The Hindu Business Line : Thursday, January 01, 2009

INDUSTRY & ECONOMY

HOTELS: It’s a party pooper for hospitality, liquor segments
New Delhi, Dec. 31 With slowdown and security concerns acting as party-poopers, the hospitality industry is going slow on its New Year binges this time round. “The mood right now is of caution and not of splurging,” said ...

ECONOMY: Trade deficit widens to $69 b in April-Sept
On back of costlier oil imports; current account deficit also rises. Mumbai, Dec. 31 The country’s trade deficit widened significantly in the first six months of the current financial year due to sharp increase in oil imports, which ...

ECONOMY: What brands need to do
Brands that fulfil consumers’ needs for reassurance and respite, however fleeting, from the gloom of the slowing economy will thrive.. Marketers are pondering a startling New Year’s question: will there be a shortage of consumers in ...

ECONOMY: How to stay recession-proof
Here’s a quick checklist of what brand managers should do and not during a slowdown.. A recession is a slowdown in economic activity leading to a loss in confidence. Economists, politicians, media, consumers and companies behave ...

AUTOMOBILES: Auto dealers make headway in talks with private banks
Bid to revisit banks’ decision on paring down exposure to loans. Bangalore, Dec. 31 Automobile dealers have made a major breakthrough in their talks with private sector banks as some of the banks have agreed to revisit their decision to ...

RURAL DEVELOPMENT: President hopes NIRD will help build support in rural development
Hyderabad, Dec. 31 The President, Ms Pratibha Devisingh Patil, expressed hope that the National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD) will augment its training infrastructure for extending capacity building support in various aspects ...

PETROLEUM: S&P lowers rating on IOC
Mumbai Dec. 31 Standard & Poor’s has lowered its corporate credit rating on India’s largest petroleum company, Indian Oil Corporation, on weaker liquidity and lack of timely support from the government. The outlook is, ...

TERRORISM: Corporate houses seek CISF protection
New Delhi, Dec. 31 Leading corporate houses like the Tatas, the Oberoi and Infosys have approached the Union Home Ministry for Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) cover in the wake of the Mumbai terror ...

EDUCATION: Maritime varsity near Chennai
The foundation stone for India’s first maritime university coming up near Chennai was laid today. The university integrates the existing seven maritime academic institutions, including the National Maritime Academy (Chennai) and T.S. ...

ECONOMY: Economic outlook bright: Jindal
Despite the slump in global economy the outlook for the Indian steel industry is expected to improve and create more business opportunities in the coming months. “The economic recession has touched its rock bottom and has completed its ...

CARS: Hyundai, Maruti in close tie on customer satisfaction scorecard
Findings of a global consultancy research survey. New Delhi, Dec. 31 Even with Maruti controlling over 50 per cent of the market share, other car models from Hyundai, General Motors are either closely in tie with Suzuki brands or in certain ...

ECONOMY: External debt down $1.2 b in Sept quarter
New Delhi, Dec. 31 India’s external debt stood at $222.61 billion as on end-September 2008, down $1.2 billion from $223.91 billion at the end of the previous quarter, the Finance Ministry said here ...

STEEL: 10% countervailing duty on steel products mooted
In order to further support the domestic steel industry, the Ministry of Steel has recommended a countervailing duty of 10 per cent to the Ministry ...

PETROLEUM: Shell plans to bring spot LNG cargo to Hazira in Jan
After a gap of nearly three months, Shell is planning to bring a spot LNG cargo at its Hazira (Gujarat) terminal in January, according to ...

POWER: Power supply woes: Cos spend more time reworking schedules
Coimbatore, Dec. 31 Managements are today spending enormous time revising production schedules to keep pace with the frequent modifications and announcements with regard to supply of ...

POWER: Status quo on power cut to continue: TNEB
Chennai, Dec. 31 The Tamil Nadu Government has decided not to implement the two-day power cut for industries and commercial establishments it had planned from ...

TOURISM: ‘Visit Kerala Year 2009’ to boost tourism
Kochi, Dec. 31 The State Government has proposed to introduce an umbrella project called “Visit Kerala Year 2009” as part of its efforts to ...

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION: Towards a new beginning
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REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION: Realty bubble
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PETROLEUM: ONGC snaps up Imperial Energy for $ 1.9 b
New Delhi, Dec. 31 Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has taken control of Imperial Energy Plc for £1.3 billion ($1.9 billion) after 96.8 per cent of the London-listed firm’s shareholders accepted the takeover offer made by ...

HEALTH: IRDA panel to evaluate TPAs
Hyderabad, Dec. 31 The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) has constituted a 12-member committee for evaluation of the performance of the Third Party Administrators-Health ...

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS: KCCI seeks online registration for vehicles
Mangalore, Dec. 31 The Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has asked the Karnataka Government to implement online system for registration of ...

TOURISM: Spices tourism in TN district
One of the major spice producing centres in Dindigul district, Thadiyankudi, is being promoted as the first endogenous spices tourism spot in the district under a United Nations Development Programme. According to the District Collector, Ms ...

INFRASTRUCTURE: Chamber plea on infrastructure
The All India Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Tuticorin, has made an appeal to the Government to expedite the infrastructure development works in and around Tuticorin. In a memorandum submitted to the State Minister for Highways and Port, ...

PETROLEUM: Plea to cut fuel prices
Tamilnadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged the Union Government to reduce petrol and diesel prices. In a statement here, chamber President Mr S. Jeyabalan said the general public have been severely affected due to the non reduction of ...