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HSBC Holdings Plc, the U.K. bank that gets more than half of its profit from Asia, aims to add 2,000 employees in China and Singapore as it accelerates expansion in faster-growing economies, while cutting costs globally.

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New Delhi, India (AHN) – Traditional earthen lamps, delicious sweets, noisy fireworks and loads of fun is how Diwali or Deepawali is usually described in India and wherever the Hindu community celebrates this important festival that marks the victory of good over bad.

This is also the day when Hindus worship the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, and the god of hosts, ‘Ganesha,’ invoking the former to become rich and the latter to remove all obstacles from their path to wealth and happiness.

Diwali is the time when people visit relatives, friends, neighbors and colleagues and exchange gifts and sweets. The whole country wears a festive look, complete with multi-colored patterns called rangolis made by hand, while kids and adults alike blast their way through fireworks worth thousands of rupees.

The bonhomie marking this festival is visible even along the India-Pakistan border. At several posts along the border, troops from both sides exchange sweets and dry fruit in a clear departure from the otherwise hostile situation between the two traditional rivals.

In a significant gesture, U.S. President Barack Obama, who began a three-day visit to India on Saturday, will celebrate the festival Sunday with students of Holy Name High School in Mumbai. Recognizing the significance of Diwali, also known as the “festival of lights,” President Obama also conveyed his wishes to Indians through a White House statement. In it, he said, “Diwali is a time for celebration, but it is also a time for reflection and a time when we must remember that there are always others less fortunate than ourselves. This holiday reminds us all that we should commit ourselves to helping those in need. To those celebrating Diwali in India, I look forward to visiting you over the next few days.”

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued her own message. “We join the people of India to celebrate this joyful festival, the auspicious partnership between our two countries, and the great friendship between our people. I wish all people of Indian descent a very happy Diwali and a safe and prosperous year.”

Although fun and frolic, sweets and savouries are the common thread in Diwali, the festival is celebrated in different ways in different regions of the country, in keeping with the diverse cultural fabric of India.

In Punjab, Hindus and Sikhs visit the sanctum sanctorum of Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple, to pay obeisance to the God Almighty. while in Mumbai Diwali is marked with a traditional bath with fragrant oils called the “Abhyang Snan.”

In Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, a culturally-rich eastern state of India, Diwali is signified with Kali Puja, an incarnation of Goddess Durga, the goddess of courage and bravery. The Kolkatans throng Kali temples throughout the capital city, prominent among which are those at Kalighat, Dakshineswar and Tarapith.

Right from the urban landscape dotted with shopping malls, well-lit apartment blocks, glittering sidewalks to the rustic environs, where the poor celebrate this festival in more subdued ways, Diwali presents a juxtaposition of sorts, where the extremes of India are visible.

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Women are working more, earning more and buying more than they ever did. Consequently, they have a significant influence on the American economy in general, and the real estate industry in particular.

The collective buying power of US women accounts for about 85 % of all consumer purchases. When it comes to purchasing patterns, women are estimated to make 94 % of home furnishings decisions, 91 % of new homes purchase decisions, and 89 % of travel decisions.

Women’s earnings have accelerated over the last few years and they have emerged as the Chief Purchasing Officers in their households. According to IRS data, women constitute 39 % of the top wealth holders in the country. This means about 2.5 million women possess a wealth of $4.2 trillion put together. Notably, the IRS estimates that by 2050, 42 % of these women will be single or widowed. The IRS further estimates that more wealth is bound to be accumulated among women.

Another growing trend that emerged in a December 2006 study by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) was that about 22 % of homes purchased between July 2005 and June 2006 were by single women who were in the 25 to 34 age range. Women accounted for a record number of 1.76 million home purchases (1 in every 5 homes), a significant increase from 14 % a decade ago. Women’s growing success in their careers, higher education, financial independence and a desire to build an early nest on their own, are some of the reasons that have spearheaded this home buying trend.

Among the vast demographic spectrum in the real estate industry, women have become a force to reckon with. Real estate agents are increasingly taking note of their female clients and the power they wield in home buying decisions. By the influence that they bring into play in home buying decisions, women form a significant and growing market that simply cannot be ignored.

If you are considering buying a home, condo, or any other real estate, be sure to seek out the services of a local real estate agent to guide you through this complex process.