The Hindu Business Line : Thursday, August 17, 2006

INSIGHT
Privatisation with market, price protection?
The regulatory bodies have become convenient tools to exercise control even after the induction of the private sector in key areas of the economy. The private sector and the votaries of reform do not mind all this very much. If Government itself `all ots' markets, dilutes competition and assures prices, what more could one ask for? More

FOREX
Rupee gains against dollar
The rupee strengthened against the dollar on Wednesday on the back of foreign funds flowing into the equity markets. The currency opened at 46.55/57 and moved in a narrow range of 46.53-46.59, finally ending at 46.58, higher than ... More

LIFE INSURANCE
LIC plans Bima Gold clone launch in September
Life Insurance Corporation of India intends to come out with a product that is "akin to and an improved version of" its last year's "highly successful" product Bima Gold, the LIC Managing Director, Mr Thomas Mathew, told Business Line ... More

GENERAL INSURANCE
Insurance cos brace up for flood claims in Surat
Tally overshadows that of Mumbai floods More

DEBT MARKET
Bond prices gain
The bond market gained as it found support on expectations of weak US Consumer Price Index data, scheduled to be released later on Wednesday. The bonds recovered the losses on account of the auction announcement, said dealers. ... More

RBI & OTHER CENTRAL BANKS
RBI tightens rules for NRI homes
NRIs and persons of Indian origin can no longer buy property in India using travellers' cheques or foreign currency. Payments must be made only through normal banking channels, according to Reserve Bank of India. The RBI ... More

PRIVATE BANKS
ICICI Bank new branch in Yelahanka
ICICI Bankon Wednesday opened a branch in Yelahanka New Town. The branch would offer the entire range of ICICI Bank products, including a wide range of deposits, home and personal loans, mutual funds and other investment services ... More

SHORT TERM INSTRUMENTS
Call rates unchanged
Call rates were between 6.00 and 6.10 per cent. In the first one-day reverse repo auction under LAF, Reserve Bank of India received and accepted 16 bids amounting to Rs 15,105 crore and in the second one-day reverse repo auction, ... More

CREDIT CARDS & DEBIT CARDS
BoR unveils healthcare scheme
Bank of Rajasthan, in association with VISA, has launched a healthcare scheme for the bank's gold credit card holders. Under this scheme, the credit card holders can avail themselves of 10-30 per cent discounts on hospital bills in selected ... More

TRADE & LABOUR UNIONS
SBI Mumbai circle officers plan strike
Around 4,000 officers from State Bank of India branches in Maharashtra and Goa, under Mumbai Circle, will go on a one-day token strike on August 17, to protest the "inhuman and insensitive attitude of the management," said Mr ... More

BOOKS
Down memory lane with P.G. Kakodkar
My 40 years with SBI, an autobiography by Mr P.G. Kakodkar, former Chairman, SBI, has some interesting nuggets on some of the controversial issues in banking during the seventies and eighties. Here are some of ... More