tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68707903371711089112024-02-20T04:11:39.187-08:00Karthik GanapathyKarthik Ganapathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07408655072361194086noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870790337171108911.post-44899803961897560442009-07-10T14:19:00.000-07:002009-07-10T14:20:02.673-07:00Ennamaa Thozhi..After subscribing to Direct TV, we are kind of hooked on to this Vijay TV. In a way, this channel is lot better than that other boring channel lineups. It is not like other channels where they run serials for hours together. This has more free flowing programmes like Super Singer, Boys vs Girls, Koffee with Anu etc., Am not saying that everything is perfect, but atleast it has some quality programmes. Programmes like Super Singers provides a platform to the budding talents and it sets the base for lot of youngsters. It showcases the talent of many individuals. Ravi literally rocks in the show.<br /><br />We were watching Boys vs Girls yday night and it was more of a recap round. One particular song caught our attention in the friendship round. At first I thought it was a jingle or an ad. This song was supported by an awesome performance of an young girl called Abhinaya (along with Brinda Dass). I immediately googled and found the sound in internet.<br /><br />Hear this song at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swxvseuS1Xo">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swxvseuS1Xo</a><br /><br />I was humming this song till I entered utopia. It was a great song. Have fun!!Karthik Ganapathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07408655072361194086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870790337171108911.post-69084168215339355002008-08-18T08:14:00.000-07:002008-08-18T08:15:50.042-07:00Movie: Death at a funeral.Link:<br />http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/death_at_a_funeral<br /><br /><br />After performing Avani Avittam on Saturday, Vidhya and Shadagaar came to our place with a rented movie disc. When we started this movie, I personally thought that it was another regular British comedy movie. But within few minutes, I realised that I will be laughing out of my ass for 2 hours. It was a great comedy movie and the comedy literally pumped my stomach like those of Parijatham, Pancha thanthiram etc., It was a great movie but as a desi american, its very difficult to understand the British accent. So for the fellow Americans out there – It is better to keep the Sub Titles on for the entire movie. As all European movies, end of the day the comedy will not linger in your mind. Enjoy the movie without your kids.Karthik Ganapathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07408655072361194086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870790337171108911.post-13713987155064944842007-08-29T11:24:00.000-07:002007-08-29T11:27:38.209-07:00Time to start BloggingWell after a long debate to blog or not, I have finally decided to pen down some thoughts in this link. To start with, I have to thank Rajesh for pushing me to Blogger, during his trip to NJ. I will try to post atleast one blog in a week.<br /><br />See ya soon!!Karthik Ganapathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07408655072361194086noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870790337171108911.post-37213566038893361452007-08-25T09:19:00.000-07:002007-08-25T09:24:15.540-07:00SatyamThere need to be more "sell" and "strong sell" ratings on stocks for the ratings to have any meaning. For the most part, if you look over how the Wall Street analyst community rates stocks, the ratings completely inhabit the narrow range of "neutral" to "<a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/small-cap/2007/01/31/todays-strong-buys.aspx">strong buy</a>."<br />Yet there are so many areas where a good "strong sell" rating would help investors immensely. The kind of help that might put, oh, about $40 billion or more annually into the pockets of investors.<br />Here's an example of a much-needed "strong sell" rating. There's a <a href="http://latrobefinancialmanagement.com/Research/Assessing%20the%20Costs%20and%20Benefits%20of%20Brokers%20in%20the%20Mutual%20Fund%20Industry.pdf" target="_blank">new study</a> out (link opens PDF file) entitled "Assessing the Costs and Benefits of Brokers in the Mutual Fund Industry." It's the most detailed work ever conducted comparing the record of financial advisors to those who make their own mutual fund purchases.<br />Here are the results for returns for 1996 through 2002:<br />Financial advisors:<br />2.9%<br />Individual investors:<br />6.6%Raw returns, net of all expenses. Includes bond and equity funds.<br />The study measured the results of trillions of dollars of mutual fund purchases, including the most well-known and trusted names in the industry. The study demonstrates that Wall Street's brokers do not find better-performing funds than individuals, do not allocate assets among different asset classes better than individuals, and do not display fewer biases toward the "hot" stock than individuals.<br />Every honest financial advisor needs to start issuing a "strong sell" rating to the world of managed mutual funds. But don't expect that to happen anytime soon -- not with $40 billion (yes, that's billion) going to brokers and mutual fund managers every year from sales fees and management costs.<br />Where's the strong buy?To the extent that mutual funds have any true benefits, they can provide investors with a diversified portfolio. But you can create that diversification directly by owning the same stocks that mutual funds own, at a fraction of the annual cost.<br />To begin to get the right diversification, become aware of the major divisions of stocks, as defined by the Global Industry Classification Standards (GICS):<br />Energy<br />Materials<br />Industrials<br />Consumer discretionary<br />Consumer staples<br />Health care<br />Financials<br />Information technology<br />Telecommunication services<br />Utilities<br />A portfolio with the greatest possible diversification benefits can be built by owning about two companies from each of these classifications. Here's an example. I've selected companies with low-ish price-to-earnings ratios (P/Es) and high-ish returns on equity (ROE) relative to the industry averages. That combination of factors has historically produced better-than-average returns:<br />GICS<br />Company<br />P/E<br />ROE<br />Energy<br />Valero (NYSE: <a href="http://quote.fool.com/summary.aspx?s=VLO" symbol="VLO">VLO</a>)<br />7<br />34%<br />Materials<br />Nucor (NYSE: <a href="http://quote.fool.com/summary.aspx?s=NUE" symbol="NUE">NUE</a>)<br />9<br />34%<br />Industrials<br />Actuant<br />19<br />25%<br />Consumer Discretionary<br />Altria (NYSE: <a href="http://quote.fool.com/summary.aspx?s=MO" symbol="MO">MO</a>)<br />13<br />42%<br />Consumer Staples<br />Church & Dwight (NYSE: <a href="http://quote.fool.com/summary.aspx?s=CHD" symbol="CHD">CHD</a>)<br />21<br />17%<br />Health Care<br />Universal Health Services (NYSE: <a href="http://quote.fool.com/summary.aspx?s=UHS" symbol="UHS">UHS</a>)<br />12<br />16%<br />Financials<br />Bank of America<br />11<br />16%<br />Information Technology<br />Satyam Computer (NYSE: <a href="http://quote.fool.com/summary.aspx?s=SAY" symbol="SAY">SAY</a>)<br />25<br />24%<br />Telecom<br />America Movil (NYSE: <a href="http://quote.fool.com/summary.aspx?s=AMX" symbol="AMX">AMX</a>)<br />22<br />43%<br />Utilities<br />Energen<br />13<br />26%*Data from Capital IQ.<br />There's a lot more to learn about companies than their P/Es and ROEs. A more in-depth understanding of companies will give you a chance to not only equal the market's returns (which you have virtually no chance of doing with managed mutual funds), but surpass them. At <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/18/index.htm?source=isaedilnk3550686">Motley Fool Stock Advisor</a>, we have a five-year track record of beating the market with our recommendations; more importantly, we educate our members about how to do so on their own. If you'd like to try out the service with a totally free 30-day pass, <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/18/index.htm?source=isaedilnk3550686">be our guest</a>.Karthik Ganapathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07408655072361194086noreply@blogger.com0