closed higher by around 227 points (up 1%), the NSE Nifty gained around 71 points (up 1%). This optimism spilled over to midcap and small cap stocks as well as they notched gains of 2% and 1% respectively. Gains were largely seen in oil & gas, metals and banking stocks.

As regards global markets, Asian indices closed mixed today while European indices have opened on a weak note. The rupee was trading at Rs 45.85 to the dollar at the time of writing.

The IT Industry is riding the wave of change in all fronts from operations upgrades and expansions to more adverse developments.

Outsourcing giants China and India take the lead in this revolution. According to findings by the BDO 2010 Technology Outlook Survey, China ranks as the number one preferred outsourcing destination for both current and future markets. After China are Southeast Asia and India. According to Dell Services (NASDAQ: DELL) estimates and a KPMG report, Asia would be starting the reversal of the IT outsourcing trend as more western companies have found it cheaper and better to invest in eastern markets such as China and India. Even countries in the east have started to outsource their IT needs, and according to some analysts Asia will account for 26.3 percent of the global consumption of IT and business process outsourcing services in the next decade, up from nearly 20 percent currently. In fact, with the expected rise of the outsourcing industry, Asia’s chip makers are also expected to see improvement in their earnings.

After the thumbs up given to the Union Budget announced last week, the markets were further buoyed today by the announcement made with regard to 9% GDP growth in 4QFY10. The Prime Minister's economic advisor Mr. C Rangarajan has said that the economy is likely to grow by around 9% in 4QFY10 and would make up for the slow expansion of 7.2% in 3QFY10. This would be supported by higher industrial production and better Rabi crops. The Union Budget 2010 brought some cheer to the Indian markets, which had been reeling from fear for the past few days with respect to the government's stimulus withdrawal. Also, much of the stimulus withdrawal has been in line with what the markets had been expecting. Stocks from commodity, auto, and power sectors led today's gains.

The BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty closed with gains of around 343 points (2.1%) and 95 points (1.9%) respectively. Mid and small cap stocks also closed with gains. The BSE Midcap and BSE Smallcap indices closed higher by 2.2% and 2.3% respectively. Among key Asian markets, while China and Hong Kong closed marginally in the red, India and Korea were among the lead gainers. European markets have opened lower today. The rupee is trading at 46.04 to the dollar.

Ever since I speculated that the market had finally reached a (near-term) top in January, I have been tracking signals confirming this top. Every once in a while, I stumble upon a significant stock that flashes a contrary sign and gives me pause. Cummins, Inc. (CMI) is a company with such a stock.

Cummins, Inc. has a market cap of $11.2B, and it is

by Audrey B.

Competition is stiff in the outsourcing industry, which is why outsourcers really have to perform in order to not just meet their clients’ expectations, but to exceed it. Not to mention the sometimes extremely harsh public scrutiny that outsourcing companies are subjected to. Outsourcing companies are a dime a dozen now, and it’s easy to go from one to the other, especially if the one you’re with doesn’t deliver. Just take a look at the Satyam (SAY) - Punjab & Sind contract, which has now become the Wipro (WIT) - Punjab & Sind bank contract.