Deadly MERS passed on from camels to humans: Study

Researchers have said they found the first direct evidence that the potentially deadly Middle East respiratory virus, or MERS, jumps directly from camels to humans.

The virus has hit Saudi Arabia the hardest, killing 282 people out of 688 infected, according to the Saudi health ministry's latest figures.

MERS has been found elsewhere in the Middle East and in Europe, Asia and North America, brought by travellers who were infected in Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates.

Weakness in banks, RIL drag Nifty below 7,400

Markets have come off morning lows as gains in SBI and metal major capped losses in heavyweights. At 1040 hrs, the Sensex was down 88 points at 24,717 and the Nifty was down 16 points at 7,385.

Meanwhile, the broader market firmed with both the mid and smallcap indices adding 0.8% each.

Oil & Gas, Auto and Bankex were the only indices in red, down 0.2-0.6%. Defensives like IT and FMCG indices were down 0.1% each.

PM breaks the ice with secretaries, bowls them over

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, true to his style, opened a direct channel of communication with the country's top bureaucrats on Thursday. In a meeting of almost three hours and well into late evening, Modi is learnt to have clearly indicated to the secretaries (77 of them were present) that he's a hands-on prime minister.

The secretaries Business Standard spoke to said it was an upbeat experience for them. They could speak to the PM on any matter whenever there was a problem - on phone, email or through face-to-face interaction - Modi assured them, calling each by his name. Modi also recounted his first day in the Prime Minister's Office, saying he walked the corridors, greeting officials and catching a glimpse into their files.

Business Standard

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Bill Gates Biography (1955–)

Entrepreneur Bill Gates founded the world's largest software business, Microsoft, with Paul Allen, and subsequently became one of the richest men in the world.

Synopsis

Born on October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington, famed entrepreneur Bill Gates began to show an interest in computer programming at age 13. Through technological innovation, keen business strategy and aggressive business tactics, he and partner Paul Allen built the world's largest software business, Microsoft. In the process, Gates became one of the richest men in the world. In February 2014, Gates announced that he was stepping down as Microsoft's chairman.

Early Life

Bill Gates was born William Henry Gates III on October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington. Gates began to show an interest in computer programming at the age of 13 at the Lakeside School. He pursued his passion through college. Striking out on his own with his friend and business partner Paul Allen, Gates found himself at the right place at the right time. Through technological innovation, keen business strategy and aggressive business tactics, he built the world's largest software business, Microsoft. In the process, Gates became one of the richest men in the world.
Bill Gates grew up in an upper middle-class family with two sisters: Kristianne, who is older, and Libby, who is younger. Their father, William H. Gates Sr., was a promising, if somewhat shy, law student when he met his future wife, Mary Maxwell. She was an athletic, outgoing student at the University of Washington, actively involved in student affairs and leadership. The Gates family atmosphere was warm and close, and all three children were encouraged to be competitive and strive for excellence. Bill showed early signs of competitiveness when he coordinated family athletic games at their summer house on Puget Sound. He also relished in playing board games (Risk was his favorite) and excelled at Monopoly.

Stock Market Investment Tips(16 - 20)

16. Recognize the Signs of a Top.Whether it is tulip bulbs in 17th century Holland, gold in 1849, or Beanie Babies and Internet stocks in the 1990s, any time a crowd has unanimously agreed that a certain investment is a "can't lose" opportunity, you are probably best off to avoid that investment. The tide is likely to soon turn. Also, when you see people making investments that they have no business making (think bellboys giving tips on bonds, auto mechanics day-trading stocks in their shops, or successful doctors giving up medicine to "flip" real estate), that's also a sign to search for the exits.
17. Look for Quality.
If you focus your attention on companies that have wide economic moats, you will find firms that are virtually certain to have higher earnings five or 10 years from now. You want to make sure that you focus your attention on companies that increase the intrinsic value of their shares over time. These afford you the luxury of being patient and holding for a long time. Otherwise, you are just playing a game of chicken with the stock market.  

Stock Market Investment Tips(1- 15)

1. Keep It Simple.Keeping it simple in investing is not stupid. Seventeenth-century philosopher Blaise Pascal once said, "All man's miseries derive from not being able to sit quietly in a room alone." This aptly describes the investing process.
Those who trade too often, focus on irrelevant data points, or try to predict the unpredictable are likely to encounter some unpleasant surprises when investing. By keeping it simple--focusing on companies with economic moats, requiring a margin of safety when buying, and investing with a long-term horizon--you can greatly enhance your odds of success.  
2. Have the Proper Expectations.
Are you getting into stocks with the expectation that quick riches soon await? Hate to be a wet blanket, but unless you are extremely lucky, you will not double your money in the next year investing in stocks. Such returns generally cannot be achieved unless you take on a great deal of risk by, for instance, buying extensively on margin or taking a flier on a chancy security. At this point, you have crossed the line from investing into speculating. Though stocks have historically been the highest-return asset class, this still means returns in the 10%-12% range. These returns have also come with a great deal of volatility. (See Lesson 103 for more.) If you don't have the proper expectations for the returns and volatility you will experience when investing in stocks, irrational behavior--taking on exorbitant risk in get-rich-quick strategies, trading too much, swearing off stocks forever because of a short-term loss--may ensue.
 3. Be Prepared to Hold for a Long Time.