The Hindu Business Line : Tuesday, January 01, 2008

CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
Spate of high-end gadgets spurred durables’ growth
New Delhi, Dec. 31 The consumer durable industry was on a high growth trajectory this year. Durable makers of all hues zealously wooed the rising consuming class with their offerings, each trying to outdo the other in branding, products ... More

ECONOMY
High growth rate to repeat in 2008
Chidambaram strikes confident note More

Shaking up development finance in Latin America
More

External debt up 5.5% in quarter-ended Sept 2007
New Delhi, Dec 31 The country’s external debt rose 5.5 per cent to $190.5 billion at end-September 2007, an increase of $9.9 billion over the external debt level of $180.6 billion at end-June 2007. About $5 billion of this ... More

An expert view on current account deficit
Mumbai, Dec 31 Dr Ajit Ranade, Chief Economist, AV Birla group, runs through the latest Balance of Payments figures for Business Line.If you take the trade deficit and annualise it, it goes up to $80 billion which is ... More

INFRASTRUCTURE
Nabard sanctions Rs 537 cr to AP
Hyderabad, Dec 31 The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has sanctioned Rs 537.24 crore to Andhra Pradesh.The amount, released under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund, would be used for taking up 1,159 ... More

PETROLEUM
PY-3 resumes production; development plan approved
Chennai, Dec. 31 ONGC, which has a 40 per cent interest in the PY-3 oilfield in the Bay of Bengal, last week gave its approval for a $90-million development plan. Now that this long-awaited approval has come, the operator of the field, the ... More

Will airlines pass on gains from lower fuel prices?
ATF COSTS 4% LESS More

POWER
BSE-Power index star performer
Mumbai, Dec. 31 The top performers of 2007 amongst the thirteen odd BSE-indices were not just driven by corporate growth but also helped along by reforms in Government policy.The BSE-Power index, which topped the indices list in growth, ... More

Mutual fund schemes with power sector exposure sparkle
Mumbai, Dec 31 Mutual fund schemes targeted at investments in power sector stocks have emerged as the market leader in terms of growth in net asset values in 2007, according to Mr Lokesh Nathany, national head, wealth management & PMS, ... More

STEEL
Steel prices may go up by Rs 800-1,000 per tonne
New Delhi, Dec. 31 Increase in the international steel prices and rising input costs could see steel prices in the domestic market go up between Rs 800 and Rs 1,000 per tonne in January. Industry sources said that a decision by all the major ... More

TAXATION
Cashew industry wants service tax on brokerage to go
Urges Centre to increase Duty Entitlement Passbook Scheme rates More

TEXTILES
Textile expo bets big on emerging investors
‘Time for industry to dwell on newer machineries’ More

SSI
BHEL association’s initiative
The BHEL Small Industries’ Association, facilitated by the United Nation’s Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), has kick-started a major initiative to provide health and safety care to employees in Tiruchi Fabrication Cluster. ... More

COAL
Singareni Collieries plans Rs 3,600-cr capex
Funds for opening 27 new mines; may hike coal prices More

AUTOMOBILE COMPONENTS
Auto parts sector sees tough times ahead
More

MEDICAL & SURGICAL EQUIPMENTS
FICCI seeks single authority to regulate medical devices sector
New Delhi, Dec. 31 In response to the proposed Drugs and Cosmetic Amendment Bill on concerns of the medical devices industry, FICCI has written to the Government recommending numerous measures including separately defining the term ... More

LEATHER
East India leather: Tiruchi export body plea
Tiruchi, Dec. 31 The Tiruchi Tanners’ Association has sought facilitation for exporting East India leather (a type of semi-processed leather) through removal of duties.In a memorandum submitted to the Union Ministry of Commerce ... More

READYMADE GARMENTS
Another apparel training centre opened in TN
More

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
5 space launches lined up in the new year
Bangalore, Dec. 31 Indian space is expected to transit from one eventful year to a new high in 2008. The crowning glory will be the lunar orbiter mission, Chandrayaan-1, which is slated for April 9.If 2007 was a good ... More

Keltec formally handed over to BrahMos Aerospace
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec. 31 The State Government-owned Kerala Hitech Industries Ltd (Keltec) was today formally handed over to BrahMos Aerospace. Speaking on the occasion, the Union Defence Minister, Mr A. K. Antony, said that BrahMos ... More

Science congress concludes
The 15th National Children Science Congress (NCSC) organised by the Jidnyasa Trust and Vidya Pratishthan at Baramati concluded today with a promise to take the research work of child scientists further. The Congress has declared 25 best projects ... More

MINERALS
Steel Ministry calls for ad-valorem duty on iron ore exports
New Delhi, Dec. 31 The Steel Ministry has advised the Finance Ministry to consider imposing export duty on iron ore on an ad-valorem basis in place of the current specific rate of customs duty from the next financial year. Sources told ... More

RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Dakshina Kannada achieves 100% financial inclusion
Mangalore, Dec 31 Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka has achieved total financial inclusion. At a function here recently, Mr M. Maheshwara Rao, Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada, handed over the certificate of full financial ... More