The Financial Express

New SEZs in poll-bound AP, Karna deferred

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:41:43 GMT

The Centre deferred its decision on proposals to set up special economic zones in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka

FM warns steel, cement cos of more govt steps

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:41:43 GMT

With inflation rising to 44-month high, the FM P Chidambaram warned steel and cement manufacturers of more administrative steps, if rate cuts announced by them were not enough to check price rise.

India asks US, EU to lead the way for successful WTO talks

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:41:43 GMT

Ahead of the release of revised negotiating texts on agriculture and industrial goods at the WTO Doha Round negotiations, India asked the US and the European Union to show leadership for the successful conclusion of the talks.

Raja likely to take up with PM foreign cos 3G bidding issue

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:41:43 GMT

Communications and IT minister A Raja said that he would meet the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss whether foreign players should be allowed to participate in the bidding for 3G spectrum.

Colour picture tubes may attract anti-dumping duty

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:41:43 GMT

The commerce ministry has proposed levying an anti-dumping duty, ranging from 10% to 22%, across different categories of CPTs that are being imported by television manufacturers.

TDSAT asks DoT whether spectrum allotment can be halted

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:41:43 GMT

In a surprise move, telecom tribunal TDSAT asked the DoT whether spectrum allocation to new players can be halted till the first week of July, when the final hearing on Spice's petition starts.

ICAI to make accounting system more transparent

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:41:43 GMT

In a move that will bring about greater transparencies in the disclosures relating to financial instruments such as derivatives, the ICAI has come up with a even more detailed Accounting Standard – AS-32.

Now, parliament panel steps in airport mess

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:41:43 GMT

Peeved over the delay in clearing the modernisation and expansion works at the Kolkata and Chennai airports and the mess that has been created of the privatisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports, the parliamentary committee on civil aviation has summoned both the Planning Commission and the civil aviation ministry for a meeting on May 22 to explain their stands on the issue.

New defence procurement policy delayed, again

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:41:43 GMT

The much-awaited revised policy for DPP, which was expected to be released earlier this week ahead of the Berlin Air Show, has been delayed further as some of the key issues still remain unresolved.

Archaic labour laws pull textile sector down

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:41:43 GMT

The GoM's proposals on labour laws included providing special dispensation for the industry to relax the daily and weekly working hours under the Factories Act, from 9 hours to 12 hours and 48 hours to 60 hours, respectively, as long as workers were suitably compensated

EU changes tack, eager to put free trade pact negotiations on fast track

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:41:43 GMT

The European Union, in a change of mind, is eager to increase the pace of negotiations for FTA with India, even as the Doha round of talks under the WTO looks headed for collapse.

World Bank backs govts elementary education scheme with $600 million

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:41:43 GMT

The World Bank has approved a $600 million credit to support the UPA government's flagship programme the SSA which is designed to provide all children aged 6 to 14 with education of satisfactory quality.

Soon, an exclusive healthcare city on Hyderabad outskirts

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:41:43 GMT

In a bid to exploit the growing euphoria for medical tourism, the Andhra Pradesh government is planning to develop an exclusive healthcare city on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

Indian companies to set up manufacturing hub in China

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:41:43 GMT

Jiaxing, a major industrial centre located on the eastern coast of China, is inviting Indian companies to set up a manufacturing base in the city.

Petrofed cries foul over withdrawal of tax holiday for refineries

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:41:43 GMT

The controversy over seven year tax holiday under 80 (1) (B) (9) of Income Tax Act for refineries is far from over.

Crisil AAA for IRFCs Rs 7,200-cr bonds issue

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:41:43 GMT

Crisil has assigned 'AAA' for IRFC's Rs 7200 crore bonds issue. Crisil's ratings on IRFC bond issues continue to be based on the support that IRFC receives from the GoI on account of its status as the financing arm of Indian Railways.

Small is big

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:41:43 GMT

Close on the heels of Tata's Rs 1-lakh Nano scheduled for launch later this year, Bajaj Auto has entered into a joint venture with Renault and Nissan to produce a car with an identical pricetag.

Privatisation for people

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:41:43 GMT

DIAL banners all over Delhi airport ask passengers for their patience and understanding. The patience exists. But, because of mismanagement, the understanding does not

Scrutinise the rule book

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:41:43 GMT

Rules and laws of a colonial power that governed us need to be rewritten to deal with the demands of a sovereign, democratic republic. For this to happen, we need to devise a simple rulebook

Concrete argument

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:41:43 GMT

There's something pleasantly rational about the second-biggest cement manufacturer in the world, Lafarge, acquiring a company in the world's second-biggest cement producer, India.

Liquidity hazard

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:41:43 GMT

The European Central Bank on Thursday voiced its "high concern" at growing evidence that banks are exploiting its efforts to unblock the frozen funding markets by using its liquidity scheme to offload more risky assets than it envisaged.

Corporate governance report card

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:41:43 GMT

So far as CAG's criticism of PSUs' CSR is concerned, it may be pointed out that in India only PSUs are spending money to uplift the poor. Some of them are spending 2% of their net income for such endeavours.

A street car named affluence

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:41:43 GMT

The automobile industry in India is evolving and the last financial year has been a mixed bag of positives and negatives that analysts feel will determine the future growth of the sector.

A casting call for sexy cars (hybrids need not apply)

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:41:43 GMT

It is cleaner than a smoking Beetle. Quieter than a roaring Mini. Able to leap through car pool lanes with a single occupant. But the Prius, car du jour among Hollywood insiders, is not looking much like movie star.

Gap in the rim

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:41:42 GMT

Be a high-end luxury sedan or a 49-tonne truck, it is immobile without a wheel rim. The wheel rim has now caught the attention of producers globally, including India, with the demand-supply gap standing as wide as 10.81 million wheel rims.