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Tuesday, May 03, 2005

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INDUSTRY & ECONOMY

CLIMATE & WEATHER


Cyclonic pattern under close watch: Met Office
THE upper air cyclonic circulation that triggered widespread rain/thundershowers in parts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala could well be the precursor to the southwest monsoon, if last year's trend is any indication. Mr M. D. ... More

NRIS


Banks lower FCNR, NRE deposit rates
A number of banks have lowered the interest rates on their NRE term deposits and FCNR deposits . The rate changes by Dena Bank and Bank of Baroda will take effect immediately, according to press releases issued by both banks. Similarly, Bank ... More

Vijaya Bank, State Bank of Mysore revise deposit rates
BANGALORE: Vijaya Bank has effected a downward revision in the non-resident rupee deposit rates. According to a bank release, the new rates take effect from May 1. State Bank of Mysore has also revised its foreign currency deposit ... More

ANTI-DUMPING


`Domestic industry structure must be factored in for anti-dumping duty'
THE Designated Authority in the Commerce Ministry should take into account the structure of the domestic industry that petitions for imposition of anti-dumping duty, while initiating an anti-dumping probe and recommending imposition of the duty, ... More

ECONOMY


China's rapid economic growth hits Asian nations differently
Trade is not the only channel by which Chinese growth impacts on the prospects of its neighbours. Another channel is foreign direct investment. More

`Govt must play pro-active role to spur manufacturing sector'
THE Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has called for LITPIT focus to trigger growth in manufacturing sector in the country. According to Mr Onkar S. Kanwar, President, and Mr Amit Mitra, Secretary General, LITPIT ... More

EXCISE AND CUSTOMS


Molasses duty cut to Rs 750/t
THE Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, on Monday brought partial relief to the sugar industry by reducing the excise duty on molasses to Rs 750 a tonne from Rs 1,000 asproposed in the Budget. The sugar industry will now have to shell out an ... More

Chidambaram defends settlement with ITC
THE Finance Minster, Mr P. Chidambaram, has defended the Government's decision to go for a compromise settlement with ITC Ltd in the 1987 excise evasion case. "What we have done is in the best interest of revenue in a matter that was pending ... More

FOREIGN TRADE


Boost trade with enlarged EU in IT, biotech: Assocham
THE Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) has stressed the need for expanding India's trade basket with the enlarged European Union (EU) in areas such as Information Technology & Communication, biotech and ... More

`Much potential for Indian industry in South Africa'
IN tune with emergent economic trends, greater dialogue between businesses in India, South Africa and Brazil is being mooted. According to Mr Essop Pahad, Minister in the President Office, Republic of South Africa, the respective business ... More

HEALTH


Govt asked to check clinics promising stem cell cure
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare, has asked the Government to check clinics making claims of curing various diseases using stem cells. The committee had sought the views of the Director General of the Indian ... More

AP to formulate health mission
THE Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has directed the Medical and Health Department to formulate a comprehensive State Health Mission. The Chief Minister, while reviewing the functioning of the Medical and Health ... More

INFRASTRUCTURE


`Defined legal framework vital for pvt investments in infrastructure'
THE Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Sunday said that a stable and clearly defined legal and regulatory framework is imperative for attracting private sector participation (PSP) in the infrastructure sector. A report prepared by CII ... More

PSU


Central PSEs record 64 pc increase in net profit in 2003-04
CENTRAL Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE) have shown a 64 per cent increase in cumulative net profit at Rs 53,169 crore in 2003-04, while the turnover of these firms rose about 10 per cent to Rs 5,86,140 crore against the previous year, according ... More

PETROLEUM


Petro-price hike: Govt finds it tough to convince Left
THE Union Government may have a tough task on its hand in convincing its Left allies for raising petrol and diesel prices. Opposing any move to raise petroleum product prices, the senior leaders of Communist Party of India (CPI) on Monday ... More

To pay back balance to oil cos — Petroleum Ministry seeks second tranche of oil bonds
THE Petroleum Ministry has asked the Finance Ministry to issue Special Government Bonds amounting to Rs 5,762.85 crore to oil companies in order to liquidate the balance payable to these firms from the Oil Pool Account. Consequent to the ... More

IEA book on oil saving methods
MUMBAI: There are a number of methods available which, at relatively low implementation cost, could together save upwards of one million barrels per day of oil, if implemented aggressively. Along with supply-side measures, (such as ... More

`AP to have gas grid by 2007-08'
ANDHRA Pradesh will have a gas grid put in place connecting all the districts when Reliance and ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) get ready for producing "enough gas" for industrial use by the end of 2007 or early 2008. Addressing a FICCI ... More

PHARMACEUTICALS


FBT: Booster for pharma industry
THE pharmaceutical industry has something to rejoice. The Finance Minister's announcement of levying fringe benefit tax on 5 per cent of the expenditure incurred on conveyance, tour and travel including foreign, use of hotels, boarding and ... More

POWER


Hoarding owners feel aggrieved by MERC ban
HOARDING owners and specialist outdoor agencies may oppose the recent move by Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) to temporarily ban neon signs, illuminated hoardings during evening hours till June. The ban is on account of the ... More

Damodar Valley gets captive coal linkage
DVC has been quick to get off the mark and has formed a joint venture with EMTA Ltd for carrying out mining activities. The corporation will hold a minority 26 per cent stake in the joint venture and will buy back the entire production for captive us e. More

KPCL plans to import coal for Raichur station
IN a bid to maintain power supplies, the State-owned Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd (KPCL) proposes to import coal. The utility plans to import 40,000 tonnes of coal per month. International bids for the same are expected to be floated for ... More

MSEB offices, workers attacked
MAHARASHTRA State Electricity Board (MSEB) offices and its workers were attacked at Pune, Nagpur, and Amravati on Monday by protestors opposing the new schedule of loadshedding in the State. Mr Dilip Valse-Patil, Minster for Energy, told ... More

TEXTILES


Sisspa calls for status quo on security deposit for HT consumers
THE South India Small Spinners Association (Sisspa) is upset over the State electricity board slapping an increase in additional security deposit for high-tension (HT) power consumers. The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board's demand notice rising the ... More

SSI


ESIC `move' irks Coimbatore tiny units
SMALL and tiny units in Coimbatore are up in arms over the alleged action of the ESI Corporation in demanding job-working units, employing less than 10 persons, to remit their ESI contribution, which they say is against law since such units are ... More

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS


FICCI for setting up free zone at Vizag port
THE Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry has asked the Andhra Pradesh Government to develop a free zone at Visakhapatnam port on the lines of Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai. The free zone would trigger economic growth by giving ... More

INCOME TAX


Savings accounts exempt from cash transaction tax — More relief for senior citizens
THE Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, on Monday announced a softening of the incidence of proposed Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) on companies, while exempting transactions in savings bank accounts from the Banking Cash Transaction Tax ... More

Fringe benefit tax stays, but in toned-down version
THE Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, on Monday announced a host of changes to the controversial fringe benefit tax (FBT) that was proposed in the Union Budget for 2005-06. Through the amendments to the Finance Bill, the Minister has sought ... More

FBT: Software industry feels let down
THE revamp in fringe benefit tax valuation brought some relief to the IT sector, although the software industry - which had been hoping that all items of `genuine business expenditure' would be spared completely from this tax burden - was ... More

India Inc disappointed over FBT retention
INDIA Inc has expressed disappointment with the retention of the fringe benefit tax (FBT) in the amendments to the Finance Bill 2005-06 passed by the Lok Sabha on Monday. While terming other measures such as the scrapping of the tax on cash ... More

Relief for senior citizens
WHEN the Finance Minister announced the new rates of taxation of personal income in February, all taxpayers excepting senior citizens would have rejoiced. For senior citizens with income above Rs 1,50,000, tax incidence would have gone up in ... More

EXPORTS & IMPORTS


Duty drawback rates revised upwards — Schedule covers about 2,620 products
THE Government on Monday announced an upward revision in drawback rates for most products. Releasing the All Industry Rates of Duty Drawback, 2005-06, the Government said that the new rates will come into effect from May 5. Barring a few ... More


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Top Stories
`We will turn zero-debt by 2005-06 end' — Mr B. Anantharaman, JMD, Max India


Molasses duty cut to Rs 750/t

China's rapid economic growth hits Asian nations differently

I-T Dept slaps Rs 50-cr notice on Infosys

India Inc disappointed over FBT retention

Murugappa group plans to invest Rs 650 cr in capacity expansion

Further upside seen in commodity markets

In Focus

BHEL Disinvestment
China's revaluation
Dabhol power regenerated
Tracking the rains
Sethusamudram Canal Project
India Inc's overseas acquisition
More

In Depth

Gender Justice
Simple Economics
Tax Talk
More

Looking back
Apr. 24-Apr. 30
`Biotech industry needs to address regulation, funding issues'

Kamal Nath hints at `hire and fire' in special economic zones

Despite rising costs, paint sector may post 5-15 pc topline growth

Now, KPO in patents

`Average earner is risk averse'

Small cars continue to rule the sales chart

Freight market dips, but shipping firms buoyant

Ginger exports cross 13,000 t

'Commercial use of fly ash can reduce pollution threat'

Global demand for eco-lodges expected to rise by 10 pc

ESCAP pegs India's GDP growth rate at 7.5 pc

Traditional items boost export growth in April-Jan

Tea exports from South rise in 2004

Time-of-day power tariffs on the anvil

Spices exports rise 18 pc in 2004-05

Indians top `intending car buyers' list across Asia


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