The Hindu Business Line : Wednesday, May 07, 2008

CEMENT
We’ll hold margins, cement cos tell Govt
New Delhi, May 6 Major cement producers have assured the Government that they would hold their margins to help control inflation but have also asked the Government to facilitate their capacity expansion plans. This assurance came at a ... More

ACC April dispatches fall marginally
Mumbai, May 6 Cement major ACC has reported a marginal fall of 0.57 per cent in dispatches at 1.73 million tonnes (mt) in April against 1.74 mt recorded in the same period last year. Production was up 1.13 per cent at 1.79 (mt) against ... More

ECONOMY
‘Slowdown could impact growth of logistics business
Freight forwarding industry would have to come to terms with the economic slowdown and rising fuel price by tightening operational efficiencies and higher volumes to prevent lower profit margins. The country’s economic growth was ... More

Govt can take more measures to tame inflation: Montek
New Delhi, May 6 The country’s headline inflation is expected to moderate in the coming weeks and the Government can take more measures if prices are not contained, according to the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Mr Montek ... More

COMMODITY COMMENTARY
Foodgrains output fails to keep pace with demand growth
Driven by rising incomes and demographic pressure More

Indian crude basket hits $112.5/barrel
With continued volatility in the crude prices, the revenue losses suffered by the public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) for selling petroleum products below the cost price are also increasing. The basket on Monday hit a new high of $ ... More

PETROLEUM
Re plunges on dollar demand from oil cos
Pressure also from corporates; crude touches $121 More

Banks for enhancing exposure limits to PSU oil companies
Special approval sought from RBI More

NELP deadline extended to June 30
New Delhi, May 6 The Government has extended the NELP-VII (New Exploration Licensing Policy) bid date to June 30 from May 16. According to a Petroleum Ministry statement, this was done to give more time to prospective bidders to finalise their ... More

POWER
UPA-Left panel on n-deal to meet again on May 28
New Delhi, May 6 The UPA-Left panel on Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, which met here on Tuesday, would be meeting again on May 28. The External Affairs Minister and government’s chief negotiator with the Left on the issue, Mr ... More

STEEL
Global steel prices see steady rise
Mumbai, May 5 Global steel prices continue their upward march for the 12th time in a row even as the Indian steel companies are finding it hard to pass on the increase in raw material cost to the end consumer.Over the last fortnight, ... More

TAXATION
Call to hike States’ share of Central taxes, market borrowings to 50%
The Finance Minister of West Bengal, Mr Asim Dasgupta, has called for increasing the share of States in Central taxes to 50 per cent.Addressing a seminar on Centre-State relations here on Tuesday, Mr Dasgupta, who is also the Chairman ... More

TEXTILES
Karur textile units to down shutters today
Coimbatore, May 6 The textile manufacturers covering the entire value chain in the handloom export centre of Karur will down shutters on Wednesday to protest against surging yarn prices and export of raw cotton.The work stoppage was ... More

SSI
Mangalore to host S. India MSME meet
The Chamber of Small Industry Association (COSIA), Thane, will organise ‘Southern India MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) Meet 2008’ in Mangalore on June 1. Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, Mr P.S. Agwan, ... More

COAL
‘Coal India venture lost Mozambique block due to procedural delays’
More

Coal India seeks more rakes from rlys
Kolkata, May 6 Coal India Ltd has sought additional rakes from the Indian Railways to move more quantities of coal in view of its plans for improved coal production over and above the targeted figure of 405 million tonnes (mt) for the current ... More

Centre not keen to allot coal blocks for CTL projects
The Centre is not keen to allot coal blocks for coal to liquid (CTL) projects. A number of corporates from India and abroad, including the Tata Group, Reliance and Sasol have expressed their interest in such projects. “We are ... More

EDUCATION
Osmania varsity offers training to officials of ‘Bhu Bharathi’ project
Hyderabad, May 6 The Osmania University is ready to offer training in project management to the officials of the Department of Survey, Settlement and Land Records, Government of Andhra Pradesh, for better implementation of the ‘Bhu ... More

Chemistry school networking centre
The School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad (UoH) has been granted Rs 10 crore by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to set up the first networking centre in chemistry in the ... More

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
Mahindra Lifespace bags Nagpur housing project
Mumbai, May 6 Developers Ltd, the real estate arm of the Mahindra Group, and B.E. Billimoria & Co, a civil engineering company, have won a contract to develop a residential project at Nagpur.The project was primarily offered to ... More

SOFTWARE
Tech consumption `alarmingly low'
More

MINERALS
Refractory industry hard pressed for inputs
Constraints on Chinese exports, spiralling costs More

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
JM Fin Ventures’ FDI proposal rejected
Investment company biz not eligible, says FIPB More

HUMAN RESOURCES
Waking up to conflict & disputes management
MANAGING DIFFERENCES More

INDUSTRIAL POLICY
Industry bodies hail support to southern districts
Chennai, May 6 Industry associations have welcomed the package of incentives announced by the State Government to encourage investments in southern districts and steps to encourage employment generation.The Southern India Chamber of ... More

EXPORTS & IMPORTS
Cotton board meet may provide clues on exports
Higher shipments blamed for firm prices in domestic market More