DEAR ESTEEMED READERS,  On persistent demand from you we are pleased to announce that we would be regularly running an economic pulse column providing you with a digest of critical domestic & international economic events of the day. (EDITOR) BSE Sensex at 19-month low: (January 07, 2016)  The benchmark Sensex on Thursday broke below the 25,000-level by crashing about 555 points to close at 24,851.83, a 19-month low, as global stock and currency markets turned highly volatile following the People's Bank of China's (PBOC) decision to let the yuan fall and find its market value. The NSE Nifty too plunged headlong as it went below the 7,600-mark by falling 172.70 points, or 2.23 per cent, on massive selling across sectors. See More on Stock Market Discussion Forum BSE to conduct mock trading session on Saturday: (January 07, 2016) The BSE will conduct a mock trading session on Saturday to test software related to trading and risk management, including algorithmic-based trades. In three separate circulars, the BSE has asked trading members with user IDs approved for algorithmic-based (algo) trades to participate in the mock session, which would be held for the currency derivative segments, equity derivatives and equity segment. The move is part of the exchange's efforts to provide its members with a robust and efficient system for trading with better features.   Exports may slide 13% in FY 16: (January 07, 2016) Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia has said the country's exports may slide 13% in FY16 to $270 billion from $310 billion recorded in FY15.   PSB employees to stage one-day strike on Friday: (January 07, 2016) A section of public sector banks' (PSBs) employees will observe a one-day strike across the country on Friday to protest violation of bilateral settlement agreement by associate banks of State Bank of India. However, officers will not participate in the strike called by All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA), one of the nine employee organisations of public sector banks. Private sector banks and country's largest lender SBI will continue to function normally.   Oil below $33 a barrel: (January 07, 2016)  Oil fell below $33 a barrel on Thursday for the first time since April 2004 as a fall in Chinese shares rattled investors already concerned by near-record production and massive stockpiles of unwanted crude and refined products. Oil prices have fallen by around 70 percent since mid-2014, hurting oil companies and governments that rely on crude revenue.