Management

Tata Power in position to add 30,000 more consumers by March

Tata Power Company today said it will be able to supply electricity to an additional 30,000 consumers in the city by March next year.

Adani Enterprises Q2 net at Rs 148 cr; declares bonus

Adani Enterprises today reported a 30 per cent growth in consolidated net profit at Rs 147.95 crore for the second quarter ended September 30, 2009.

Indiabulls Power ends at 13% discount

Indiabulls Power ended at Rs 39 at a sharp 13% discount. The counter clocked heavy volumes of 102.76 million shares on the BSE.

Govt to mull 10 SEZ withdrawal proposals on Nov 5

As many as 10 SEZ promoters have approached the Commerce Ministry to pull out from approved projects as they find the going tough due to the slump in demand for commercial space.

Nilanjana S Roy: A Nobel for Mr Dylan

Nilanjana S Roy / New Delhi September 29, 2009, 0:13 IST

N Murthy sells Rs 177 cr Infy stock for VC fund

Nearly three decades after he co-founded Infosys Technologies with six others, N R Narayana Murthy has initiated the first step towards starting a venture capital (VC) fund focused on India. The Infosys Chairman, during the past two days, has offloaded 800,000 shares from his personal holding, to raise about Rs 177 crore.

Aegon Religare Life Insurance infuses Rs 70 cr capital

The promoters of Aegon Religare Life Insurance today infused fresh capital of Rs 70 crore into the company taking the total base to Rs 465 crore.

LifeCell plans to set up facilities in West Asia

LifeCell International, a stem cell banking services provider, is in the process of raising $10 million from a private equity fund. The firm wants to raise the money for financing clinical trials and for setting up storage facilities for the harvested stem cells.

Realty firms find friends in bankers in 2009

Wiser from last year’s free-fall, realty firms discovered a new mantra in ‘affordable housing’ and found help from banks which offered low interest home loans to build their businesses in 2009.

India Eco Summit: Alstom India in talks with Bhel, NPCIL in planned JV

Alstom India, a subsidiary of French firm Alstom, is in talks with state-run Bhel and Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) to join in as a third partner in their proposed joint-venture.

Activists hold Rajdhani hostage

Five-hour tense standoff in rural Bengal finally ends without violence.

Koda aide surrenders before I-T

Devendra Mukhia, an alleged aide of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, today surrendered before the Income Tax department here which wants to probe his involvement in the alleged hawala and illegal investments case.

L&T Q2 profit rises 26% at Rs 580 cr

Engineering company Larsen & Toubro (L&T) today reported a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 580.40 crore for the second quarter ended September, whereas the same was at Rs 460.26 crore during the corresponding period a year earlier.

Koda\'s arrest imminent: ED sources

The arrest of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is "imminent" as the evidence against him, for allegedly carrying out hawala transactions and illegal investments worth crores of rupees, "is satisfying".

Ashok Leyland may hike commercial vehicle prices by April

Hinduja Group flagship company Ashok Leyland is likely to increase prices of its commercial vehicles across all models by April 2010 to offset rising input costs.

Ashok Leyland to supply 875 ULE buses to DTC this fiscal

Commercial vehicle maker Ashok Leyland has said it would start delivery of the first 50 ultra low entry (ULE) buses to the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) soon as part of its Rs 1,190 crore contract to supply 875 buses this fiscal.

Ashok Leyland to supply 875 ULE buses to DTC this fiscal

Commercial vehicle maker Ashok Leyland has said it would start delivery of the first 50 ultra low entry (ULE) buses to the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) soon as part of its Rs 1,190 crore contract to supply 875 buses this fiscal.

ONGC-Hinduja JV loses Iran\'s oilfield to China co

The JV was supposed to get at least 45 per cent stake

Maruti launches Eeco in Hyderabad

Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) launched its utility vehicle (UV) Eeco in Hyderabad on Wednesday. “The new family car is designed keeping in mind the needs of the Indian customers. Eeco will help us strengthen our presence in the C segment and give us good numbers,” IV Rao, managing executive officer (engineering) of MSIL, told mediapersons here.

Rice procurement up despite low kharif output

In spite of a 15 per cent decline in the kharif rice output, the government’s rice procurement in the ongoing kharif marketing season is marginally up at 14.85 million tonnes due to an increase in purchase from the ‘grain bowl’ states of Punjab and Haryana even though procurement is down in states like Uttar Pradesh (UP), Andhra Pradesh (AP).

Hyundai Motor December sales up 22%

Hyundai Motor India Ltd, the country’s second largest car manufacturer and the largest passenger car exporter ended the year on a high note with domestic sales growing by 42.6 per cent while exports grew by 9 per cent, said a company press release. Cumulative growth stood at 22.6 per cent for the month ending December, 2009.

FIIs net sellers Rs 900cr in F&O on Thursday

The Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were net sellers of Rs 899.75 crore in futures and options segments on Thursday.

Positive returns on the cards, but no sharp surge

Inflation, a number of large issues and high valuations may weigh on indices; Sensex expected to trade at a historical average P/E of 15 on FY11 earnings.

Govt\'s stock mkt kitty zooms by Rs 6.5 lakh cr in 2009

The government could be among the least active investors in the stock markets, but it appears to have come out the winner in terms of returns--its equity portfolio appreciated by about Rs 10 crore in every minute of trade in 2009 resulting in a total gain of Rs 6,50,000 crore.

Cos plan to raise Rs 50K cr in 2010

Domestic companies are expected to embark on a mega fund raising spree this year with plans to raise over Rs 50,000 crore by way of public offers, driven by the sharp recovery in the stock market.

Give tax sops on exports of medical textiles: FICCI

The government should cover the entire chain of manufacturing medical textile for exports under tax benefits for promoting a promising area of growth in the global market, industry body FICCI said.

Small businesses \'engine\' of US economy: Obama

President Barack Obama called small businesses the “engine” of the US economy and said too many are still struggling to get the credit they need to operate.

Now Chandrayaan-II will have Indian rover

ISRO initially planned to have Russian lander, rover for project.

UN chief urges world climate deal by year\'s end

UN chief Ban Ki-moon has pressed world leaders to publicly commit here next week to reaching a global climate change deal in Copenhagen in December.

Bankers don\'t see interest rate spike in next 6 months

Leading bankers do not foresee any rise in the interest rates at least for the next six months and want the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to keep the monetary stance unchanged in its policy review due later in the month.

Chandrayaan-1 was 110% success, says ISRO chief

A day after the path-breaking revelation by the international scientific community that India"s maiden mission to the moon, Chandrayaan-I has succeeded in tracking presence of water on the lunar surface, ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair today said that the mission was 110 per cent success.

Peerless focus on new biz

In keeping with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines for the Residuary Non-Banking Finance Company to exit deposit-taking business by March 2011, Kolkata-based Peerless General Finance & Investment Company scaling down its RBFC operations, while focusing on new business lines like asset and wealth management.

Aban Offshore slumps 8% on sharp drop in net

Aban Offshore slumped over 8% to Rs 1,130 on the back of 65% decline in net profit.

New drug fights flu as well as Tamiflu does: Study

Researchers delivered a double dose of good news today in the fight against flu — successful tests of what could become the first new flu medicine in a decade, and the strongest evidence yet that such drugs save lives, not just shorten illness.

Trai view on capping of licences by Nov-end

Telecom regulator Trai today said it could not give its fresh views on the crucial issue of capping of licences by September 5 as licensing policy needed a closer look for the growth of the industry.

Roche\'s SLP against Cipla order quashed

The Supreme Court today dismissed a special leave petition (SLP) filed by multinational drug major Hoffman-La Roche challenging a Delhi High court order of April that allowed domestic drug major Cipla to sell a generic version of lung cancer drug Tarceva (erlotinib) in India.

Declare Ambani MoU illegal, govt asks SC

It treats KG gas as personal property of the brothers, says SLP.

BoB net jumps 17.5%

With a modest rise in net interest income (NII) and decline in treasury income, Bank of Borada (BoB) has posted a net profit growth of 17.5 per cent to Rs 832.49 crore for the quarter ended December compared to Rs 708.37 crore recorded in the same period of the previous year.

DLF gains on metro rail fund raising plans

DLF rallied nearly 3% to Rs 373. The scrip touched an intra-day high of Rs 376. Around 3.9 million shares changed hands at the counter as against its two-week average traded quantity of 3.8 million shares.

Glenmark Generics launches hypertension drug in US

Glenmark Generics Ind, USA (GGI), the US subsidiary of Glenmark Generics and a leading company in the manufacture, marketing and distribution of high-quality, low-cost generic pharmaceutical products in the US, initiated the launch of Fosinopril Sodium and Hydrochlorothiazide tablets in the US market.

Zenotech moves CLB to remove Ranbaxy-appointed board members

Pharma firm Zenotech has approached the Company Law Board (CLB) seeking removal of two of its board members, appointed by Ranbaxy, alleging "operational mismanagement".

Emami\'s bio-diesel project in doldrums

Emami Ltd, the Rs 2000 crore FMCG major, is currently recording zero sales of biodiesel, following a circular issued this month by the ministry of petroleum, virtually banning the sale of bio-diesel.

Dabur plans big expansion in skin care, to launch new brand

FMCG major Dabur is stepping up expansion in the skin care segment, on the back of its acquisition of Fem Care Pharma last year, with plans to expand range of products from the latter"s stable besides launching a new brand of its own.

Fisheries board to call tenders for shrimp seed mfg facility soon

The National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) is preparing to call tenders in a month for construction of various facilities for the specific pathogen-free (SPF) shrimp seed (Penaeus monodon – black tiger prawn) multiplication centre at Mulapolam village in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh.

Taro acquisition may cost Sun Pharma Rs 1,000 cr

Indian drug firm Sun Pharma may have to shell out up to Rs 1,000 crore this fiscal for acquiring Israel-based Taro Pharmaceuticals.

Economy likely to grow by 9% next fiscal: E&Y

The Indian economy may grow by 9 per cent in the next fiscal on the back of strong industrial growth and rising domestic consumption, global consultant Ernst and Young today said.

Pyramid Saimira moves SAT against Sebi order

Chennai-based entertainment company Pyramid Saimira Theatre Limited (PSTL) has moved the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) against market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi)’s order, which had banned the company in November 2009 from trading in the Indian securities market for seven years following irregularities in its initial pubic offering (IPO).

\'India\'s concerns on non-binding emission cuts met at Summit\'

India"s concerns on non-binding emission cuts have been met at the Copenhagen summit though the climate deal does open a window for a new legal treaty that may kill Kyoto Protocol based on principle of equity, a top government climate expert said today.

Andhra orders CBI probe into YSR\'s chopper crash

The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to order a CBI inquiry into the helicopter crash in which former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy and four others died.

Aditi Phadnis: Son-rise in Andhra?

- Succession race hots up in AP - AP Cabinet wants YSR"s son Jagan as next CM - YSR"s death may hit infra companies - V V: Gray"s anatomy of the mind">V V: Gray"s anatomy of the mind - India has lost an outstanding leader: Manmohan Singh - PM, Sonia pay homage to YSR

Stimulus packages will have to be withdrawn slowly: Rangarajan

The Prime Minister’s economic panel today said the government and the RBI will have to slowly withdraw the stimulus packages given during the slowdown once the economy begins to show surer signs of recovery.

Foreign pharma firms likely to beat Indian ones in developing vaccine

Despite the best efforts of Indian vaccine makers to develop the H1N1(swine flu) vaccine, Swiss drug major Novartis and Australian vaccine maker CSL may be the first ones to bag the orders from the central government for its supply.

Suzlon enters Swedish market

Suzlon Energy has forayed into the Swedish market with its first order coming from Triventus AB, a wind power developer and consultant. The order is for two S88-2.1 megawatt wind turbines. Suzlon will also sign service and maintenance partnership contracts with a subsidiary of Triventus for future projects in Sweden, the company said in a statement to the stock exchanges.

Posco to treat encroachers on a par with the displaced

Compensation to squatters would push up land acquisition cost.

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.

Uttam Galva zooms 10% on ArcelorMittal deal

The stock ended at its 10% upper circuit of Rs 125. The counter clocked volumes of 1.26 million shares as compared to the two-week daily average traded volumes of 913,935 shares on the BSE. The scrip surged 111% in a month.

Uttam Galva not opposed to merger with ArcelorMittal

Mid-size steel maker Uttam Galva Steels said today it is not opposed to merger with the world’s largest steel producer ArcelorMittal and is open to all options aimed at taking the company to “new heights.”

Christmas season brings cheers for handicraft exporters

The Christmas season has brought cheers for the Indian handicraft exporters as overseas shipments shot up by nearly fivefold to $26.32 million (around Rs 122 crore) in October, thanks to the economic revival in some of the western economies.

Beef up security for public, pvt aircraft fleet: Centre

With rising terror threat, the Centre today asked states to beef up security for both public and private aircraft fleet and aviation facilities, including abandoned airstrips, and carry out drills on a regular basis.

Centre, states to discuss land issues tomorrow

The issues of land acquisition and ways to remove problems faced by foreign and domestic investors, especially at the implementation stage, are likely to come up at a meeting the Centre will hold with state industry ministers here tomorrow.

ArcelorMittal buys 13.8% in Czech arm

The world"s largest steel maker, ArcelorMittal, today said it would acquire additional 13.8 per cent stake in its Czech arm ArcelorMittal Ostrava for $404.3 million (around Rs 1,900 crore).

ArcelorMittal in talks with Jharkhand for Chiria mines

Global steel major ArcelorMittal, which has lined up Rs 1 lakh crore investments for India, said today it is in the race for a chunk of the mineral-rich Chiria mines in Jharkhand.

The indefinitive list

Compiling a bunch of unforgettables from Indian cinema is bound to create room for argument. Suveen Sinha finds plenty to disagree with M K Raghavendra’s 50 Indian Film Classics

V V: Rediscovering the history of India

Christopher Hill (1912-2003), the brilliant British Marxist historian, reminded us that history and politics were two sides of the same coin. Which meant that historians were primarily interested in ideas not only because they influence societies but also because they reveal the societies that give rise to them. It also means that since politics is always in a state of flux, history had to be rewritten in every generation because, although the past doesn’t change, the present does; each generation asks questions of the past and finds new areas of sympathy as it relives different aspects of the experiences of its predecessors. Some such motivation has given rise to the recent crop of “revised” Indian histories from Ramachandra Guha’s India After Gandhi, Sunil Khilani’s The Idea of India and Nandan Nilekani’s Imagining India. And now we have Meghnad Desai’s The Rediscovery of India (Allen Lane/Penguin Books, Rs 699) that traverses the same passage of India from colonialism to a modern state.

FII-TO-FII TRADES: PNB traded at 6% premium

Trades between FIIs generated a volume of Rs 57 crore on the BSE Tuesday-an decrease of 13.67% from Rs 67 crore clocked on Monday. As many as six stocks witnessed trades of 5.36 lakh shares on Tuesday.

Wheat sowing up on favourable climate

The area under wheat rose a marginal 2 per cent this year on favourable climatic conditions. Late monsoon left adequate moisture content in the soil that suited the wheat sowing for this rabi season.

Unions against taxing savings schemes on withdrawal

The central trade unions would press for shelving a proposal that wants to tax withdrawals from savings schemes, including provident funds, at the pre-Budget meeting with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on January 14.

UN climate summit opens amid calls for early action

A crucial UN climate summit opened here today amid calls for "early action" to combat the threat and with the hope that emission reductions promised by key countries had put the world closer to a global warming control pact.

A clean, free-flowing Ganga by 2020: Government

The Centre has expressed confidence that by 2020 the polluted river Ganga would be cleaned and Rs 15,000 crore will be spent on it. “The Union government is confident to clean the holy Ganga river by 2020 and Rs 15,000 crore will be spent for this purpose under the river development fund,” Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said here.

Protesters hold blockades, transport hit

Even as Union Home Minister P Chidambaram appealed to political parties in Andhra Pradesh to restore peace, transport across the state was crippled on Tuesday.

State gears up for Telangana bandh

Even as the Telangana Sadhana Joint Action Committee (JAC) is all set to enforce a bandh tomorrow pressing for a separate statehood to Telangana, the students at Osmania University have ‘urged’ the people to boycott New Year celebrations in support of separate state.

\'Consolidation will happen in the domestic drug industry\'

P B Jayakumar / Mumbai September 25, 2009, 0:10 IST

Healthy demand outlook

A revival in the US financial services sector and better cost management would help TCS sustain profitable growth.

IT breathes again

Business Standard / New Delhi October 22, 2009, 0:54 IST

Oman ready to re-enter Bina refinery

Offers $250 million for 26 per cent stake.

BPCL posts 62-fold rise in net

State-run Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) has posted a 62-fold increase in net profit of Rs 3,628 crore during the quarter ended March 2009 against Rs 58.4 crore in the year-ago period. The rise came on the back of higher oil bonds received and over-recovery on sale of fuel products.

Reliance Life IPO likely in Q1 of next fiscal: Ghosh

Anil Ambani Group"s life insurance venture Reliance Life expects to tap the capital market with its initial public offer in the first quarter of next fiscal, a top company official said here.

R-Infra gets Rs 1,000-cr contract from Gujarat govt

Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG)’s flagship company Reliance Infrastructure Ltd (R-Infra) has won a Rs 1,000-crore road project from the Gujarat government, within a week after winning the Rs 1,725-crore Pune-Satara Road project from the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

Mamata, CPM heat on land, railways in LS

The row between the CPI(M) and its arch rival, the Trinamool Congress (TC), over land refuses to die. After the land acquisition issue played a crucial role in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal, it became a hot topic again today, as the CPI(M) and the TC locked horns during the Railway Budget discussion in the Lok Sabha.

Eight companies show interest in Rajpura thermal plant

As many as eight power companies have shown interest in setting up a 1,320 Mw thermal Plant near Rajpura in Patiala.

GMR initiates plans for 800-Mw, Rs 3,200-cr coal power plant

GMR Infrastructure, the Rs 4,500-crore Bangalore-based infrastructure developer with a focus on power generation, airports development, highways and urban infrastructure, is understood to be initiating plans for an 800-Mw coal-fired power plant on the eastern coast of India.

And the winner is...

Presenting the Business Standard Motoring Awards 2010.

Areva T&D: No pricing power

The Areva T&D stock has given up about 21 per cent since the start of July. The very average results for the June 2009 quarter have left the Street disappointed. The fact that the global transmission and distribution (T&D) business has been put on the block hasn’t helped.

Areva T&D bags order from Hindalco

French power equipment maker Areva"s Indian arm, Areva T&D, today said it has bagged an order from aluminium major Hindalco for erecting 440 kilo volt (Kv) substations at its plants in Singrauli (Madhya Pradesh) and Sambalpur (Orissa).

Nano vendors will shift to Sanand by March

Nearly 60 vendors will move to the vendor park at Tata Nano’s Sanand plant by March next year. The rollout of the car is set for the January to March quarter, and vendors will feed the plant at existing locations till they shift.

Tata Motor begins distribution of Prima World Trucks

Tata Motors has started distribution of its Prima range of World Trucks, unveiled in May. The first product, the Prima 4028 S, is a 40-tonne 266-PS (Cummins ISBE engine) tractor with a 9-speed ZF transmission, a matching trailer with new generation brakes, ABS and specialised axles for heavy-duty and high-speed application. The tractor’s air-conditioned cabin includes reclining seats, adjustable steering wheels and arm rests for driver comfort. It has got sleepers to facilitate long-distance travel.

Have fun while you run

The setting is very playful with a fit Mahendra Singh Dhoni asking an even fitter Bipasha Basu out on a date. She agrees, only if he can beat her in a race. The next morning, the two set out to race. Basu creates hurdles for Dhoni by distracting people on the way. Thus, when he finally makes it to the finish line, she’s already waiting for him, but is willing to give him a second chance.

Divestment to gain steam from April

30 companies in queue for Cabinet nod in Jan

SBI net declines 8.4 per cent

For the first time in four-and-a-half years, State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest lender, on Monday reported a decline in its consolidated net profit.

Low rates help banks post robust growth

Low interest rates helped banks report healthy growth in the third quarter of the current financial year.

NTPC asks govt to abolish import duty on coal

The country"s largest power producer NTPC has asked the government for abolition of import duty on coal, which currently stands at 8 per cent.

Manufacturing reaches top in 7 months, says HSBC study

India"s manufacturing sector in December climbed to its highest level since May 2009 signalling a faster monthly improvement in the key economic activity, an HSBC survey said today.

CRR hike slightly aggressive, int rates not seen rising now

Economists were "slightly surprised" by the extent of hike (75 basis points) in mandatory cash reserves of banks held by the Reserve Bank, but felt that the apex bank"s move was strongly influenced by rising inflationary pressures.

Bank chiefs plot regulatory response

Brian Moynihan, Oswald Gruebel and Josef Ackermann, leaders of some of the world’s biggest banks, met during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to plot how to reassert their influence with regulators and governments.

Sign up for do-call, shun telemarketers

Do-call registry to curb unwanted calls

Sugar mills get a bitter taste over power tariff

Energy-starved Karnataka has deferred a decision on purchasing power from cogeneration sugar mills in the state.

ICICI open to domestic acquisition

India’s largest private sector lender ICICI Bank on Sunday ruled out overseas acquisitions, but said it is open to buying local banks to increase presence and business within the country. “We are not looking at global mergers or takeover or anything.

Self-employed? Don\'t worry

Borrowing can be an easy process if financial records are well-maintained

Krishna for expedited probe into assaults; speaks to Aussi FM

Concerned over the continuous assaults on Indians in Australia, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna today spoke to his Australian counterpart asking him to expedite the investigations in these incidents.

BJP, not Yeddy, likely to take legal action against Gowda

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa is not likely to initiate any legal action against former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda for using unparliamentary language against him but the state unit of BJP has threatened to file a suit against the JD(S) Chief.

Reliance Power profit rises 26%

The Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group’s Reliance Power today reported a 26.45 per cent rise in its third quarter consolidated net profit at Rs 133.64 crore, against Rs 105.68 crore in the year-ago period.

China auto biz enters India

Chinese auto component manufacturers are quietly making inroads into India. Over 100-odd companies, ranging from the largest truck engine manufacturer FAW Group, to medium-sized players like gear-box maker Weichai Power, are at the 10th Auto Expo in Delhi showcasing their products to the local commercial vehicle manufacturers.

World climate event set for March 27

Millions of people from Sydney to Sweden are set to switch off their lights on March 27, as part of the global "Earth Hour" campaign to highlight climate change, organisers said today.

UN climate panel to review claim on natural disasters: report

Controversy-ridden UN climate panel has said it is reassessing another of its claim for linking global warming to an increase in the number and severity of natural disasters, bringing fresh embarrassment to it.

Oz opposition leader suggests mature immigration debate

Candidly favouring immigration, opposition leader Tony Abbott today asked Australians to have "a mature debate about immigration without being branded racist."

Hard times for climate scientists

Business Standard / New Delhi January 24, 2010, 0:29 IST

The game changers

Those who seized the opportunity and made a difference.

PM stresses more spending on science & Tech

India needs to scale up its spending on Science and Technology from the current level of expenditure in this field which stands a one per cent of the GDP, said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

LG India to invest Rs 200 cr in SMB biz

Consumer electronics major LG Electronics India today said it will invest Rs 200 crore over the next three years in IT business as it forays into the small and medium businesses (SMB) segment.

One step forward: Bengal to buy land for private projects again

The decision was reached after political consensus; sellers offered land-for-land deal

Gold imports may touch 40 tonnes in Sept

Gold imports are likely to increase two fold in September at 40 tonnes compared to last month due to spike in demand ahead of Diwali and the ongoing marriage season.

India\'s climate change stand invited criticism in 2009

Challenges posed by climate change hit centrestage in 2009 which saw the government doing a flip-flop ahead of the crucial Copenhagen summit even as the Opposition and experts alleged that India succumbed to pressure from rich nations on emission cuts.

Maruti posts 48% growth

Maruti Suzuki India Limited, the passenger car leader in the domestic market has posted 48 per cent growth in its sales in Orissa during the April-August period of 2009-10 compared to the same period of the previous fiscal.

Suzuki to invest Rs 1,500 cr for global R&D hub in India

Japanese auto giant Suzuki today announced an investment of up to Rs 1,500 crore in the next 6-7 years for setting up a research and development (R&D) centre in India, which will be the company"s global small car R&D hub.

Sensex off day\'s high; metal index up 3%

The Sensex has erased some of its gains and is now at 17,666, up 109 points. The NSE Nifty is at 5,267, up 34 points.

World Gold Council appoints Ian Telfer as new Chairman

World Gold Council (WGC) has announced the appointment of Ian Telfer as its new Chairman.

Gold Q3 demand dip by 49%: WGC

Demand for gold waned by 49 per cent in the third quarter this year over the corresponding period last year, thanks to a surge in its prices, the World Gold Council (WGC) said today.

Fertilising change

Business Standard / New Delhi December 18, 2009, 0:21 IST

NIIT Tech scales 52-week high, ends off day\'s high

NIIT Technologies surged 3% to settle at Rs 130. The counter clocked a volume of 4.82 million shares as against its two-week average traded quantity of 321,073 shares.

PM to meet Plan panel

As the Budget preparation for the next financial year (2010-11) gathers momentum, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called for a full Plan panel meeting on Wednesday to take stock of the overall condition of the economy. The meeting would be attended by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, along with all the eight members of the Commission.

Power Min seeks 56% raise in outlay

With states speeding up distribution reforms in the power sector, the requirement for Central funds has gone up by over a half in the next financial year.

Jindal Power files DRHP with Sebi

Jindal Power, a subsidiary of Jindal Steel & Power (JSPL), has filed a Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) for a public issue of equity shares through 100 per cent book building method.

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.

Rs 120-cr NTPC scam: CBI team to visit England soon

A two-member CBI team will soon leave for Britain to follow the trail of about Rs 120 crore allegedly received by an Indian entity from a Russian firm to secure an equipment supply order from the state-owned power major NTPC.

Offers that lead to despair

Beware of investment products that promise the moon.

Chit funds generate 3.4% of household savings: Study

The popularity of the ‘parallel banking service’ continues to rise

Jubilant Foodworks to raise up to Rs 300 cr via IPO

Jubilant Foodworks, which runs the Indian franchise for global fast food chain Domino"s Pizza, today filed an application with market regulator Sebi for an initial public offering (IPO) to raise up to Rs 300 crore.

Advance tax mop-up hints at good show by India Inc

Treasury receipts much better than this time last year.

Prompt action from RBI if inflation demand driven: Dy Gov

Amid rising food inflation, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) today said it will take "prompt action" if it felt the price rise is due to demand factors.

FICCI seeks more sops to bolster economy

Industry body FICCI today sought more fiscal sops in the 2010-11 budget to prop up the economy.

Range bound trading continues

Support at 5,150, resistance at 5,300.

Banks credit-deposit ratio declines to 61.31%

With the economic slowdown impacting the demand for credit, the credit-deposit (CD) ratio of the commercial banks in Orissa declined by 4.08 percent by the end of September compared to the same period last fiscal.

Sebi bars 3 mkt players from trading for three years

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has debarred three market players from dealing in securities for three years for manipulating trading in shares of Nissan Copper.

Soren to prove majority on Jan 7

Top BJP leaders skip JMM chief’s oath-taking ceremony.

IPO guidelines within 15 days: IRDA

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) today said it would come with initial public offer guidelines for the insurance sector within a fortnight to allow companies to raise funds from the capital market.

Volvo raises vehicle prices by 3-4%

Volvo Trucks India today said it has increased prices of its vehicles by 3-4 per cent starting this year on account of rising input costs.

Mutual Funds splurge Rs 600 cr on wooing retail investors

Rise in portfolio value triggers higher dividends.

Dalal Street to take New Year break

The country"s bourses will join their global counterparts tomorrow to welcome the new year with a holiday.

JSW Steel may abandon Mozambique coal mines

JSW Steel plans to abandon its coal mining project in Mozambique because of higher than expected ash content in the coking coal.

Global tie-ups, private labels to be buzzwords in retail this year

Tie-ups with international retailers and brands, emphasis on profitable growth and increased focus on private labels are set to be key trends in the Indian retail sector in 2010, say retailers and consultants Business Standard spoke to.

Global tie-ups, private labels to be buzzwords in retail this year

Tie-ups with international retailers and brands, emphasis on profitable growth and increased focus on private labels are set to be key trends in the Indian retail sector in 2010, say retailers and consultants Business Standard spoke to.

BofA repays US govt entire bailout money

The Bank of America (BofA) has repaid the US government the entire bailout money of $45 billion. The Department of the Treasury announced yesterday that it has received full repayment on its Troubled Asset Relief Programme (TARP) investments in Bank of America in the sum of $45 billion.

SCI gains on plans of new buy

Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) has gained in early trades on plans of purchasing new container ships.

Fortis gains on Rs 250cr investment plans

The stock soared to a high of Rs 136 and finally ended at Rs 134, up 4% from its previous close. The counter clocked volumes of 1.75 million shares as compared to the two-week daily average traded volumes of 466,405 shares on the BSE. ______________________________________________________

Opto Circuits raises Rs 400 cr from QIP issue

Bangalore-based maker of medical diagnostic equipment, Opto Circuits (India) Limited has raised Rs 400 crore from qualified institutional buyers (QIBs).

Dr Reddy\'s Lab rises 2.3%

The stock jumped 2.3 per cent to Rs 1,204.55 after the company said Phase-III clinical trial for its anti-diabetic molecule balaglitazone achieved the set parameters.

Gas row: Govt says NTPC deal not the same as pvt accord

Government today filed its affidavit in the Supreme Court on the ongoing gas row between the Ambani brothers saying that the arrangement for public sector NTPC cannot be equated with any agreement between RIL and RNRL.

DoT wing seeks clarity on 3G licence fees

Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) wing, the highest policymaking wing of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has sought clarifications from the department on the licence fees that need to be paid by successful bidders of third generation (3G) auction for acquiring a unified access service licence (UASL).

Wockhardt, Sun get US okay for generic drug

Indian drug companies Wockhardt and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries have received final approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to market generic versions of Nicardipine, the hypertension drug.

Caraco looking at shifting production to India

Also considering selling some of its third-party products.

Cadbury rejects Kraft takeover bid

British confectionery group Cadbury today rejected a takeover bid from US giant Kraft Foods, describing the offer as insufficient.

Sun Pharma, Forest settle US suit on Lexapro

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries and its subsidiary, Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories, have reached a settlement agreement with drugmaker Forest Laboratories and licensing partner H Lundbeck AS, over a pending patent infringement dispute over Forest’s blockbuster antidepressant, Lexapro.

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.

Top 8 cos add Rs 23,000 cr last week

As many as eight out of the top 10 most valued companies added over Rs 23,000 crore to their market capitalisation in the last week.

Festive season fails to revive paint sales

The sale of paints and colouring items for households is witnessing almost 25 per cent fall compared with last year despite the ongoing festive season.

Oil rises above $72 ahead of US company results

Oil prices rose above $72 a barrel today in Asia as investors looked to a slew of US corporate earnings reports this week for signs of economic recovery.

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.

US fund house exits ONGC over Sudan investments

US fund house TIAA-CREF has exited Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) and other Chinese energy firms over their investments in war-torn Sudan, but the Indian company said its operations did not support suppressive activities anywhere in the world.

Petrobras to exit ONGC block, Shell keen to buy

Brazil"s Petrobras has decided to quit Oil and Natural Gas Corp"s (ONGC) prolific gas discovery block in the Krishna Godavari basin, a vacancy that Royal Dutch/Shell and BP Plc are keen to fill-in.

Sunanda K Datta-Ray: It\'s payback time

Sunanda K Datta-Ray / New Delhi November 21, 2009, 0:08 IST

Experts divided over predatory pricing

Even as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has started investigating into the complaints of predatory pricing offered by some of the new operators, experts are divided over whether the current scenario actually resembles predatory pricing.

NK rides again

This is the second volume of essays/columns by NK Singh, or NK as he is generally known. These essays span the period of summer 2007 to summer 2009. The first thing that strikes the reader about these columns is the extraordinary variety of topics, ranging from the management of global economic risks to issues of Parliamentary oversight to a blueprint for the revival of Nalanda University. To anyone who knows NK, such variety and range would come as no surprise. Indeed, I was mildly disappointed not to find an essay on the challenges of nurturing roses or one on the finer points of photography, both of which figure among NK’s manifold interests.

Sectoral package for exporters soon, says Sharma

The Commerce Ministry will announce sops for select exporters in the next few days, contrary to the Finance Ministry pitching for a roll-back of the stimulus packages to the industry.

Prepare for more range-trading

The market turned weak on the cusp of settlement and made a partial recovery in the first session of the December settlement. The Nifty ended with a net week-on-week loss of 2.2 per cent, closing at 4,941.75 points while the Sensex was down 2.3 per cent at 16,632 points. The Defty lost 2.5 percent with the rupee losing ground.


News of the day
Government requests SC Bench to avoid interpreting PSC
The government today requested the Supreme Court Bench adjudicating the gas dispute between Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and Reliance Natural Resources Ltd (RNRL) to avoid making any interpretation of the production sharing contract (PSC).
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Oil weakens in Asian trade on profit-taking
Oil fell in Asian trade today on profit-taking after overnight gains driven by hopes for improved demand as the global economy recovers, analysts said.

Experts divided over predatory pricing
Even as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has started investigating into the complaints of predatory pricing offered by some of the new operators, experts are divided over whether the current scenario actually resembles predatory pricing.