Market may remain weak
The outlook for the market remains grim for the near term as steaming inflation, record high global crude oil prices and high interest rates threaten the pace of growth in the world's second fastest expanding major economy, driving investors to the sideline or to exit. The wholesale price index rose 11.42% in 12 months to 14 June 2008, above the previous week's annual rise of 11.05%, government data released on Friday, 27 June 2008, showed. Inflation for the year through 19 April 2008 was revised upwards to 8.23% from 7.57%. To tame inflationary pressures, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 24 June 2008, raised its key lending rate viz. the repo rate by 50 basis points to 8.5% with immediate effect, its highest since March 2002 and the second hike this month. The RBI had earlier on 11 June 2008, raised the repo rate, by 25 basis points to 8%. The RBI also increased the cash reserve ratio, the ratio of deposits banks must keep with it, to 8.75% from 8.25% in t