'No government will forego the usage of data of this order and nor will any private concern.' 'Unless, of course, there are strong safeguards to privacy.' 'Which is why that nine-member Supreme Court bench could make or mar everybody's future,' says Devangshu Datta.

The IT slowdown directly threatens the well being of other industries as well as India's IT cities. This impact has not necessarily been factored in, yet.

'A fund investor could pick, say, three of the top active funds in any given category.'

'A string of prior losses, preferably humiliating ones, improves the chances of a World Cup win,' says Devangshu Datta.

'In practice, GST will increase the pain of compliance, if not the cost, a lot.' 'It also has clauses that offer scope to create a single market for corruption,' warns Devangshu Datta.

'The economy is suffering (perhaps 'enjoying' is a better word) the lowest credit demand in decades; banks are struggling with stressed loans equivalent to near 10 per cent of GDP,' points out Devangshu Datta.

'It's amazing that a country that claims to be the world's largest democracy is getting into the business of micro-regulating personal and professional lives in this fashion,' says Devangshu Datta.

The Nifty Index features 50 of the largest companies in the country and represents close to 50 per cent of total market capitalisation. It is now trading at valuations that could only be justified if India Inc grows earnings at better than thrice the GDP growth rate. This is extremely unlikely, says Devangshu Datta.

The focus is on corporate results at one level but global news will also have an impact

'The anonymous electoral bonds means that political affiliations will be even harder to ascertain for the voter or the minority shareholder.' 'The government of the day will, of course, know, exactly which corporate is making donations to which party.' 'Hence, the government will be in a wonderful position to exert "moral pressure" on corporates which make donations to Opposition parties.'

Liquor sales will obviously be hit. So, will real estate prices at what used to be prime locations, close to major thoroughfares. Food and snack sales close to highways will also, in all probability, be affected.

Investors who play follow-the-leader and invest wherever the Foreign Portfolio Investors are going may face painful losses.

'In 1984, George Orwell dreamt up the concept of a dictatorship that worked on surveillance.' 'The reality of 2017 goes a long way beyond everything that Orwell imagined.' says Devangshu Datta.

References to the stock market occur in popular discourse only when the market is overheated and normal middle class people are entering stocks with an unhealthy short-term perspective, says Devangshu Datta.

Nifty continued to register successive new highs as it crossed the 9,200 mark on Friday

Foreign portfolio investors have been net positive since the Union Budget

'Ignorance isn't a problem when it's a question of common citizens having forgotten (or never learnt) middle school science.' 'It becomes a problem when it's displayed by policymakers and people of some influence,' says Devangshu Datta.

Provisions of long-term capitals gains tax is now applicable after only two years.

Q3 results have been poor but better than extremely low expectations.

The Budget will obviously be crucial. But US President Donald Trump may have even more of an influence than Finance Minister Arun Jaitley when it comes to sentiment, argues Devangshu Datta.