Popular Articles

Inox India's CVA acquisition may cost $ 140 mn
Eyes 20% growth in cryogenic engineering business in 2010-11

Toyota can leave: chavez
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez ordered an investigation of Toyota Motor Corp, saying the world’s largest carmaker “can leave” should it fail to meet production quotas and technology-transfer laws.

News of the day

Options limited for Madhya Pradesh
Will Madhya Pradesh be isolated on goods and service tax (GST) issue? If highly placed government sources, working the new tax system, are to be believed, the state government will have to follow the trend. “Eventually the state will have to implement the system, we cannot linger on. Other states like Chhattisgarh have also agreed to implement it, Gujarat government has welcomed it, Haryana has accepted it ‘in principle’ except for few points. How Madhya Pradesh can stand out?” asked an official. But the state finance minister has a long list to point out flaws in the new tax system, the main being, “The GST will bring even dal-chawal (rice and pulses) under tax net, which are exempted from VAT.”

Small Business

Investment through PNs rising again

The notional value of investments in the domestic stock market through participatory notes (PNs), the off-shore derivatives issued by foreign institutional investors (FIIs), rose from 15.5 per cent in August to 16.4 per cent and 16.5 per cent in September and October, respectively.

Power Ministry to approach FinMin for abolition of service tax

Power Secretary H S Brahma today said the Ministry would soon approach the Finance Ministry for abolition of service tax on power transmission that could benefit end consumers by way of lower tariff.

Tiger\'s TV ads vanish after affairs come out in open

Advertisements featuring Tiger Woods have disappeared from prime-time broadcast television and many cable channels following reports of his extramarital affairs, according to data from Nielsen Co.

More time for IFRS rollout: banks

Banks’ association says the process needs a huge effort.

Axis PE, IL&FS announce investment of Rs 90 crore in SGEL

Axis Private Equity (Axis PE) and IL&FS Financial Services have announced an investment of Rs 90 crore in Shalivahana Green Energy Ltd (SGEL).

Pantaloon to raise Rs 1,000cr from PE firms

Pantaloon Retail, the country"s largest retailer, today said it plans to raise as much as Rs 1,000 crore by selling shares to investors. The company board gave its approval for the fund raising plans today.

Mercedes sales dwindle in Punjab

The sales of luxury car maker Mercedes Benz have dwindled in Punjab and Chandigarh this year, primarily due to short supply.

RBI issues draft norms for forex contracts

Continuing its agenda to simplify the foreign exchange regime, the Reserve bank of India (RBI) today said it intended to allow exporters and importers to “write” contracts giving them the right, but no obligation, to sell an specified amount of foreign currency for a specific price at specific time to banks. They will also be able to earn premium income from these transactions.

B-schools talk the talk on social network sites

Log in to Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn to keep alumni, students, aspirants updated about their institutes.

Abheek Barua: Do forecasters ever get it right?

Abheek Barua / New Delhi January 6, 2010, 0:09 IST

Headley charged with conspiracy in 26/11 attacks in US court

US national of Pakistan-origin David Coleman Headley was today charged in a court here with criminal conspiracy in the Mumbai terror attacks and having links with a retired Pakistani army Major who liaised between him and terror groups, including LeT and HuJI.

Air travellers can now move to higher class at lower cost

Airline passengers now have the choice to upgrade from the economy class to a higher one at a fraction of the normal cost.

Probe into Headley links with 26/11 to end in 6 weeks

Government today said that in the next four to six weeks, investigations into David Headley and Tahawwur Rana"s links with 26/11 attacks will be completed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Move for single regulator gathers steam

Finance ministry begins internal discussions.

No Impact of Dubai crisis on India: Zoellick

The World Bank chief meets top policy makers.

Dubai World creditors may reject standstill pact: report

Creditors of Dubai World are likely to reject a standstill agreement proposed by the company, a move which might lead to further "wrangling", media report says.

Mutual fund transactions just a click away

Online platforms for mutual funds (MFs) could soon become a reality. With the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) nudging the exchanges – the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange – to launch such platforms, investors could soon find that buying or selling of mutual funds could be much easier.

Japan tops China in buying US Treasury

Japanese investors who lived through a decade of deflation and recessions say US Treasuries are a bargain even with yields at about the lowest levels since at least the 1960s.

PSU stocks gain as Sensex logs first weekly gain in three weeks

The BSE Sensex climbed 0.6 per cent on Friday, posting its first weekly rise in the past three weeks, with banks leading the rebound as investors picked bargains after last month’s fall. Gains in global stocks after the US labour department said initial claims for state unemployment benefit had dropped to their lowest level since early January also underpinned the market.

Reliance Capital Q2 net dips 32% to Rs 156 cr

Anil Ambani group firm Reliance Capital today reported 32 per cent decline in consolidated net profit for the second quarter ended September 30, while its total income rose by 11 per cent.

Aurobindo back in black with Rs 103 cr profit

Aurobindo Pharma, Hyderabad-based manufacturer of generic and active pharmaceutical ingredients reported a net profit of Rs 103.2 crore for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, as against a net loss of Rs 38.4 crore during the corresponding period last year. Revenues were up 24.42 per cent to Rs 882.64 crore as compared with Rs 709.4 crore last year.

Markets continue to languish

Markets continue to languish in red. However, they have recovered from the day"s low.

Markets in red in opening trades

The Sensex opened with a marginal positive gap of 23 points at 17,031. However, the index quickly slipped to a low of 16,907- down 102 points. The index has recovered somewhat and is now down 76 points at 16,932.

Crucial support at 4,950

FII attitude may be key.

IRB Infra gains over 3% on order hopes

The stock slipped further into the red to touch a low of Rs 131, down 8% from the days high. It rebounded to end with a gain of 3.5% at Rs 136. The counter clocked relatively hefty trade volume of 1.18 million shares, as compared to its two-week daily traded average of 820,391 shares.

Total inflow of funds in India to be $ 40 billion in 2010: Uday Kotak

Hinting at a buoyant economy in 2010, Uday Kotak, vice chairman and managing director, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd said that the total inflow of funds in India, comprising of insurance, FIIs and mutual funds may touch $ 40 billion.

HPCL to supply Euro IV petrol in Hyd

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited’s Visakha refinery is all set to supply Euro-IV-compliant petrol from April 2010. HPCL has invested Rs 2,600 crore in Visakha Refinery to meet Euro norms.

Asian stocks rise on yen, outlook for chip demand

Asian stocks rose, pushing the MSCI Asia Pacific Index to its biggest gain in almost three weeks, as the weaker yen boosted the earnings outlook for Japanese makers of electronics and cars and as Hong Kong-listed banks advanced.

Asian stocks fall on stimulus concern, UBS loss

Asian stocks fell, led by banks and developers, as UBS reported a wider-than-estimated loss amid investor concern that the withdrawal of stimulus measures will cause the global recovery to falter.

Oil rises to $82 on stocks, cold weather

Oil rose to near $82 a barrel today in Asia after a jump in US stock markets boosted investor confidence and helped extend a four-week rally in crude prices.

Kolkata assumes domestic water supply is free

Kolkata is one place where domestic water supply isn’t billed. The Hooghly river is the primary source and there’s no supply crisis looming, unlike some other cities. That apart, there are no charges for supplying, for the most part.

Strides Arcolab, Pfizer in pact to sell drugs in US

Strides Arcolab announced a collaboration with Pfizer, USA on Thursday where Pfizer will commercialise the later"s off-patent sterile injectables and oral products in the US.

Novartis gains on plans of Alcon buy

Novartis has ended the day at Rs 572, stronger by Rs 14 or 2.6%, on the BSE.

HDFC Bank Q2 net up 30 per cent

Strong non-core income growth pushes revenues.

State to tie-up with private healthcare institutions

The state health and family welfare department is looking to forge partnerships with the healthcare institutions in the private sector.

BJP walks out over Copenhagen; Ramesh terms it pre-planned

Government today said it will not compromise on India"s interests at the Copenhagen climate change summit, but a dissatisfied opposition walked out in the Rajya Sabha.

Five more swine flu deaths in Pune; countrywide toll 23

Five more persons, including an AIDS patient, died of swine flu in the city, taking the countrywide death toll in the pandemic to 23.

Mumbai malls, stores see biz dropping up to 50 per cent

After Pune, the swine flu scare is affecting footfalls and sales in malls and retail stores here. Sales in these places have fallen by up to half in the past two days.

Software fastest growing sector in 2009: Deloitte

Software companies continued to constitute the fastest growing firms in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 India 2009 programme. This year, the composition of software companies amounted to as much as 80 per cent.

Wipro looks to reduce its carbon footprints

IT giant Wipro Limited, as part of its energy efficiency initiatives, is planning to reduce the carbon footprints from the present 3.96 tonne per employee to 2.5 tonne in the next five to seven years, said Laxman K Badiga, chief information officer of the company.

MS launches Windows 7, pre-loaded PCs start at Rs 15k

The world"s largest software maker Microsoft, today launched the much-awaited "Windows 7" operating system (OS) with a host of tools for multimedia applications for business and retail customers.

Biocon launches long acting insulin substitute

Biocon Limited, India"s second largest bio-technology firm, has announced the launch of Basalog, a human insulin analogue, which attempts to relieve diabetic patients of frequent insulin shots in a day.

Six in top-10 club add Rs 28,000 cr in market cap

As many as six among the top 10 firms added over Rs 28,415 crore to their market capitalisation in the past week, while companies like NTPC, NMDC and IT bellwether Infosys Technologies saw their valuations dipping.

MP\'s biggest thermal power station in fuel crisis

Madhya Pradesh"s biggest Birsinghpur based 1340 Mega Watt (Mw) thermal power generation station is facing fuel crisis with a coal stock of just 10,000 metric tonnes (MT) to generate power against its daily need of around 15,000-16,000 MT if plant functions at its full capacity.

Coal and Oil Group to invest $300 mn to buy ships and acquire coal mine

Coal & Oil Group is planning to invest around $300 million (around Rs 1,500 crore) to buy new ships and to acquire coal mines. The company is planning to invest the money to support its customer coal requirements in India and to meet its captive requirement for the upcoming project Rs 4,300 crore power at Tuticorin.

DRDO lab, Navy to dev Kaveri marine engine

Gas Turbine Research Establishment is looking to develop a marine version of Kaveri engine, originally intended to power India"s indigenous fighter jet Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, in partnership with the Navy.

Himalayas inspired \'2012\'

When director Roland Emerich was looking for a image that would sum up the apocalyptic tone of his blockbuster 2012, he could only conjure up one picture, the Himalayas being flooded.

Tejas twin-seat trainer makes its first flight

On Thursday morning the first prototype twin-seater, trainer version of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) taxied out to the runway in Bangalore.

Larsen & Toubro: Disappointing results

Even as the order inflow was healthy, analysts feel the company may fall a tad short of its new revenue growth guidance.

News Corp, Time Warner eye MGM Studio

News Corp, Time Warner Inc, and Qualia Capital LLC are interested in buying the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc film studio, owner of the ‘James Bond’ franchise, according to people with knowledge of the situation.

Top drug firms take in-licensing route to up sales

Leading Indian drug majors, such as Ranbaxy Laboratories, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Piramal Healthcare and Wockhardt, are in-licensing popular products from overseas drug makers to boost their domestic sales. They introduce the in-licensed drugs — which are mostly in the premium skin care segment — on payment of an upfront fee to the brand owners, who also get a share of the sales revenue.

Adrenaline rush is over, cheers to consolidation

While 2009 was an exceptional year for investors in equities and gold, 2010 could be much subdued. Returns from debt instruments, though, are likely to improve.

Rajagopal resurfaces at NIMS

Congress MP L Rajagopal, who had fled from a Vijayawada hospital, resurfaced at the Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) here today.

No objection to Rajagopal being admitted to NIMS: AP Govt

Andhra Pradesh government today said it had no objection to Congress MP L Rajagopal, who escaped from the Government Hospital here, being admitted to the Nizam"s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) in Hyderabad as desired by him.

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.

GSK Consumer to focus on health food drinks

FMCG and healthcare company GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (GSKCH) is planning to undertake a special campaign this summer to drive growth in the health food drinks category, consisting of the "Boost" and "Chocolate Horlicks" brands.

Naveen unfurls tri-colour amid Maoist threat

, Jan 26 (PTI) Amid a tight security net in view of the Maoist call for boycott and an e-mail threatening Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Republic Day was celebrated across Orissa with enthusiasm showcasing state"s rich culture and economic progress.

RPDAC fails to resolve land rate issues of Jindal India Power

The Rehabilitation and Peripheral Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC) meeting for three Angul based industries including the Rs 15000 crore steel project of Jindal Steel and Power Limited today failed to resolve issues related to land rate for the Jindal India Power’s 1200 Mw project in the area.

Orissa yet to form rehab panel for 13 projects

The Orissa government is yet to form the Rehabilitation and Periphery Development Advisory Committees (RPDAC) for 13 large projects in the state.

BSP to implement MES

Industrial tool to optimise operations

Return of the housewife

Renu Modi celebrates twenty years of life as a gallerist with an ambitious show, a glimpse of what lies ahead, and a wish to return to the hearth.

Black pepper imports rise 42% in April-Oct

Higher prices in India since the last seven months led to a rise of 42 per cent in the imports of black pepper during the April-October period. The country imported 11,500 tonnes of pepper compared with 8,100 tonnes in the same period last year. Interestingly, the exports during the period were also 11,500 tonnes.

State worried over GST roll out

The Centre may be eager to introduce the proposed Goods and Service Tax (GST) from April 1, 2010, but the Orissa government has cast doubts on the timely launch of the new tax regime.

C&C Construction in talks with hotel chains for Mohali prop

Infrastructure company C&C Construction Ltd today said it is developing a four-star hotel near Mohali entailing a total investment of Rs 60 crore and is in talks with international and domestic hospitality groups for its management.

Mukherjeee to discuss direct tax code with biz chambers

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will meet leading industry chambers here on October 9 to discuss issues arising out of the proposed new direct tax regime.

Options limited for Madhya Pradesh

Will Madhya Pradesh be isolated on goods and service tax (GST) issue? If highly placed government sources, working the new tax system, are to be believed, the state government will have to follow the trend. “Eventually the state will have to implement the system, we cannot linger on. Other states like Chhattisgarh have also agreed to implement it, Gujarat government has welcomed it, Haryana has accepted it ‘in principle’ except for few points. How Madhya Pradesh can stand out?” asked an official. But the state finance minister has a long list to point out flaws in the new tax system, the main being, “The GST will bring even dal-chawal (rice and pulses) under tax net, which are exempted from VAT.”

Telstra applies to re-enter Indian telecom market

Plans majority stake in JV; to offer NLD, ILD, ISP services.

India can\'t quiz Headley, Rana due to legal issues in US: Jones

The US, which foiled a major terror plot by LeT to target India, has said it would be forthcoming with details of the case but cited legal limitations in allowing Indian investigators to quiz the two arrested operatives David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Rana.

Ex-MD of GSK joins Sun Pharma

S Kalyanasundaram, former managing director of GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, will join Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, the country’s largest drug manufacturer in terms of market capitalisation, as one of its top three executives.

Nestle India posts robust growth in Jan-Sept

Despite the economic slowdown, Nestle India, the food and beverages major, registered net sales of Rs 3,780 crore for January-September 2009, a 17 per cent jump as compared to the same period a year earlier.

ONGC profit rises 23% to Rs 3,053 cr in Q3

Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) posted an increase of 23.38 per cent in net profit at Rs 3,053.58 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2009, as compared to Rs 2,474.81 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. The state-owned company reported the highest net profit growth in the last six quarters.

ASM Tech net up 23.4%

Bangalore-based ASM Technologies, dealing in enterprise applications and enterprise product development for manufacturing, retail, oil and gas verticals, has reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 94 lakh for quarter-ended December 31, 2009, up 23.43 per cent compared to the previous quarter of the current fiscal.

DB Realty IPO price band at Rs 468-486

DB Realty today said it plans to raise as much as Rs 1,500 crore through an initial public offer (IPO) and will sell each share at a minimum of Rs 468 and a maximum of Rs 486.

PowerGrid to float overseas subsidiary by early 2011

Powergrid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL), India’s largest power transmission utility, is set to float its overseas subsidiary by early next year. The move is aimed at opportunities outside the country.

Danone dairy products to hit shelves by Dec

May look at local manufacturing

Dabur net up 27.04%

The consolidated net profit of fast moving consumer goods company Dabur India increased 27.04 per cent in the quarter ending December 31, 2009. It stood at Rs 137.77 crore in the third quarter against Rs 108.45 crore in the corresponding period a year ago. Net sales, on the other hand, saw a slower pace of growth, moving up 18.25 per cent only, to touch Rs 926.18 crore in the third quarter against Rs 778.65 crore in the corresponding period last year.

Orissa SMEs unhappy over state level banks' functioning

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Orissa have expressed their resentment over the functioning of the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC), which meets at regular intervals to monitor the flow of credit to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector.

Growth forecast falls to 6% in RBI survey

Professional forecasters have added to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Duvvurri Subbarao’s dilemma on timing the exit from an accommodative monetary policy stance.

Horns of dilemma

China: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao once said 2009 would be China’s toughest economic period in fifty years. He wasn’t thinking ahead. In 2010, policymakers face a seemingly impossible mission — continuing 2009’s growth of 8.7 per cent while curbing resurgent inflation. December’s figures show the government is already behind the curve.

Tata Comm Q3 net zooms threefold to Rs 282 cr

Tata Communications today said its net profit surged over three fold to Rs 281.80 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, over the same period previous fiscal.

Make shareholding pattern of rating agencies public: Sebi body

The shareholding pattern of all credit rating agencies should be made public so that their relationship, if any, with rated companies, could be known, a body constituted by market regulator Sebi has recommended.

Not a sweet ride

Ii can give high profits, but the sugar industry is volatile and influenced by many factors

New ISRO chief highly competent: Nair

Exuding confidence that India"s space programme will soar fresh heights under new ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan, its outgoing chairman G Madhavan Nair today said his successor will be able to carry forward the agency"s plans, including the most challenging manned moon mission to space.

J&K Bank profits grow 41% with focus on new strategy

Despite adverse market conditions prevailing in the state, Jammu and Kashmir Bank has registered a business turnover of Rs 51,975.56 crore during the quarter ended June and operating profit of Rs.256 crore, recording a 41 per cent increase over the same period last year.

Spinning a yarn

After Reid & Taylor, S Kumars Nationwide wants to try its luck in all segments.

DIIs net buyers of Rs 2,330 cr in cash mkt today

Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers of Rs 2,330.25 crore (provisional) today, according to data released by BSE.

CanBank aims to up home loan portfolio

Bangalore-based public sector lender, Canara Bank, is aiming to double its home loan portfolio to around Rs 17,500 crore by December 2010. The bank’s home loan portfolio stands at Rs 8,464 crore, little over 5 per cent of the total advances, as of December 2009, the bank’s executive director K L Jagadish Pai said.

DLF exits venture with Prudential Financial

DLF Ltd has exited its asset management joint venture with US based Prudential Financial Inc (PFI), the real-estate firm said in a filing with the Bombay Stick Exchange on January 23.

Rs 1.16 lakh cr MoUs during Koda rule

Between 2005 and 2008, Jharkhand govt signed MoUs for various mega projects.

\'Unrealistic valuations hampering PE deals\'

Many entrepreneurs wanting to sell a stake have unrealistic valuations of their companies. This is a major block for private equity (PE) players to close a deal. Also, many do not have a second plan if talks fall apart, according to speakers at the Private Equity Conference at the Indian School of Business.

Obama moots tax package for middle class

President Barack Obama is proposing a tax package aimed at appealing to middle-income Americans, including an increased tax credit for child care and an expansion of tax credits to match retirement savings.

Obama gets assurances senate will back Bernanke

President Barack Obama received assurances from Senate leaders that Ben S Bernanke will be confirmed for a second term as Federal Reserve chairman, an administration official said.

Eicher subsidiary signs MoU with Vinn Group

VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), a subsidiary company of Delhi-based Eicher Motors (EML) has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Vinn Group of Sweden to explore business opportunities in the field of engineering design services.

Shiv Sena wins Bhiwandi seat

After successive debacles in the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections in Maharashtra, the beleagured Shiv Sena on Saturday received a much-needed boost when it won the politically-sensitive Bhiwandi seat, defeating the Samajwadi Party and Congress candiates.

IPL chief Modi denies rift with franchise owners

Indian Premier League (IPL) Chairman Lalit Modi today brushed aside concerns that the Twenty20 League"s franchise team owners are miffed at not being compensated for extra expenditure incurred during the 2009 event held in South Africa.

BCCI not charitable organisation: I-T dept

Evading taxes for long by calling itself a charitable organisation, the the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may now have to shell out more than Rs 100 crore as the Income Tax department is set to penalise the Indian Cricket Board for hiding details of its commercial activities.

DoT again seeks Pranab\'s help on 3G spectrum issue

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has again put the onus of deciding the number of slots to be auctioned for 3G spectrum on Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

It\'s the way you talk

What you need to flaunt this season are touchscreen phones that are smart and sassy.

Nokia to cut 220 R&D jobs in Japan

Nokia, the world"s biggest mobile phone maker, said today it would cut around 220 jobs in Japan as part of its plans to streamline its vast research and development operations.

What presses their buttons

2009’s movers and shakers share with us the gadgets that set their hearts racing.

Dual-sim phones on Nokia\'s radar

Mobile phone major Nokia today indicated that multi-sim mobile handsets were on the anvil for the Indian consumers with expansion in demand.

US markets slump; Wipro bucks trend

US markets slumped on Thursday.

Multi-decade bull run in the making: Jhunjhunwala

On the back of the faster recovery and strong credentials, the domestic bourses are heading towards a multi-decade bull market, billionaire investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala today said.

Bull run may go bust in 2 months: Jhunjhunwala

Big bull Rakesh Jhunjhunwala today said the current bull run might “go bust” in the next one or two months. “If you see the formation of the indices, all stocks are going up, all indices are going up. There are minor corrections at every point. You cannot have this kind of rise — a peak without a burst. I think the burst will come within one or two months,” said Jhunjhunwala, partner, Rare Enterprises.

DoT awaiting Law Ministry nod for 3G auction

The Department of Telecom (DoT) has sought legal opinion from the Law Ministry on the schedule and guidelines for auction of 3G spectrum.

Are there more IPCC goof-ups?

Whether it is the blunder over the glaciers or the linking of natural disasters to global warming, the IPCC’s credibility has been badly hit. If this encourages laxity over global warming, that will be tragic.

Asian markets end flat; Hang Seng up 1%

The Asian markets ended on a mixed note. The Hang Seng advanced 218 points or 1% to 21,678. The Nikkei declined 91 points or 1% to 10,764.

Anurag Viswanath: China unrepentant at Google\'s googly

Swimming in the Yangtze is not easy, or so web-giant Google is discovering. Bitten by the censorship shark, Google is threatening to withdraw from China over orchestrated cyber-attacks targeting e-mail accounts of human rights activists and dissidents, users of google.cn and systematic hacking of valuable corporate secrets of major financial, defence and technology companies based in the United States from its computer systems. Google discussed and aligned with the US government before making this dramatic announcement. The US government has made a formal protest to Beijing.

The Chinese impact

Looking at India as a high-beta subset of global equity markets.

Cadila Healthcare in good health

Cadila Healthcare ended at Rs 695, higher by Rs 46 or 7%, on the BSE.

Edserv bags contract worth Rs 100cr

Education and placement company Edserv Softsystems today said it has bagged an order worth Rs 100 crore from the government for providing training to unemployed and under-employed youth across India.

BHEL Q3 net up 35% to Rs 1,072 cr

Power equipment supplier Bharat Heavy Electricals today reported a growth of 35.67 per cent in its net profit at Rs 1,072.50 crore for third quarter ended December 31, 2009, over the same period last year.

Sun Pharma gets USFDA nod for anti hypertensive drug

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries today said it has got the approval for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for the generic version of Quinapril Hydrochloride tablets used in the treatment of hypertension and congested heart failure.

Markets move sideways

The markets have been virtually unchanged in the past one hour. The Sensex is down 21 points at 17,619 and the Nifty is lower by five points at 5269.

It may take US over seven yrs to wipe off job deficit: Report

The indications of economic recovery notwithstanding, the revival in the job market still have a long way to go, as a latest study says that it may take more than seven years for the US to wipe off the job deficit.

TCS third quarter net up 33.9%

India’s largest IT services provider, Tata Consultancy Services, beat market expectations to post a 33.9 per cent jump in its net profit at Rs 1,824 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2009 as compared to the same period a year ago. Its revenue, too, jumped 5.1 per cent on strong volumes of 6.6 per cent to touch Rs 7,649 crore year-on-year.

Copenhagen accord has inbuilt hazards: Ramesh

The Copenhagen accord on climate change was a partial success for India but it has certain "inbuilt hazards" of which the developing countries have to be wary, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said here.

Admits to communication gaps

Admitting that there were communication gaps in the recently concluded climate talks in Copenhagen, Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh today said that the Danish Presidency could have handled the larger consultation process in a better way.

Warid buyout to lower Bharti\'s liquidity, increase risk: S&P

Bharti Airtel"s proposed acquisition of 70 per cent stake in Warid Telecom of Bangladesh may marginally lower the Indian company"s liquidity and increase its business risk, leading rating agency Standard & Poor"s (S&P) said today.

Insurance firms may have to wait longer to list

The Union government has decided not to make any change in the listing rules for insurance companies till a parliamentary panel on the subject has completed its job.

H1N1 drug trial talks next week

Multinational drug firms Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline and Baxter are likely to initiate discussions with the Union health ministry next week on conducting clinical trials for H1N1 (swine flu) medicine.

Maruti launches Eeco in Gujarat

Maruti Suzuki, India"s largest manufacturer of passenger cars, launched Eeco, a multipurpose vehicle (MPV) in Ahmedabad today.

Mahindra Renault clarifies on \'Sandero\' brand

Clarifying on the issue Nalin Mehta, CEO, Mahindra Renault has said.

World Bank offers additional funds for SSA

With government’s flagship Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme showing encouraging results in expansion of elementary education, the World Bank has come forward with an offer to provide additional funding of $ 500 million (Rs 2,325 cr approx) for the programme.

No interest rate hike likely in six months: SBI

The country"s largest lender, State Bank of India, has said that there will be no hike in lending rates in the next six months as there is surplus liquidity in the market.

Star Health to invest Rs 28 cr

Eyes Rs 700 cr premium income this fiscal.

IIFCL takeout financing scheme in a month

India Infrastructure Finance Co was likely to finalise the takeout financing scheme within a month and might implement it by the first week of March, Chairman and Managing Director SS Kohli said today.

Irda mulls Fee cap on traditional policies

IPO guidelines next month; derivatives products on cards.

IRDA mulling cap on traditional products

After putting a cap on charges on unit- linked insurance plans (ULIPs) products, the insurance-sector regulator, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) is mulling a similar move for traditional insurance products, a top official said.

Jyothy Labs Q3 net up 25% at Rs 17 cr

FMCG firm Jyothy Laboratories today reported a 24.92 per cent increase in net profit at Rs 16.84 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2009, as compared to the same quarter year ago.

Moser Baer erases gains

The stock dropped to a low of Rs 89 and has finally ended with a loss of 2% at Rs 90. The counter clocked a volume of 15.6 lakh shares, as against the two-week daily average trade of 6.9 lakh shares on the BSE.

State seeks special package from Centre

A 20-member delegation from Karnataka today met Union mome minister P Chidambaram and demanded special incentives for its five districts.

Jindal Power lines up Rs 65k cr projects

Naveen Jindal-led Jindal Power today said it will invest Rs 65,000 crore in new power projects and part of the financing for these would be done through its up to Rs 10,000-crore Initial Public Offer.

1,200-Mw Rosa power project starts operation in Uttar Pradesh

Anil Ambani’s Reliance Power today started power generation at its Rs 6,000-crore Rosa Power Project in Shahjahanpur district of Uttar Pradesh.

CFM Intl to set up training facility at Hyd airport

GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL) has signed an agreement with aircraft engine manufacturer, CFM International (CFM), to establish a new CFM56 maintenance training centre to support its customers in the South Asian region.

Bhushan Steel-Essel set to acquire plot for Rs 1,530 Cr

Land in Navi Mumbai to be used for building Bollywood theme park.

KPIT Cummins net up marginally

KPIT Cummins today reported a marginal increase in its net profit at Rs 21.37 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2009.

SMEs sparkle with 25-fold increase in net profit

If India Inc’s big boys have come up with sterling numbers in the third quarter ended December 2009, their small and medium (SME) counterparts are not far behind.

NTPC files for FPO

Country"s largest power producer NTPC today filed the draft prospectus for its follow-on public offer with market regulator Sebi.

Eros International plans IPO for Indian unit

AIM-listed integrated studio operator Eros International plc is planning to list its wholly-owned Indian subsidiary on the Bombay Stock Exchange in the current financial year.

IPO scam: Sebi dismisses panel\'s adverse order

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) today dismissed the adverse comments made against it by a two-member committee in the initial public offer (IPO) scam and the irregularities noticed in case of DSQ Software in 2002.

Court dismisses ITC plea on Philip Morris\' use of trademark

The Delhi High Court today dismissed an application by ITC Ltd for grant of an injunction against the use of a device mark by Philip Morris in relation to its Marlboro brand of cigarettes in India.

Customs duty cut for brownfield power projects

A Union finance ministry notification has extended the basic customs duty concession applicable on equipment for entirely new (‘greenfield’) power projects to expansion (‘brownfield’) of existing units, too.

FIIs net sold Rs 272 crore in F&O on Wednesday

The foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net sellers of Rs 272.90 crore in futures and options segments on Wednesday.

Asian Paints Q3 net surges over threefold to Rs 212 cr

Paint manufacturer Asian Paints today said its consolidated net profit surged over threefold to Rs 211.84 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, over the same period last fiscal.

Steel Exchange to issue securties worth Rs 300 cr

Steel Exchange India has plans to increase the authorised capital of the company. The decision, in this regard, is expected to be taken in company"s board meeting on January 22.

Toyota Motor Corp bets on fuel efficiency

The world’s biggest carmaker by sales, Toyota Motor Corp, is developing 10 per cent more fuel-efficient small car for launch in India by early 2011 to beat market leaders Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai.

ONGC\'s Dahej complex to be anchor tenant at PCPIR

State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp"s Rs 13,000 crore Dahej complex will be the anchor tenant at the proposed special area for chemical and petrochemicals industry in the Gujarat city that may attract a total of Rs 50,000 crore of investment.

Suzlon completes retrofit prog of wind turbine blades

India"s largest wind turbine manufacturer Suzlon Energy has said it completed the worldwide programme for strengthening and reinforcing a certain set of blades, which suffered cracks.

Toyota can leave: chavez

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez ordered an investigation of Toyota Motor Corp, saying the world’s largest carmaker “can leave” should it fail to meet production quotas and technology-transfer laws.

Maruti exports 1 lakh A-Star in 11 months

The country"s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) today said its flagship export model, A-Star, has crossed 1 lakh-mark of overseas shipments in less than a year of selling the car in the global markets.

Ford to invest $2.3 billion for expansion in Brazil

Ford Motor Co said it will spend 4 billion reais ($2.3 billion) to expand in the growing Brazilian market, the largest investment it has made in the country.

Ford\'s union workers said to reject givebacks US rivals got

Ford Motor Co hourly employees have rejected contract concessions the automaker said it needed to remain competitive with its US rivals, said two people familiar with the outcome of the voting.

Take a long-term view on contra moves

In the first three-and-a-half weeks of trading in the new year, the Bombay Stock Exchange’s Sensitive Index, or the Sensex, has been range bound – a phase that many market experts would call a consolidation phase. And there are expectations that after the Union Budget, the market could enter a correction phase as well.

FIIs net bought Rs 14 crore in F&O on Monday

The foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net buyers of Rs 14.90 crore in futures and options segments on Monday.

FIIs net sellers Rs 692cr in F&O on Tuesday

The Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were net sellers of Rs 692.18 crore in futures and options segments on Tuesday.

A new Amar Singh

Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh spent the New Year in Dubai. Singh, who is reinventing himself, writes in his blog: “Off (sic) late, my level of sensibility and sense of political responsibility have taken a back seat. I have learnt to take personal criticism in my stride and for the first time in my political career I am giving more preference to my family. I have chosen to ignore the council elections in Uttar Pradesh. No one is indispensable. I am desperate to create my political dispensability to avoid unnecessary tension and a lot of hard work which is detrimental to my present health and against my doctor’s advice. I am an eternal optimist ... I want to reinvent myself as family oriented person…”

Spice exports decline 1.3% in April-October

Exports of spices fell 1.3 per cent in volume and 1.6 per cent in value during the April-October period of the current financial year.

Trent to hire 4,000 for Star Bazaar stores

Hypermarket Trent will hire over 4,000 people at its Star Bazaar stores over the next 14 months, a top company official today said.

Monsanto India Q3 net rises 19% to Rs 15 cr

Monsanto India posted 19.4 per cent increase in net profit at Rs 14.76 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2009 as against Rs 12.36 crore in the corresponding period last year.

FDs fall out of favour with banks

If you think your money in savings bank account will be automatically converted into fixed deposits (FDs), think again. It may just happen that while you are thinking the idle cash may earn 6-6.5 per cent a year, the prevailing fixed-deposit rate for one-year funds, it may actually continue to fetch only 3.5 per cent.

Navi Mumbai body asks banks to pay cess on gold deals

Public and private sector banks in the Navi Mumbai municipal area which have done gold transactions, will have to pay 1 per cent account-based cess on the total turnover. The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) could be the first civic body in the country to recover such a cess on gold transaction.

Sterlite net up 42.5%

Sterlite Industries (India) Ltd, the country’s largest zinc producer, posted its first increase in quarterly profits in more than a year on higher zinc and aluminum prices. Consolidated net profits after exceptional items rose 42.35 per cent to Rs 731.3 crore on the back of a 49 per cent spike in gross sales for the quarter ended December 2009, the Mumbai-based company said in a statement.

HCL Infosystems net up 1.5%

Hardware and systems integrator company HCL Infosystems posted a 1.5 per cent increase in net profit for the second quarter ended December 31, 2009. Net profit stood at Rs 56.09 crore compared with Rs 55.25 crore in the year-ago period.

M&M net vaults 849% to Rs 413 cr

Tractor and utility vehicle (UV) manufacturer, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), today posted a net profit of Rs 413 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2009. This was an increase of 849 per cent, aided by the low profit base of Rs 43 crore in the same quarter of the previous financial year.

M&A deals slump 41% to $3.3 bn in Q2

The volume of merger and acquisition (M&A) deals by India Inc slumped by 41 per cent to $3.3 billion in the June quarter over the previous three-month period due to the impact of the global economic slowdown, a report by consultancy firm Ernst & Young has said.

Nitin Desai: The 40:40:20 World

Nitin Desai / New Delhi January 21, 2010, 0:25 IST

Post-26/11, India\'s conduct hailed by US Defence Sec

India"s conduct after the Mumbai-terrorist attack by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) has been statesmanlike, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said today, praising the restrain shown by the Indian leadership after 26/11.

Web exclusive: Inclusive growth in the financial sector

There is unanimity in thinking among the intelligentsia that if India is to become an economic power, growth has to be inclusive and touch the lives of millions of people living in rural India. It is heartening to note that the Government is conscious of the fact and has taken unique steps to which will go a long way in alleviating the sufferings of poor people.

Dry winter worries HP farmers

With virtually no rain in Himachal Pradesh for the past four months, farmers are deeply worried over the drought-like conditions in the hill state.

Bharat Nirman: Long on target, short on quality

Economists call it the “U without Q” (utilisation without quality) factor. The expression is now being increasingly used to describe the progress made by Bharat Nirman, considered by many as the jewel in the crown of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

Govt okays 14 FDI proposals worth Rs 732 cr

The government today cleared 14 foreing direct investment (FDI) proposals, including a Rs 273-crore application from Asset Reconstruction Company, which could together bring in foreign investment worth Rs 732.5 crore.

Arvind Subramanian: What Globalisation Strategy?

Arvind Subramanian / January 27, 2010, 0:53 IST

Govt may divest only 10% stake in CIL

State-run Coal India (CIL) today said the government may divest only 10 per cent stake in the PSU in the next fiscal, against the desired 15 per cent, as regulatory provisions bars it from reserving some shares for employees.

Govt plans 2G spectrum to stand-alone winners at Rs 1,658 cr

The government is mulling whether the 2G spectrum can be offered to stand-alone winners of 3G bidders at the price of Rs 1,658 crore for pan India operations -- the amount charged from new players last year.

Sonia, leaders to pay homage to Basu

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and BJP leader L K Advani will pay homage tomorrow to Jyoti Basu who would be given a state funeral.

India agrees to supply additional 30 MW power to Nepal

India has agreed to provide an additional 30 MW of electricity to Nepal, which is facing an acute power shortage.

Telcos revenue drops in Sept qtr: Trai

The telecom industry added a massive 44.21 million new subscribers in the quarter ended September 2009, while the gross revenue of the operators has slipped marginally by 0.65 per cent during the same period, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) said here today.

India Eco Summit: Bharti says didn\'t start tariff war

Bharti Airtel Chief Sunil Mittal today said the company has not initiated any tariff war with the launch of per-second billing and is merely responding to the market needs.

Tata Comm, Qatari co in pact for undersea cable

Tata Communications has signed an agreement with the Qatar-based Qtel for a new undersea cable network that will connect a number of regional operators in the Gulf region with the country.

BSNL floats tender for defence network

State-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has floated a tender for building an exclusive optical fibre cable network for the armed forces in lieu of their vacating radio waves. The network would be auctioned to mobile services’ operators for offering third-generation (3G) services. The tender, which was in the works for a long time, will set in motion the process of vacating spectrum by the defence forces.

MTNL keen on acquisitions in Africa: CMD

Keen to expand its operations abroad, state-owned telecom operator MTNL today said it is keen on entering Africa either by getting a new licence or buying out an existing operator.

BSNL achieves over 20 lakh mobile subscribers

State owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has achieved a subscriber base of over 20 lakh for its mobile services in the Orissa circle.

BSNL selects franchisees for Wimax rollout

State-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has finalised Teracom, Take Solutions, Adishwar and Ampules as partners for rolling out Wimax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access)-based broadband services, on a franchisee model. The company will offer these services in 16 circles on this model.

Australia assures safety of Indian students

Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard has said the country is committed to the education revolution involving international students.

Scomi eyes partners for monorail projects

Malaysia-based Scomi International is scouting for partners to tap the monorail market in India, which is estimated to be around $15 billion (Rs 72,000 crore) in the next five years.

L&T Infotech, Savvion in pact to provide BPM solutions

IT services provider, L&T Infotech, today announced a strategic partnership with Savvion to provide Business Process Management (BPM) solutions. These will be in the areas of business process modeling, implementation and integration solutions and services to its clientele, a press release issued here stated.

Improve connectivity for growth impetus in NE: PwC

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has suggested strengthening of connectivity framework in North-East to provide an impetus for economic development of the region. In its survey report, PwC has suggested that North-East empowers people through inclusive governance. Grassroots plans that are prepared and implemented at the grassroots levels and are consolidated at the district level, could help in the provision of public services according to the needs of people.

HCC Q3 net dips 36% to Rs 15 cr

Construction major Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) reported a 36 per cent drop in net profit for the quarter ended December 31, 2001 at Rs 14.75 crore as against Rs 23.20 crore in the previous corresponding quarter.

Oz cops intensify Garg killer hunt; back Indian advisory

Australian police today stepped up efforts to nab the killer of a 21-year-old Indian and launched a "search and seize" operation to curb street crimes amid a spate of assaults on the community which has led to a whopping 46 per cent slump in student visa applicants from India.

46% drop in Indian students heading to Australia

Hit by international student attack crisis, Australia has experienced a huge decline by 46 per cent of Indians applying for student visas in the country last year, country"s Immigration Department has said.

Sona Koyo back in black with PAT at Rs 6.89 cr

Auto component maker Sona Koyo Steering Systems today reported a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 6.89 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2009, on account of improved efficiencies and stable foreign exchange rates.