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Incredible India struggles for an incredible recovery
A two-year long global recession, Mumbai terror attack and then swine-flu, each coming on the back of the other. The tourism industry in India could not have expected anything worse than this. It however is starting to see its own green-shoots popping up. October 2009 saw the rate of fall in foreign tourist arrivals making a sharp decline to less than one percent against a 17 per cent fall in January 2009 (over January 2008). The Ministry of Tourism believes this is the beginning of recovery of the industry and things can only get better from here.

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Punjab to set up Rs 150 cr fund to improve industrial infra
The Punjab government today said it will set up a fund of Rs 150 crore to upgrade industrial infrastructure in a bid to give a boost to the state industry.

News of the day

Mamata dismisses Lalu Prasad's claims on Indian Railways' turnaround
Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today hit her predecessor Lalu Prasad where it hurt him most—on the supposed turnaround of Indian Railways during Prasad’s regime.

Business Ideas

IOC Q3 profit plunges 76% to Rs 697 cr

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the country"s largest refiner, today reported a steep decline of 76.45 per cent in net profit at Rs 696.59 crore for the third quarter ended December.

RBS to sell fund mgmt assets stake for 84.7 mn pounds

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) will sell part of fund management assets to Aberdeen Asset Management Plc for an estimated 84.7 million pounds.

SC sets aside Allahabad HC\'s order on GDA\'s plea

The Supreme Court has set aside the Allahabad High Court"s order that stayed construction of houses by the Ghaziabad Development Authority for economically weaker sections in Uttar Pradesh.

National news for the week Jan 2- Jan 8, 2010

Saturday

\'R-Infra bids for projects with 30% return\'

P B Jayakumar / December 30, 2009, 0:59 IST

Doha Bank to enter new segments in India

Doha Bank is planning to expand its operations in India by entering into new segments. The Qatar-based bank had in 2007 acquired a 49 per cent stake in Kochi-based brokerage firm Select Securities.

Market likely to drift lower

The market as expected drifted lower after giving a downward breakout. It may test further lows before bouncing back.

Simple strategies for small investors

Meenakshi Subramaniam / Mumbai January 24, 2010, 0:03 IST

Markets down in early trades

The Sensex opened weak this morning following subdued cues from its Asian peers. The Sensex opened at 16,827 and is now down 61 points at 16,798.

Just imagine

Forty years ago, man landed on the Moon. Also in 1969, the Vietnam war ground on, high hippydom ruled Western youth culture, feminism was in its so-called second wave, and the collectivist kibbutz movement in Israel was at the peak of its post-war efficacy. In 1969, Ursula Le Guin was just gaining renown as a writer. In that year she turned 40, and published her best-known science fiction novel. In 2009 the author turned 80 and her book, still in print and now a classic, turned 40.

Sobha set to raise another Rs 250 cr from land sale

Sobha Developers, the Bangalore-based realty player, is set to raise another Rs 250 crore by selling a little over 100 acres of its land in Pune. The company has been making headway to settle a part of its Rs 1,900 crore debt by selling part of its 3,000-acre land bank spread across the country. Sobha recently raised close to Rs 530 crore through the Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) route. With a debt of Rs 1,900 crore, the company was leveraged 1.6 times and it is understood that a part of the proceeds from QIP is being used to settle a part of that.

Cool head in Eden

As with all the bad news from Iraq and Af-Pak, sooner or later the bad news on the climate acquires a stultifying sameness. Only when a surge is in sight — troop surge, storm surge — does one’s news radar jolt awake momentarily. The cause of this deadened state is not an unassimilable surfeit of information, rather, it is a shortage of the right sort of information. Despite the barrage of news and opinion, we don’t know enough to figure out what the right questions are. Without that foundation, our knowledge rests on a bog, into which it is liable to settle with a gentle burp or two of greenhouse gas (or, hot air).

Sobha set to raise another Rs 250 cr from land sale

Sobha Developers, the Bangalore-based realty player, is set to raise another Rs 250 crore by selling a little over 100 acres of its land in Pune. The company has been making headway to settle a part of its Rs 1,900 crore debt by selling part of its 3,000-acre land bank spread across the country. Sobha recently raised close to Rs 530 crore through the Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) route. With a debt of Rs 1,900 crore, the company was leveraged 1.6 times and it is understood that a part of the proceeds from QIP is being used to settle a part of that.

Don\'t come fishing for account details, Swiss banks tell India

Swiss banks may have turned over client details to the US, but they have said India is not welcome there on a name-fishing expedition.

Aluminium may substitute copper on price volatility

All the base metals on the London Metal Exchange continue to rise higher and higher, aided principally by the growing investor support, improving global economic sentiment and inflation in smelter operational costs. At this point, with investors deciding to pin their faith on positives like good showing by China and India; and Euro zone breaking out of recession and not to be bothered by still wobbling US economy, copper is bid at $7,454 a tonne and aluminium at $2,293 a tonne, for ready delivery.

TCS plans to hire 11,000 this quarter

Given the potential for growth, IT major, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), is looking at hiring 8,300 trainees and around 3,000 laterals or experienced persons in Q4 FY10, a senior company official said.

Inflation temporary; prices to come down by month-end: Montek

Describing the food inflation a "temporary phenomenon", the Planning Commission has said that the prices of various food items will decline towards the month-end and that the economic growth during the year would exceed 7 per cent.

Copenhagen to Nagoya

Business Standard / New Delhi January 14, 2010, 0:49 IST

Oil rises above $80 amid stock market surge

Oil prices rose above $80 a barrel today in Asia as crude investors eyed a surge in global stock markets.

India open to free trade agreement with US

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said India is open to discussions on a free trade pact with the US on the lines of the agreement New Delhi already has with the 10-nation South East Asian bloc.

EU wants pact to include govt procurement

Ahead of the next round of talks on a bilateral trade treaty with India, the European Union (EU) today said it was keen that the comprehensive pact included government procurement agreement.

Bill Gates II from India or China: US Survey

A sizeable number of Americans believe that the next Bill Gates will come from India or China, as the two Asian giants are fast marching ahead on the global platform, a new US survey reveals.

CERC gives push to green energy

Allows states to buy renewable energy certificates.

Cooper Corp to launch LCVs

Auto components maker Cooper Corporation today said it will foray into manufacturing of commercial vehicles, mainly to compete with Tata Motors" LCV Magic, and has earmarked Rs 300 crore to set up a plant and expand facility in Maharashtra in next 18 months.

RInfra bags Rs 1,000 cr Kandla-Mundra road project in Gujarat

After bagging the Pune-Satara highway project last week, R-Infra, a unit of Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) has now bagged the Rs 1,000 crore Kandla-Mundra Road Project from NHAI.

Don\'t forget the home ground

News reports in business dailies, including this one, tell us almost every day that India and Asia continue to grow at a robust rate. While developed nations are still suffering from the effects of the recession, India and most of Asia are clocking impressive growth rates.

Singh, Wen agree to strengthen India-Sino ties

Seeking to put behind the recent verbal spat between India and China over Arunachal Pradesh, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his counterpart Wen Jiabao today agreed to build trust and understanding and strengthen the bilateral strategic ties.

Toyota launches new Land Cruiser Prado

Toyota Motor Corp launched a fully remodeled Land Cruiser Prado sport utility vehicle in the Japanese market today, with improved on-and-off road performance.

Govt to review food price situation on Tuesday

The Cabinet Committee on prices will meet on Tuesday and is likely to consider various options to curb rising inflation and keep essential commodities from spiralling further.

Mass housing for 1 lakh families

The Orissa government is mulling to implement a mass housing scheme for providing houses at affordable prices to the economically weaker, lower and middle income group. The project will be implemented in public-private partnership (PPP) mode.

Dantewada people resist outside interference

People in the Naxal-infested district of Dantewada in Chhattisgarh no longer want outsiders to interfere in its affairs to solve the insurgency problem.

Ashok Leyland-Nissan LCV plant\'s construction deferred

Hinduja Group firm Ashok Leyland today said that construction of its proposed facility to make light commercial vehicles (LCVs) in partnership with Japan"s Nissan has been deferred due to sluggish market conditions.

Heavy metal

India-specific hatchbacks took centrestage at the 10th AUTO EXPO, currently on in New Delhi. But BIJOY KUMAR Y took a detour and was seduced

Broadcasters take Rs 100 cr bet with 25 new shows

With the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tourney behind them, general entertainment channels are back in business, with as many as seven leading broadcasters having invested around Rs 100 crore in launching over 25 new television shows on the small screen.

Exporters jittery over Dubai

With the Dubai World crisis, Indian exporters have again started biting their nails, even as the government assured there would be no impact on the domestic economy.

Big Bazaar: Private label push

Big Bazaar, the hypermarket of Pantaloon Retail, has come out with a breakfast cereal range under its private label, Tasty Treat. Big Bazaar already sells noodles, pasta, vermicelli, soups, namkeens, chips, toast, khari, papads, jams, pickles, carbonated drinks, ketchup and fruit beverages under the brand. It has now added breakfast cereals to the range.

PM to inaugurate IEA conference at KIIT

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the 92nd conference of the Indian Economic Association (IEA) at the city-based KIIT School of Management on Sunday in the presence of the state chief minister Naveen Patnaik.

Zardari seeks US mediation on Kashmir

Linking the Kashmir problem with the Middle East conflict, President Asif Ali Zardari has asked the US to demonstrate "neutrality" and step up efforts to "mediate" on the issue between India and Pakistan.

India may borrow less after outlay cuts: Finance Secretary

The government might consider selling fewer bonds in the year ending March after announcing expenditure cuts yesterday, Finance Secretary Ashok Chawla said.

Japan Airlines to slash 6,800 jobs: report

Japan Airlines will slash 6,800 jobs and suspend a number of overseas routes in an attempt to cut cost.

Gopinath continues to reduce stake in Kingfisher Airlines

Kingfisher Airlines Vice-Chairman G R Gopinath, who has been steadily reducing his stake in Vijay Mallya-led Kingfisher Airlines has further sold shares worth Rs 6.31 crore of the private carrier.

Financial city to initially attract banking, insurance

The Tamil Nadu government"s proposed Financial City, aimed at wooing private financial players, is expected to come up on 180-acres at suburban Sholinganallur and Perumbakkam and would initially attract companies involved in banking and insurance accounting operations, Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin said today.

RNRL asks SC to dismiss govt\'s petition on RIL gas

Anil Ambani group company Reliance Natural Resources Ltd (RNRL) has asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the government’s special leave petition (SLP) on the Ambani gas dispute, saying it had no legal standing to seek any orders and could, at best, only make submissions.

197 fresh cases of swine flu reported

Four more people succumbed to swine flu today as 197 fresh cases of the disease were reported from across the country.

Maruti, Tata Motors lead auto rally

The Auto index was up 1% at 7,316.

Behind the wheel

I currently drive an August 2005 Mahindra Scorpio CRDE SLX. I love driving and am also very passionate about it. I am looking at replacing my Scorpio and I am very confused. Ideally, I would like to buy an SUV, but my budget is about Rs 15 lakh and I don’t want to buy a Scorpio again or a Tata Safari. I’d prefer a diesel as I drive 60 km daily to office and back, make a trip of 600 km every two months and one trip of 2,000 km a year. Usually, we are only three (my wife and I and our 12-year old son) in the car.

Maruti sales soar 32% in Oct

The country"s largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India today reported a 32.45 per cent jump in total sales, at 85,415 units, in October compared to the same period last year.

Worst may be over for paper industry

The paper industry may recover its losses from the next quarter due to an expected rise in demand because of robust industrial and economic growth. The industry was suffering from overcapacity, low demand and competition from cheap imports. While no fresh capacities have been added in the recent past except in the writing and printing paper segment, analysts hope the demand to improve soon.

GM in pact with Reva for producing electric vehicles

US-based car maker General Motors today joined hands with Reva Electric Car Company to develop and produce electric vehicles in the Indian market as part of its plan to make the country a global hub for environment friendly vehicles.

Subir Roy: An affordable ride

Subir Roy / New Delhi November 27, 2009, 0:31 IST

Centre backtracking on Telangana: Kisenji

Coming out in support of creation of a separate state of Telangana, top Maoist leader Kisenji today accused the Centre of "depriving" people of the region of their legitimate rights by "backtracking" from its move to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.

Metal prices rise 10-15%, correction expected

Base metal prices have gone up by 10-15 per cent in the past one month. Risk taking was low, after the Dubai World crisis and it is now again going up with liquidity flowing towards these metals.

India, EU to resolve bilateral trade differences

With an ambitious target to more than double their bilateral trade to $200 billion in the next four years, India and European Union (EU) today hoped they can resolve differences and reach a free trade agreement within a year.

Stop using insurgents as strategic tool, Obama warns Pak

In a stern message to Pakistan, the United States has asked it to shed its policy of "using insurgents" like LeT as a strategic tool and warned that if it cannot deliver against terrorists, the US may be impelled to use "any means" at its disposal.

IL&FS proposes 10 more apparel training centres

IL&FS Cluster Development Initiative Limited, a subsidiary of IL&FS has given a proposal to the Orissa government for setting up 10 more centres in the state for imparting Sewing Machine Operator Training programme.

FIIs hike holdings in 25 Sensex cos in Q1

Foreign Institutional Investors raised their holdings in as many as 25 Sensex companies in the first quarter of the current fiscal, riding on positive global cues and a decisive verdict in the general elections.

Oilmeal exports double in October on demand revival

In contrast, exports during April-October decline 42 per cent.

Tata Motors gets Rs 78 cr loan from UK govt for electric car

Auto major Tata Motors today said its wholly-owned European subsidiary, Tata Motors European Technical Centre, has got a loan of 10 million pounds (Rs 78 crore) from the UK government for its Rs 195 crore electric car project.

Tatas to tighten mgmt grip on JLR: report

Having secured the much-needed funds for Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) without the government help, its Indian parent Tatas are now tightening their management control on the carmaker, but are unhappy over the way their request for help was handled by the UK authorities, a report said today.

Soybean hits upper circuit on global cues, fresh buying

Has gained 10.45 per cent on NCDEX since July 29.

No variable pay for TCS trainees for first six months

The country"s largest software exporter Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) today announced that trainees joining it this fiscal would not be eligible for variable pay of about Rs 5,000 a month in the first six months.

Narayana Murthy steps down as NDTV Director

Media firm New Delhi Television (NDTV) today said N R Narayana Murthy, founder of IT major Infosys Technologies, is stepping down as its director with immediate effect.

TCS bags 5-year IT project from Andhra

Country’s largest IT firm, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), has won the country’s largest State Wide Area Network (SWAN) project from the government of Andhra Pradesh on a five year Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer (BOOT) model.

Partners, not allies

Business Standard / New Delhi November 27, 2009, 0:14 IST

All-party meet on Telangana begins

An all-party meeting chaired by Home Minister P Chidambaram to devise a mechanism and a road map to resolve the vexed Telangana issue began here today with TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao, spearheading the movement for a separate state, and Chief Minister K Rosaiah attending it.

Punjab to plant 30 mn saplings annually

In order to meet the demand for three million cubic metre of wood annually by approximately 5,000 wood-based industries in the state, Punjab Forest Minister Tikshan Sud has directed the department to work out on every possibility to plant thirty million plants for this purpose in the state.

Adventure tourism operators strike against bidding process

Adventure tourism operators in Uttarakhand are up in arms against the state forest department for its move to withdraw lease permits for the Ganga beach.

Chidambaram to meet leaders of eight AP parties

A meeting of eight political parties convened by Home Minister P Chidambaram here tomorrow will try to devise a mechanism and roadmap to resolve the vexed Telangana issue, even as leaders from three regions of Andhra Pradesh are sticking to their known stands.

Short-term support expected at 5,000, resistance above 5,200

The Nifty closed above 5,000 due to short-covering on healthy GDP numbers for the September quarter and easing of concerns about the debt default in Dubai. The Nifty December futures saw short-covering above 5,030 and there was long build-up below 5,010. In the end, futures shed 813,250 shares in open interest (OI) and closed at four points premium to the spot, indicating unwinding of short positions.

\'No stoppage of work in Arunachal even if China objects\'

Even as work on border road construction in Jammu and Kashmir was stopped after Chinese objection, Arunachal Chief Minister Doorjee Khandu has asserted that his government will not succumb to any such pressure.

Fiat accompli

BSM Team / Mumbai July 18, 2009, 0:24 IST

Maruti sales jump 33.36% in July

The country"s largest car maker, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, today reported a 33.36 per cent jump in sales at 78,074 units in July.

Maruti getting its first hires from Detroit

Eight automobile engineers from Detroit, the car capital of the United States, will join Maruti Suzuki’s operations in India in the next two months, as part of the start of the latter’s plan to transform itself as the largest research and development centre for parent Suzuki outside Japan.

Sensex follows Asian markets, up 200 points

Stock market indices rebounded today due to a surge in metal prices. Benchmark indices recouped some of this week’s losses, mirroring gains in Asian markets, mainly China and Japan.

Samsung India to invest $20 mn in 2009

Samsung India Electronics is planning to invest $20 million (around Rs 100 crore) in 2009 to support its turnover target of $2 billion (around Rs 10,000 crore) for the current calendar year. The company also said it would double its export in 2009 to Rs 1,200 crore.

Samsung: Advantage LED?

The consumer electronics market is strongly driven by technology. Companies vie with each other to introduce new technologies in the market. Thus, Samsung has opened a new category of flat-panel televisions that use LED (light emitting diode) technology. These televisions use LEDs as the primary light source rather than the traditional cold cathode fluorescent lamps, which allow higher contrast ratios and slim depths for better design.

IBM signs Rs 380-crore, 10-year outsourcing deal with Digicable

Information technology major IBM has signed a 10-year strategic outsourcing agreement with cable and broadband distribution player Digicable, for an initial outlay of Rs 380 crore.

Honda redeploys F-1 \'warriors\' for victory in fuel efficiency

Honda Motor Co’s withdrawal from Formula One racing in December to save money may give it an advantage over rivals: fresh blood from an elite cadre of engineers to improve its Civic compacts and Odyssey minivans.

Schumacher, the underdog?

People are chanting for the ‘God’ out there. They think Schumi can return to the paddock, wear a slightly larger racing suit, jump into Massa’s Ferrari and start winning races. Whatever the outcome may be, the return of The Champion is the best thing that could have happened to Formula One this year after the Brawn 1-2 at Albert Park.

Mahindra to record decline in passenger car biz this fiscal

Home grown auto major Mahindra & Mahindra today said its passenger car business will decline in the current fiscal, but the slump would not affect its plans to launch three new products under different categories by March 2011.

United Spirits to reduce debt by October-end

Vijay Mallya-controlled United Spirits Ltd (USL) has reiterated its plans to deleverage its balance sheet by the end of October this year. USL has a debt of around Rs 6,000 crore — a leverage of nearly 2.5 times.

ArcelorMittal may slash 10,000 jobs in 2010: report

The world"s largest steel maker ArcelorMittal may cut 10,000 jobs globally next year and plans to reduce costs in order to regain its lost market share particularly in Europe, a media report says.

Indo-Pak meeting receives mixed reaction in Kashmir

India and Pakistan"s decision to carry on with the dialogue process drew mixed response in Kashmir today with mainstream parties welcoming it and separatists insisting that the Sharm-el-Sheikh meeting was "inconclusive" without the participation of Kashmiris.

Pak media hails resumption of Indo-Pak talks

Hailing the decision of the two neighbouring countries to resume dialogue, the Pakistan media today said credit must go to both sides for "seizing the moment and breaking the impasse" and that they should build on the "breakthrough" achieved in the meeting between the two Prime Ministers.

BSNL FY09 net dips at Rs 104 cr as wage rises, revenue falls

State-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam"s (BSNL) net profit dipped to Rs 104 crore in 2008-09 as staff costs rose and revenues fell in the period, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

Sensex gains in early trades

The Sensex opened marginally in red this moning but rebounded almost immediately on positive global cues.

Scrap gold sales dip despite higher Scrap gold sales dip despite higher Dilip Kumar Jha / Mumbai September 18, 2009, 0:56 IST

Sensex ends up 35pts

Gold now finds more space in HNI portfolio

With equities looking fully valued or overvalued, wealth managers are setting their eyes on the yellow metal.

Gold nears Rs 17k level on firm global trend

Gold prices today hit an all-time high of Rs 16,980 per 10 gram in the bullion market here in tandem with the global market, where the metal crossed the crucial $1,115 an ounce level.

Standard gold hits Rs 16,700 level in early trade

Standard gold prices crossed Rs 16,700-level for the first time in the history on the bullion market in the early trade on hectic stockists buying triggered by rise in the global market.

States\' panel to prepare rules for land banks

The Centre today constituted a committee of industry ministers of seven states to prepare guidelines for creating land banks for meeting industrial needs.

ArcelorMittal appoints Peter Kukielski in Group Mgmt Board

World"s largest steel-maker ArcelorMittal today announced the appointment of Peter Kukielski in the Group Management Board of the company, effective from January 1, 2010.

Parsvnath Developers Q1 net dips 81% at Rs 14 cr

Real estate firm Parsvnath Developers today reported a net profit of Rs 13.81 crore for the first quarter ended June 30, a 81 per cent decline over the corresponding period a year ago. The company had posted a net profit of Rs 73.96 crore in the same period last fiscal.

Kaspersky eyes $12-16 mn revenue from India in 2 yrs

Russian IT security software firm Kaspersky is eyeing a revenue of $12-16 million over the next two years from its Indian operations, with the launch of new products and upgrades for its existing product-line.

Gold flares up to dizzy heights on strong global cues

Gold prices soared sharply and seemed to be heading towards the crucial psychological 18,000-mark at the bullion market here today driven by heavy speculative buying amid uninterrupted rally in the overseas markets.

Gold crosses 17K on global cues, marriage season demand

Gold prices surged by Rs 100 to Rs 17,100 per ten gram in the bullion market here today on sustained buying by stockists and jewellers to meet the marriage season demand and as investors increasingly are moving funds from the dollar into higher-yielding assets.

Who moved into my cheese?

The contemporary hotel in India is lifestyle- rather than luxury-oriented, and it suits younger business travellers just fine.

Sugar mills to get more time for export obligation

The government today said it will allow sugar mills more time to comply with export obligations as the priority now was to meet domestic demand.

US markets end down; ICICI Bank soars 6%

US stocks slipped on Wednesday after a surprising reduction in an index of Midwest business activity, but buying of technology bellwethers like Cisco Systems at the end of a strong quarter however limited the losses.

Tata Comm enters managed banking infra solutions space

Tata Communications today announced its foray into the fast-growing managed banking infrastructure solutions space through a subsidiary, Tata Communications Banking InfraSolutions (TCBIL).

Sanjeev Sanyal: Radically rethinking agriculture

It"s time we busted a few myths and revamped our strategy towards the farm sector.

US markets end marginally lower

The US markets had an unspectacular day of trade. Dow Jones closed at 10,426.30, lower by 11.11 points or 0.11%, Nasdaq ended at 2193.14, weaker by 10.64 points or 0.48%, and S&P shut at 1109.8, down 0.52 points or 0.05%.

Sensex at day\'s low

The Sensex is now at 14,879, down 531 points.

Provogue India to buy back shares worth Rs 50 cr

Garments maker Provogue India today said it will buy back shares worth Rs 50 crore from its shareholders through open market route.

IIM-A alumni\'s firms flock to campus to recruit for summer

Continuing their association with the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A), the institute"s alumni picked up students for the ongoing summer placements through their companies. The alumni"s firms that returned to the campus included Edelweiss Capital and Feedback Ventures.

Karnataka: BJP leads in 16 constituencies

Maintaining its initial leads, the ruling BJP in Karnataka was racing ahead in 16 of the 28 constituencies followed by Congress in nine and JDS in three seats.

Akash Prakash: The coming bubble in power

Akash Prakash / New Delhi November 13, 2009, 0:14 IST

PM may soon clear policy to help MSMEs

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is taking a final view on the report of a task force which suggested easy access to bank finance and preference in public sector procurement to the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Bollywood eyes private equity as banks go slow

EXIM Bank and IDBI are said to be cautious while financing films, prompting producers to tap PE players and investors like the Dar Capital group.

CII-PwC study sees 10 % auto market for Bengal by \'22

Although West Bengal"s present contribution to the Indian automobile sector is negligible, the state could capture about 10 per cent of the projected size of the domestic industry by 2022, a study undertaken by CII and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has suggested.

Future bright for bargain hunt

In the last one year, Dubai has lost much of its lustre. The global credit crunch already hit inflows into the emirate, leading to job losses and delayed real estate projects.

Strike against CBI report in Shopian case hits valley

Normal life was paralysed across the Kashmir Valley today due to a strike called by a local outfit to protest the CBI report in the Shopian case even as authorities placed top Hurriyat leaders under house arrest as a precautionary measure.

Under Lalu, railways incurred Rs 14k cr loss in \'08-09

A status paper on the functioning of railways, presented in the Lok Sabha today, punctured former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad"s tall claims of record profit and held that its performance was "below par" during his tenure.

Bengal invites Mamata\'s rail coach proposal on Singur site

In yet another twist to the issue at Singur—the erstwhile Tata-Nano project site— the West Bengal government has written to the Railway Board, seeking a formal proposal for the rail coach factory on the site, mooted by Trinamool Congress leader and Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Anil Kumar may plead guilty in Galleon hedge fund case

Indian-American Anil Kumar, an accused in one of the the largest insider trading scam in the US, has agreed to waive indictment in the Galleon Hedge Fund case, in an indication that he might plead guilty as per a deal struck between him and the prosecutors.

Rajaratnam pleads not guilty to insider trading

Sri Lankan Tamil-origin billionaire Raj Rajaratnam has pleaded not guilty before a court here to running an insider trading scam that allegedly racked upto $21 million in profits, the biggest such case in the US.

Aamir is not saying the truth: Chetan Bhagat

The controversy surrounding "3 Idiots" has taken a new turn with Chetan Bhagat, the author of the book from which the movie has been adapted, accusing the filmmakers and actor Aamir Khan of not giving him due credit.

Idiot saga: Upset Aamir hits back at Chetan Bhagat

An upset Aamir Khan has spoken out against author Chetan Bhagat, on whose novel the star"s latest blockbuster "3 Idiots" is based, accusing him of trying to take away the credit from the film"s scriptwriter.

Trading indicates fresh declines in near future

Both Nifty and Sensex on Thursday closed in the red on profit-booking and weak global markets. Automobiles, information technology, realty, healthcare and FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) stocks led the fall. The Nifty, as expected, moved in a narrow range, faced resistance above 5,300, and closed at 5,263, down 19 points.

Subir Gokarn: The industrial divide

Subir Gokarn / New Delhi November 16, 2009, 0:04 IST

Sugar stocks jump as prices touch record high

Shree Renuka Sugars ended at Rs 229, up by Rs 7 or 3.3%, on the BSE. Over 4.07 lakh shares have changed hands at the counter. The stock hit a high of Rs 230 and a low of Rs 223 during the day.

Brokerages focus on core business

Equity brokerage volume jumps 66% in April-June while non-broking income dips.

NComputing to double deployments in India this year

US-based provider of low-cost shared computing technology NComputing Inc is aiming at doubling its deployments in India to 400,000 by the end of the calendar 2009.

Irda likely to relax cap on Ulip charges

Insurers want mortality charges outside the ceiling

Marine cargo premium income growth falls to 3%

Low economic activity and unwillingness by insurers to underwrite loss-making portfolios led to a fall in business for segments such as marine cargo and health.

FII inflow in stock markets cross $6-bn mark

In a sign of confidence in the Indian markets, foreign institutional investors (FII) pumped in over $6 billion, or about Rs 29,940 crore this year, with over $1 billion coming in July alone.

KFC, Pizza Hut\'s parent co Yum under ED\'s lens

US-based Yum Restaurants, which owns the franchise of KFC and Pizza Hut in India, has come under the Enforcement Directorate"s (ED) scrutiny for allegedly failing to bring in Rs 390 crore ($80 million) foreign investment in the country after getting the government approval.

\'RBI move indicates gradual withdrawal of stimulus packages\'

India Inc today cautiously welcomed the RBI"s move to modify the ECB guidelines and said this also indicates a gradual withdrawal of stimulus measures announced to help the industry tide over the global credit crunch last year.

After NSE, BSE kicks off mutual funds platform

Less than a week after the National Stock Exchange launched its mutual funds (MF) transaction platform, Asia"s oldest bourse, the Bombay Stock Exchange, today made operational its own MF platform for all investors.

Mutual fund investors caught in NoC muddle

The Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (Sebi’s) move to ban entry load on mutual funds (MFs), in spite of being an investor-friendly step, has created a problem for smaller investors.

India\'s per capita emission 70% below world avg: report

Despite being the fourth largest economy, India"s per capita emission levels are 70 per cent below world average and 93 per cent lower than those in the US, says a latest report on climate change.

Time not ripe for mergers: Chakrabarty

A week after the government met select public sector bank chiefs to discuss consolidation, Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor KC Chakrabarty reiterated again that the time was not ripe for such a move.

RCom to raise Rs 6,300 cr for expansion

Will use funds to finance operations of group firms; to have a total war chest of Rs 10,500 crore.

Govt to miss GST deadline

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee may meet state finance ministers next week to discuss their requirements and implementation of proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST), speculated to be delayed by over six months, is likely to be discussed during the meeting.

Rlys\' revenues beat estimates, register strong growth

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee’s officials claim she has been able to create magic, like her predecessor Lalu Prasad. (Though, after he left, we were told it was nothing of the sort). Riding on strong growth in revenues from traffic operations, the ministry is looking at revising upwards the traffic receipts it had outlined in the Budget this financial year.

A V Rajwade: Servicing Dubai\'s growth

A V Rajwade / New Delhi December 07, 2009, 0:32 IST

Miners mulling cut in iron ore output

Shaken by a sudden halt in demand from China, Indian iron ore miners are planning production cuts.

Banks to run checks on high-value notes

In a measure to control the circulation of counterfeit notes, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has directed banks to issue bank notes in denominations of Rs 100 and above either over their counters or through automated teller machines (ATMs), only after these banknotes are duly checked for authenticity and fitness by sorting machines.

Govt examining debt waiver for coffee growers: Scindia

The government said today it is examining a proposal to implement a debt-relief package for growers to revive the coffee industry.

Bajaj Hindustan erases gains on deal call-off

Bajaj Hindustan erased its gains following news of the deal being called off. The stock ended absolutely flat at Rs 197. The counter witnessed trades of over 3.70 million shares.

Bank employees get 17.5% wage hike, pension benefit

SBI unions walk out of pact saying interests not served

Union Bank faces probe in Koda case

Authorities investigating a disproportionate assets case against former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda will start questioning top officials of the Union Bank of India tomorrow regarding funds deposited in the bank’s Zaveri Bazaar branch here.

Hepatitis treatment of Raju yet to begin

The Hepatitis-C treatment of former chairman of Satyam Computers B Ramalinga Raju, who is in judicial custody is yet to start, as he is still suffering from high fever.

RIL to expand petrochemical complex by 2 MT

Mukesh Ambani-run Reliance Industries (RIL) today said it will expand its Jamnagar petrochemical complex by adding 2 million tonnes (MT) per year of olefins and matching downstream capacities.

Wanted: 1,800 volunteers for free trip to Mexico, Guatemala!

Wanted: 1,800 volunteers for free holiday packages to Mexico and Guatemala! All inclusive. Also on the cards: Free vacation in India!

Japanese PM for association with Maha in education sector

Japan will explore the possibility of strengthening co-operation between its universities and those in Maharashtra.

SAIL erases gains, slips 1%

The stock erased all its gains and slipped into the negative to settle at Rs 210, down 1.5%. The counter clocked volumes of 1.82 million shares as compared to the two-week daily average traded volumes of 1.40 million shares. _________________________________________________

Karnataka keen to up PPPs for upcoming projects

Identifies 112 main projects under Global Investors’ Meet.

Food inflation near 20%

Wholesale food prices touched 10-year high with food inflation inching to 19.95 per cent for the week ended December 5, prompting Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to commit food imports to maintain supply in the domestic market.

Global compact cars\' India catwalk

India today set the stage for global car giants Toyota, Volkswagen and Honda to unveil to the world their strategy and models for the high-growth small-car market. The platform was the 10th Auto Expo being held in the national capital.

Religare not to proceed with planned Swiss Re joint venture

Domestic brokerage firm Religare Enterprises today said it will not go ahead with the agreement to develop a health insurance joint venture firm in association with Switzerland-based reinsurer Swiss Re.

Religare expects to close Rs 600 cr PE fund by Apr \'10

Financial services entity Religare Enterprises expects to close its first Rs 600-crore private equity fund, launched in joint venture with UK-based Milestone Capital, by April next year.

Disciplinary inquiries can be disclosed under RTI: CIC

The details of disciplinary proceedings against an employee cannot be withheld from disclosure on the grounds of being personal information and should be made public under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Central Information Commission (CIC) has held.