Public Company

SBI to raise Rs 20,000 crore through equity in 2 years

Has capital requirement of Rs 50,000 cr over the next five years.

The move is appropriate and adequate, says govt

Even as some sections of industry found the 75 basis points (bps) increase in the cash reserve ratio (CRR) more than expected, the government commended the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for the “right move” and said it would not result in an immediate increase in interest rates. It said the Reserve Bank had aptly acknowledged the need for paying attention to inflation as well as growth.

Jeera futures prices likely to firm up

Jeera future prices are likely to firm up in January as there is a possibility for renewed export demand in the market. The demand from overseas market is expected from first week of January 2010 and this may support the price to strengthen.

Jeera futures prices likely to firm up

Jeera future prices are likely to firm up in January as there is a possibility for renewed export demand in the market. The demand from overseas market is expected from first week of January 2010 and this may support the price to strengthen.

Plagued by fertiliser paucity, Uttar Pradesh potato farmers turn to oilseeds

Thousands of potato farmers in the potato belt of Uttar Pradesh have been forced to give up their traditional crop, owing to enormous fertiliser and Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) shortage, expensive seeds and irrigation problems this season. The potato prices had risen to giddy heights of Rs 1,800 per quintal during the sowing season, forcing the small and marginal peasants to search for alternative crops, being unable to afford such pricey seeds.

Suzlon commissions GMDC\'s 19.5 Mw wind farm

Suzlon Energy Limited (SEL), India’s largest wind turbine manufacturer, has completed and commissioned a 19.5 MW wind farm project for state-run Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) at the Maliya –Miyana site in Rajkot district of Gujarat.

Another lacklustre day

The Indian bourses continue to trade flat. The Sensex is now at 17,600, down 15 points.

India to verify China stand on dam

India said the Chinese government had assured it no dam on the Brahmaputra was proposed

India asks China to stop projects in PoK

China should cease ‘such activities’ forthwith: MEA.

Work on rail complexes at 66 stations to start soon: Mamata

Construction work on complexes to provide rail users with facilities like shopping and food courts at 66 railway stations will begin in a month, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said today.

No LTA for employee using car or taxi, say central govt

The government will not sanction any Leave Travel Allowance (LTA) for an employee who uses personal car or taxi as mode of transport.

Air India bookings return to pre-strike level

National carrier Air India today said its passengers bookings in the last two days have regained the 26,000-28,000 level it had registered before the five-day stir by its senior pilots.

Heaviest flood in more than 100 years

Despite the heaviest flood in river Krishna in more than 100 years -- with 10 lakh cusecs gushing in at a menacing pace -- people in many villages are still reluctant to move to safer places.

Nifty may see profit-booking above 5,050

The Nifty tested the support level of 4,910 and later recovered on the back of strong openings in European markets and firmness in Dow Jones futures. Telecom stocks tumbled on profitability concerns while buying in FMCG, metal and banking shares helped indices register decent gains by the end of the day.

V V: Keynes - The Master returns

Unlike the Chicago economists under Milton Friedman who argued that the unrestricted operation of private enterprise—seen as the most efficient form of economic organisation—was essential for economic development and that prices should be determined purely by market forces and inflation controlled by means of controlling money supply, Keynes, the most influential macroeconomist of the 20th century, had argued in his classic work, The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money, that there is uncertainty in the world—uncertainty that cannot be reduced to statistical probabilities and has come to be described as “unknown unknowns.” This irreducible uncertainty, he said, lay behind panics and bouts and the instability of market economics that we see around us today. Robert Skidelsky, in his three-volume study of Keynes (1994), reminded us that the master had warned us against relying on econometric models of his own theories:

Govt to invite bids for 10 mega highway projects soon

The government will soon invite bids for 10 mega highway projects under, pubic-private partnership, and is in the process of making feasibility reports.

GDP at 7.9% beats mkt expectation

Stimulus exit looms as Pranab waits for third quarter.

Shyamal Majumdar: The stuff that films are made of

- Malegaon accused wants to contest LS polls

TDP agrees to join JAC; Cong ministers in Delhi

The Joint Action Committee(JAC), spearheading the Telangana agitation, received a boost today with Telugu Desam leaders from that region agreeing to join it, even as Congress ministers demanded a ‘time-frame’ for the formation of a separate state.

Dalmia in control at GHCL

GHCL promoter Sanjay Dalmia appears to be in control of the country’s largest soda ash maker, and is believed to have increased his shareholding significantly above the 18.5 per cent he held till recently when a battle for control of the company raged.

Cong to seek support to form govt in J\'khand

With trends throwing up a hung Assembly in Jharkhand, Congress today said people expect its secular alliance to form a government in the state as they have elected them as the largest group.

Natco Pharma receives the cancer drug boost

Natco Pharma touched a high of Rs 134 and a low of Rs 124. The stock finally ended with a 5.2% at Rs 129. Around 2.96 lakh shares were traded on the BSE as against the two-week average trade of 1.06 lakh shares.

Non-life premium collection up, courtesy rising auto sales

Riding on the back of rising auto sales last month, the non-life insurance industry has recorded a marginal rise in premium collection.

ICICI sells POS business to First Data for $80 mn

Country"s largest private sector lender ICICI Bank has sold its points of sale terminals that accept the debit and credit card payment to First Data Corporation for $80 million (about Rs 400 crore).

GST rates within 15 days: Dasgupta

The Goods and Services Tax (GST), the new tax regime, would have four slabs and these were likely to be unveiled within 15 days, Chairman of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers Asim Dasgupta said today.

6 of top 10 cos add Rs 24k cr in m-cap; Airtel biggest gainer

Six out of the top 10 companies added over Rs 24,000 crore to their market capitalisation last week with telecom giant Bharti Airtel alone contributing one-third of the gain.

12 journalists killed in South Asia in 2009; one in India

Twelve journalists, including one in India, were killed in South Asia this year, mostly in conflict areas, according to a report released today by an organisation working for the rights of media persons.

Sibal, central advisory body chalk out education agenda

The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), at the 56th meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE), chalked out an extensive agenda for education in the country, based on the principles of expansion, inclusion and excellence.

Gillard insists Oz is safe, says violence occurs in big cities

As India issued a travel advisory for Australia following unbated assaults and killing of its citizens, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard insisted that her country is safe for all international students and said "acts of violence" occur in big cities around the world.

Oz condemns Indian\'s killing; police say attack not racial

Australian authorities today "unreservedly" condemned the killing of an Indian youth here calling his stabbing a heinous crime even as police claimed there was no evidence to suggest that it was a racial attack.

Lending their voice

Leading Indian rock bands will perform today in New Delhi for spreading awareness about climate change

Krishna objects to Tharoor\'s visa tweet

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna today said the government would go by the home ministry’s guidelines on the new visa rules and said differences over such issues should not be discussed in public.

Tharoor ticked off by Krishna for tweeting on visa rules

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna today ticked off his junior minister Shashi Tharoor for publicly questioning new visa guidelines, saying if he had any "perceptions", those should be discussed within the "four walls" of the government.

Pak blames lack of consensus in India for stalled dialogue

Pakistan has said "political compulsions" and "divisions in Indian polity" were preventing India from holding dialogue with Islamabad, after the foreign ministers of the two countries avoided a meeting despite being under the same roof.

India offers partnership in African hydrocarbon sector

Seeking to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the petroleum space, India has called for partnership with companies in the African hydrocarbon sector.

India hoping for substantive commitments at climate meet

India today said it was hoping for an outcome with "substantive and enforceable commitments" at the Copenhagen climate meet which are "equitable and supportive" of economic growth in developing nations.

Hind Copper to invest Rs 3.5k cr to up prod to 11 MTPA

The government today said Hindustan Copper would ramp up production to 11 million tonnes per annum by 2017 with an investment of Rs 3,500 crore.

Pulp fiction

Rrishi Raote / New Delhi October 10, 2009, 0:59 IST

Comic history

- Vidal, withal - Energy sleuth - Pulp fiction - Hello, China - Mountain lines - Prefaces

RIL to set up world class varsity in India

Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), will set up a new age world-class university in India.

Six missing IOC staff feared dead in Jaipur fire

The toll in the fire at Indian Oil Corp"s (IOC) fuel depot outside the Pink City may rise to nine as six missing employees are now feared dead, even as fire fighters and the Army worked to contain the blaze that has burnt about Rs 150 crore worth of auto fuel.

Zain-y

Emerging-market telecoms: Emerging-market telecoms are in hot demand – so much so that the valuation attributed to Kuwait-based operator Zain Telecom by a consortium of Asian investors seems, well, zany.

Gold trades near trough on dollar gain speculation

Gold traded near the lowest this month on speculation that the dollar will continue to advance on data pointing to a recovery in the US jobs market.

Another RIL cash raising on anvil

Reliance Industries (RIL), which raised Rs 2,675 crore through the sale of treasury shares on Monday, is looking to generate a similar amount over the next few weeks by selling more stock to institutional investors.

Rs 1-cr designer Nano to hit the roads soon

The Rs 1-lakh wonder Nano will soon enter the elite league thanks to auto design firm DC, which today said it will unveil redesigned version of the world"s cheapest car within the next two months with premium price tag of Rs 1 crore.

Ashok Leyland to hike prices of CVs soon

Hinduja Group-promoted Ashok Leyland today said it will hike prices of its commercial vehicles shortly due to rising input costs.

Farm output shortfall to hit GDP, says Ficci

India"s economy is expected to grow between 5.2 per cent and 5.8 per cent in 2009-10, much lower than last year as the agriculture output is estimated to decline significantly because of drought in 276 districts of the country, an industry paper said.

US initial unemployment claims slide to 550,000

In signs of easing labour market situation in the US, the number of first time claimants for jobless benefits declined by 26,000 to 550,000 for the week ended September 5.

Food inflation eases to 18.65%

Food inflation softened to 18.65 per cent for the week ended December 12, though essential items like potato and pulses continued to remain expensive.

Nature\'s curse affects farm sector

India faced the curse of drought and floods in 2009 that saw consumers paying towering prices for vegetables, pulses, sugar and foodgrains, and the shortage of supplies punctured the euphoria over the return of the Congress-led government in May.

V V: Correcting the fault lines of capitalism

In the long run,” John Maynard Keynes had famously said, “we are all dead.” Keynes may not have been quite dead, but he had lived a ghostly half-life in the corridors of central banks and within the academia for decades. Now with the failures of unbridled capitalism on a global scale, he is back in fashion, along with Marx. John Cassidy, the finance correspondent for the New Yorker has come with How Markets Fail: The Logic of Economic Calamities (Allen Lane/Penguin £25), which draws heavily on Keynes to recount the story of America’s housing boom and the failures of regulators and self-deception of bankers that led to the present financial crisis. The book is a sequel to Cassidy’s earlier book DotCon that dealt with the stupidities of the stock market bubble in the late 1990s, but both deal with one central idea: the belief that society is best served when individuals are left free to pursue their self-interest was “Utopian economics” and led to disaster because of “the crooked timber of humanity”, and the uncertainty that is inherent in any human enterprise.

V V: The Terror Axis: Taliban, ISI & opium

Gretchen Peters’ Seeds of Terror: The Taliban, the ISI and New Opium Wars (Thomas Dunne Books, Hachette India reprint, Rs 495) tells you why Afghanistan and Pakistan’s North West Frontier provinces will always be on the boil that will spread into the Punjab and increase in intensity, as recent events have shown. Aided and abetted by rampant corruption spread by poppy growers to the Taliban and other local powers, to drug lords and their allies in government, the influence of opium money pervades Afghan life. Afghanistan today provides 93 per cent of the world’s heroin, far exceeding the combined production of Colombia, north Myanmar, Thailand and other regions of the world. Peters examines the depth of the opium problem and describes how opium sales have ballooned since 2001 and continue to grow exponentially, earning more than half a billion dollars off the opium trade. Why and what could be the consequences for us is the central question asked in the book.

\'India key to our future plans\'

Dilip Kumar Jha / Mmbai August 11, 2009, 0:24 IST

V V: Berlin Wall, 1989 and after

All successful publishers and authors have an impeccable sense of timing and generate literature with an eye upon the calendar. So it isn’t surprising that we have a flood of books on the fall of the Berlin Wall that started the process of disintegration of the Soviet Union and the collapse of communism in Europe. But what we have is an embarrassment of riches which try to unravel why such an all-embracing system that Alexander Solzhenitsyn described as “all pervasive, paranoid, oppressive, incompetent, lethal” in the latest edition of The First Circle (Harper, $18), came to an unexpected end. Almost everyone had expected that it would have to be killed; instead it collapsed, as if a house had fallen in on itself. What happened?

Govt committed to fin sector innovations, reforms: Chawla

The government is committed to financial sector innovations and reforms, a senior government official said.

UK economic contraction slows; GDP falls 0.7% in Q2

The recession-hit British economy shrank less than expected at 0.7 per cent in the second quarter of this year, indicating that the worst of the financial turmoil could well be over for the country.

Cotton exports may rise to 1.4 MT, says global body

India’s cotton exports are likely to rebound to 1.4 million tonnes in 2009-10 (October-September) at the cost of exports from the US, which are forecast to fall 20 per cent to 2.3 million tonne on year, according to International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC).

RIL revises Lyondell offer to $13.5 bn

- BofA likely to pay bonuses close to 2007 level - Future Group pulls the plug on "Bijli Ghar" - PowerMin wants gas at $2.34 for NTPC - Another RIL cash raising on anvil - RIL to drill six new wells in KG-D6 block this year - Reliance Industries: Filling its coffers

Vanita Kohli-Khandekar: The print media paradigm

Vanita Kohli-Khandekar / New Delhi December 22, 2009, 0:34 IST

Edible oil output may dip 7.4% in 2009-10

The government today said edible oil output is likely to decline 7.4 per cent to 7.96 million tonnes in the 2009-10. Edible oil production, last year, stood at 8.6 million tonnes. Oil season runs from November to October.

Disinvestment roadmap to be ready by March

Encouraged by the outcome of earlier initiatives, the Centre is preparing a roadmap to take the disinvestment process forward over the next two years.

New jobs for women under govt schemes fell in 2008-09

The government today said creation of jobs for women under the state-sponsored schemes fell to 72,701 in 2008-09 from 3,62,918 in 2007-08.

IT industry\'s future bright: Ramadorai

The future for the IT industry appears bright and the sector is likely to post double digit growth next year, industry veteran S Ramadorai said here today.

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.

More support for Sun Pharma in Taro takeover battle

Glass, Lewis & Co, LLC, an independent proxy advisory firm has recommended the shareholders of Taro Pharmaceutical Industries to vote against the proposals made by Taro’s board of directors in the upcoming annual general meeting of Taro’s shareholders scheduled for December 31.

\'Contracts for 8,000 km roads within 2009-10\'

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways was in a position to bid out contracts for the construction of 8,000 km of roads within the current financial year, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia indicated today.

Pharma 2009: No medicine to cure adversity

Indian pharma industry found that it had no medicine to cure adversities that came its way in 2009 -- when it battled shipment seizures by EU authorities, tightened US regulations, Chinese drug piracy and currency fluctuations.

Utilities for equitable load regulation to tide over power crisis

With the prevailing acute power shortfall in Orissa set to continue till July 2010, the power distribution companies have suggested for load regulation in various feeders.

Swine flu nationwide toll mounts to 108

The swine flu death toll touched 108 today with two more persons succumbing to the disease.

Ranbaxy receives final USFDA approval for Glycopyrolate

Ranbaxy Laboratories today announced that it had received final approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to market and manufacture Glycopyrolate tablets.

SC pulls up Ranbaxy for delayed raising of refund issue

The Supreme Court has admonished drug major Ranbaxy Laboratories for not raising on the relevant occasion the issue of refunding Rs 1 crore penalty the government imposed on it for allegedly overcharging drug prices.

Sun Pharma invalidates Eli Lilly\'s Gemzar patent

Sun Pharmaceuticals has succeeded in invalidating a key patent of Eli Lilly"s block buster cancer medicine Gemzar (gemcitabine injection) in the US market. The company will now be able to launch a low cost version of the medicine in the world"s largest drug market in November 2010.

Marks & Spencer to scale up India ops

British retail major Marks & Spencer is looking at scaling up its India operations and plans to open at least 50 more outlets in the country over the next few years.

13th Finance Panel report to be reflected in Budget: FM

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said recommendations of the 13th Finance Commission, which submitted its report to President Pratibha Patil earlier in the day, will be reflected in the Budget 2010-11.

Subir Raha was ONGC\'s zest

It couldn’t have been more apt. The most generous tribute to former ONGC chairman Subir Raha comes from somebody with whom he had a hugely uneasy relationship. After Raha lost more-than-a-year-long battle with cancer on Monday, former petroleum minister, Mani Shankar Aiyar, said he found in Raha “a man worthy of my steel, particularly when we disagreed”.

DRS Logistics in Rs 450-cr warehousing expansion

City-based logistics solutions provider DRS Logistics Private Limited is embarking on a Rs 450-crore expansion that envisages construction of warehousing facilities in south India by the end of the next financial year.

Soren to move confidence motion on January 7

JMM chief Shibu Soren was today sworn in as chief minister of Jharkhand for the third time at a ceremony which was skipped by top leaders of coalition partner BJP, and will take a floor test in the Assembly on January 7.

Ambani gas row dominates SC in 2009

2009 saw a high-voltage legal battle between the Ambani brothers over the gas dispute reaching the Supreme Court with a judge withdrawing from the bench.

Tatas rejects 10 mn pound UK loan: report

Indian conglomerate Tata Group has rejected a 10 million pound British government loan, which was supposed to be used for developing an electric version of one of its existing models, says a media report.

Latha Jishnu: The campaign against that pesky 3 (d)

For the Americans (and some Europeans) it’s “that pesky section”. And the US government is throwing its weight behind an industry campaign to discredit this section if not get it removed from India’s Patent Act. Yes, of course, it is Section 3(d) that is under attack from big pharma which has lost no opportunity in pointing out that this law will stifle the growth of India’s own drug companies and also choke off foreign investment in the sector. In recent weeks, this campaign has picked up in tempo both here and abroad.

TDP MLAs from Telangana walk out of joint action committee

Telugu Desam Party MLAs from Telangana region have decided to walk out of the newly-formed Telangana Political Joint Action Committee and carry out the agitation for a separate state on their own.

Glenmark confirms Smithkline's lawsuit in US

Glenmark Generics Ltd, a subsidiary of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd, has confirmed that Smithkline Beecham Corporation (d/b/a) Glaxosmithkline (GSK) filed a patent infringement lawsuit on their US subsidiary, Glenmark Generics Inc, USA (Glenmark) in the US District Court for the District of Delaware in connection with the Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) filing for Atovaquone and Proguanil hydrochloride 250mg/ 100mg tablets.

11 Cong MPs from Telangana decide to quit

Eleven Congress MPs from Telangana today decided to resign from the House in protest against the Centre"s decision that appeared to put the separate state issue on the backburner.

Lloyds Banking Group to cut nearly 400 more jobs

British state-controlled bank Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) said today it will axe nearly 400 jobs at a call centre in the south of England.

ZEE aaproves share swap ratio for merger of ETC Network

Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEEL) today said its board has approved the share swap ratio for the merger of the company"s subsidiary ETC Networks with itself.

India Inc partners PE funds for acquisitions

At a time when merger and acquisition (M&A) activity is still recovering, companies are finding solace in private equity (PE) funds for acquisitions. And, PE funds seem keen to participate in such deals.

SAIL, NMDC to sign pact for mining limestone reserves

Two top PSUs under the steel ministry -- SAIL and NMDC -- will enter into an agreement on Monday to mine Arki Limestone Mine in Himachal Pradesh, the home state of Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh.

It\'s Destination K\'taka for steel firms

Major steel makers are facing inordinate delays in acquiring land in the east.

Kochi LNG terminal to go on stream in \'12

Construction work on the onshore LNG terminal, coming up at Puthuvype, near here will be completed by December, next year.

Dubai fallout: Missions directed to help workers

Optimistic on job losses, but closely watching the situation, says overseas Indian affairs ministry

No instant solution to curb food inflation: Pranab

Amid rising food prices hitting the household budget, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said he has no "instant solution" to the problem.

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.

Steel cos consider price increase in Jan

Leading steel companies like SAIL JSW, Essar and Bhushan Steel may hike prices next month to cash in on the demand surge in domestic markets.

It\'s Destination K\'taka for steel firms

Major steel makers are facing inordinate delays in acquiring land in the east.

PM sounds caution on financial reforms

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said the government would like to ‘take forward’ financial sector reforms like insurance and pension, but added caveats that suggested the road ahead was not smooth.

A K Bhattacharya: From Hindutva to aam aadmi

A K Bhattacharya / New Delhi December 30, 2009, 0:02 IST

Pranab to visit Saudi Arabia to boost bilateral ties

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is leaving for Saudi Arabia today to attend a meeting of the joint commission formed by the two countries to promote bilateral ties.

FinMin expects RBI to maintain soft monetary policy stance

The Finance Ministry today expressed hope that the Reserve Bank in its monetary policy review next week will continue the current soft policy stance.

Pokhran-II tests fully successful, says Kakodkar

Trashing the contention that the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998 were a failure, India’s top scientists today said all objectives had been achieved and the country now has the deterrence capability of up to 200 kilotons.

Private facelift for govt data

Plan panel aims at making data accessible in analytical format

Manufacturing sector hiring activity to pick up in Q4: Nomura

The country"s manufacturing sector is likely to witness a rise in hiring activity in the last three months of this year due to an expected increase in demand, says a report by Japanese securities firm Nomura.

Govt takes tough stand, rejects new schedule

The Union Ministry of Home affairs (MHA) has taken a tough stand on the Indian Premier League (IPL) issue and told its organiser — the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) — that forces could not be diverted from election-related duties for this cricketing extravaganza.

Fresh trouble in 3G; may be non-starter

Fresh trouble appears to be brewing over non-vacation of spectrum by Defence Ministry, a move that could frustrate the Telecom Ministry"s scheduled auction of third generation (3G) radio frequency next month.

India should manufacture equipment of N-industry: Kakodkar

The Indian private industries who are keen to participate in the large growth of civil nuclear power programme in the country should immediately concentrate on the manufacturing of equipments to become a major N-supply chain provider and later even exporters, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, Dr Anil Kakodkar said.

India designs new atomic reactor for thorium utilisation

India today announced it has designed a new version of Advanced Heavy Water atomic reactor which will use lesser low enriched uranium along with thorium as fuel and having next generation safety requirements.

Eating to get well

Strengthen the immune system with the right foods when down with dengue or swine flu.

100 & counting: Swine flu-hit Pune gears up for winter

A sneeze raises eyebrows and coughing makes people nervous in the city, which has emerged as the epicentre of swine flu with 100 casualties.

SC issues notice to Centre, Maha govt on security of hotels

The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Centre and Maharashtra government on a petition seeking laying down of security guidelines for hotels to avoid any terror attack like the 26/11 strikes in Mumbai.

HC issues notice to N D Tiwari on paternity suit

The Delhi High Court today issued notice to veteran politician and former Andhra Pradesh Governor N D Tiwari on a paternity suit filed by a youth claiming to be his biological son.

Government sets up schedule to provide relief to accident victims

The government on Thursday set a schedule to examine the problems ailing the insurance sector in the field of accident insurance. This comes close on the heels of the Supreme Court suggesting the government to create a special fund for compensating accident victims by charging a cess on sale of petrol or a one-time premium on sale of new motor vehicles.

BSE brokers express reservations on timing

The strong 700-member Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) brokers forum yet again expressed its reservation against the extension of trade timing by both BSE and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) from January 4. Last week, both the bourses had to postpone their decision to open markets by 9 am after a sharp outcry against the decision from market participants.

India Infoline to start MF ops in Q1FY11: Jain

Financial services firm India Infoline today said it plans to begin mutual funds operations in the first quarter of the next fiscal, after securing final approval from capital market regulator Sebi.

Budget\' 10: Depts, ministries ask for the moon

Union ministries have together sought a whopping 82 per cent increase in gross budgetary support (GBS) for Plan outlay in fiscal 2010-11 over budget estimates for 2009-10.

\'We will report to UN on climate change every two years\'

Leslie D"Monte & Kirtika Suneja / New Delhi December 5, 2009, 0:15 IST

\'Cross-border deals will drive M&As\'

Shobhana Subramanian / Mumbai December 4, 2009, 0:53 IST

UB, Heineken toast a tie-up

Ending an almost two-year-long dispute over partnership with the Vijay-Mallya owned United Breweries Ltd (UBL), Heineken NV, the world"s third-largest brewery firm, today agreed to permit UBL to brew and market the Heineken brand in India.

Heineken inks beer alliance with UB

United Breweries Holdings (UBL) has forged an alliance with Heineken to distribute the Heineken brand in India. The partnership in India is expected to drive growth in one of the world"s fastest growing beer markets. As part of the agreement, Heineken will acquire Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) India -- Asia Pacific Breweries (Aurangabad) and Asia Pacific Breweries-Pearl -- for Euro 25 million (Rs 174 crore). Following completion of this transaction in the first quarter of 2010, Heineken intends to transfer these businesses into UBL during 2010. APB is a joint venture partnership between Heineken and Fraser and Neave.

Jan cement sales in high double-digit

Cement makers today reported double-digit growth in January sales driven by increased demand from housing sector, especially of low-cost homes, and infrastructure.

Tower of Babel

Business Standard / New Delhi December 31, 2009, 0:43 IST

Tarun Das: Engineering a confederation

More than lobbying for concessions, CII strove to be an instrument of change.

PGP Educational lines up Rs 100 crore investment

City-based PGP Educational & Welfare Society, which runs engineering and arts colleges, is now planning to become an integrated one stop point by including medical education. The trust had already applied for a university status.

Domestic air traffic stabilises

The fall in domestic air traffic seemed to have stabilised with official figures today showing a marginal increase of 30,000 in passenger load in August from the previous month.

Bandh paralyses life in non-Telangana regions of AP

Normal life was disrupted in non-Telangana regions of Andhra Pradesh, as the bandh called by the All party Joint Action Committee (JAC) in support of United Andhra Pradesh began today.

No major strike in \'09 but challenges remain for Home Min

In the shadow of 26/11, the Home Ministry took measured steps to bring changes in the complex intelligence-security system during 2009 that saw India pass through without any major terror attack and it could be in for some reforms in the new year if P Chidambaram has his way.

Colgate\'s Aurangabad factory hit by strike

FMCG player Colgate Palmolive today said production at its Aurangabad factory has been disrupted as workers have gone on strike since Saturday.

Tata Steel MD terms new year challenging

Tata Steel Managing Director H M Nerurkar today said the new year would be equally challenging as last year as the global recession is still continuing.

Steel PSUs\' budgetary estimates may be inflated: Panel

A parliamentary panel has rapped the steel ministry for under-utilisation of funds by Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) like SAIL and RINL, and said the Budgetary Estimates (BE) may be “inflated”.

Where am I?

The latest calendar from the rural development ministry has a picture of the minister and two ministers of state. The third minister of state was upset enough to call up the minister, CP Joshi, to protest. The minister has now ordered that the calendars not be circulated — a fresh calendar will soon be sent around.

Higher prices dent India\'s coffee export by 22%

The country"s coffee exports plummeted by 22 per cent to 2.41 million bags in the first 11 months of the 2008-09 crop year as Indian prices were ruling higher than competing countries like Vietnam and Columbia.

Posco asked to file afresh for SEZ

The Centre today asked South Korean steel maker Posco’s Indian arm to apply afresh for permission to set up a 12-million-tonne-per-annum (mtpa) plant in Orissa, held up for four years over land acquisition.

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.

Govt approves 6 new SEZ proposals

The government today approved six proposals for setting up of special economic zones (SEZs), including that of gems and jewellery SEZ by Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation.

Posco asked to file afresh for SEZ

The Centre today asked South Korean steel maker Posco’s Indian arm to apply afresh for permission to set up a 12-million-tonne-per-annum (mtpa) plant in Orissa, held up for four years over land acquisition.

Posco seeks more time for Orissa steel SEZ

Posco India has sought more time from the Centre for implementing the Rs 54,000-crore SEZ project at Jagatsinghpur in Orissa, as the South Korean steel giant could not get land due to protests by tribals.

Posco seeks more time for Orissa steel SEZ

Posco India has sought more time from the Centre for implementing Rs 54,000 crore SEZ project at Jagatsinghpur in Orissa, as the South Korean steel giant could not get land due to protests by tribals.

7Seas Tech ties up with Intel for Kraze game

7Seas Technologies Limited, a Hyderabad-basd game development company, has collaborated with Intel to reach out to new gaming customers. Through the tie up, 7Seas" multi-genre PC racing game ‘Kraze’ will be made available on Intel"s Business Exchange (BX), an online technology marketplace, from next month.

Re-engaging with the world

Sunil Jain / New Delhi January 01, 2010, 0:35 IST

SAIL may not hike steel prices further next month

After hiking prices for the last two consecutive months, state-run Steel Authority of India (SAIL) has said it may not increase prices further in view of a downward trend in the international market, especially China.

KPIT Cummins to focus on Chinese market

IT consulting firm KPIT Cummins today said it will increase its focus on the Chinese market and plans to tie-up with more automobile companies and components makers for providing software solutions.

Japanese major, JSW Steel plan mutual shareholding

Sajjan Jindal-promoted JSW Steel is collaborating with JFE Steel Corporation, the world"s sixth biggest and Japan"s second largest steelmaker, for a manufacturing and mutual shareholding agreement.

CRR hike balances growth, inflation: RBI

Expressing concern over the rising food prices, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) today said its move to ask banks to keep more cash with it was a carefully weighed decision to strike a balance between growth and inflation as it will not put an immediate pressure on interest rates.

Mann and Hummel Filter to invest Rs 100 cr in India

Auto components maker Mann and Hummel Filter, a subsidiary of German Mann and Hummel Group, today said it will invest Rs 100 crore in its Indian operations in the next 3-5 years.

Inflation dips marginally but vegetable prices high

After a gap of almost two months, inflation dipped marginally to 0.7 per cent, but there was no respite for people as prices of items of common consumption, like potato and vegetables, continued to rule high.

Prospects of recovery in some sectors

When the year 2009 dawned, there was widespread apprehension on how the export sector would cope with the recession in the rich countries. Throughout the year, the government took various steps to help exporters and, as a result, the mood at the year-end is far more upbeat, although some sectors like textiles, leather and handicrafts still face uncertain prospects.

US open to conditional talks with North Korea

The United States today said it is open to bilateral talks with North Korea if Pyongyang takes some concrete steps to fulfill its commitments.

India to beat China to become fastest growing economy: Montek

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia today expressed confidence that in the years to come India could emerge as the fastest growing economy in the world, beating China as the nation has yet to achieve its full growth potential.

FMCG companies may raise prices or reduce product size

Pinched by rising raw material prices, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies, especially manufacturers of packaged foods and soaps, may raise prices or reduce grammage per pack over the next one or two quarters.

Ministers\' panel points to delay in GST launch

A high-powered group of state finance ministers today indicated that the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST), which will consolidate indirect taxes, may not be introduced as scheduled from April 1, 2010.

Pranab asks I-T Dept to meet tax mop-up target

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today directed the Income Tax Department to make all efforts to achieve the revised direct tax target of Rs 4 lakh crore to contain the critical parameters of the economy, especially when there was slippage in indirect tax collections. He said this while addressing the All-India Conference on Tax Deduction at Source (TDS).

Adityan group takes control of TMB

The long suspense over control of the Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB) ended on Thursday, with the Sivanthi Adityan-led group filling nine of the 10 elected posts on the 13-member board of directors.

\'We stand on firm ground, no question of merger\'

T E Narasimhan / December 11, 2009, 0:39 IST

TMB eyes Rs 20,000 cr business

Tuticorin-based Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB) has set a target of Rs 20, 000 crore business by March 2010 from the present Rs 16,000 crore.

GlaxoSmithKline gets notice for ad campaign

The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has issued a show-cause notice to GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals (GSK) for launching an advertisement campaign in the national media on cervical cancer vaccine Cervarix.

Birla Shloka Edutech fixes FPO price band at Rs 45-50

IT infrastructure provider Birla Shloka Edutech today said it has fixed the price band of it follow-on-public offer between Rs 45 and Rs 50.

Top 10 firms lose Rs 40,000 cr last week

The top 10 companies saw their market capitalisation dipping by over Rs 40,000 crore last week with NMDC losing the most.

No shortage of onion, prices easing, says minister

India is not facing any shortage in onion supplies and prices of the key vegetable have now started easing, Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma said in the Lok Sabha today, replying to a member"s query.

Delay in central sector proj to cost over Rs 40k cr to govt

The government today admitted in Rajya Sabha that almost half of 951 central sector projects are delayed resulting in cost overrun to the tune of over Rs 40,000 crore.

Bill on accountability of judges likely this session: Govt

A bill on accountability of judges is likely to be introduced during the current session of Parliament, the Government today told the Rajya Sabha.

Ministries call to reduce delays in environment clearances

Long delays in environment and forest clearances are turning out to be a major hindrance to implementation of various development projects.

Telangana backlash, govt may mull second SRC

As a political backlash erupted in Andhra Pradesh over the decision to put Telangana on the backburner, the Centre was today said to be considering setting up a States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) amidst pressure mounted by pro-Telangana leaders.

Statsguru-01-February-10

The rebound in the fortunes of the commodities sector as well as the impact of government concessions/spending in areas like automobiles have ensured Q3 sales growth is once again positive. The picture remains bright even after removing Reliance from the sample since its 92 per cent top-line growth biases it — this reduces top-line growth in the September quarter from 17.4 per cent to a still healthy 12 per cent.

Eye of the tiger

China: For China, 2009 was a momentous year. The People"s Republic turned 60, and Beijing staved off economic disaster with an unprecedented 4 trillion yuan ($585 billion) stimulus package. The stage is set for an eventful 2010. If all goes well, China’s GDP is set to become the world"s second largest. But all may not go well.

Piramal Life Sciences to invest Rs 200 cr in R&D

Piramal Life Sciences, a research and development (R&D) arm of Piramal Group is investing Rs 200 crore in the next two year"s period for its ambitious programme to discover and develop new chemical entitities (NCEs) and Novel Drug Delivery Systems (NDDSs), a top company official said here.

Cement prices fall up to 10% in two months

Cement prices have witnessed the greatest fall of about 5-10 per cent across the country in the last two months. Moreover, in western and southern India, where a large amount of new stock is still arriving, the non-trade prices have been cut by 20-30 per cent to Rs 160-180 a bag.

Toxic waste disposal at cement plan

Even as legal experts refuse to buy government’s claim that 350 tonnes of waste is no source of pollution and factory premises pose no health risk to humans, a study is going on to incinerate the waste in some cement kiln. According to sources, a final report would come by end of this month or in January. If a well placed government source is to be believed, the Central Pollution Control Board and National Council for Cement and Building Material are in dialogues over the issue.

Money floods into wastewater treatment

Industrialisation, technology, urban need make commercial water supply a growing opportunity.

Telgi, two others get 10 years in jail

Abdul Karim Telgi, the main accused in the multi-crore fake stamp paper scam, and two others were today awarded 10 years" rigorous imprisonment in two separate cases by a CBI Court which also imposed a fine of Rs 50 lakh on each of them.

No profit from excess carbon credits: ArcelorMittal

ArcelorMittal today said it has not made any money from its excess carbon credits, bulk of which was purchases during the global economic crisis.


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