The Hindu Business Line : Thursday, June 22, 2006

Monsoon revival
HIGH WAVES crash on the pier at Valiyathura in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday as monsoon became active again in the State after a fortnight-long ... More

NRIS
HDFC Bank offers online remittance facility
HDFC Bank has launched online remittance facility for non-resident Indians from USA, UK and Singapore using the RTGS platform. RTGS is RBI's Real-Time-Gross-Settlement Service. According to a press release, NRIs can send remittances using HDFC ... More

NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY
German investments sought
Mr Vilas Muttemwar, Minister of Non-Conventional Energy Sources, has invited German Ministers as well as industry associations (wind, solar) to consider investing in a dedicated special economic zone, that is being proposed to be ... More

D1 Oils, RPMC in pact for biodiesel manufacture
D1 Oils plc (D1), the UK-based biodiesel producer, has signed an oil supply agreement with Rural Power Marketing Company Pvt Ltd (RPMC), an agri-business consultancy, covering 14,000 hectares of jatropha, the primary feedstock, in northern India. ... More

SOCIAL SECURITY
16 States join Centre's new pension plan
UP offers benefits to existing employees with less than 10 years service More

CEMENT
Cement stocks up on price rise
One industry that appears to have benefited from the delayed monsoon is the cement sector, which today saw a Rs 4-5 per 50 kg bag hike in product prices region wise. Analysts maintained that sustained demand has helped producers price their ... More

ENVIRONMENT
`World Environment Day' at NMPT
The Chairman of New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT), Mr P. Tamilvanan, has stressed the need for maintaining a balance between development and environment. A press release by the NMPT said here on Wednesday ... More

EXCISE AND CUSTOMS
CBEC gets a new member
The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has a new member in Mr Shree Krishna. He was earlier the Chief Commissioner of Customs (Preventive) at Delhi. ... More

PETROLEUM
MCX gets FMC approval for natural gas futures
Contracts to be linked to Nymex; launch likely in early July More

Presence of gas hydrates established in KG Basin
`R&D work in progress to develop a viable technology to produce gas' More

Crude oil output up 1 pc in May
The state refiners processed 12 per cent more crude oil in May as demand for diesel and gasoline rose. More

MRPL likely to open retail outlet by Oct
MRPL is likely to commission its first retail outlet in the country at Mangalore. Sources in the company told Business Line that MRPL would commission its own retail outlets by October this year. "In all probability, Kadri in Mangalore ... More

POWER
TNEB to add 2,000-MW capacity in 3-4 years
To install plants in Ennore, North Chennai, Mettur, Tuticorin More

New power policy soon: Kerala Minister
Bill on private professional colleges to be piloted today More

TAXATION
TN Chamber urges CM to implement VAT
30 other States and Union Territories have introduced VAT with no opposition from small traders More

KCCI plea against tax hike
The Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has warned that the proposal to enhance rate on tax on certain commodities will affect the existing tax buoyancy due to the implementation of VAT and will consequently adversely affect the ... More

CARS
Indian firms working on intelligent cars
Navigation devices in economy models too More

Hyundai, Maruti plan to hike prices
The prices of automobiles are set to go up in the coming month, with major companies having indicated a price hike to keep costs under control. Hyundai is learnt to be hiking prices across all its models by up to Rs 15,000 from early next ... More

MEDICAL & SURGICAL EQUIPMENTS
GE Healthcare plans radiopharmacy centres
To offer isotopes and radioactive pharmaceuticals for hospitals More

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
Builders sore over rising sand price
The price of river sand, which was quoted around Rs 18/cft a fortnight ago, has gone up to Rs 40/cft now. More

Realties shine ahead of DLF IPO
Property stocks - Unitech Ltd, Ansal Properties and Infrastructure Housing, DS Kulkarni, Mahindra Gesco etc - were in the limelight once again in a buoyant market. Dealers maintain that the run up at these counters was largely in ... More

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
Plea to cut duty on wax
The Sattur Chamber of Commerce and Industries has appealed to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, to reduce the duty on wax to some extent. Congratulating the Government for its formal notification of a reduction in customs ... More

BIO-TECH & GENETICS
Bt cottonseed sales continue at lower prices
States come together to force a reduction in price More

MINING & QUARRYING
A rocky, solid gift from nature
Have you ever crushed a piece of rock to powder using your fists? Perhaps no. But, wait, you need not be a heavyweight champion to do that, at least with the rocks at Orvakal rock formations near Kurnool. Thanks to a Rs 50-lakh rock park ... More

NEWSPAPERS & PUBLISHING
Dainik Bhaskar to enter Punjab
The Bhaskar Group is entering Punjab with its flagship Hindi newspaper, Dainik Bhaskar. It has chosen three cities — Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana — to make its foray into the State. "Dainik Bhaskar will be the ... More

DISINVESTMENT
Cabinet may discuss Nalco, Neyveli Lignite sell off today
The Union Cabinet is expected to discuss selling of 10 per cent stakes in National Aluminium Company Ltd (Nalco) and Neyveli Lignite Corporation. The two items are on the agenda. The respective Ministers have also taken the routine departmental ... More

Govt proposes to divest 5% stake in Coal India
Plans stock split prior to public offering More

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
The scramble for luxury retail
Permission for FDI in single-brand retail sees the foray of a few top-end brands. More

More global players
India will witness a retail revolution, say observers. More

SOCIAL WELFARE
MCH to start `Beggar Homes'
The Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH) has decided to come to the rescue of beggars and orphans in the city. It will open at least two `Beggar Homes', in each of the circles under its jurisdiction. According to a press ... More

EVENTS
CII seminar on HR practices today
A one-day seminar on `Best HR Practices' will be held at Tiruchi on Thursday. Organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) (Southern Region), Tiruchi Zone, the seminar will focus on preparing people for a global ... More

India to host ICCO Global Summit
India will host the 2006 ICCO (International Communications Consultancy Organisation) Global Summit in October. ICCO is the apex body of over 850 public relations consultancies across the globe. The theme of this year's summit ... More

EXPORTS & IMPORTS
Sesame seed exporters bag Korea order
Indian seed quality gets good acceptance in Seoul More

Restore target plus scheme benefits to exporters: FIEO
5% uniform entitlement slab for incremental growth will result in major loss More

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES
`Sreedhareeyam' plans to move out of Kerala
Labour problem cripples Ayurvedic eye hospital More

STANDARDS & BENCHMARKS
Industries' associations want rollback of marking fee hike
Seek Govt intervention to constitute committee More