As an avid domain name collector/investor, I frequently use domaintools.com to scour for interesting domain names. This is what I discovered recently. It looks like Microsoft has acquired Chalo.com to launch a site related to India. “Chalo” in Hindi translates to “Go” in English. At this time, Chalo.com doesn’t have any content or info.

In the current frenzy of new web ventures focused on India, I expect this site to be launched sooner than later. If I have to speculate, I think this will be a travel portal. In my view, the domain name is truly a winner when it comes to branding. It would be very interesting to see what transpires at this domain in the near future.

Whois Record

Registrant:
Microsoft Corporation
Domain Administrator
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052
US

+1.4258828080 Fax: +1.4259367329

Domain Name: CHALO.COM
Registrar of Record: Corporate Domains, Inc.

Administrative Contact:
Microsoft Corporation
Domain Administrator
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052
US

+1.4258828080 Fax: +1.4259367329
Technical Contact:
Microsoft Corporation
MSN Hostmaster
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052
US

+1.4258828080 Fax: +1.4259367329

Domain servers in listed order:

NS1.MSFT.NET
NS5.MSFT.NET
NS2.MSFT.NET
NS3.MSFT.NET
NS4.MSFT.NET

Created on…………..: 30-Nov-07
Expires on…………..: 21-May-09
Record last updated on..: 06-Dec-07

Today, the Indian Stock Markets were almost down more than 15% at one point. The worst fears of the speculators have come true. The market is down about 22% from its all time peak. The global losses seen in world markets this year are on par with the losses after the dot com bubble in 2000 and 9/11/2001 attacks in NY. Even though the indices recovered from their significant lows of the day, the SENSEX still finished 875 points lower. In the long run, the markets will grow along with the Indian economy. But, in the short run, it will get worser and a lot more volatile.

The companies that rely on US having robust economy for their growth should be avoided for the near term. As the current intensity of the widely expected US recession is unknown, it would be prudent to take a cautious approach towards stocks with significant exposure to US.

There are sixteen Indian companies that are listed and traded on the US Financial Markets. Out of the Sixteen, twelve companies are listed on the NYSE, three are listed on NASDAQ, and the remaining two trade on the OTC (Over the Counter).

Back on March 16, 1999, Infosys became the first Indian company to be listed in US. This list will be updated as new companies get listed in US. As the Indian economy bulls ahead, we are bound to see more ADRs (American Depository Receipts) in the future, trading in US Markets.

Company Name	Symbol	Index	Industry	Listed Since
Infosys Technologies	INFY	NASDAQ	Software&ComputerSvc	16-Mar-99
Rediff.com India	REDF	NASDAQ	Software&ComputerSvc	19-Jun-00
SIFY	SIFY	NASDAQ	Software&ComputerSvc	22-Oct-99
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories	RDY	NYSE	Pharma. & Biotech.	24-Apr-01
HDFC Bank	HDB	NYSE	Banks	25-Jul-01
ICICI Bank	IBN	NYSE	Banks	31-Mar-00
Mahanagar Telephone Nigam	MTE	NYSE	Fixed Line Telecom.	28-Sep-01
Patni Computer Systems	PTI	NYSE	Software&ComputerSvc	7-Dec-05
Satyam Computer Services	SAY	NYSE	Software&ComputerSvc	18-May-01
Sterlite Industries	SLT	NYSE	Industrial Metals	22-Jun-07
Tata Motors	TTM	NYSE	Industrial Engineer.	27-Sep-04
Videsh Sanchar Nigam	VSL	NYSE	Fixed Line Telecom.	15-Aug-00
Wipro	WIT	NYSE	Software&ComputerSvc	24-Oct-00
WNS Holdings	WNS	NYSE	Support Services	25-Jul-06
Grasim Industries	GRASM	OTC	Construct.&Materials	29-Jul-99
Silverline Technologies	SLTTY	OTC	Software&ComputerSvc	14-Aug-03

At the Macworld 2008 conference that is happening right now in San Francisco, Steve Jobs unwrapped the slimmest laptop on the planet. Read more about this laptop’s cool dimensions and features by visiting Gizmodo.

If you like to buy one, it is going to cost you $1,799.00. It doesn’t come with a CD/DVD drive, which I believe is not going to be terribly be missed by anyone with broadband or wireless access.

The stock market was not terribly impressed by this news. The stock plunged by $9.74 to finish at $169.04. Steve Jobs also announced that they have sold about 4 millions iPhones since its launch about 7 months ago. He also reiterated that his company is on track to sell 10 million iPhones by the end of 2008.

With the chatter about US heading into recession intensifying and becoming widespread, the stock markets around world headed lower today. There is a great deal of uncertainty in the global financial markets, it is quite apparent from the wild zigzag trading in this new year. Today, Nasdaq and Dow Jones went sharply lower adding to the already heavy losses to these indices’ since the beginning of ‘08..

With ever increasing losses to American and global financial companies related to the sub-prime mortgage crisis, the uncertainty and volatility in the markets will hit new highs before we see any reprieve. There was red ink all over the Indian Stock Markets too. I am not sure how many investors have the stomach to withstand the wild swings like today. Better buckle up and sit tight, the ride will get a lot more rocky in the coming weeks and months.

Bombay Stock Exchange’s Sensex ended at provisional 19,889.10, down 1.79 per cent or 361.99 points. It fell 3.64 per cent or 738 points earlier in the day to touch a low of 19,513.25.

National Stock Exchange’s benchmark Nifty fell 128.85 points or 2.12 per cent to close at provisional 5945.40. It plunged 248.5 points or 4.09 per cent intra-day to touch a low of 5825.75.