Instant tip

The fortnight’s burning question. The sensex is trading at less than 16,000. Is it the right time to buy stocks?

No. Ramesh Damani, Member, BSE
I don’t think this is the right time to invest in the stock market, as it is likely to fall even further. Factors such as high interest rates, soaring inflation, the global slowdown and rising oil prices will keep all Indian companies under pressure. Valuations of Sensex stocks, in particular, are also still pretty high.

Yes. Sandeep Shenoy, Strategist, PINC Research
Over the longer term, the markets look very promising. I believe there are certain pockets within the markets where good value-for-money buying can be done with a longterm horizon. By the end of next month, I see the markets bottoming out, and this will present an attractive buying opportunity.

Maybe. Paresh Khandwala, MD, Khandwala Securities
The higher inflation rates and rising crude oil prices will ensure that the markets will continue to remain volatile till 2009. However, it also offers a great opportunity to make money, as stocks in some high growth sectors such as IT, automobile, power and pharmaceuticals are trading at large discounts to 2008-09 earnings.

—Compiled by Manu Kaushik