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| June 19, 2013 | | BSE: Top gainers and losers The market breadth was positive. Out of 2,519 stocks traded so far, 1,266 stocks advanced while 1,105 declined on the BSE.
Gold falls on global cues; silver ends steady Silver ready ruled flat at Rs 44,600 per kg, while weekly-based delivery shed Rs 80 to Rs 43,780 per kg on lack of speculators' buying support.
How LOW COST 'med-tech' will transform India A smartphone's camera, along with the app developed by the Mumbai-based Biosense, will be able to provide a detailed biochemical report instantaneously.
India recorded 2nd highest growth in HNI population last year The growth in number of HNWIs in India was attributed to positive trends in equity market capitalisation, gross national income, consumption and real estate.
Renault launches diesel Scala @ Rs 8.29 lakh The new variant Scala RxE extends the Renault diesel portfolio and offers customers a competitive and well-packaged diesel option, Renault India said in a statement.
COLUMN: For India, high growth is now a mirage Policy focus should shift to targeting modestly good growth and using its fruits to improve lives.
India sees 2,152 phishing attacks in April India, which has about 137 million internet users, accounted for eight per cent of the total phishing attack volume worldwide in April.
Govt plans to license 'brand Aakash' Almost on the verge of being buried after a series of faux pas and controversies, the government is now trying to salvage its low-cost tablet project, Aakash, by turning it into a brand name.
CLSA upbeat on Infosys under Murthy After 2 years of criticism, the brokerage firm approves new direction but says quick turnaround unlikely.
Huawei launches world's slimmest smartphone The company picked the launch date - 6/18 (June 18) - to tie in with the smartphone's dimensions.
10 cities that saw biggest RISE and FALL of jobs in India Let's take a look at five cities that saw fastest and five that saw slowest growth in online recruitment.
Home sales: Bangalore tops, Mumbai drops The demand in Bangalore is mainly driven by affordable prices and healthy offtake.
BLACK MONEY: Classified notings baffle investigators There is a clever modus operandi to keep the
Gujarat's growth story: Montek vs MODI After securing an approval for a plan size of Rs 59,000 crore (Rs 590 billion) for this fiscal, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on sparred with the Centre over
Govt eyes narrow political window for unpopular gas price hike Finance Minister P Chidambaram has listed gas pricing as one of the issues he expects to resolve before the end of June.
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| June 18, 2013 | | At G8, US pledges to keep pressing for shell company laws The White House said it would push US states to create registers of the true ownership of American companies.
INFOGRAPHICS: The top 5 gainers and losers Markets ended lower on Tuesday, snapping a two-day winning streak.
Dubai now home to world's most sustainable building After constructing the world's tallest tower, Dubai has now earned the distinction of having the "most sustainable" commercial building in the world - The Change Initiative (TCI).
COLUMN: Economic worries and the global elite Making capitalism work for everyone, and not just the plutocrats, is our most pressing political and economic problem.
All about the Konka's Tuxedo W990 smartphone If the first impression were the last impression, then this sleekly finished slim dual-SIM smartphone is sure to win you over despite being heavy.
IMAGES: Samsung plans faster Galaxy S4 smartphone The new phone will transmit data at nearly twice the normal speed.
SECRET offshore companies opened by Indians, Mumbai leads Of the 498 entities the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) offshore leaks database throws up for the search 'India', 184 are based in Mumbai.
ROAD building, new hope for India's infrastructure The IL&FS deal marks a sharp turnaround from last year when investor interest in public works plummeted.
10 industries that saw biggest RISE and FALL of jobs in India Let's take a look at five industries that saw biggest and five that saw lowest growth in India.
If NRIs back out, Indian banks face big crisis NRIs will abandon rupee-denominated accounts, causing a deposit crunch and worsening the current account deficit.
Is the Food security Bill a political gimmick? Political commentators are of the view that to blunt the negative impact of double anti-incumbency, the UPA-II has to be seen as doing something like Indira Gandhi's Garibi Hatao.
Bank RATE-RIGGING was pretty big business When traders got caught fiddling Libor, their employers blamed a few bad apples.
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| June 17, 2013 | | BSE: Top losers and gainers The Sensex after touching a high of 19,344, ended finally at 19,326 -- up 148 points. Nifty ended up 42 points at 5,850.
AirAsia India appoints Ramadorai as Chairman AirAsia India on Monday moved closer to getting off the ground by appointing S Ramadorai as its Chairman, ending months-long suspense and having in place the entire top management team.
China develops world's FASTEST supercomputer China's defence scientists have built the world's fastest supercomputer, capable of performing 33.86 quadrillion operations per second, surpassing the US Titan supercomputer.
Expensive food items putting pressure on inflation: RBI Given that food inflation remains high, the inflation outlook will be influenced by concerted efforts to break food inflation persistence.
IMAGES: Mercedes-Benz launches GL-Class SUV at Rs 77.5 lakh Mercedes-Benz GL-Class SUV intimidates with its size, but it is an elegant machine for mature drivers.
What makes the Nexus 4 an IMPRESSIVE phone Made by LG, for Google, the Nexus 4 is Google's fourth Android smartphone in the Nexus series.
The inside story of the YES Bank feud The fight between Madhu Kapur, widow of bank's co-founder Ashok Kapur, and current Managing Director and CEO Rana Kapoor is not about money.
Volvo launches V40 Cross Country luxury hatchback at Rs 28.5 lakh The hatchback comes with two engine options.
Weak rupee, high inflation force RBI to hold rates The Reserve Bank has decided to keep the cash reserve ratio (CRR) of scheduled banks unchanged at 4.0 per cent of their net demand and time liabilities and keep the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) unchanged at 7.25 per cent.
New Gurgaon, Greater Noida emerge as realty hot spots Experts say investors are investing in residential units in Greater Noida, hoping for significant returns through the next few years.
Re down 36 paise versus dollar to end at 57.87 Forex dealers said besides dollar's gain against other currencies overseas, fresh demand for the American currency from importers put pressure on the rupee.
How India can ease the current account DEFICIT The wide current account deficit is structural in nature and only structural responses will work, says .
Yellow fever: Spoiling the appetite for gold Restrictions on gold by the Centre & RBI will help, but can these make gold unattractive for investors?
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| June 14, 2013 | | Bajaj revamps passenger three-wheelers Bajaj Auto has launched a new range of passenger three-wheelers, with improved mileage, changed styling and lower maintenance costs.
BSE: Top gainers and losers The 30-share Sensex ended at 19,178 up 351 points or 1.86% and the 50-share Nifty ended at 5,808 up by 109 points or 1.92%.
IIP data BUNGLING: India's chief statistician explains It is human error, which cannot be completely avoided in complex data like the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), says T C A Anant.
Import lobbies THREATEN petroleum ministers: Moily Oil Minister M Veerappa Moily on Friday said petroleum ministers are "threatened" by import lobbies not to take decisions that will cut India's $160 billion oil imports.
Volvo launches V40 Cross Country at Rs 28.5 lakh Volvo will have two new launches -- fresh models of sedan S60 and SUV XC60 -- in October to rev up sales.
Adani Group faces severe debt, financing issues Adani group has interests in a wide range of businesses - trading, coal mining, realty, shipping, city gas distribution, power generation, edible oil refining, grain storage, food processing.
SALARY hikes: What India's top IT companies offered While Infosys said it would give an average rise of eight per cent to its employees in India, Wipro has announced an increment of six-eight per cent.
IMAGES: Prices of gadgets set to shoot up as rupee falls Consumers would soon have to shell out more to buy mobile phones, TV sets, cameras, laptops and other consumer electronic goods.
Rupee's sudden slide creates panic: Expert There were also concerns over whether a depreciating rupee would increase the fiscal deficit by increasing expenditure on subsidies and jeopardise the repayment schedule for external commercial borrowings.
Navi Mumbai airport might be UNVIABLE, fears Cidco Officials from the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) on Thursday expressed fears that the proposed international airport at Navi Mumbai could become unviable due to cost escalation, following prolonged delays.
Why substandard and fake drugs are rampant in India Substandard and fake drugs are rampant in India because of the highly fragmented industry.
Economic crisis: India among most vulnerable nations India is emerging Asia's canary in the 'hot money' mine.
Infosys: Sebi seeks details on board meeting Infosys did not disclose the nature of the information sought by Securities and Exchange Board of India.
SPECIAL: What Murthy told Infosys staff N R Narayana Murthy addressed Infosys staff on Thursday for the first time since taking charge of the beleaguered company as the executive chairman.
IMAGES: Airbus launches maiden flight of A350 The maiden flight follows seven years of development costing an estimated $15 billion.
Re at one-week high, rebounds 47 paise Besides, dollar's weakness against some Asian currencies supported the local unit, forex dealers said.
Quick-fix solutions to manage rupee may not work Besides kick-starting reforms, govt may have to look at sovereign bonds & hike debt limits for FIIs to manage currency.
FALLING rupee: India Inc's reliance on imports set to mellow From being a net earner of foreign exchange ten years ago, India Inc turned into a net spender of forex.
How Chhattisgarh transformed its corrupt ration shops Chhattisgarh proves no cash transfer or UID is needed to make PDS work.
The 4 BIG constraints to India's growth story Rapid and inclusive growth in the medium term does not look too likely if one examines the array of unattended constraints.
The Falling Rupee Domestic woes of high trade and fiscal deficits, high inflation, low confidence, lack of will for reforms, were adding to the fall of the rupee.
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| June 13, 2013 | | The STUNNING Mumbai Eastern Freeway INAUGURATED The project, which has been in the making for five years, includes a 550-metre twin tunnel and a 9.29 km elevated road.
Govt CORRECTS IIP growth rate twice in a day! Correcting the industrial output figures twice within span of a few hours, the government on Thursday said IIP grew at 2.3 per cent in April instead of 2 per cent reported on Wednesday.
ISB students invited to ring closing bell at Nasdaq ISB students were invited to ring closing bell at Nasdaq.
How Rupee fall impacts education abroad The worst hit, due to this crash of the rupee, would be students who are planning to pursue further education abroad.
Flood of foreign money fails to shore up stocks Even as FIIs have pumped in $15 billion in 2013, key indices have declined 3%.
World Bank pegs 2.2 % global growth this year Although risks from advanced economies have eased and growth is firming, despite ongoing contraction in the Euro Area, the pick-up in developing countries will be modest because of capacity constraints in several middle income countries.
SENIOR citizens rule a quarter of Indian firms Many chairmen & MDs continue to hold reins well into their 80s.
World Bank sees 6.7% GDP growth for India by FY'15 The World Bank on Thursday forecast a 6.7 per cent growth rate for India by next fiscal as exports and private investment are projected to strengthen and provide a boost to growth.
Coal probe shows business in politics needs to be tackled Ministers are forbidden to have any connections with businesses that are related to the work they conduct for the government.
Why jewellery stocks are losing GLITTER Analysts expect more downside in this sector, with Titan still the preferred bet.
Infosys may hire a FOREIGNER as CEO The company might hire a foreigner chief executive officer for the first time.
Drug makers pay lip service to R&D in India Companies known for spending huge amounts on innovation globally have minuscule budgets for India. What's holding them back?
There's no reason to panic, assures Chidambaram Finance Minister P Chidambaram talked to the press in New Delhi on Thursday to allay public concerns about the economy which is in doldrums.
Gold extends GAINS as stocks, dollar tumble Markets will watch the policy meeting on June 18 and 19 for clues to a rollback of stimulus measures. Fed officials are divided over their ultra-easy monetary policy and some warn it could stoke future inflation and financial instability.
FM's reform talk draws blank; Rupee down 19 paise Nifty futures traded in Singapore were trading down 0.8 percent in line with other emerging Asian markets.
Titan will have to revamp its financial model on gold business Tanishq has been pretty much careful to not bet on gold prices.
Markets extend losses on weak global cues Markets extended losses for the third straight day and ended over 1% down on Thursday, amid weak global cues, as institutional investors booked profit in blue chips.
Tough immigration rules in US may hit Cognizant hardest Visa-related restrictions and costs to affect profitability of all major offshore-centric IT firms.
PHOTOS: Indian startups set to sail, work, live on floating city The ship will have workspaces, Internet connection, 24-hour concierge services and gym.
Auto War: Ertiga, Enjoy and Innova go head-to-head Multi-purpose vehicle segment has seen some serious activity in the past one year.
IN PIX: The $66bn video-games industry Gaming industry prepares for the launch of next-generation consoles from Microsoft Corp and Sony Corp.
Is Rohan Murty's entry into Infosys JUSTIFIED? A brilliant academic record, a self-effacing demeanour and a willingness to work hard - plus the famous Murthy DNA, even if he spells his surname differently. But do these justify Rohan Murty's entry into Infosys?
Murthy is as much at RISK as Infosys Murthy created today's situation by pushing into leadership positions people who should not have been there.
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| June 12, 2013 | | Fitch revises India's credit outlook to STABLE Taking note of the government's efforts to contain fiscal deficit, Fitch Ratings revised India's Outlook to Stable from Negative and affirmed 'BBB-' rating.
Montreal Protocol shows way for climate action New deal to curb carbon emissions could copy features from the Montreal Protocol, which US and China favoured over its Kyoto counterpart.
Should you chase stocks or sit still? Find out... Investors chase active managers or pick stocks themselves, usually buying and selling at the wrong times.
IMAGES: Think gold is a poor investment? Try gold miners Recent months been worse for investors in gold mining companies.
Most of rupee depreciation may be behind us: BofA According to BofA-ML, the rupee volatility raises near term risk to inflation and to a rate cut this month.
How to invest in G-secs and make MONEY G-secs offer good liquidity, high safety. If the interest rate dips, as is widely expected, these could give you higher gains.
Is the government serious about FDI in retail? With the issue of recent clarifications, the government seems to have decided to ensure that few, if any, actual foreign investors choose to enter the sector.
Fewer customers revolving their credit card dues Awareness about need to have good credit record prompts users to pay on time.
India's industrial output growth crawls at 2% Manufacturing, which constitutes about 76 per cent of industrial production, grew 2.8 per cent from a year earlier, the statistics office said.
Private sector BANKS come under the scanner Their return on assets and fee income could be hit as the Reserve Bank might tighten other norms.
COLUMN: Halfway to an emerging bear market One culprit behind the poor recent performance of emerging markets is growing bond market volatility and the knock-on effect that that may be having on so-called carry trades, under which investors borrow money cheaply in one currency and then invest it for what they hope will be higher returns elsewhere.
Retail inflation DROPS to 9.31% Food prices for consumers rose an annual 10.65 per cent in May, slightly faster than an annual rise of 10.61 per cent in April.
20 cities earning MOST tourist dollars Not all cities are able to attract top dollars.
Markets slump on fading rate-cut hopes Rupee, however, added some respite after strengthening for the first time today during the last five trading sessions.
Why Narayana Murthy's RETURN to Infosys isn't so great Narayana Murthy showed that he may be the greatest first-generation business leader of our times but he too is mortal.
Apple offers attractive EMI schemes for Indian buyers iPhone sales jumped from about 70,000-80,000 units a month to about 400,000 units after the schemes were rolled out.
Re recovers from record lows; up 60 paise In the global market, the US dollar made a minor rise against the Japanese yen today, following the previous day's rally for the Japanese currency after Bank of Japan didn't
Gold funds deliver HIGH gains on tumbling rupee In the last five years, while gold prices appreciated 55.8% in dollar terms, in rupee terms, returns stood at 129%, primarily owing to the falling rupee.
Rupee vs dollar: From 1990 to 2013 With the Rupee crashing to a record low of nearly 59/dollar, it has become one of the worst performing currencies in Asia.
India alarmed at Uncle Sam snooping on us via Net The cyber security dialogue between India and the US is coordinated by the National Security Councils in both countries.
Stubborn retail inflation may spoil rate cut hopes Policymakers say falling rupee could lead to rise in prices of imported items such as edible oil and build up inflationary expectations in the economy.
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| June 11, 2013 | | Frugality: Success mantra of the new Tata boss In early February, at his first Tata Chemicals board meeting as group chairman, Mistry sat quietly as directors debated efforts to find synergies between interests dotted around the globe, from Wyoming to Gabon.
PHOTOS: Apple reveals iOS 7 design revamp and iTunes Radio Apple unveiled a music streaming service called iTunes Radio and new mobile software.
India to take warranted steps to stem rupee fall: Rajan Rajan, further said, the government was not contemplating more steps to curb gold import, and significant reduction was likely in June.
Not unduly worried, Re to stabilise in 3-4 days: FinMin The rupee has lost over 2.5 per cent in the two trading days of this week and nearly 10 per cent in the past six weeks on concerns of scaling down of stimulus packages by the US.
US fiscal deficit still high, but nobody moving to reduce it The US fiscal deficit is still dangerously high, but nobody is moving to reduce it.
Govt clarifications add to confusion over FDI in retail Latest 'clarifications' add to the confusion; foreigners may delay investments, and Indian firms will find it difficult to get investors.
Real estate regulation Bill fails to address key issues Real estate regulation Bill is consumer-friendly and promotes transparency but does not address the issue of inefficiencies in the approval process and other delays by government bodies.
Address the current account deficit with concrete steps Given recent tendencies, it was only a matter of time before the rupee fell below its previous low.
Poll: New low in store for Rupee this month The rupee is expected to weaken further through June and end the month at Rs 58.50 against the dollar.
Rupee fall, import duty to hit domestic jewellers hard The Rs 250,000-crore (Rs 2.5 trillion) domestic jewellery sector is likely to be hit hard by frequent rises in gold import duty and the sustained depreciation of the rupee against the dollar.
Rupee fall: Big jolt to oil marketing companies FinMin recently stated that subsidy on petroleum products would not exceed Rs 80,000 crore, when exchange rate was around Rs 54.
IMAGES: Revamped Fiat Linea T-Jet hits Indian roads Fiat has come up with a great offer for potential customers: a mid-size Sedan.
Rupee kisses 59 per dollar; retreats at close Traders will watch out for any Reserve Bank of India intervention to prevent the rupee from weakening further.
India asks Fitch why it shared confidential info with US SEC India is concerned that SEC might have influenced rating given to the country by Fitch.
IMAGES: 20 most valuable liquor brands in the world Let's take a look at 20 most valuable liquor brands in the world.
PHOTOS: Inside Walmart, the largest retailer in the world Walmart has 8,500 stores in 15 countries, under 55 different names.
Why Maruti, Tata Motors, TVS FEAR Bajaj now Opposition to the idea of quadricycles is a story of sour grapes, says Rajiv Bajaj.
Rupee slide: Mixed bag for India Inc Analysts say that the rupee trajectory, going ahead, will be a function of flows.
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| June 10, 2013 | | Air India expects 20% hike in revenue in 2013-14: Ajit Air India also estimates that its EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) would increase.
Downslide: Rupee to FALL further All the indicators point to a further steady weakening of the Rupee.
Gold to stay COSTLIER in India The price of gold in India shot up 2.3 per cent in the past week.
Any rally in RUPEE will be short-lived Emerging markets, including India have been large beneficiaries of global monetary easing.
Rupee FALL stirs concern about economy Rupee hit a record low on Monday, escalating worries about the country's current account deficit and complicating the task of the central bank as it tries to loosen monetary conditions to spur an economic recovery.
Panic unwarranted, rupee to stabilise: FinMin With rupee plunging to life-time low of 57.54 verus dollar, the Finance Ministry on Monday said there is an unwarranted panic in the market and hoped it will settle down in a some time.
Is the Indian FAMILY back in business? The overall trend to professionalise has always seen an upward trajectory, but at varying rates of adoption.
Corporate governance failure at Ranbaxy? It is unlikely that independent directors on Ranbaxy Board had no exposure to corporate governance models.
How India's urban poor also HELPS the economy grow Most informal enterprises in slums employ local residents, generating benefits for the local economy.
Falling rupee: Some say bottom may be near The rupee on Monday plunged by 48 paise to hit its life-time low of Rs 57.54 in early trade on heavy dollar demand and the US currency strengthening against major rivals overseas.
India, US eye stronger ties as PM set to visit Washington Manmohan Singh will pay an official visit to Washington, DC, in September-October.
A rundown on candidates likely to replace US Fed chief Barack Obama is likely to pick a candidate to succeed Ben Bernanke sometime during the summer.
20 most EXPENSIVE cities for foreigners Let's take a look at 20 most expensive cities for foreigners in the world.
Hyundai DISCONTINUES Accent in India The car was launched more than 10 years ago and is an asset that built Hyundai's credibility.
Should Narayana Murthy have come back to his 'other' family? Many corporate leaders have dived back into the fray and helped their companies clamber out of graveyard.
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| June 07, 2013 | | India tops in global ATTRITION; 1 in four to switch jobs Concerns among the Indian employees about fairness of their compensation and career objectives could be the key reasons for them to switch jobs.
Real Estate Bill: How it makes buyers the KING The provisions in the bill will curb malpractices by developers and it even proposes to penalise them if norms are violated.
ANALYSIS: Founders at helm is Infosys' BIGGEST problem The stranglehold of the founders over the Infosys management has strengthened after the recent changes.
Global $200-million credit card hacking ring busted Eleven people in the United States, the UK and Vietnam have been arrested and accused of running a $200-million worldwide credit card fraud ring, US and UK law enforcement officials said.
Narayana Murthy: A big BRAND in the IT sector Narayana Murthy is akin to being the first man on the moon for the IT services industry.
BlackBerry Q10: For those seeking smartphone with a keypad Priced at Rs 44,990, the phone has all the features of BlackBerry's flagship device Z10.
Give us 'ABCD': RIL shareholders to Mukesh Ambani Shareholders' demand list included from providing ABCD (appreciation, bonus, cash & dividend) security to making pepper spray.
Countries with most millionaires: INDIA ranked at 15 Private wealth in India will more than double to $4.5 trillion by 2017.
IMAGES: Pagani reveals a supercar with 800 horsepower Let's take a look at this amazing piece of engineering.
PIX: US surveillance report fuels debate over privacy, security Data on millions of customers targeted by US authorities.
America Inc complains to Obama on India's unfair policies The US Chamber of Commerce has written the President complaining of India's discrimination against a wide range of US exports.
USIBC to campaign against US immigration reform bill Hires 2 former US ambassadors to India.
Comeback role: The task ahead for Murthy The one-time bellwether of the country's IT industry has slid to the third spot in terms of revenue, overtaken by a relative upstart, Cognizant Technologies (TCS is the largest).
Maruti may launch Ertiga CNG next week The fuel option will be available in Lxi and Vxi version and would cost about Rs 30,000 more than the respective petrol variants.
TCS boss' salary HIKED to Rs 15 lakh Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India's largest information technology services firm, has decided to revise the monthly salary of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director N Chandrasekaran by half to Rs 15 lakh.
Why raising import duties on gold isn't enough Govt raises import duties again, misses the point.
Honda HIKES Amaze PRICES by up to Rs 8,000 The Amaze accounted for more than half of Honda Car India's sales last month.
Centre's realty Bill could make homes more expensive Developers' cost would go up with the wait to get all approvals before starting project.
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| June 06, 2013 | | BlackBerry Q10 launched at Rs 44,990 It will be available for sale in 20 cities across 1,000 stores from Friday.
Rupee fall not a cause of alarm, will soon stabilise: FM Unfazed by the rupee touching psychological level of 57 against the US dollar, Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday said there is no cause for alarm and the currency will soon find its stable level.
Some new bank licences before March 2014: FM Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday expressed hope that some new bank licences would be issued before March next year.
Mercedes Benz pushes for PRE-OWNED cars The company feels dynamics of used car space was changing fast in India owing to various financing options available to customers.
India's future is digital, says Mukesh Ambani According to a company statement, Ambani said he envisaged a new India in the not too distant future, where almost everything done digitally is transformed to a value-creating and life-enriching new experience cutting across all strata of society.
Fiscal deficit target of 4.8% is EASY to achieve: FM High current account deficit, however, remains a major concern.
Car industry's woes far from over, says Maruti chief Some economists have said the industry's woes have shown signs of bottoming out.
Apple patent case EXPOSES trade arbiter's flaws A US ban on imports of older iPhones and iPads is example of the International Trade Commission being too quick to block products on dubious grounds.
Images: SEAPLANES set to take off in Kerala soon! You can soon fly from Kochi airport and land amidst the expanse of scenic backwaters in Kerala.
The secret behind the rise in Coal India's profit Production and prices have been stagnant for several years, but the company's cost-cutting drive is showing results.
Why austerity can be BAD for economy In the current circumstances, aggressive efforts to rapidly reduce budget deficits may backfire and affect industrail output and jobs.
RIL to invest Rs 1.5 lakh crore in 3 years The company will unfold its business plans going forward even as shareholders are seeking answers to the performance of the company's oil and gas exploration and production business.
US EXEMPTS China, India from Iran oil sanctions The waivers mean that financial institutions in the countries do not risk being cut off from the US financial system.
Rupee recovers from near one-year low; RBI keeps watch The government on Wednesday increased import duty on gold, and the finance ministry is looking at raising the cap on foreign investment in sovereign debt.
30 nations that are MOST COMPETITIVE in the world Countries are competing against each other to attract businesses and tourists.
How buyers will get a BETTER deal from developers The new Real Estate Bill will allay buyers' fears and concerns, and speedily redress grievances.
Gen-next Ambanis could join RIL soon Akash and Isha might assist their father.
Mahindra LAUNCHES Verito Vibe at Rs 5.63 lakh The car will compete with Maruti Swift and Honda Amaze.
Column: The rupee's FALL still makes waves An immediate aftermath of the recent fall in rupee is rise in fuel prices, the decision made politically easy by simply blaming it on the exchange rate.
India's 10 BEST selling cars: Maruti Swift DZire tops Beating Alto, Swift DZire has emerged as the best selling car in India in May.
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| June 05, 2013 | | How Emaar MGF DODGED rules to buy land in Dehradun Many layers camouflage the acquisition of 1,127 acres of prime real estate in Uttarakhand's capital.
How the Realty Regulation Bill will HELP home buyers The Union Cabinet has cleared the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, aimed at organising and monitoring the sector.
'India is like a GOOD house in a BAD neighbourhood' The only asset class which has given them positive real returns in the last five years is gold, says Ridham Desai, strategist and head of India Equity Research at Morgan Stanley India.
INFOGRAPHIC: Why analysts are turning bearish on stocks Corporate earnings continue to slide, weighed down by poor demand, inflation and rising interest.
Did D-Street traders have a whiff of Murthy's RETURN? About 24 mn shares of Infosys worth Rs 575 cr were traded on both the exchanges on Friday compared to a three-month daily average of 14.5 mn shares worth about Rs 365 cr.
PIX: Two Indian cities saw biggest growth in tourist dollars Despite the persistent weakness of constrained demand in the global economy, international travel is growing strongly.
Gadgets that REDEFINE your TV viewing experience Sleek gizmos to catch your fancy.
What makes Mercedes-Benz S-Class an AMAZING car This revamped version features the spirit and driving dynamics that its predecessor lacked, and now, has stood as an epitome of the modern luxury sedan.
How RBI can TAME the falling rupee The Indian rupee has neared the record low of 57.32 per dollar that it hit in June 2012.
Food to cost MORE in Rajdhani, Shatabdi trains After revising the food tariff for all trains except premier services last year, Railways have firmed up a proposal to increase the rates of food served in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto.
US panel backs Samsung, bans older iPhones, iPads President Barack Obama has 60 days to review ruling.
Mohandas Pai: How Murthy can TURN AROUND Infosys A centralised, founder-led model that relies on organic growth is no longer workable.
Tablet sales: Aakash BEATS Apple in India Aakash tablet rules the tablet market in India during the first quarter of 2013.
Why Sensex is RISING when economy is in doldrums Global liquidity and focus on Asia is causing the markets rally.
To REVIVE Infosys, Murthy must REVAMP sales, culture The company's inflexibility on prices and margins and a tradition of rotating leadership roles amongst its founders have made it less nimble than rivals.
Morgan Stanley pegs GDP at 6%, sees Sensex at 23,000 Sounding bullish on the stock markets, it pegged the Sensex target at 23,000 by December.
Samsung UNVEILS new Galaxy 8-inch and 10.1-inch tablets For the first time, the company will use Intel chips.
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| June 04, 2013 | | India to have 348 million Internet users by 2017 Internet traffic in India will reach 2.5 exabytes per month in 2017, up from 393 petabytes per month in 2012.
India in tight spot as rupee slides to record low The rupee fell 4.8 per cent last month, and was the worst performing Asian currency as the dollar rallied broadly on speculation that the Federal Reserve will begin reducing its monetary stimulus later this year.
'India has a tendency to fear competition' The fourteenth Annual Conference on Indian Economic Policy Reform held at Stanford, California discussed the 'Economic performance of India's states'.
India sends 200 secret tax info requests to Switzerland India's global requests for obtaining classified tax information, in the face of a number of high-profile tax evasion and scam cases, has also seen a 59 per cent jump -- with a total of 646 requests -- as compared to a total of 386 similar letters during the 2011-12 fiscal.
Farmers plan to SERVE 'stop work' notice to Maruti A draft notice has been prepared and villagers are deliberating on the issue and taking legal counsel.
India, China to be LARGEST investors in 2030: World Bank The two countries will also account for almost half the global manufacturing investment.
Why proxy advisory firms are UNHAPPY on Murthy's comeback Without panning Narayana Murthy's credentials, executives in many of these firms feel they are not sure about company's future.
Indians among those who FAKE most sick LEAVES Direct cost of absence is often recorded in annual surveys, but the indirect cost are rarely reported.
Property investment: Chennai BEATS rest of India The city saw an increase of 38 per cent to 40 per cent in high-end and mid-segment residential property.
What makes LENOVO Smartphone P770 attractive Lenovo Smartphone P770 has all the juice to keep one hooked to it.
Verdict: Mercedes A Class is NOT tweaked for Indian roads The design, however, is radical and takes flamboyance to a different level.
16 BIGGEST problems facing Indian economy For the fiscal year ending March 31, India's GDP growth was 5 per cent, down from 6.2 per cent the previous year.
Why over-diversification of portfolio isn't good While putting money across asset classes is a must, there should be some balance.
The 4 Cs that can turn around INFOSYS Infosys must focus on a few steps for quicker returns, says a Barclays report.
Realty hotspots: GURGAON lags, Noida wins Greater Noida and Faridabad have left Gurgaon way behind in growth when it comes to absorption or sale of residential units and project launches.
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| June 03, 2013 | | INFOGRAPHICS: Top ganiers and losers at the BSE The Sensex, after touching a low of 19,542, ended at 19610 -- down 150 points ot 0.7%.
The TANGLED tale of Jindal's waste-to-energy project Residents are concerned that the emissions and ash from the plant could severely impair their health and that of future generations.
Office space: Andheri-Goregaon beats top Mumbai districts The Andheri-Goregaon business district, in Mumbai's western suburbs, has beaten some of the city's established business hubs, such as Nariman Point, Bandra-Kurla Complex and Lower Parel-Worli, in absorption of office space.
Murthy's return shows DEPTH of malaise at Infosys The company should reward the confidence of the shareholders by returning some cash to them.
Public sector banks DECLARE war on corporate defaulters Why banks are going hammer and tongs behind defaulters.
How Narayana Murthy can CHANGE Infosys' future Unless Murthy launches an aggressive search for a significant infusion of new blood, he will find it difficult to implement the dramatic changes to Infosys' fortunes that everyone expects him to, says P R Ganapathy.
Tale of two titans: Narendra Modi vs. Shivraj Chouhan A look at how Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh fared in various parameters under their chief ministers.
The TROUBLE with reappointing Narayana Murthy Not only has the gap between Infosys and the market leader Tata Consultancy Services increased in recent quarters, even Cognizant has overtaken Infosys.
COLUMN: Protecting customers from 'banksters' The RBI must apply its mind to the heart of the issue: are bankers competent to advise customers on anything other than their own banking product?
Boomerang bosses: When founders come BACK at the helm N R Narayana Murthy's second stint at the helm of Infosys as chairman will be more challenging than the first time.
Why there is little hope for Saradha revival It is difficult to re-enact the turnaround of Peerless.
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| May 31, 2013 | | INFOGRAPHIC: Core sector growth slows down Reflecting subdued economic sentiments, the growth slipped to decade's low of 5 per cent in 2012-13, though improvement in fiscal deficit figures provided some relief to the government, which is battling slowdown.
Petrol, diesel prices HIKED Petrol price has been reduced four times since March.
INFOGRAPHICS: Sector-wise GDP growth Farm, manufacturing and mining sectors pulled down India's growth.
BSE Sensex: The top 5 gainers and losers The Sensex crashed in the last hour of trade and ended down 455 points (or 2.25%) at 19,760. Nifty slumped 138 points at 5,986.
Tech Mahindra, L&T Infotech eye HP's stake in MphasiS HP's 60.5 per cent stake is valued at $1 billion.
Gold unlikely to fall below Rs 25K Gold prices have come down to Rs 27,790 per 10 grams in the national capital this month from the high of Rs 32,990 per 10 grams in April.
20 nations with HIGHEST public debt Public debt is the total amount of money borrowed by the government.
INFOGRAPHICS: Dismal state of India's economy The full year economic growth for the fiscal year 2012-13 came in at 5 per cent, in line with an official forecast given in February, but its worst in a decade, and a far cry from the 9 per cent annual expansion recorded until two years back.
Warren Buffett needs luck for Las Vegas gamble to pay off The Billionaire investor is under pressure to deploy the $44 bn cash on Berkshire's balance sheet.
Our current drugs in India, global markets safe: Ranbaxy The company's move follows reports of a circular by Mumbai's Jaslok Hospital, that put restrictions on prescribing Ranbaxy Laboratories products.
Fiat 'readying' $10-billion financing for Chrysler Citing people familiar with the matter, the report said the banks were discussing lending Fiat the money to buy a 41.5 per cent stake in Chrysler held by the United Auto Workers' healthcare trust Veba.
India's economy grew at decade LOW of 5% in 2012-13 The full year economic growth came in at 5 per cent.
Bangkok ranked world's top travel spot The Thai capital headed the 2013 list based on total projected visits by foreigners, followed by London, Paris, Singapore and New York. Istanbul and Dubai showed the strongest expected growth in the number of visitors.
IMAGES: Highest-paid Indian bank CEOs These are the highest-earning bank CEOs in India.
15 countries with HIGHEST quality of LIFE These countries provide the highest quality of life.
Rupee hits over 11-month low vs dollar The rupee had lost 21 paise to end at new 10-month low of 56.38 against the dollar on Thursday on fag-end spurt in dollar demand after RBI Governor D Subbarao painted a dim macroeconomic picture.
IMAGES: Spyker to launch its GORGEOUS cars in India Ex-Formula 1 team owner and Dutch supercar maker Spyker has firmed up plans to set foot in India.
Mumbai: City of height needs to grow more vertical Centre should allow local authorities to take the final call on vertical limit.
In Modi's Gujarat, a Singur could be in the making Majority gram sabhas pass resolution to oppose SIR status to the area where Maruti's proposed unit is to come up.
15 airports ranked BEST in the world Let's take a look at some of the best airports in the world.
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| May 30, 2013 | | INFOGRAPHICS: Loss due to labour strikes Take a look at the effect of labour strikes on businesses.
BSE Sensex: The top 5 gainers and losers Markets ended marginally higher on Thursday, amid expiry of May futures and options series, led by gains in FMCG major ITC and select auto shares.
Airline can charge extra for upto 20% seats The total seats on a two-class single-aisle Airbus A-320 or a similar Boeing-737 aircraft number around 130-140, of which the airlines would be able to charge more for a maximum of about 30-odd seats, official sources said.
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, 3 others on Forbes philanthropy list The annual list of 'Heroes of Philanthropy', compiled by Forbes Asia magazine, features a total of 48 people from the the Asia-Pacific region, including countries like China, Singapore, Hong Kong and Indonesia.
Higher sales help M&M beat forecasts The company said its board has recommended 250 per cent dividend of Rs 12.50 per share.
Mercedes LAUNCHES A-Class compact at Rs 21.9 lakh The diesel variant is priced lower than the petrol at Rs 22.73 lakh.
LESSONS from China's public transport system A network of interchangeable transport systems with seamless access, like in China's Guangzhou city, can go a long way in easing urban commuters' woes.
NO fast rebound seen for India's moribund economy Years of fiscal profligacy, a long struggle with high inflation, high interest rates, persistent political gridlock and fragile global economy have put India back in a rut.
Why RBI reducing policy rates will not REVIVE economy It's not the high interest rates that's affecting the economy but the policy bottlenecks.
The DANGEROUS aristocrats of finance Despite the financial crisis of 2008, the finance industry is still arrogant, isolated and ridiculously lucrative.
How quadricycles can REVOLUTIONISE public transport Despite concerns about their safety and environment-friendliness, these vehicles could change the country's transport economy.
Why WTO members are unable to sign trade agreements Diplomats at WTO have become pessimistic about striking a trade deal.
US economy recovering, but infra needs investment Infrastructure sector urgently requires investments, it says.
20 most RESPECTED companies in the US Not all companies are able to win people's respect.
Empire State Building investors approve IPO plan Investors representing at least 80 per cent of the ownership units voted in favour of the plan.
How the BCCI chief failed shareholders The company's stock price has appreciated at a compound annual growth rate of 18.3 per cent, the lowest among all industry peers.
The DOUBLE standards of Google, Apple, Facebook The tax evasion battle between the tech giants and various governments is not just a fight about tax revenues but also for moral supremacy.
India's largest textile hub hopes to REGAIN past glory Bangladesh accident and foreign retailer eyeing India spark optimism among Tirupur textile exporters.
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| May 29, 2013 | | Sony Xperia Tablet Z in India @ Rs 46,990 The dust and water-resistant tablet sports a 10.1 inch 1920X1200p WUXGA display with a mobile Bravia Engine 2.
IMAGES: 20 most expensive hotels in New York City New York City is not only the world's biggest financial centre, but also one of the major tourist destinations.
Should you trust Delhi govt's claims on the city's growth? Once you analyse the data, you will realise the state government wants to take credit for achievements that do not belong to it.
All you wanted to know about Exchange Traded Funds ETFs are like stocks as they trade on the stock exchan#8805 but they are shares of a portfolio, not of a company.
Does Sahara group come under RTI Act? Sebi gets a query! After Sebi rejected the information sought from it through an Right To Information application in this regard, the appellant approached the Appellate Authority but the appeal has been rejected there also.
Why you should NOT borrow against gold now As RBI curbs lending against gold, it's now harder to raise loans against the yellow metal.
SPECIAL: Bad times WORSEN for India Inc It seems the financial headroom for India Inc will get worse, given the rising gap between profit growth and interest obligations.
How Amway grew BIGGER than Procter & Gamble, Gillette Amway surged by converting a multitude into sales agents.
Iconic IMAGES of early computers Let's take a look at some iconic and historic images of computers.
IMAGES: Should investors still believe in gold? Gold has dulled a lot lately but investors could still take a shine to it.
Wal-Mart to pay $110 mn for environmental crimes Federal authorities alleged that Wal-Mart did not have a programme in place and failed to train its employees on proper hazardous waste management and disposal practices at the store level.
20 MOST INFLUENTIAL companies in India There are some companies that wield enormous influence in India.
Ford EcoSport: A good BALANCE of power and mileage To hit Indian roads in mid-May.
10 mid-cap stocks to INVEST in before the next rally As macroeconomic fundamentals improve, Sensex will make new highs. Here're stocks that can give good returns.
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| May 27, 2013 | | Economists peg India's Q4 GDP at 4.8% The government will announce the FY13 GDP numbers on May 30, where it expects the readings to be around 5.2 per cent.
3 reasons why the golden age of dividends is dawning Most profitable corporations are hoarding cash that could be channeled into dividends.
Toyota recalls 1,100 Corolla Altis in India The campaign is for Corolla Altis Diesel manufactured between August 3, 2012 and February 14, 2013.
Jaguar F-Type: Ample dose of style, luxury and thrill The car offers high amount of thrill with ample dose of style, luxury and vocal blast.
SPECIAL: Why ranking cities is important Mercer, the human-resources consulting firm, recently analysed living conditions in cities according to 39 factors, worked out basically to compensate employees of multinational companies when they are located in different cities of the world.
How Cyrus Mistry is RESHAPING the Tata empire He is focussing on tightening the belt of the conglomerate left bloated by explosive growth under his predecessor.
AirAsia India LAUNCH in Q4; may ORDER 50 more jets The company is looking at putting in one plane every month.
Renault shrugs off electric car setback Executive says setback doesn't challenge strategy.
10 tech companies with the BEST business outlook 86% of Google employees feel the company is doing better.
In India, office relationships no longer a private affair Companies put in strict disclosure, job switch clauses in HR policies.
How Tumblr founder became a multi-millionaire at 26 David Karp sold his Tumblr blogging service to Yahoo for $1.1 billion.
5 basic RULES of mutual fund investment Here's how you can get the best out of your mutual fund investment.
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| May 24, 2013 | | Maruti Dzire BEATS Swift to be No. 2 highest selling car Despite the buyers' interest in Honda Amaze, the compact sedan managed to achieve good numbers.
Jet Airways shareholders approve Etihad deal The deal is being looked into by Competition Commission of India and Securities and Exchange Board of India among other regulators.
PHOTOS: India falls in global popularity ranking While Germany is the most positively viewed country in the world, India's view has fallen.
Is this a good time to BUY stocks? Global equity and bond markets, especially in Japan, were spooked on Thursday post the US Federal Reserve's comments on the third round of bond buying programme, commonly known as quantitative easing (QE3).
SPECIAL: Ranbaxy's dark chapter The company has admitted it fudged data so that it could launch its products in the United States. It has now paid $500 million as a penalty to settle the case.
Gold SMUGGLING likely to rise 40% this year The high import duty on gold, local taxes and restrictions on imports are leading to a rise in smuggling of the commodity into the country.
PHOTOS: World's worst airlines for flying economy Flying used to be a pleasant experience, but now it has become a stressful one.
Revealed! How Apple, Amazon, Google DODGE taxes These high profile companies have managed to pay next to no tax on their vast sales revenues generated in Europe.
World's 30 most POWERFUL women in business India-born PepsiCo chief Indra Nooyi figures among the top10 in 2013.
AI spent a whopping Rs 1,803 crore on pending staff salaries Of the Rs 6,000 crore received in 2012-13, the airline spent Rs 1,803 crore (Rs 18.03 billion) on pending staff salaries, paid off Rs 1,253 crore (Rs 12.53 billion) as jet fuel dues to oil marketing companies and Rs 1,100 crore (Rs 11 billion) as loan and interest payments for aircraft acquired, official data showed.
Why Tata Steel losses are not as BAD as they look Net losses of Rs 6,528 crore is entire due to deliberate decision by company to reduce value of its European assets.
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| May 23, 2013 | | 4 reasons why Sensex SANK below 20,000 A potential early wind-down of the US stimulus programme and a shrink in China's factory activity pulled down markets.
How Anil Ambani plans to TURNAROUND RCom The company wants to woo post-paid customers and rent out its assets to cut debt.
Araceli Roiz REVEALS details, Phaneesh Murthy to be sued California-based law firm, Aiman-Smith & Marcy, said that iGate's head of investor relations Araceli Roiz was pregnant with Murthy's child.
Office space: India's BEST cities to invest in Mumbai continues to be the investment hotspot for the banking and financial sector.
Toyota to launch small cars, compact SUVs in India Government policies and other uncertainties are holding it back from setting up a new diesel engine plant and launching more hybrids.
PHOTOS: Plight of the unemployed around the world These photos reveal why looking for a job is not an easy process.
IMAGES: Multi-billion dollar business of gambling Gambling is a multi-billion dollar industry spread across the world.
World's HIGHEST-selling video-games consoles Video games industry is worth around $80 billion.
Self-driving Mercedes S Class to be a REALITY in 5 yrs The company is testing the technology and believes that it can be included in the car in few years.
Now, Maruti offers DISCOUNT on diesel cars The offer covers the Ritz, Swift, Swift Dzire and Ertiga, and is valid until May 24.
What the Tata Steel write-off REVEALS Corus is not out of the woods yet.
No need for nervousness, FM assures stock markets The minister was reacting to sudden crash in Indian stock markets in response to a statement by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke in which he had talked about scaling back of stimulus with improvement in economic conditions.
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| May 22, 2013 | | Phaneesh Murthy may lose $15 million as severance benefits iGate sacked Murthy for violating company policy on relationship with a colleague. Since his termination was for professional misconduct, he may end up losing the severance benefits.
Killer H-1B provisions still exist in Immigration Bill Continued presence of such a problematic provision in the bill, which was passed by a key Senate panel on Tuesday, industry sources said would not only badly hit Indian IT companies, but also disrupt operational capabilities of a large number of key American companies as well.
Microsoft UNVEILS Xbox One with Spielberg It's the first new gaming console in eight years.
India to get more DOUBLE decker trains The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways has recommended that more double decker trains be introduced with a view to double the existing passenger capacity of the Indian Railways.
5 Nifty stocks that LOST money in the recent rally The decline in these was mostly due to company or sector-specific issues, say experts.
Exclusive! How to SAVE India's economy While the country's dismal food situation tops the list, India's crumbling infrastructure, too, requires prompt action, says Subir Gokarn.
'India is inching towards acute water scarcity' The summit participants in the final declaration agreed to allocate resources towards water and sanitation sectors, increase transfer of technology, improve irrigation systems and encourage appropriate consideration of water issues in the discussion of the UN development agenda.
US Senate panel passes Immigration Reform Bill The Senate Judiciary Committee on the fifth day of its deliberations that included 300 amendments to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill -- Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act -- passed it by 13-5 votes.
Tough issues for Phaneesh Murthy successor He has to keep herd together, service massive takeover debt on Pat#8715 however, operational performance unlikely to be affected
IMAGES: 20 most exclusive streets in the world Only a handful of streets are famous all around the world.
CEOs caught in sexual harassment cases Less than 1% cases in India are recorded as employers/owners usually sack the complainants; give negative feedback to the complainant during background checks.
IMAGES: Trendy phone booths across the world The first telephone booth set up in London way back in 1903.
Maruti to launch special edition Ertiga Feliz soon The anniversary variant will compete with Chevrolet Enjoy and the Mahindra Xylo H-Series.
Phaneesh Murthy violated company's policy: iGate In an emailed exchange with Business Standard, iGate states the circumstances that led to Phaneesh Murthy's sacking.
Rajat Gupta seeks re-trial over insider trading case Seth Waxman, lawyer for Gupta, told the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in New York on Tuesday that wiretaps played for the jury were inadmissible because they amounted to hearsay evidence.
IMAGES: The world's most UNUSUAL office There are some who work from just anywhere, even while hanging from a balcony.
Affordable houses, but FOR WHOM? The new launches in the affordable category could just be another marketing gimmick to push sales and mop up money.
Skoda to DISCONTINUE Fabia in India The company was losing around Rs 150,000 on sale of each car.
IMAGES: 20 most valuable brands in the world Every year, BrandZ and Millward Brown Optimor calculate and rank brands based on their global value.
The Irish LOOPHOLE behind Apple's low tax bill Apple's ability to shelter billions of dollars of income from tax has hinged on an unusual loophole in the Irish tax code that helps the country compete with other countries for investment and jobs.
US raises concern over American firms EVADING taxes Amidst allegations that Apple is evading US taxes through overseas shell companies, the White House said this raises the broader question of American companies that ship profits and jobs overseas, a issues often raised by US President Barack Obama in the last few years.
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| May 21, 2013 | | PHOTOS: Chinese premier visits TCS facility in Mumbai Tata Group was the only private enterprise on the itinerary of Li Keqiang during his visit to the country.
BSE Sensex: Top 5 LOSERS and GAINERS The 30-share Sensex ended down 112 points at 20,112 and the 50-share Nifty closed 43 points lower at 6,114.
Over 15,000 MW capacity plants stuck as RIL stops supply The total capacity of gas-based stations in India is 18,830 MW of which 15,529 MW is fed with gas from RIL.
Didi's Ma Mati Manush policies keep investors AWAY The perception is backed by the Economic Review, which said in 2012, only 12 industrial units were set up at an investment of Rs 312 crore (Rs 3.12 billion), compared with 322 units that accounted for around Rs 15,000 crore (Rs 150 billion) investment in 2011.
Bangla factory banned by Walmart still makes Wrangler shirts Walmart told Reuters on Friday that Liz Apparels in Gazipur, near the capital Dhaka, had previously made clothing for its stores but was now on its "red" list of unapproved suppliers after a safety audit in early May found the cracks.
Indian infotech sector is becoming a RISKIER bet The beta of large IT firms has increased since 2008 and is expected to inch up further given the rising challenges.
Why global companies are betting BIG on India Global businesses still believe that India consumption story is intact despite the slowdown of the past couple of years.
I-T dept sends letters to 70K high spenders to pay tax The exercise is in continuation of crack down on tax defaulters which the government launched last fiscal under which the Revenue Department had sent 105,000 letters to assessees seeking to know whether the person had filed his IT return or not.
How illegal salt making threatens Sambhar Lake's ecology Even the sweltering heat of April does not deter the 10,000-odd tractors, mostly Ferguson-Masseys, from ferrying unrefined salt extracted from the brine of this largest inland saltwater lake in Asia.
Sexual harassment charge is FABRICATED: Phaneesh Murthy Sexual harassment charge is fabricated: Phaneesh Murthy
Asus FonePad: For those who seek LONGER battery life The camera is sub-par and you won't enjoy high-end games.
Fiat's 'home on wheels' hits Indian roads The van that contains a queen-sized bed, a shower area and kitchen.
20 nations with HIGHEST telephone connections From being an inevitable part of the telecommunication services, landline devices are becoming outdated.
Microsoft Corp co-founder Paul Allen's HITS and MISSES Paul Allen has constructed a $15 billion portfolio of tech, sports, real estate and energy investments.
Topless PROTEST disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin Women's rights protesters disrupted the opening of a giant pink doll's house in Berlin.
How Apple DODGED billions in taxes One of Apple's Irish affiliates reported profits of $30 billion between 2009 and 2012, but because it did not technically belong to any country, it paid no taxes to any government.
Romanian HACKER plans to protect world's ATMs! Valentin Boanta, sitting in his jail cell, proudly explains the device he has invented could make the world's ATMs impregnable even to tech-savvy criminals.
Sexual harassment claim: iGate sacks Phaneesh Murthy The US-listed company, which has bulk of its employees in India, has appointed Gerhard Watzinger as interim chief executive with immediate effect.
Amazing IMAGES reveal the overloaded world It's not just animals who earn their bread by carrying way too much weight on their back.
The 20 BEST selling mobile phones of all time Today's top mobile phone makers Samsung and Apple don't feature in the top 15.
Air Deccan founder may LOSE it all, even his house How Captain Gopinath's new aviation business crash landed.
IndiGo BEATS Jet Airways once more omestic passengers flown by Indian carriers declined marginally in the first four months of this year compared to last year, even during peak season operations.
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| May 20, 2013 | | BSE Sensex: Top 5 gainers and losers The 30-share Sensex ended at 20,224 down 62 points or 0.31% and the 50-share Nifty ended at 6,157 down by 30 points or 0.49%.
Samsung launches Galaxy Grand Quattro @ Rs 17,290 With a 4.7-inch display, the dual-SIM handset is powered by 1.2GHz quad-core processor, has Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean) operating system and a 5 megapixel camera. It comes with an internal memory of 8GB.
TIPS: How to SELECT stocks to get good returns There is no sure-shot formula to succeed in the stock market.
Obama tells Americans to be more competitive In his speech at the Morehouse College Commencement Ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia, Obama asked the young people of his country to work hard.
Taking a HOME LOAN? Points to remember Analyse your financial situation before deciding on amount; compare tenure, interest rate and penalty before finalising the lender.
IMAGES: Tata's hotel chain juggles multiple brands How the Tata hotel chain is tackling the transition challenges of multiple brands.
PHOTOS: Renault, Panasonic, Haier back in the race Renault, Panasonic and Haier have managed to bounce back after a series of crucial mistakes.
SPECIAL: India's China menu keeps growing Problem of a huge trade imbalance against India even as both exports and imports declined in 2012-13 year-on-year still remains a severe challenge even to this day.
Can you afford to BUY any of these items? There are some items that fetch millions of dollars at auctions simply because a certain celebrity has worn them.
Amazing PHOTOS reveal beauty of world's major cities There are some countries that invest a lot of money to make their major cities look beautiful.
What will be the future of Berkshire WITHOUT Buffett? Warren Buffett defended his plan to appoint his son, Howard, who has little investing experience, as non executive chairman, saying the younger man's role would be to ensure that Berkshire had the right CEO in place.
Stunning images of ARTISTIC cars Artistic cars from around the world are a big attraction.
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| May 17, 2013 | | S&P warns India of rating DOWNGRADE While retaining India's sovereign rating at 'BBB-' with a negative outlook, S&P said there is at least a one-in-three likelihood of a downgrade within the next 12 months.
New Mercedes S Class is MAKE or BREAK for Daimler If the car flops, Daimler's goal to regain leadership in the premium segment by 2020 will be a pipe dream.
Why Indians succumb to Ponzi schemes Lack of education and the absence of bank branches across huge swathes of the country puts more than half of India's population outside the formal banking sector.
How Samsung is trying to TRAMPLE Apple's supply Samsung can make life difficult for Apple if it tramples the latter's supply.
Gates, Buffett INSPIRE more billionaires to donate wealth Nine more wealthy families and individuals have pledged to give at least half of their fortunes to charity as part of a philanthropic campaign.
EcoSport: A stunning SUV priced under Rs 10 lakh Ford EcoSport, the most awaited launch of 2013 is here. Ford has announced the rolling out of the vehicle in mid June 2013.
IMAGES: 30 biggest hotels in the world With Chinese and Indians travelling in bigger numbers than ever, hotels around the world are doing everything possible to attract customers.
30 nations where workers enjoy MOST HOLIDAYS There are many countries that give more annual leaves and public holidays than India.
Gold demand to remain high: WGC In the first quarter of 2013, gold imports declined 5.7 per cent, as traders relied mostly in stocks to meet rising demand.
India, China to be world's BIGGEST investors by 2030 As a result, the global investment in developed countries will triple in the next two decades.
Windows XP to cost 3 times more than migrating to Windows 8 An estimate suggests the cost of upgrading to Windows 7 or Windows 8 will be $95.
How IndiGo plans to FIGHT rivals AirAsia, Etihad Will build on its existing strengths. Plans to include more fuel-efficient A-320 N and offer better connectivity.
Mercedes adds business-class comfort to its NEW S-Class The car's top-of-the-line business-class comfort will set a new luxury mark in the auto world.
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| May 16, 2013 | | Mercedes launches GL-Class SUV @ Rs 77.5 lakh The company is using former tennis star and its global brand ambassador Boris Becker to promote its range of products.
CORRUPTION hits India's economic confidence India's economic confidence dropped due to a number of corruption allegations against the Union government ministers.
LG launches the Nexus 4 in India at Rs 25,999 Though full of features, the phone does not support expandable memory, and the battery cannot be removed.
India among 30 BIGGEST exporters in the world Exports form a major part of some countries economy.
Gold demand in India rises by 27%: WGC The demand for the precious metal stood at 202.1 tonnes in the same quarter last year.
Lamborghini Egoista: A one-seat car you can't BUY The car's name means 'selfish' and that is because it has only one seat.
Global firms bet on India's spending power Inbound M&A into India totals $9.86 billion this year, the highest in Asia.
SPECIAL: What RBI learnt from the Cobrapost probe The inquiry report raises questions about the effectiveness of management control as well as that of the supervision process.
FDI in retail: Why govt's policy is completely FLAWED The conditions imposed on prospective investors in the retail sector betray a lack of understanding of the dynamics of the business.
Mobile phone sales: Samsung TOPS, Nokia FALLS The worldwide mobile phone sales totaled nearly 426 million units in the first quarter of 2013, a slight increase of 0.7 per cent from the same period last year.
After Lamborghini, Ferrari, Dubai cops to have Bentley, Merc Dubai's police has been building up its vehicle fleet recently, and it's not worrying about cost.
INFOGRAPHICS: Annual returns on national pension schemes NPS aims at ensuring financial security to every citizen by encouraging them to start contributing towards the old age saving.
Good time to invest in rate sensitive stocks: Analysts Given the outlook for interest rates, analysts seem bullish on this space.
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| May 13, 2013 | | BSE Sensex: The top ten losers Shares of FMCG major ITC on Monday slumped by over 5 per cent on profit booking amid a sharp dip in the stock market.
Gold falls by Rs 180; sales up on Askshaya Tritiya Gold prices fell by Rs 180 to Rs 27,520 per 10 grams on Monday, while silver prices also dropped by Rs 300 to Rs 45,500 per kg taking weak global price trend.
Balooning trade deficit, gold import batter Nifty BSE index falls 2.14 pc; NSE ends 2.08 pc lower
Mumbai housing prices up 66% in 4 years Gurgaon and Bengaluru saw price appreciation of 52 per cent and 46 per cent, respectively, during this period.
IMAGES: 'Stewardess' Richard Branson fired by AirAsia chief British business tycoon Sir Richard Branson donned high heels and fishnet stockings as a stewardess in a figure-hugging scarlet outfit on a AirAsia flight from Perth to Kuala Lumpur.
10 countries with the LARGEST railway network United States has the world's largest railway network.
Airbus to China: We support you, please buy our jets China partly lifted a blockade on 45 long-haul A330 jet orders during a visit by French President Francois Hollande last month.
Old and at home, but not so ALONE Builders are coming up with retirement home colonies that offer a number of services. The payment options include outright buys, deposit models and lifetime lease.
COLUMN: The skewed story of India's coal import boom Indonesian coal making its way to India provides about a third less energy than supplies from South Africa or Australia.
India needs to focus on e-vehicles for public transport The future of sustainable transportation in India lies in developing electric vehicles across transit automobile segments.
Mahindra Bolero zooms into TOP FIVE list This is the first time in the last five years that an utility vehicle has featured in the top five list.
Retail inflation drops to 9.39% The Consumer Price Index based inflation was at 10.91 per cent in February.
How retailers can redefine shopping experience In today's digital age, companies need to build an integrated communication strategy to stay ahead of the game.
NO need to get aggressive on GOLD this Akshaya Tritiya If you want to celebrate the festival, buy only a little as token.
IMAGES: 20 cities with most MILLIONAIRES Although the world economy is going through a rough time, there is no shortage of millionaires and billionaires in the world.
IT watchdog investigating breach in ATM heist Hackers broke into two card processing companies, raising the balances and withdrawal limits on accounts that were then exploited in coordinated ATM withdrawals around the world.
Images: The BEST off-road SUVs in India Three hardcore machines that will ensure your safety as you head into the wilderness in the summer.
INFOGRAPHICS: How the top 10 firms performed TCS tops the chart once more.
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| May 09, 2013 | | Air India gives wings to Dreamliner once more By Friday, two of these Boeing 787 Dreamliner planes would be test-flown several times daily between Delhi and Amritsar so that the pilots and cabin crew get the experience of several landings and take-offs.
General Motors launches Enjoy @ Rs 5.49 lakh The vehicle will compete with Maruti Suzuki India's Ertiga, which is priced between Rs 598,000 and Rs 870,000 (ex-showroom Delhi).
Nokia Asha 501: Is it the BEST mid-range phone? Effectively priced, the new series will heat up the mid-level phone market. Samsung Rex beware
Why reverting to 8% growth seems a DISTANT DREAM If the administrative/regulatory/judicial logjam can be loosened, there could be a quick yield in higher output, which would have multiplier constraint-loosening effects on the economy as well as lead to higher savings, a critical prerequisite for reducing the domestic savings-gap and thus help reduced the unsustainably high CAD.
Top Indian generic drug makers look to US as patents end They seek to profit from big-selling drugs going off-patent this year in the lucrative market.
RBI's curbs set to cut gold imports by a tenth Gold import was 1,015 tonnes in 2012-13 and nearly 70 per cent of this was by this method.
PHOTOS: 350 Lamborghini cars on a grand tour Setting off from Piazza Castello in Milan on May 8, the Lamborghini 50th Anniversary Grand Tour is the largest gathering ever of cars from the 'House of the Raging Bull' to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary.
Air trips get more expensive for travel-heavy passengers Preferred seats also become costlier on IndiGo flights.
Mumbai among cities with most stunning SKYLINES Can a mathematical formula capture the beauty of a city? You decide...
Rupee among MOST TRADED currencies in the world Currencies are traded 24 hours a day every working day.
COLUMN: Five days below the poverty line A look at the lessons learnt by the columnist in his experiment to whittle down the weekly food bill to sub-poverty levels.
Strapped for cash? AVOID these debt TRAPS Cash on credit card and upfront money in exchange for future pension might sound tempting, but they carry enormous interest rates.
How India plans to FIGHT cyber ATTACKS India would require about 500,000 cyber security experts by 2015.
New BOOK teaches children ABCs of Berkshire Hathaway More than 1,000 copies were sold at Berkshire's annual meeting.
Refunds made by Sahara after Aug 31 'not good': SC SC adjourns contempt plea to July 17; directs Sebi to start refunding genuine investors.
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| May 08, 2013 | | US Immigration Bill may harm Indian IT firms The first killer provision in the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill is the ban on client site placement for H-1B workers.
Why India should WORRY about US' trade pacts in Asia US is fast forging partnership with Asian countries. To grow its international trade, India needs to engage with the US urgently.
Toyota: Profit BOOMS amid low-risk rules The company has exceeded the target president Akio Toyoda set two years ago: to make 1 trillion yen in annual operating profit, and do so with a 5 per cent margin.
Toys are not just child's play, it's big business in India The toy industry in India is growing at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 20 per cent.
Why CAG appointment procedure needs to be CHANGED Currently, the appointment is at he discretion of the Prime Minister. It needs to be more transparent and non-partisan.
Tax evasion case: HSBC may face 'significant' penalty The bank said it is cooperating with the US Department of Justice and the Internal Revenue System (IRS) in their probes into whether certain HSBC companies and employees acted appropriately in relation to certain customers with US tax reporting requirements.
MF accounts declined by 36 lakh in 2012-13 The last fiscal marked the fourth consecutive year of loss of folios by mutual funds.
World's 10 MOST ADMIRED technology companies Technology firms dominate the Fortune list of 'world's most admired firms'.
Will Kishore Biyani's BIG GAMBLE work? 'Big Bazaar Profit Club' hopes to build loyalty amongst customers and get better prices from suppliers. Can it succeed?
The real moral FAILURE in the food security Bill debate A meaningful long-run strategy to eradicate poverty would do more than a top-down distributive model.
Hyundai to launch four new models in 2 years The company, which is slated to introduce a new compact car later this year, is also mulling taking on Maruti Suzuki's Dzire and Honda Cars India's Amaze with a new sub-four metre sedan.
Why travel agents are DEFAULTING on crores of payments Airlines are cutting down commissions putting their business under pressure.
When AGING provides a business OPPORTUNITY The aging of the population is creating market demand for new products and services at an unprecedented pace.
India's CHEAP food plans to prove COSTLY for government Providing cheap rice and wheat to 67.5% population would raise subsidy bills 45% to up to Rs 1.3 trn, and the country.
Honda launches NEW variants of Brio The upgrades include features like driver seat height adjuster and rear windshield defogger.
SOLAR plane: From San Francisco to Phoenix in 18 hours! The solar-powered airplane from San Fransisco to Phoenix took 18 hours and 18 minutes on Saturday - and didn't use a drop of fuel.
Qatar Airways-IndiGo in code share talks The civil aviation ministry has increased the seat capacity between India and Abu Dhabi from 13,000 seats/week to over 50,000 seats/week
India's economy to grow at 6.2% in FY14: NCAER The economc research council has projected Centre's fiscal deficit this financial year to be 5% of GDP.
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| May 07, 2013 | | How Kerala is WOOING tourists from Middle East, Russia Following the roadshows by the government, the Arabs are coming to Kerala for the treatment of lifestyle diseases.
India's growth story CREDIBLE, FinMin tells Moody's Moody's wanted to learn from the Finance Ministry officials, the steps taken to check subsidy outgo and impact of the proposed right to food bill on the exchequer.
In PIX: America's pride, neighbour's envy One World Trade center became the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.
India could soon be heading for a GRAVE economic crisis The exchange rate is substantially overvalued, economic growth had stalled, and the financial system is under stress.
What a TAXI ride COSTS across the world New Delhi is among the cheapest cities to hire a standard cab.
DGCA norms soon to cap paid-for seats in flights The move comes after the civil aviation ministry decided to allow Indian carriers to charge passengers for add-on services like their foreign counterparts.
World's 8 BIGGEST illegal businesses Athorities all across the world, including in India, are continously taking steps to stop the flow of illegal businesses.
Why Bajaj RE60 is a BOON for public transport The quadricycle would meet better emission and safety standards than the current three-wheeler does. And, it can give a better ride, particularly during the monsoon.
World's 12 BEST budget airlines JetBlue Airways is ranked as the world's best budget airline.
Dizzying rise of Bansal family company Pharma firm run by minister's wife, sons and nephews swiftly became a money-spinner, with prestigious clients.
Cheaper ways to COVER your loan: A few tips When one applies for a loan, he/she is almost immediately offered an insurance policy to cover it. These are called Mortgage Redemption Schemes or Loan Protection Covers.
Embattled Sahara says it has paid back most investors The unlisted company is seeking equity, debt infusion.
'Delhi MOST CREATIVE state in India' The ranking is based on the population of 'creative class'.
M&M launches Bolero Maxi Truck Plus at Rs 4.43 lakh Priced at Rs 4.43 lakh, the vehicles has a lower turning radius, stlish interiors and better payload capacity.
Why Galaxy S4 is the BEST smartphone despite the quirks While other flagship products may be flamboyant and have a better build, the S4 quietly gets the job done.
Taj lays out red carpet of OFFERS this season Corporate travellers can look forward to a plethora of offers with the 'Room for More' packages from Taj Group of Hotels.
Cobra stings again; SBI, LIC, 21 others 'EXPOSED' Staff of PSU banks, bank aspirants also caught offering money laundering solutions in a new expose.
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| May 03, 2013 | | Jaguar F-Type to debut in July; starts at Rs 1.3 crore Will rival Porsche and is rumoured to carry a price tag of Rs 1.3 - 1.5 crore.
Boeing plans to build longest-range passenger jet Analysts say the 777 is Boeing's most profitable plane, thanks largely to the 777-300ER, a 365-seat version that began operations in 2004.
World's first SILVER museum opens in Udaipur It includes exquisite pieces ranging from beautiful objects used in rituals such as Ram Rewaris (portable shrine for religious deity), magnificent traditional royal transport like the haudah used for mounting elephants in religious, state and military processions.
Brand Airtel: Is there a wake-up call? A third-party brand valuation is signalling an imminent threat but analysts say impact on the business is still some time away.
Gold ticks up, heads for second straight weekly gain Spot gold rose $8.32 an ounce to $1,474.56 by 0624 GMT, well below a lifetime high around $1,920 an ounce hit in September 2011.
IMF warns of asset bubbles, middle-income trap in Asia To avoid it, the economies need to improve govt institutions and liberalise rigid labour markets.
Stunning IMAGES: Inside a chocolate factory Chocolate industry is a $50 billion-a-year business around the world.
RBI cuts rate; keeps CRR unchanged The Reserve Bank of India on Friday cut short-term lending rate by 0.25 per cent.
IMAGES: Visit Google's amazing Munich office Located in the heart of Munich, Google's office has a dazzling ambience.
Why it's DIFFICULT for India to manufacture chips Infrastructure require for making chips is not available in the country.
Maruti to SHUN Fiat; working on TWO diesel engines The company is setting up a diesel engine plant at Gurgaon, investing close to Rs 1,700 crore.
World's 20 BEST PERFORMING stock markets Amid the volatile markets and price corrections, these 20 stock markets delivered good returns in 2013, according to CNN Money.
Honda OUTSHINES Maruti with Amaze bookings The Amaze, Honda's first diesel car in India, has seen several buyers line up for test drives and dealers struggling to meet increasing demand.
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| April 30, 2013 | | Petrol price cut by Rs 3 per litre Earlier in April, the price was reduced by 85 paise per litre.
PIX: 20 most important women under 30 in tech world Although the tech industry is dominated by men, but some women are revolutionising the tech world.
Why office gossip is a GOOD thing Companies and employees can actually manipulate the flow of gossip to gain tactical advantage.
Why India DESERVES a rating upgrade East European countries have better rating than India though their economies are not as stable as the latter.
Chit fund: Centre waking up way too late Centre must share blame for Ponzi schemes with West Bengal.
World's BIGGEST producers of gold China produced the most gold in world in 2012, making it the largest producer for the sixth straight year even as it remained the second largest consumer of the yellow metal after India.
Is India among the most socially ADVANCED countries? When it comes to fulfilling basic human needs, some smaller countries score higher than the economic powerhouses.
RBI's dilemma: Should interest rates be CUTor NOT RBI faces contradictory signals.
RIL earnings hinge on gas price review Morgan Stanley, the global financial services company, says India's largest private sector company (by market value) might lose 11 per cent of its earnings per share in 2014-15 earnings estimates if gas prices remain at $4.2 a unit.
Indian firms in doublespeak on insurance FDI: WikiLeaks US diplomatic cables say Indian partners might be actually lobbying against raising the FDI cap.
Infy, HCL Tech, Wipro among the GREENEST in BRICS Brazil's alternative energy company, Cemig, tops the list of Environmental Tracking (ET) BRICS 300 Carbon Ranking.
Slowdown clouds hover over IT RECRUITMENT IT firms across the board say engineering graduates this year are readily accepting job offers unlike in the past years, when they were far more choosy.
VERDICT: HTC One hits a home run The phone is the king of Android hill at the moment, with great looks and software to match.
World's 20 BEST airlines Business Insider has ranked the world's leading airlines on the basis of in-flight experience and the on-time performance.
Get ready to file TAX returns Though the government is yet to notify the new form, begin with collating documents, checking interest certificates and tallying form 26AS.
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| April 27, 2013 | | In Bengal's grey 'money market', Saradha is just one Small firms raising deposits in disguise of advances for unknown projects referred to as money market companies in common parlance.
How the young Chinese SPLURGE Rising disposable incomes coincide with a change in psychology among younger consumers - a shift that means when it comes to money and spending they are decidedly not their parents.
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| April 24, 2013 | | COLUMN: Know your city to set it right India's cities are in poor shape and it is axiomatic that unless you have proper systems of governance in place working through the right kind of institutions, there is no hope for their uplift.
Indian IT companies HUNGRY for acquisitions Infosys, TCS, Wipro and HCL Technologies are actively pursuing acquisitions to make up for slower growth in their traditional business.
Why good monsoon may NOT revive economy India has more variations in soil type and climate than perhaps any other region in the world. Even during a normal monsoon season, many regions receive scanty rainfall while other battle with floods.
Maruti to debut SWANKY WagonR Stingray in India Stingray is a sportier version of the WagonR with a more aggressive frontal styling and masculine cues in the rear.
Jet sells 24% stake to Etihad for Rs 2,060 cr Etihad has been in talks for a 24 per cent equity stake in Jet, valued at around $300 million, ever since India relaxed ownership rules and allowed foreign airlines to buy up to 49 per cent in local carriers.
Reliance OPENS its purse to INVEST Rs 179,000 cr Over the next five years, plans to pump money in KG DG, refining, petrochemical sectors, retail and telecom.
Shopping hotspots: India's 10 BIGGEST malls Making shopping an enjoyable experience are its swanky malls with global and Indian fashion stores, super markets, restaurants, movie theatres and entertainment zones.
IMAGES: 30 amazing office spaces available for rent Corporates want close-knit, all-encompassing and swanky offices.
COMPLAINTS: Which life insurer tops the list? Leading private life insurers HDFC Standard Life, Bajaj Allianz and Birla Sun Life top the list of firms against whom consumers have filed complaints with sectoral regulator Irda for indulging in unfair business practices.
IMAGES: Oil boom in North Dakota North Dakota is now the second-largest oil-producing state after Texas.
Tesco treads CAUTIOUSLY in India Due to clauses on local sourcing and infrastructure investments, the world's third largest retailer has not been able to make much headway in India.
Planning to BUY insurance this year? Wait till these are refiled as it will give you added benefits.
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| April 23, 2013 | | Microsoft India under I-T scanner IT department reportedly sent notice to Microsoft seeking details of its income from Indian operations for four years beginning with the 2005-06 fiscal.
Good news! Employees may see 11.3% pay hike India Inc is expected to offer average salary increments of 11.3 per cent this fiscal and those working in sectors like pharmaceuticals, health care and life sciences are expected to get a raise of 13.1 per cent.
Luxury carmakers chase India's young, female and frugal Luxury carmakers in India are moving downmarket broadening their target market to include India's young, female and middle-class.
RIL signals start of GROWTH era Production from its KG-D6 gas field is set to increase and the government is likely to revise gas prices.
Counting the costs of direct cash transfers It is generally felt that DCTs are a more efficient system than, say, physical subsidies. This does hold when conditions are ideal and back-end structures are in place.
How chit funds have ROBBED investors in Bengal The Saradha group's fortunes nose diving has not only put a scanner on other chitfund companies operating in the state, but has also reportedly put a question mark on TMC's rural vote.
Why India NEEDS politicians LIKE Margaret Thatcher We need politicians like Margaret Thatcher, who can articulate economic solutions for the country rather than concentrating on politics alone.
COLUMN: All about Bengal's Saradha scourge The collapse of a large deposit taker, the Saradha group, has brought protesting collection agents right to the doorstep of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, whose government has given a free hand to such firms.
Why e-auction of radio stations may HAMPER the industry As the government has adopted ascending e-auction for radio waves, there is a danger that players might end up overbidding.
20 countries with HIGHEST gold reserves The global official gold holdings totaled 31,694.8 tonnes as of April 2013.
Buying houses worth crores? Check the rate charts! If you are looking at buying real estate and your budget falls within this range, an idea about prevailing rates would come in handy.
What public transport tickets COST across the world India offers one of the world's cheapest public transport fares.
Kirana store has better customer service than MNCs Most MNCs do not deliver their lofty 'customer service' promises in India.
Vendor REVEALS details of the Tata Nano DIESEL It's going to be an 800cc twin cylinder diesel engine with a rated power of 40.2 bhp.
IMAGES: Shoppers rush for gold as price crashes With gold prices tumbling, retailers are witnessing a surge in demand and expect up to 50 per cent spike in sales volume during this marriage season.
Now, HEART patients can GET a health insurance Chennai-based Star Health and Allied Insurance has launched Cardiac Care, a unique policy that covers people with heart ailments.
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| April 20, 2013 | | 10 most ATTRACTIVE employers in India The survey noted that in a market like India, where there is high attrition levels, employer branding is very important as it provides an advantage to attract and retain top talent.
World's top stock exchanges, NSE is No.1 The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) has maintained its slot as the world's largest bourse in terms of volumes in equity segment for the first quarter of 2013.
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| April 19, 2013 | | I have given 25% of my wealth to charity: Premji Wipro Chairman Azim Premji on Friday said he has already given more than 25 per cent of his personal wealth to charity, but acknowledged it's not easy to use money well in philanthropy.
Nissan Sunny CVT: How it holds against competitors Nissan has introduced its own flagship sedan Sunny in an automatic avatar.
We think FY14 will be better than FY13: N Chandrasekaran When big companies such as Infosys and Wipro are forecasting minor growth this financial year, TCS is all set to break the trend.
Why govt export schemes are INEFFECTIVE India's exports need free trade and reform. The government, however, is extending failed schemes.
Reasons for the gold price crash The World Gold Council (WGC) said the recent fall in gold prices was driven by speculative traders in the futures markets.
Wipro's Q4 profit up 17% to Rs 1,729 crore The company's revenues rose by 13 per cent to Rs 9,613.1 crore (Rs 96.13 billion).
DC Design to give Renault Duster a MAKEOVER After giving an extreme makeover to popular cars such as Toyota Fortuner and the Mahindra XUV500, DC Design is working on Renault Duster.
MILESTONES: The rise and fall of gold prices Gold prices hit a two-year lows, the biggest one-day drop since 1983.
Nokia 720 HITS retail stores; COSTS Rs 18,999 Nokia's fifth smarthphone based on Window 8 platform is chic and offers decent performance compared to peers in its range.
World's 30 BIGGEST public companies Let's take a look at world's 30 biggest public companies.
Two Indian airports among the world's BEST The 2013 Awards are based on 12.1 million airline passenger nominations, and include 395 airports worldwide.
Has the time come to REVISIT your gold investment? Indian gold prices have slipped below Rs 30,000 and still counting on the lower side.
Behind-the-scenes: How I-T dept is catching tax evaders Here's how 250 tax sleuths are taking on corporate titans.
Apply online for PF transfer, withdrawals from July 1 Over 50 million subscribers of the retirement fund body EPFO will be able to apply online for transfer and withdrawal of their provident fund from July 1, a move aimed at speedy settlement of claims.
RBI finds 'aberrations' at ICICI, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank The government said action would be taken against ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank on the basis of an RBI audit report which has detected certain "aberrations", a month after the private banks were accused of money laundering by an online news portal.
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| April 17, 2013 | | TCS Q4 net jumps 22% to Rs 3,597 cr Helped by all-round business growth, country's largest software exporter Tata Consultancy Services on Wednesday reported 22.1 per cent jump in net profit at Rs 3,596.9 crore for the March quarter, meeting expectations.
India seeks PRECISION in monsoon forecasting by 2017 India has roped in almost all the world's major weather forecasters in its effort to accurately forecast monsoon rains in the next four years.
160 years of Indian Railways: Interesting facts The first railway on Indian sub-continent operated over a stretch of 21 miles from Bombay to Thane.
Indian IT professionals welcome US immigration bill Indian IT professionals in the US have welcomed the proposed immigration bill on several counts, particularly the Green Card, introduction of merit-based visa and increase in H-1B visa quota.
India and China will drive global growth: Chidambaram The growth rate in India projected to be up to 6.7 per cent between 2013 and 2014, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said.
PIX: Reliance Industries closer to being No 1 retailer Coming close to Future Retail, after 42 per cent revenue growth.
US immigration reforms to give fillip to Indian start-ups Dubbed as Startup Act 3.0, the legislation would also enable such immigrant entrepreneurs by giving them permanent residency upon meeting certain requirements.
SPECIAL: Indian cos afraid to report cyber crime Most cyber crime cases are settled by human resource department within closed walls.
COLUMN: Indians unwilling to set up productive cos Devesh Kapur asks why FDI is not attracted to India - and why Indians themselves are unwilling to set up productive enterprises.
RELAX! Apps to de-stress you The means to get rid of the stress is right in your pocket.
TEST DRIVE: How Porsche 911 FEELS on Indian roads The Carrera 4S is a brilliant, every day, all-weather supercar that punches way above its weight and teaches you the finer nuances of what makes a good car great.
LuLu Mall: An AMAZING shopper's paradise Kerala's financial hub, Kochi is now home to one of India's largest malls.
Google Nexus 7: VALUE for MONEY tablet While you can buy the basic model for Rs 15,999, the 3G model is priced at Rs 21,999.
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| April 16, 2013 | | RIL's net jumps 32% to Rs 5,589 crore RIL, which operates the world's biggest refining complex at Jamnagar in Gujarat, reported a net profit of Rs 5,589 crore (Rs 55.89 billion) in January-March as against Rs 4,236 crore (Rs 42.36 billion) in the same period a year ago.
Bugatti Veyron is the world's fastest car, again! Bugatti's record set back in 2010 is official all over again, after having its world record for fastest production car thrown into question by a competitor and put under review by Guinness.
How TAX sleuths are TARGETING car makers MNC auto firms that sold cars below cost, at a loss, thereby paying lower excise duty are prime targets.
Hotels check out new strategies for growth As reservations plunge, hotels are boosting their banqueting and restaurant business to make up for losses.
REVIEW: Nokia Lumia 820 vs. Sony Xperia ZL Find out if the cheaper siblings of Nokia Lumia 920 and Sony Xperia Z are worth the moolah.
Subhash Chandra launches Rs 1,000-cr realty fund Rs 40 crore already deployed in a residential project in Chennai.
India among nations with cheapest petro products Lowest prices of key petroleum products were found in Venezuela & Egypt.
Price watch: Where iPhone is CHEAPEST and COSTLIEST Global sales of smartphones is likely to cross the billion-unit mark in 2014.
Renting out your house? Here's a CHECKLIST Considering the increasing property values, renting out a place and staying on rent could both help save big sums of money.
10 BIGGEST employers in the world Let's take a look at 10 organisations, including government ones, that employ most workers in the world.
Jewellery sales zoom, gold to FALL further Retailers are witnessing a surge in demand and expect up to 50 per cent spike in sales volume in this marriage season.
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| April 12, 2013 | | Infographics: Infosys DASHES investors' hopes Infosys Ltd forecast full-year sales growth that missed analyst expectations by a margin of up to 50 percent, dimming investor hopes that India's No.2 software services firm will soon start reaping the benefits of its strategic revamp.
Samsung unveils LARGEST smartphone yet: Galaxy Mega From May, the company will start selling the Galaxy Mega phablets that come with 6.3-inch and 5.8-inch displays.
Infosys results, outlook DISAPPOINT analysts Forecast of single digit growth this financial year worries analysts, as other firms have provided better outlook.
Infosys records BIGGEST single day fall in 10 years Shares of Infosys on Friday fell sharply by nearly 20 per cent, wiping off Rs 30,943 crore (Rs 309.43 billion) from its market value, as investor sentiment turned bearish on lower-than-expected revenue growth for the current fiscal.
Infosys profit rises 3% to Rs 2,394 crore Consolidated net profit for the fiscal fourth quarter ended March 31 was Rs 2,390 crore.
Indian job seekers among most PESSIMISTIC Let's take a look at the job situation in India and across the world.
20 countries that have MOST Internet users Let's take a look at countries that have most Internet users.
Revealed! Nissan to SELL Sunny AT for Rs 8.92 lakh The car's automatic avatar is more fuel-efficient than the manual variant, and gives 17.97 kmpl.
Nokia launches cheapest colour phone in India Mobile phone maker Nokia announced the launch of its most affordable handset -- Nokia 105 -- in the Indian market aimed at first time buyers.
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| April 11, 2013 | | Lagarde outlines steps to avert future global crisis Christine Lagarde recently gave a speech in which she outlined steps needed to avoid future global crisis.
Cobrapost expose: RBI to take ACTION against banks The country's three largest private banks -- ICICI bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank -- were last month named by online portal Cobrapost for indulging in money laundering.
Honda launches Amaze starting at Rs 4.99 lakh While petrol starts at Rs 499,000 and goes up to Rs 760,000, the diesel variant is priced between Rs 599,000 and Rs 760,000.
Sahara victimised, but won't give up: Subrata Roy Roy was summoned by the market regulator Sebi on Wednesday to ascertain details of his personal and two company assets that could be sold to generate over Rs 24,000-crore (Rs 240-billion) worth funds required to be returned to the investors.
How industrial waste is polluting Sundarbans' ecosystem The research, conducted by a group of scientists from Calcutta University and Techno India University, says there has been a steady increase in the percentage of toxic heavy metals leading to the gradual deterioration of water there.
Why Karachi is among the world's BEST stock markets Pakistan's chaotic financial heart is home to 18 million people, Taliban bombers, contract killers - and one of the world's most successful stock markets.
7 websites to get FREE books for your tablet, e-reader Get contemporary as well as classic books for free at these websites.
Why India's welfare plans are anti-poor When one part of the government comes out with a serious and objective piece on how the government itself has been responsible for creating food inflation, hopefully the government is more likely to take note.
How much PETROL costs around the world There are places on earth where petrol is cheaper than water.
PIX: 14 AMAZING corporate headquarters in the world Let's take a look at 14 spectacular corporate headquarters around the world.
20 BUSIEST container ports in the world Let's us have a look at the world's busiest ports.
World's 30 economic SUPERPOWERS The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cut down its 2013 forecast for global economic growth to 3.9 per cent from the 4.1 per cent, trimming projections for most advanced and emerging economies.
Honda to develop entry-level SMALL CAR for India The will be cheaper than Brio and compete with Maruti Alto and Hyundai Eon.
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| April 10, 2013 | | How small farmers are REVOLUTIONISING agriculture Droughts and declining productivity of staple crops are turning farmers to short-duration vegetable crops. The movement has made India second largest producer of vegetables.
Subrata Roy, 3 others appear before Sebi The Sahara's is a high-profile refund case involving an estimated Rs 24,000 crore (Rs 240-billion) payment to over three crore (thirty million) investors.
How Sikkim's flower industry is BLOOMING Sikkim's tryst with floriculture marks a new beginning for small growers, but poor market access and a flush of imported breeds may mar its sustainability.
Special: World's 30 SAFEST banks The safest banks are those that have shown their strength in times of turbulence.
Domestic car sales down 22.51% in March Total sales of vehicles across categories registered a fall of 7.76 per cent to 14,86,522 units in March 2013 against 16,11,525 units in the same month of 2012, it added.
BUY your own private ISLAND for Rs 1 crore Your dream of having a home surrounded by aquamarine waters in the Caribbean or French Polynesia can turn into reality.
20 BUSIEST Metro stations in the world Let's take a look at some of the busiest Metro stations in the world.
10 cities with MOST congested TRAFFIC Let's take a look at 10 cities where travelling is most time consuming.
Credit cards: CASH back vs. REWARD points It makes sense to go for a cash back card only if you are a big spender, otherwise the benefits are almost equal.
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| April 09, 2013 | | How Sterlite copper plant POLLUTED Tuticorin The residents of Tuticorin claim that pollution from Sterlite smelter has affected their health and environment, and farmers and fishermen have lost livelihood.
Health insurance rates across the world United States has the highest health insurance cost at $5,615.
Narendra Modi's growth mantra for India Lauding West Bengal's development, Narendra Modi said Bengal will make the eastern part of the country powerful.
Delhi among most EXPENSIVE cities to own a car Let's take a look at some cities, including one from India, where owning a car in an expensive expenditure.
ANALYSIS: Future of Ambani brothers' telecom deal The network sharing agreement is the start of a new era of partnership between the brothers. More deals on sharing towers and intra-city fibre network are likely.
A fight to protect Amazonia from oil extraction The curse of oil has brought in roads, pipelines, settlers and the inevitable devastation along with displacement, disease and death.
How Sanjay Gandhi's aviation business plan FAILED Cables released by WikiLeaks name Sonia, Sanjay Gandhi as board members of firms that lobbied with US Embassy to connect with aircraft makers in 1976.
India is the CHEAPEST major economy in the world A litre of petrol costs $1.38 (Rs 75.28) in India while its costs $2.08 (Rs 113.46) in United Kingdom and $2.27 (Rs 123.83) in Hong Kong.
How salary hike AFFECTS your tax outgo If your salary structure is heavy on reimbursements, it will increase your net salary and reduce the tax burden.
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| April 06, 2013 | | New BMW 7 Series to HIT Indian roads in April BMW is all set to launch the new version of its flagship 7 Series car in India. Traditionally, the company introduces technologies and themes first in this car, and later add them to other models. The refreshed 7 Series features new hardware for the iDrive system, redesigned leather seats and individual 9.2 inch screens for rear passengers among other changes.
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| April 05, 2013 | | This book junks some of innovation's most toxic myths How Stella Saved the Farm reflects the classes that Govindarajan, a Dartmouth business professor, has been offering to top executives in America.
Why these Delhi hotels are LOSING crores every month Security concerns prevent the largest hotel project in the country to take off.
Can G V Prasad FILL IN Anji Reddy's shoes? G V Prasad is elevated as chairman of Dr Reddy's Laboratories, a position held by the late K Anji Reddy, and he has big shoes to fill.
Facebook's NEW phone app, a threat for Google? Facebook Inc on Thursday unveiled its most ambitious attempt yet to enter mobile computing without a phone of its own, introducing a new app that replaces the home screen on some Android smartphones.
PIX: These INDIANS have made it to the TOP at Google Let's take a look at seven Indian-origin people in prominent positions at the Internet search giant.
10 airport hubs that see MOST TRAFFIC Let's take a look at some of the busiest airport hubs in the world.
Revealed! 3 CARS Hyundai is developing for India The company plans for a small car, a compact SUV and an MUV.
IMAGES: Stunning Audi R8 V10 Plus hits Indian roads So far as the price of this powerful four-wheeler is concerned, Rs 2.05 crore is the figure.
SPECIAL: Mobile phone is 40 years old! When engineer Martin Cooper made the first landmark phone call from this first rudimentary mobile phone, he would never have imagined that after 40 years, mobile phones would facilitate almost all imaginable services to the mankind.
IMAGES: Mahindra Reva plans more electric cars Mahindra has been keen on bringing to market cars that would redefine the 'future of mobility' in India.
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| April 04, 2013 | | The amazing One World Trade Center's Observation Deck Standing tall at height of 1,776 feet, One World Trade Center will be the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere when it is completed.
Why foreign investors are LOSING faith in Vietnam Foreign investors are losing faith in Vietnam, which was sought-after destination just three-four years back. Due to slow reforms and rising corruption the growth in foreign investments has turned negative.
Data service: Telecom operators' next BIG BET The RIL-RCOM deal is an indication of telecom sector's future. As the mobile subscriber numbers plateau, telcos need to look at alternate stream of revenues, and data services will be the key to their growth.
India has grown faster under UPA: Rahul Gandhi In his first interaction with India Inc, Rahul Gandhi said the politics of alienating communities is affecting growth.
World's BIGGEST companies run by WOMEN Women account for less than 5 per cent of the CEOs in S&P 500 companies.
PICS: Why Indians find this Dubai property irresistible DAMAC Properties is launching phase two of a $1 billion project of luxury hotel and serviced residences to Indian investors.
10 nations where most businesses will offer salary hikes Employees in Latin America (86%), the Nordic region (84%),North America (79%) and South EastAsia (75%) are most likely to get a pay rise in 2013.
Honda Amaze is the MOST fuel-efficient diesel CAR Honda's first diesel car in the country, Amaze, will give a mileage 25.4 kmpl. It is also more powerful than Maruti Swift Dzire and is expected to sell at an aggressive price tag - starting at Rs 600,000.
IMAGES: Best smartphones available in the market Let's take a look at some of the best available mobile phones.
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| April 03, 2013 | | Obama's $100 mn BRAIN project to beat India, China President Barack Obama has unveiled an ambitious $100 million project to unlock the "enormous mystery" of the human brain.
NEW Google Nexus 7 tablet to HIT the market by July Google is planning to sell the next-generation Nexus 7 tablet from July that will feature Qualcomm Inc's Snapdragon processor. It is expected to retain the aggressive pricing.
War and peace: AMBANI brothers through the years After being at loggerheads for 8 years, Ambani brothers have sealed a Rs 1,200-crore (Rs 12-billion) deal wherein Mukesh will use his younger sibling's optic fibre network for launch of his telecom venture.
5% economic growth disappointing: PM Returning to 8 per cent growth needs speedy, decisive government action, the Prime Minister added.
What you need to know about LTA If you don't use the two LTA exemptions by December 2013, one can be availed of in 2014-17.
STUNNING cars you would love to drive! From fuel efficient cars to million dollar super cars, the New York Auto Show has something for everyone.
IMAGES: World's costliest billionaire homes The world's most expensive billionaire home is in Mumbai.
The world's BIGGEST beer guzzler Let's take a look at some countries that consume most beer.
Why the food security bill will NOT help the POOR 'Food security' will, unfortunately, become a giant boondoggle.
How to SAVE more, invest wisely this financial year Steps like depositing the entire PPF amount before April 5 or preparing a household budget will ensure this financial year goes well.
Auto awards: BEST CARS in the world in 2013 Sixty-six auto journalists from 22 countries rate the best cars in the world. Here are the winners of World Car Awards for 2013.
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| April 02, 2013 | | Ambani brothers join hands for telecom biz Under the pact, Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries' telecom arm will hire nationwide optical fibre network of Reliance Communications for the roll-out of 4G services.
Indian women pros ahead of those in the West This is besides succeeding at the difficult balancing act that confronts the vast majority of working women around the world, head of a non-profit think tank Center for Talent Innovation has said.
APPS that help you MONITOR children's Internet use With smartphone and tablet users getting younger, Here are few apps that can help parents of 2-to-13-year-olds monitor and control their children's use of the Internet.
PIX: Solar-powered plane gears up for an exciting tour The path breaking solar-powered plane is making final preparations for a flight across the United States.
Maruti's sales in March fall 5%; rise 3% in FY13 For the entire 2012-13 financial year, however, the company's total sales increased by 3.33 per cent to 11,71,434 units from 11,33,695 units in 2011-12, Maruti Suzuki India said in a statement.
FASTEST growth periods of India, and 9 Asian nations Let's take a look at 10 Asian countries and their fastest growth periods in the past 30 years.
Will Aakash SUCCEED even as it FAILS? Aakash is now two years beyond its initial delivery date.
Countries with HIGHEST number of CARS in the world Economic slowdown and the high prices of fuel notwithstanding, car ownership across the world has been rising steadily.
How govt banks aided the RISE of CRONY capitalism Government banks have repeatedly failed to take quick action against defaulters. They only raise an alarm when the loan turns into a non-performing asset. A fitting example of this attitude is Vijay Mallya's Kingfisher.
The success story of Kerala's Startup Village With plans to create 1,000 product firms in 10 years, Startup Village in Kerala is set to leave a mark on India's IT landscape.
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| April 01, 2013 | | Petrol price cut by 85 paise per litre Petrol price was on Monday cut by 85 paise per litre with effect from midnight tonight, the second reduction in rates in two weeks.
Auto majors post mixed results in March Automobile sector posted mixed results in March with some registering moderate to big jump in sales while others scored low as far as sales are concerned.
Why China's CURBS on property buying will NOT work To cool the real estate market, putting curbs on property buying will not work. There are many loopholes in China's monetary policy that would again lead to rise in real estate prices. The country first needs to address this weakness.
India's biggest airlines: IndiGo is No.1 Domestic air traffic in the first two months of this year fell by 3.57 per cent compared to the same period last year.
How Dharavi garment worker became a celebrity shoemaker True-life story of Dharavi's garment worker, who now makes shoes for Kajol, Abhishek Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan, Ranbir Kapoor and international stars like Kylie Minogue. His scale of business: A 120 sq ft plot and eight employees.
images: How to ensure good resale value of flat Potential buyers appreciate basic furniture fixtures in the kitchen and living room and are likely to pay a premium for such ready-to-use services.
World's most EXPENSIVE energy projects Kashagan oil field is the world's most expensive energy project.
How India can ensure fuel security The one fact of life that will be unchanged into the foreseeable future is that India will remain hugely import-dependent for energy, while rival countries are booking sources of supply, or blocking other sources through trade embargoes.
PICS: Jewellers woo consumers and banks Jewellers are also focusing on designs to attract customers.
IMAGES: 6 most controversial advertisements Is this creativity, or just cheap stunts to grab attention quickly?
PIX: Will real estate Bill create consumer comfort? Real estate business and market have so far been the monopoly of promoters, developers and builders.
Cyrus begins transition at Tata Group People who attended the celebrations said the sincerity and passion, besides absence of smart one-liners, reminded them of his predecessor.
IMAGES: Google's Glass thrills but chills With Glass, suddenly Google has become the hot new name in what is to be the rage of the future - wearable computing.
Performance is Jaguar's new spearhead Driven by demand for SUVs globally, Land Rover continues to ride a wave of success, on the back of a strong product line-up, design as well as technologies.
8 BIGGEST insurance LOSSES in the world Let's take a look at eight biggest insurance losses in the world since 1970.
Audi's FASTEST car to HIT Indian roads on Apr 4 Finally, Audi is set to launch the R8 in India. The car accelerates from 0-100 kmph in 3.5 seconds and can achieve a top whack of 317 kmph.
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| March 31, 2013 | | Sun Pharma, Mahindras in India's TOP-10 club These two are now among India's most valuable business houses, ahead of older and more diversified groups, such as the Bajaj, OP Jindal, Anil Ambani, UB, Godrej and Hinduja.
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| March 28, 2013 | | Fiat BETS on SUVs and sporty cars in India reboot Fiat has revised its India strategy. The car maker, which was among the first western auto companies to enter India, is betting big on SUVs and sporty cars. It no longer wants to compete in the small car segment.
REVEALED: Specs, features of the facelifted Maruti SX4 Find out changes Maruti Suzuki has made to its SX4 sedan that will hit the road soon.
Videocon's value-for-money telecom gamble It plans to offer 4G data with voice at rates 15-25 per cent lower than those of its competitors just as it has done with its TV sets. Many say it might be a recipe for disaster.
300 mn to enter banking net, ATM makers rejoice By 2017, research provided by NCR Corporation, an ATM maker, suggests that the installed base of these machines in India will reach 400,000 machines, from about 100,000 in the third quarter of 2012.
What Indian Railways can LEARN from the Chinese During independence, Indian Railway's system was ahead of China's. However, in 1990s the ambitious neighbour started its rail reforms and left India far behind. The Chinese rail transformation story has many lessons for India.
How Nokia plans to BEAT competition The Finnish company is slowly and steadily strengthening its smartphone portfolio with both cheap and expensive products to tap the youth.
Inside India's stunning BPO hubs India is the world's favoured market for BPO companies.
Bobby Pawar, ad team get MARCHING orders over Ford ads Replacements to Pawar and creative team on Ford yet to be announced, even as campaign sparks worldwide outrage.
10 BEST countries for entrepreneurs Guess what four of the 10 best countries for entrepreneurship have among the smallest economies in the developed world!
2 Indian cities among world's WORST places for CARS Although finding a parking spot is a nightmare for car owners around the world, some cities pose a bigger challenge than others.
Navi Mumbai: The next BIG realty HOTSPOT The picturesque Palm Beach Road is being touted as Navi Mumbai's answer to Marine Drive.
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| March 26, 2013 | | An iPhone app made this 17-year old a MILLIONAIRE The developer of iPhone news app sold his company Summly to Yahoo for millions.
Tata's dream to fly takes wings; AirAsia JV cleared The proposal was cleared by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board, Finance Ministry said in a statement.
Colour code for mutual funds WON'T curb mis-selling While Sebi's colour code will help investors, mis-selling might not reduce substantially.
Can S Kumars WEATHER the financial storm? The company has been buffeted by setbacks. Its expansion plans are on hold, promoters have pledged their shares and its market cap has tumbled.
World's top REALTY investment hotspots, India at 20 India is ranked 20th in the list of world's top real estate investment markets with investment volume of $3.4 billion in 2012, property consultant Cushman & Wakefield said in its latest report.
10 countries earning MOST tourist DOLLARS Tourism accounts for nine per cent of global GDP and is projected to represent one in every 10 jobs by 2022.
Challenges facing the new insurance chief The new Irda chairman's biggest challenge will be to give equal priority to the growth of the industry and customer welfare.
Catastrophe pool: Faster relief for victims of disaster Both General Insurance Council and Irda have made efforts to set up this pool. However, a formal notification giving guidance for its implementation has not yet been issued.
IMAGES: 15 stunning cars set to hit the roads soon Will these amazing models ever come to India?
Why India needs to create job opportunities URGENTLY The growth path going forward has to absorb the new entrants into the labour force, which are estimated at 4.5 million annually in the 12th Plan document.
10 tech companies that have most JOB OPENINGS Despite slowdown, these companies are bullish on hiring.
World's TOP 20 economies by 2030, INDIA at No. 3 Despite weaker exports and sluggish domestic demand, China is still on track to overtake the United States.
India's 10 most REPUTED companies Each year, Nielsen's Corporate Image Monitor survey measures the reputation of leading corporates on the basis of certain attributes. The Monitor measures perceptions of the image and reputation of India's leading companies, across sectors and serves as an important indicator of the strength of the corporate brand.
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| March 25, 2013 | | How EXIT interviews can help companies When one of your employees decides to move on, use a carefully designed exit interview to involve him in defining the problems and generating solutions.
The PROS and CONS of working from home Yahoo! CEO Marissa Ann Mayer's decision to end telecommuting has evoked strong reactions and has divided opinion.
Cyprus saved from BANKRUPTCY, gets a bailout Cyprus, once a high-income economy is today facing a severe economic crisis.
Are IT outsourcers promoting MINI CEOs? For young graduates who see the $108 billion IT industry as a sure pathway to modern India's growing middle class, the transformation is unsettling.
Amazing IMAGES of world's BIGGEST transport plane The Beluga carries complete sections of Airbus aircraft from different production sites to the final assembly lines in Toulouse or Hamburg.
Crude import from Iran: Govt mulls insurance fund The ministry is in consultation with various other stakeholders and ministries on this and the department of financial services was working on the proposal.
World's first underground railway completes 150 years! London Underground completed 150 years since the first underground journey took place between Paddington and Farringdon on the Metropolitan Railway on 9 January 2013.
IN PIX: Toasting corporate excellence President asks industry leaders to have belief in themselves.
Despite slowdown, Maruti to add capacity at Manesar The decision to add capacity comes at a time when most auto majors have been resorting to production cuts.
Can AirAsia COMPETE with existing low cost airlines? Low-cost positioning is passe. Brand experts suggest ways in which the airline can differentiate itself in the minds of customers.
Why investors' perception towards gold should change Making a call on gold price trends through 2013 will be a toss-up.
The economic side effects of political INSTABILITY Taking a cue from the UPA's recent tussle with the DMK, foreign investors may consider selling into rallies in the future.
Top 6 BUDGET tablets with big screens A list of Android-based tabs that have big screens and are pocket-friendly.
India among 25 countries that have MOST AIRPORTS There are some countries that have no airports at all, while some nations are not short of them.
Two Indian cities among world's WORST for commuters Commuting is a problem for many across the world, especially for those in cities that do not have proper public transport.
25 countries that give MOST economic AID Economic aid not only gives leverage to donor nations over lenders, but also fulfil its main aim of helping the less well-off.
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| March 22, 2013 | | Ambassador pulls Hindustan Motors back from the brink Boosted by its demand, sales jumped 166% in February. The firm is now planning a massive facelift for its cars to keep the momentum going.
IMAGES: Why and when does gold fall Govt cannot assume it will solve current account problem.
Why Mahindra car names end with an 'O' The letter "o" continues to play a superstitious role in Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M's) car launches, as the name of its first electric car after the acquisition of Reva showed.
India's tourism growth story LOSING sheen Against the projection of 12 per cent annual growth in foreign tourist arrivals, 2013 is set to see negligible increase, implying loss of foreign exchange, besides an image dent.
India's BIGGEST e-commerce hubs, Delhi is No.1 New Delhi has emerged as the top e-commerce hub in India in 2012.
11 BIGGEST economic BAILOUTS in the world Let's take a look at 11 countries that have been bailed out by banks.
IMAGES: 25 biggest consumers of oil in the world Let's take a look at 25 biggest consumers of oil in the world.
IMAGES: Mumbai airport's STUNNING Terminal 2 The swanky Terminal 2 at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai is set to open in September this year.
25 LARGEST electricity producers in the world Let's take a look at some major producers of electricity.
INDIA is the country to look out for: Google chief India will add a significant part of the next 5 billion Internet users, with maths suggesting that it is the country to look out for, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt said.
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| March 21, 2013 | | IMAGES: Nita Ambani offers puja at Hyderabad temple Glimpses of Nita Ambani at Balkampet Mahakali Temple.
RBI downplays money laundering charges The country's three largest private banks -- ICICI bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank -- were last week accused of indulging in money laundering both within and outside with an online portal, Cobrapost, claiming that the sting operation conducted by it had revealed a scam.
Meet the people who get highest salaries Professionals in these industries earn compensation that is 30-60 per cent higher, on average, than those who work in other industries.
Why US needs to LEARN to live with India's frailties American business should adapt to India's messy regulatory and tax environment or risk losing trade deals to its competitors.
12 companies that saw the biggest wealth EROSION The Indian stock market boom saw the rise of many wealthy investors. However, some of the high profile companies did not live up to the expectations of investors.
India's growth story: Is the worst over? Growth revival will be more tentative, inflation sharper, and external pressures more acute than pronouncements suggest.
Why Delhi Aerotropolis DOESN'T measure up to Beijing's Different government departments want changes to existing structures and layout is resulting in for hoteliers.
India among LARGEST IMPORTERS in the world Let's take a look at 20 countries that are biggest importers in the world.
M&A fever returns to pharma With local companies facing stress in domestic operations, valuations are down.
25 countries that have BEST quality of life There are some countries where not only the Gross Domestic Product figure is high but also standard of education and income equality.
Mumbai, Delhi among 30 cities with the RICHEST people The combined wealth held by HNWIs grew by 2 per cent, or $566 billion, to just over $26 trillion in 2012.
10 BIGGEST markets in the world for luxury cars Economic slowdown fails to dent luxury car sales.
IMAGES: Nokia launches Windows 8 phone at Rs 10,500 Nokia launched two mobile phones based on Windows 8 operating system, including one priced at Rs 10,500.
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| March 18, 2013 | | Invest Rs 40 lakh for tax benefit of Rs 20,000 The Budget proposal for additional home loan deduction will have little impact on the market.
Can Sebi bring Sahara Group to justice? Sebi's action on Sahara is showing results, but problems remain.
Can BlackBerry do what RIM couldn't? The company that used to be a juggernaut of smartphones is now undertaking a 'journey of transformation of business and brand'.
Rising tensions could HAMPER Kashmir tourism Rising tension, curfew and violence in Kashmir could spoil the travel plans of tourists at the onset of the peak travel season.
BEST tablets below Rs 10,000 While the iPad Mini stays at the pinnacle of one's aspirations, here are a few sub-Rs 10,000 tablets worth checking out in a similar form factor.
Job change should not deprive you of PF Keep transferring the account, as unclaimed amount will not earn interest after three years.
Is your builder going BANKRUPT? Find out... There are some tell-tale signs such as slowdown in construction or absence of communication.
RIL's growth takes wings on surge in treasury income The boost from treasury income has helped RIL juice up its earnings at a time when the margins in its core refining & petrochemicals business are running low.
Why small taxpayers are EASY targets for I-T Dept Big evaders might be the target but the small guys end up getting punished.
These countries DO NOT have an airport! These 5 countries have no airports at all.
Money laundering: Banks must restore public TRUST Both the regulator and bank managements will face the challenge of restoring confidence.
Countries that spend the LEAST and MOST on food Let's take a look at 20 countries that spend least and most on food, alcohol and tobacco.
28 countries that have the FASTEST Internet speed Let's have a look at countries that enjoy high broadband speed and see where India ranks.
Facelifted Freelander 2 is here, starts at Rs 38.67 lakh The major changes done to the recently launched model include revised exterior, a new centre console and an upmarket sound system with 17 speakers.
Chevrolet to launch CHEAPER diesel variant of Sail U-VA In a second attempt to challenge the dominant position of Maruti Swift, GM India will launch a cheaper variant of Sail U-VA that will cost Rs 529,000.
Petrol is CHEAPEST in these 10 countries Petrol prices are the most volatile across the world.
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| March 15, 2013 | | Good news! Petrol price slashed by Rs 2 per litre Petrol price has been reduced by about Rs 2 per litre, in line with falling international oil rates.
'Indo-US economic ties remain underdeveloped' The US-India trade had doubled every five years and was approaching the $100 billion mark, since 2001, but it is still a low number.
Raghuram Rajan: Financial crisis prophet to RBI CHIEF? The man widely expected to be India's next central bank chief favours clipping the autocratic power of the role and giving more say to a monetary policy committee.
Air India's Dreamliner may resume flights soon The US Federal Aviation Authority has approved Boeing's plan to fix the battery-fire problem in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet.
Tata for enhancing India, China cooperation Citing partnership between Tatas-owned JLR and China's Cherry Automobile, he said the Chinese bring ingenuity and creativity to their job.
Money laundering: New cases pop up even as old ones drag With the Financial Intelligence Unit deciding to probe three major banks for alleged money laundering, it is interesting to note that the same agency also conducted a probe in the HSBC money laundering case.
How to make India a better place for business As concerned Indians we need to ask what can be done in the short term, which does not require legislative approval to enhance investment.
Tata sees India achieving 7% growth in 2 years The Chairman Emeritus of the Tata Group said that the recent steps by the government have restored investors' confidence in the country, but more needs to be done.
Galaxy S4: Bigger, faster, thinner and feature rich Samsung premiered its Galaxy S4, which sports a bigger display and unconventional features such as gesture controls, as the South Korean titan challenges Apple Inc on its home turf.
Bank employees get AC cabs, foreign trip offer! With a scramble for deposits at the end of financial year, banks are using every possible trick to boost employee performance.
Why Indian Railways continues to remain INEFFICIENT The finances of the Railways are in dire need of repair.
Air India discounts spark price war Low-cost carrier IndiGo, too, has slashed fares to match Air India's levels, but has not announced any scheme.
How Cobrapost EXPOSED top banks' money laundering Online media firm Cobrapost on Thursday alleged managers of the country's top-three private banks by market capitalisation - ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank - had been offering 'money laundering' as products to people looking to park black money.
10 companies that spend the MOST on RESEARCH Let's take a look at world's most innovative companies based on research and development spending.
IMAGES: Families live in a shipping container! For $80 a month, families can opt to live in a shipping container in Shanghai
Auto cos hauled up for monopolising spare parts sales There is some good news for vehicle owners. The repair and maintenance costs on their cars could come down soon if a report on monopolistic behaviour of automobile makers is accepted by the country's anti-trust watchdog.
IMAGES: World's most expensive buildings Let's take a look at some of the most expensive buildings in the world.
Porsche 911: What makes it the CAR of the century? For five decades, the 911 has been the heart of the Porsche brand. This year, it celebrates golden jubilee. The 911 is also the central point of reference for all other Porsche series.
3 Indian airports among world's BEST Three Indian airports are among the top five airports in the world providing international standard services.
In pix: 10 TOP selling SUVs in India There is no denying that sports utility vehicles (SUVs) are increasingly becoming popular among Indian car buyers.
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| March 14, 2013 | | Merc to hike prices by up to Rs 58 lakh from April The hike in price ranges from 1-4 per cent for locally produced models, and up to 20 per cent for select completely built units, the company said in a statement.
ICICI, HDFC Bank, Axis probing money laundering charges Probes come after independent journalist accuses ICICI, HDFC, Axis Bank and cites video recordings collected by him as evidence.
How an angel investor is changing rules of the game Blume Ventures sets a breakneck speed in two years of existence; time will tell if the strategy works.
India undermining intellectual property: Pfizer Pfizer alleged India has taken steps that call into question the sustainability of foreign investments and the ability to compete fairly.
World's largest flawless diamond up for auction The rough diamond of 236 carats was found at the jwaneng mine in Botswana and took 21 months to polish.
Why govt forcing corporates for charitable work is good Many businesses use charitable work to get project clearances and deviate people from bad publicity. Making corporate social responsibility mandatory would lower such misuse.
Petrol price may be cut, diesel to be costlier Petrol price may be reduced by about Re 1 per litre while diesel price may be hiked by 40-50 paisa a litre from March 15/16.
Fortuner, Innova SAVE Toyota the blushes Overall numbers decline, but the success of these two brands help Toyota move up to the fourth spot in the sales league table.
SHAKE-UP in Motown rankings as consumers shift gear Even as some automakers limp, others charge ahead.
Disney rules out theme park in India According to Andy Bird, chairman of Walt Disney International, theme park investment requires massive support infrastructure such as airports, power supply and roads, still not available in India.
Salaries soar: India's HIGHEST paid CEOs Naveen Jindal, Chairman and Managing Director of Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL), has topped the executive pay charts for listed companies in India.
The STORY of two WOMEN coal miners The two women coal miners in all of Bosnia and Herzegovina are not left in the dark when it comes to their jobs.
The BEST and WORST rated countries in the world Let's take a look at best and worst rated countries in the world.
Kolkata's woes with business houses continue unabated This would be another major blow to West Bengal after the pullout of the Tata Nano project.
REVEALED: Specs, features of Honda Amaze Check out the features and specifications of Honda Amaze.
US groups criticise India's drug, tech, farm policies Last year, India's agricultural exports to the United States topped $5 billion.
Apple's iPad to FALL behind Android A growing variety of smaller and cheaper Android tablets from Google to Amazon.com Inc will catch on this year with more consumers and chip away at Apple's dominance since the first iPad launched in 2010.
10 BIGGEST technology HUBS in the world Let's take a look at some of the biggest technology hubs in the world.
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| March 13, 2013 | | Post Budget, minister announces 19 MORE NEW trains! Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal announced introduction of 19 new train services, extension of three and increase in frequency of five trains acceding to demands of MPs.
Vijay Mallya's woes: A Vaastu reason now! Vijay Mallya has been burdened for the past three years with debt at United Spirits spiralling and Kingfisher Airlines, well, on a downward spiral.
Money transfer, card usage: New norms to prevent MISUSE RBI has asked banks to implement these security and risk control measures from 30 June 2013.
Where RELIANCE is investing its money Analysts wary about investment in 'unrelated' sectors, insiders say retail will break even by month-end.
Boeing receives federal approval for battery test Aviation major Boeing has received federal approval to its plan to test the battery system of its 'Dreamliner' planes, which were grounded early this year after a fire in one of the aircraft due to fault in the battery system.
A day that ROCKED the Bombay Stock Exchange The Sensex gained 2.54% in the trading session after the blasts to end the day at 2,421.
IMAGES: World's wealthiest love these cities Let's take a look at cities that are favourite of world's wealthiest.
10 websites where users spend MOST time Let's take a look at 10 websites where users spend the most time.
World's FASTEST-growing airports Most of the world's airports are owned by government bodies or leased to private corporations who oversee the airport's operations.
The stunning Jaguar F-Type to HIT Indian roads in July Jaguar Land Rover is planning to launch the stunning F-Type in India in July. The Freelander 2 is set to hit the market soon, too.
Most REPUTED companies in the United States The number of companies with great reputation falls from 16 to 6 over past 2 years in the United States according to a Harris Interactive study. Auto and financial services industries show strong growth.
5 TIPS to invest in the stock market If one has the money and drive to grow their income, the stock market is one of the top of mind options for many investors.
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| March 12, 2013 | | Corporate jets, charter planes under DGCA lens Recent audit raised concerns about oversight functions exercised by DGCA and clubbed India with several African nations with poor aviation safety record.
Ratan Tata UNVEILS Safari Storme concept, NEW Aria Tata displayed its facelifted Aria and Safari Storme Mountain Rescue concept cars at the Geneva Motor Show.
Revealed: How Chidambaram reined in fiscal deficit He used an old rule to cut the expenditure allotted to various ministries.
Mahindra bets on maiden e-car launch The e2o, an all-electric, four-seater passenger car, will be the first model under the Mahindra Reva stable to be launched.
Million dollar roofs: Mumbai, Delhi at par with NY A home in Mumbai or Delhi or one in New York? Or perhaps one in London or Dubai? Take your pick because they all now cost nearly the same.
Even after retirement, TATA remains as busy as before Tata has already said, as days go by, he would focus his attention on "specific areas where value can be added to enhance the quality of life of rural citizens".
Meet the 30 RICHEST Indians The combined net worth of India's hundred richest businessmen is Rs 1,112,628 crore.
IMAGES: 10 stunning cars you simply can't miss! Here are 10 cars from the 2013 Geneva Motor Show that you simply cannot afford to miss.
IMAGES: 25 nations with the world's BEST infrastructure Let's take a look at 25 countries that have the best infrastructure in the world.
IMAGES: Old BEAUTIES put Jaipur in retro mood These classic cars adorn Jaipur roads at the 15th Vintage & Classic Car Rally. The car on display included 1935 Buick Series, 1935 Auburn 651 Boat Tail Speedster, 1948 Pontiac, 1937 Morris 8 and 1951 Rolls Royce.
Coimbatore: A boom town on the verge of going BUST Crippling power cuts in Tamil Nadu are shutting factories and threatening an industrial debt crisis that is wrecking its second-largest city's plan to become India's next business Mecca.
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| March 11, 2013 | | 'Energy revolution is America's big comeback story' Ruchir Sharma and Nandan Nilekani engage in an exciting conversation, with listening in. This is a final of a three-part feature.
How mobile is the new SAFETY tool for women The rise in crimes against women has brought into focus some ways their constant companion -- the mobile phone -- can help.
Feb car sales at 12-year LOW, plunge 25.7 percent Car sales in India slumped 25.7 percent in February, the biggest fall in more than 12 years and the fourth consecutive monthly slide, as sluggish economic growth continues to weigh on demand.
A short life span for modern cars, machines! All machines will go the way of all flesh - and the more modern the machine, the sooner it will do so.
Why Xperia Z could be Sony's trump card The Japanese electronics giant finally has a phone in the premium smartphone category.
Coke plan HITS policy bump Maturity extension for redeemable preference shares stuck due to lack of directions in FDI rules.
India's agriculture is NOT just about suicides Most people don't know that India is an agricultural power in world markets, says T N Ninan.
Mexico next breakout nation, says Kenneth Rogoff Mexico is moving away from dependence on oil revenue, and is positioned to be the next breakout nation, says .
They became BILLIONAIRES WITHOUT doing any work Let's take a look at some billionaires who inherited their wealth.
AMAZING perks Google offers its employees Let's take a look at some amazing perks Google offers to employees.
10 airlines with the best ON-TIME arrival record Major International airlines on average delivered 77.64% of their flights to the arrival gate within 15 minutes of schedule in February.
IMAGES: Onboard the swanky Rajdhani Express The refurbished Rajdhani Express resembles swanky trains abroad.
Toyota to launch NEW Etios, Liva this month The new cars, which have undergone over over 100 changes, were spotted at a dealer's showroom.
Is Indian stock market the BEST in the world? Let's take a look at the performance of stock markets in the emerging markets in the past two years.
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| March 08, 2013 | | Good news! Flying time to REDUCE soon Ending a long-pending dispute over sharing of sky for civilian and military traffic, Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Friday approved easing restrictions
IMAGES: Ratan Tata meets Raj Thackeray Tata Group Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata on Friday met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray at his residence in Mumbai.
Economy to bounce back to 8% growth: PM Singh said the government is determined to give a push to the economy as he rejected the Opposition charge over mishandling of the situation and making a mess of it.
'India sells 3.11 mn tabs in 2012' Samsung leads the India Tablet market (five-inch screen size and above) for CY 2012 and Q4 2012, followed by Micromax.
Is Adani BANKING on Modi to be the next PM? Following the Wharton controversy, the Adani Group also withdrew its Platinum Sponsorship for the event. The move is being viewed as a gesture of loyalty to Modi.
India's growth will bounce back, assures PM The major focus of this year's Economic Survey was on pushing economic growth, which has been projected by the Central Statistical Organisation at 5 per cent for this fiscal, sharply lower than the original estimate of 7.6 per cent (+/- 0.25 per cent).
Mukesh hits back at GSM players Reliance Jio accuses COAI of malafide intention.
iGate's next BIG ambition after Patni acquisition It wants to increase its revenue to $3 billion by 2017 from $1 billion now.
Double whammy for high-end car users After rise in duties, third-party motor insurance rates set to increase premiums 5 - 10 per cent.
IMAGES: The bustling world of Indian Railways Indian Railways is one of the world's largest railway networks comprising 115,000 km of track over a route of 65,000 km and 7,500 stations.
Meet the world's YOUNGEST billionaires Out of the world's 1,426 billionaires, there are 29 people under 40 years old.
Images: It's all about STUNNING cars and HOT women Let's take a look at the 2013 Geneva Auto Show.
Countries with the HIGHEST number of billionaires! Let's take a look at some countries that have most billionaires per capita.
Boom to DOOM: Detroit turns into a MISERABLE city It's a doom in Detroit with the state declaring a financial emergency.
These women broke the glass ceiling to reach the TOP! In the India's corporate world dominated by men, these women make a big difference.
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| March 05, 2013 | | Billionaire boom: Meet the World's 30 RICHEST people The number of billionaires has reached a record high of 1,426 with a record net worth $5.4 trillion, says Forbes.
How much does a cup of COFFEE COST in India? Let's take a look at the price of a Starbucks grande latte in India and around the world.
Images: World's first PANDA themed hotel in China! China will open the world's first panda themed hotel in May.
Mahindra Reva to launch its electric car E2O in March The carmaker was waiting for the government to announce sops for green vehicles in the Budget that would have help price the car lower.
BMW X1 vs Audi Q3: Who will WIN in India? The two car makers from Germany, BMW and Audi are in a tug of war for the top slot in the luxury car segment in India.
Deutsche Bank sees Sensex at 22,500 by Dec In spite of a steep fall in market indices since the Budget, Deutsche Bank has maintained a positive view on Indian equities, saying it sees the Sensex scaling 22,500 points by December on a possible monetary easing, recovery in global growth and policy initiatives.
A tour of Australian billionaire's AMAZING TITANIC Clive Palmer, an Australian billionaire, plans to reconstruct the Titanic.
Finally, Nasscom to also FOCUS on internet, mobile Recently, some software firms formed a separate body called the Indian Software Product Industry Round Table, or iSpirt.
Why FinMin, CSO may both go WRONG on GDP forecast When FM was that the third-quarter GDP data was not in line with his ministry's optimism, he had said he relied on the advice of his advisors.
Budget 2013 -What's in it for me? As direct tax rates are unchanged, the impact on individuals is fairly neutral.
The STORY behind India's BILLIONAIRE CLUB Here's an analysis of India's richest people.
IMAGES: Rs 3.49-lakh Mahindra Maxximo Plus in India Let's take a look at Maxximo Plus, which was launched in India on Monday.
Mukesh Ambani is India's RICHEST for 6th year Carlos Slim has emerged as wealthiest in the world for the fourth consecutive year.
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| March 01, 2013 | | Petrol price hiked by Rs 1.40 per litre A rise in international oil prices and depreciation in rupee have necessitated a Rs 1.40 per litre increase in price of petrol with effect from midnight tonight, said a statement by Indian Oil Corporation.
New Delhi International Airport wins SAFETY award Delhi International Airport has won the prestigious 'International Safety Award' from British Safety Council, one of the largest independent occupational health, safety and environmental organisations in the world.
It's a Budget with balance Mr Chidambaram could have done more to calm investors.
Maruti, Toyota sales FALL in Feb; Hyundai's UP 5% Sales of the Maruti's mini-segment cars such as M800, A-Star, Alto and WagonR, fell by 15.87 per cent
Coins that have MOST and LEAST purchasing power Let's take a look at some coins that are worth less than any other in the world.
25 countries where ALCOHOL is most EXPENSIVE Let's take a look at countries where alcohol is most expensive.
India Inc gives thumbs up to the Budget India Inc gave a thumbs up to the UPA-II's last Union Budget before the general elections next year and said Finance Minister P Chidambaram presented a "bold" and "growth-oriented" Budget.
Budget 2013: The impossible trinity? The Budget tried to please politicians, rating agencies and reformists, and let them all down -- slightly.
IMAGES: Vehicles that will NEVER hit the roads Let's take a look at some vehicles that remained a concept and never reached the showroom.
Over 23 million lifted out of poverty in China last year Over 23 million people were brought above the poverty line in China last year as about 100 million people from rural areas moved to cities for work.
Budget 2013: The wrong way to raise revenue Bridging the fiscal deficit and facilitating investments were the prime concerns of Budget 2013.
Budget 2013: Just words, no action The FM wants credit for acting on environment, but does the wrong things.
In-depth analysis of Union Budget Fiscal deficit planned to reduce to 4.8 per cent in FY2014, subsidy bill remains elevated. Proposes to reduce fiscal deficit to 3%, the revenue deficit to 1.5 per cent and the effective revenue deficit to zero by FY2017.
How Chidambaram justifies the Budget Admitting there were challenges before the economy, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said at a post-Budget media conference that another set of decisions and measures would be announced during the Budget's passage in Parliament.
Honda STOPS Jazz production to focus on Amaze Honda dealers stopped taking orders for Jazz. The company will, however, deliver pending orders.
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| February 28, 2013 | | FICCI shocked by low GDP growth GDP growth figures of a mere 4.5% has placed a greater onus on the government to implement reforms.
Slowdown: India's GDP growth FALLS to 4.5% The Indian economy grew by 4.5 per cent in the October-December period of the current financial year, pulled down by poor performance of farm, manufacturing and mining sectors.
Where the rupee COMES from, and where it GOES Where will we get all the money announced in the Budget?
Budget 2013: Puts the smile on rural poor FM has taken up basic issues that concerns the population in India's heartland.
Opposition calls Budget a 'jugglery' Expressing disappointment with the Budget proposals, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said 'it is unimaginative, dull and boring'
Women's share GROWS in Budget speech, literally When it comes to usage of words in the budget speech, terms like women, youth and investors grew in count from the last year levels.
Govt give a chance to service tax defaulters Interest, penalty and other consequences will be waived.
Budget is growth oriented, says Adi Godrej Raising the taxes on the super-rich will not solve the fiscal consolidation problem, but will definitely help.
Respite for foreign investors: Norms simplified Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India would be doing away with different procedures and avenues for many categories.
First women's bank in India It will be a public sector bank and Rs 1,000 crore has been allocated to it.
Luxury homes to COST more Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday announced a Rs 2,000 crore urban housing fund, while making luxury homes costlier by cutting abatement on service tax on a flat with a floor area of over 2,000 sq ft, or prices exceeding Rs 1 crore.
Budget speech gets modern; Stiglitz finds mention Presenting the Union Budget for 2013-14 in Parliament, Finance Minister P Chidambaram also quoted his favourite poet Tiruvalluvar towards the end of his Budget speech after referring to Stiglitz in the beginning.
Mobile phones above Rs 2,000 set to cost MORE Excise duty raised to 6 per cent.
Excise duty on SUVs, imported luxury vehicles hiked SUVs occupy greater road and parking space and ought to bear a higher tax, says FM
FM offers minor sops to income tax payers in budget Slapped a 10 per cent surcharge on 'super-rich' and corporates. Levied an inheritance tax and raised duties on mobile phones, cigarettes, and luxury vehicles.
Highlights of the TAX proposals Finance Minister P Chidambaram announced a slew of taxation proposals in the Union Budget on Thursday.
Industry view: Budget raises taxes on some companies P Chidambaram has unveiled a bigger-than-expected outlay for the coming fiscal year.
Cheer for first time home loan borrowers Rising property prices and the inflation hardly leaves sufficient amount after the payment of the EMIs.
Tax credit of Rs 2,000 if your income is up to Rs 5 lakh The proposal will benefit 1.8 crore tax payers
Budget 2013-14: Chidambaram's 8th; India's 82nd P Chidambaram presented the Union Budget for the eighth time.
Budget 2013: What is cheaper, what is costlier While the finance minister made the tax payers slightly happy by raising the individual tax exemption limit to Rs 300,000, he made many others unhappy.
Tax sops in RGESS extended to 3 years: Chidambaram the limit for investors wanting to invest in RGESS has been raised to Rs 12 lakh from Rs 10 lakh earlier.
Budget 2013: Fiscal deficit estimated at 5.2% The fiscal deficit for the current financial year has been contained at 5.2 per cent of GDP, lower than 5.3 per cent as was targeted, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said.
POLL: Has the FM lived up to your expectations? Rate the Union Budget 2013-14
Govt to set up two ports in Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal At present there are 12 major ports in India.
PSU banks to get Rs 14,000 cr capital infusion All public sector bank branches will have an automated teller machine by March 31, 2014.
NO change in tax slabs, super-rich to be taxed Finance Minister unveiled the Budget proposals for 2012-13 in the Lok Sabha
Expert views: Budget raises spending Total budget expenditure will hit Rs 16.65 trillion in the fiscal year that begins on April 1.
India's first women bank by November Finance Minister P Chidambaram has announced setting up of a new women's bank.
Good news: Home loan exemption limit raised Home loan exemption limit raised.
I can't help rationalising expenditure: FM In 2013-14, the Budget estimate is Rs 16,65,297 crore (Rs 16,652.97 billion).
Chidambaram calls for tough spending choices India must make tough spending choices, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said on Thursday, as he unveiled one of the most highly anticipated budgets of recent years.
HIGHLIGHTS of the Budget 2013-14 Finance Minister P Chidambaram has announced several measures in the Union Budget 2013-14.
QUIZ: Which book has Chidambaram authored? How much do you know about the finance minister?
Budget 2013: Chidambaram faces moment of truth The 2013/14 Budget caps an intensive seven-month campaign by the energetic Chidambaram, who was appointed last August, to turn around the fortunes of Asia's third-largest economy after years of policy drift and global economic turmoil.
Just what is the Union BUDGET? What is the Budget? Why is it so important? Why does it affect all of us? And, above all, how does one interpret the budgetary lingo flying around?
Mr Finance Minister, how do we save? While the average CPI hovers at 10 per cent for five years now, our tax benefits are almost a decade old.
Budget a big-bang revenue-earning exercise for media More than two decades after economic liberalisation, the government continues to play such a massive role in the economy and industry that the Budget has become a big-bang revenue-earning exercise for the media.
Super-rich tax? Redo the I-T slabs first An equitable tax regime makes more sense than debates over whether the rich should pay more.
Meet Chidambaram's BUDGET dream team Tough balancing act in the offing in the last budget of UPA-II.
The men who SHAPED India's economy The Indian economy has been shaped by 22 finance ministers till date.
QUIZ: Which Indian FM served as an army officer? So, how well do you know the Finance Ministers of India, who have contributed towards India's story? Take this quiz to know a little more about India's Finance Ministers:
What common man can EXPECT from Budget 2013 Don't expect less tax on your income. The Finance Minister can, however, delay DTC, incentivise equity investments, and give a higher tax break for home loans.
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| February 27, 2013 | | MOST POWERFUL Chinese brands in the world Let's take a look at some of the most powerful Chinese brands in the world.
Unemployment lowest in Gujarat, highest in Kerala Notwithstanding marginal growth in employment, there were as many as 28 million unemployed persons in the country in 2009-10.
Volvo V40: Can it outshine BMW X1, Audi Q3? To establish itself as a top luxury player, Volvo plans to launch V40 in India by April.
Government likely to hit fiscal deficit target of 5.3% FM's top adviser Raghuram Rajan had earlier said that the target was tough to meet.
HIGHLIGHTS of the Economic Survey Headline WPI inflation may decline between 6.2 to 6.6 per cent in March 2013.
Eco Survey: India's economy to grow at 6.1 - 6.7% Economic Survey which was tabled in the Parliament on Wednesday projects 6.1 to 6.7 per cent growth rate for 2013-14.
Economic Survey: What's in store for the Indian economy The Economic Survey 2012-13, presented by the Finance Minister P Chidambaram in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday says Indian economy is likely to grow between 6.1% to 6.7% in 2013-14 as the downturn is more or less over and the economy is looking up.
Photos: World's most BEAUTIFUL railway stations Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai also finds a mention among these architectural marvels.
Tata among top 40 global brands Cruises past Nestle, Hitachi, Tesco to be ranked 39th on BrandFinance list.
Budget 2013: More corporate gloom in CII survey Chamber urges government to present industry-friendly and pro-investment Budget
BIGGEST listed stock exchanges in the world Let's take a look at market capitalisation of some of the biggest listed stock exchanges in the world.
Housing prices ZOOM in these 18 cities! Housing prices have risen in 18 major cities, including Delhi and Mumbai, by up to 9.6 per cent during October-December period 2012 compared with the previous quarter, according to National Housing Bank (NHB).
How Saurashtra is DRIVING Gujarat's agri growth Backed by three decades of water conservation measures, semi-arid Saurashtra is driving agricultural growth in the state. Will it be able to sustain it?
Govt to put investors BEFORE voters in the Budget If the Budget is targeted towards voters, the country ratings will be downgraded to junk status. This can trigger an economic meltdown.
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| February 26, 2013 | | Rail Budget, a burden on the common man: Opposition The Opposition on slammed the Rail Budget for increasing the burden on the common man, with BJP terming it as "pedestrian" and "discriminatory" while Left said it does not give any hope on railways' future.
Jaguar launches XJ Ultimate @ Rs 1.88 crore The launch is aimed at increasing its sales in India.
Rail Budget 2013: What's costlier now Though the Railway Minister did not propose any increase in basic rail fares, the hike in reservation fees and supplementary charges will mean an increase of Rs 5 to Rs 25 in fares for all classes in superfast trains.
Railways' gift: 'Anubhuti' you won't forget The Indian Railways has proposed to introduce a modern coach "Anubhuti" with good ambience in the premier Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains providing higher travel comfort to passengers.
IMAGES: Behind-the-scene look at Railway Budget Let's take a look at some behind-the-scene activity before the presentation of the Railway Budget.
Fuel prices may go up as Railways hike freight rates The rates are hikes by almost 8 per cent.
India Inc to FM: Focus on the big pic In a survey by BS reporters across India, a majority of the 25 CEOs who responded said they expected the FM to introduce amendments to the I-T Act which would reduce litigation in tax disputes between firms and the revenue authorities.
Rail Budget practical, says Chidambaram "The Railway Minister has presented a very responsible, practical and implementable budget," Chidambram told reporters outside Parliament.
Railway Budget is reformist and forward-looking: PM He feels that the Budget presents a realistic picture of railway finances.
Rail freight for grains, pulses, groundnut oil up 6% Railways' freight loading traffic has been scaled down by 100 million tonnes from 1025 million tonnes because of economic slowdown, the minster said.
Good news: 67 express, 26 passenger trains Offering a bonanza for train travellers, Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal announced that the Indian Railways will start new trains.
Indian railway to borrow Rs 151.03bn from markets India's railway will borrow Rs 151.03 billion ($2.80 billion) from markets for the financial year 2013/2014.
No hike in passenger fares Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal did not hike passenger fares.
Amenities: How Rail Minister made your life easier The Railway Minister has announced a slew of measures that would help to make ticket booking and travelling easier for passengers.
E-ticketing from mobile phones, SMS alerts soon! A more efficient and people sensitive Railway Services system is being rolled out with Next Generation technology, which would make e-ticketing possible through mobile phones as also provide SMS alerts on reservation status.
Free Wi-Fi facility in select trains! Railway Minister P K Bansal has announced that special coaches will be launched in each train with high end facilities.
HIGHLIGHTS of the Railway Budget Union Minister for Railway Pawan Kumar Bansal presented the Railway Budget for 2013-14 on Tuesday.
Why the Railways needs a TARIFF regulator Tariff fixation has become such a politicised exercise that the institution is losing its importance in the national transport infrastructure.
Railway stocks nosedive at the bourses Expectations of muted expenditure on railway infrastructure and the assumption that there would be no further fare hikes may have contributed to the fall, according to analysts.
Bengal won't have much from the Rail Budget As experts have to say, this year's Railway Budget will by no means a populist one.
Budget: Earnings DROUGHT poses challenges for Bansal When Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal presents his maiden Budget, he might not have to deal with growth worries alone.
How Railway Ministers got DERAILED over the years As yet another Rail budget is set to be unveiled, Railways has seen several former Ministers like Suresh Kalmadi and Dinesh Trivedi getting derailed after remaining at the helm.
Who is India's RAILWAY Minister? Pawan Kumar Bansal prefers to maintain a low profile and people who work with him say the minister is "very courteous".
Will Bansal HIKE passenger fares again? The Railway Budget will be a tough balancing act for the minister, who needs to mobilise resources urgently to offset the burden of the recent diesel price hike.
India's 10 LONGEST railway routes India has of the one world's largest railway networks.
How Indian Railways can be TURNED AROUND The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has called for speedy implementation of key railway projects, such as the Dedicated Freight Corridor, high-speed rail corridors, rolling stock and other capacity enhancement works.
PHOTOS: India's amazing luxury trains India's luxury trains take you on an unforgettable journey across the most scenic locales.
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| February 25, 2013 | | S&P sees GDP inching UP to 6.4% next fiscal Standard & Poor's, which has threatened to downgrade the country's sovereign rating to junk, sees economic growth improving.
Apple gets aggressive with iPhone in India As BlackBerry launches the first smartphone in India, the company faces new competition from a formidable rival - Apple.
First BlackBerry 10 device in India COSTS Rs 43,490 The touch-screen BlackBerry Z10 phone, which goes on sale in India from Tuesday, will compete with iPhones and Galaxy series phones.
Maruti working on NEW A-Star that will deliver 33kmpl Suzuki is developing an 'ECO' variant of the next generation A-Star to provide an amazing fuel economy of 33 kmpl.
Dear FM: Here's what makes taxpayers' life difficult It's not just the archaic tax laws but the anomalies that make the taxpayer's life difficult.
North Bangalore turns into residential HOTSPOT In Bangalore, the best performing areas in 2012 were Hebbal, Sahakar Nagar and R T Nagar in north Bangalore. These locations saw the highest demand and appreciation during the year.
Amazing PHOTOS of Google's office in Switzerland Let's take a look at Google's beautiful office in Zurich, Switzerland.
Medical concierge to your rescue Contacts for medical services, appointments with doctors, sending a nurse, an ambulance all covered.
Countries that pay the HIGHEST average salaries Let's take a look at some countries that pay highest average salaries.
India's 10 most INNOVATIVE companies Mahindra Reva tops the Fast Company rankings of India's most innovative companies.
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| February 22, 2013 | | Azim Premji: Following his mother's footsteps In addition to committing $2 billion to his own foundation, the Azim Premji Foundation, the billionaire has become the first Indian to sign up for the Giving Pledge run by Warren Buffet and Bill Gates.
Countries need to focus on growth now, austerity next The latest G20 communique prescribes falling back on fiscal policy to hasten the global economic recovery.
Tribal dreams, Budget realities Spending on welfare schemes has burgeoned, but to little effect.
Why Messrs Hollande and Cameron WOOING India Everyone's rooting for India to develop itself as a credible, counterbalance to China in Asia, where the future of global growth lies.
VoIP: The new controversy in telecom sector Telecom players have started protesting against government's move to allow Voice over Internet Protocol. They say Reliance will be the biggest beneficiary.
How Long Beach stopped sinking, continues oil drilling Parts of the city have sunk by as much as 29 feet from their original level because of subsidence caused by extraction of billions of barrels of oil.
Rolls-Royce to launch EXCLUSIVE cars for India The customised version could be of Phantom and Ghost series and will be available in limited numbers.
Sebi cautions public against dealings with Sahara On February 13, Sebi passed two separate orders, together running into 160 pages, directing attachment of properties and freezing of accounts.
Not a taxing Budget this one? Headline excise and service tax rates might not change but select sectors could get tax sops and tax holidays.
Phaneesh Murthy to SHAKE up IT industry billing model It will charge for results instead of basing fees on the time and labour.
A 'divine' timepiece for Rs 27 lakh It has an image of Lord Venkateshwara carved in enamel and its manufacturers say it would make time-tracking a divine experience.To own this luxury watch, you have to pay Rs 27 lakh.
BIGGEST selling electronic devices in the world Let's take a look at some of the biggest selling electronic devices in the world.
Bangalore firm on MIT's list of 50 innovative companies Bangalore based mobile advertising company InMobi has made it to MIT Technology Review's 50 Disruptive Companies of 2013.
IMAGES: Warren Buffett's 15 biggest stock holdings In 2012, American magazine Time named Buffett one of the most influential people in the world.
Why FM should NOT hand out goodies to middle class If you take a 15-year period, the tax rates have increased at a higher rate than inflation.
Maruti planning these TWO beautiful SUVs soon Taking a cue from success of Mahindra and Renault sports utility vehicles, Maruti Suzuki plans to launch two compact SUVs.
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| February 21, 2013 | | Terrible Thursday: Rs 1.1 trillion LOST in stocks In a bad day for investors, Indian stocks on Thursday plunged to this year's lowest levels, wiping out over Rs 1.1 lakh crore wealth, while gold prices tanked to a seven-month low in a knee-jerk reaction to global sell-off.
CFOs upbeat about economy, worried over inflation Chief financial officers in the country are cautiously optimistic about the future and are neutral about their companies' performance in the short term, said the Deloitte India CFO Survey 2013.
PROFILE: The third partner in AirAsia-Tata airline JV Air Asia is partnering with Tata Sons and little known Arun Bhatia for their India entry.
Budget: India Inc expects tax for super-rich While 83 per cent of respondents do not expect major changes in the corporate taxation rates, they expect increase on the limits of tax savings investments especially linked to housing loan and principal repayments, the survey says.
8.2% Indian Americans live below POVERTY line The national poverty rate is 14.7 percent.
Pre-budget bonanza: 100 new trains soon! As far as rolling stock programme is concerned, the announcement will be made for manufacturing of 4200 new coaches including 600 LHB coaches in the Rail Budget.
Connaught Place among world's COSTLIEST office locations Despite the global slowdown, most prime office locations have registered a rise in the rental.
Gold prices slip to under Rs 30K Spot gold on Saturday slipped below the Rs 30,000 per 10 gram level, for the first time since August 17 last year, to close at Rs 29,890 -- down Rs 200 from Wednesday's close -- mainly on weakness in underlying fundamentals.
Global auto market share: WINNERS and LOSERS Of the top 10 companies expected to gain market share in future, only two Volkswagen and BMW come from Western nations.
How PRODUCTIVE are workers in India and world? Let's take a look at how productive workers are in India and around the world.
These sectors will offer the HIGHEST salary hikes! Reflecting the growth expectations of 5 per cent, India Inc has projected an average salary increase of 10.3 per cent for 2013, says the Aon Hewitt Annual Salary Increase Survey.
Who's offering the CHEAPEST air tickets in India? The war over air fares intensified with all Indian airlines competing with each other to offer low ticket prices, as Air India also jumped into the fray.
Strike LOSSES may mount to Rs 26,000 crore Industry body Assocham on Wednesday expressed the fears that the loss to GDP due to the strike by central trade unions could be about Rs 26,000 crore (Rs 260 billion), higher than its initial estimate of Rs 15,000-20,000 crore.
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| February 20, 2013 | | COLUMN: Mind the expenditure cut The United Progressive Alliance government will present its 10th Budget next week.
IMAGES: Diamonds' journey from sweat to smiles A look at the life of diamonds, from their rough beginnings in the mines to their polished finish in jewelry stores.
TAX amendments EXPECTED in Union Budget 2013 Here are handful of the number of amendments expected and predicted by analysts in the Union Budget for 2013-2014.
Top 10 H-1B visa cos outsource jobs overseas Congress should pass laws that create US jobs, not destroy them," said Marc Apter, president of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers-USA.
Dreamliner woes: Boeing's cash drain worries grow It is a similar story several thousand miles away, outside the company's North Charleston, South Carolina final assembly building, where space is taken up by four 787s destined for Air India.
Mukesh Ambani's telecom gamble Will Mukesh Ambani disrupt the telecom market by offering consumers voice calls at rock-bottom tariff?
IndiGo, GoAir follow Jet; DROP airfares Round-II of fare war starts with Jet Airways announcing cheaper fares.
Images: These are the MOST EXPENSIVE cars in India These are the most sought-after models with eight-figure price tags.
COLUMN: How India can alleviate poverty? There are a number of problems that plague the implementation of MGNREGA, including corruption, administrative paralysis and other hardy perennials. Massive amounts of funds on this scheme remained unspent in 2010-11 and 2011-12.
IMAGES: Mercedes launches G63 AMG at Rs 1.4 crore Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG made its India debut in a glitzy event in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Bihar clocks highest growth rate of 11.95% In the face of sluggish domestic demand and global economic slowdown, Bihar has recorded a staggering growth rate of 11.95 per cent rate annually at constant prices during 11th Five Year Plan, the highest among states.
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| February 16, 2013 | | 2013-14 Union Budget to be MOST austere in years Finance Minister plans to cut the public spending target for fiscal 2013-14 by up to 10 per cent from this year's original target, as he wants to avert a sovereign credit downgrade. Can he balance political and economic demands?
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| February 14, 2013 | | American-US Airways to form world's LARGEST airline The boards of AMR Corp and US Airways Group Inc each met on Wednesday to approve a merger that would create the world's largest airline with an expected market value of around $11 billion, people familiar with the matter said.
No date for Valentine's Day? New apps may help Singles who believe in love at first sight can turn to new apps that will match them with potential dates in time for Valentine's Day.
IMAGES: BMW X1 facelift launched at Rs 27.9 lakh The new BMW X1 has many visible changes including a new front and rear bumper, new door mirrors and redesigned tail lights on the exterior. In the interior, it has a redesigned console and silver finish on steering wheels.
Infy gets nod for listing ADS on NYSE Euronext Paris Infosys has also applied for admission to listing and trading on NYSE Euronext London.
Global gold demand FALLS for first time in 3 yrs While gold consumption is expected to stabilise this year, it may be some time before it revisits record levels seen in the depths of the financial crisis.
25 RICHEST Indians in the Gulf The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have 10 Indian billionaires.
REFORMS: Biz sentiments improved but nothing changed The reforms in September improved business sentiment but as economy slows firms are restraining from fresh investments.
Flight of TRUST: Kingfisher crashes to ground zero From a valuation of Rs 2,500 crore (Rs 25 billion) two years ago, the brand on Wednesday has come to nought.
Diesel prices will rise but not in concert Next phase of rise will unlikely be a combined exercise from the three oil marketing companies.
Why Wipro will soon be demerged from NSE In November last year, the Wipro board had approved the demerger of the non-IT businesses -- Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting (including furniture business), Wipro Infrastructure Engineering (hydraulics and water businesses) and Medical Diagnostic Product & Services business -- into a privately- held company to be named 'Wipro Enterprises Ltd'.
Is Apple making a smart WATCH? Apple Inc is experimenting with the design of a device similar to a wristwatch that would operate on the same platform as the iPhone and would be made with curved glass, according to the New York Times.
How FAST can you become a MILLIONAIRE? Find out Let's take a look and find out how long it takes to become a millionaire.
10 most EXPENSIVE STOCKS in the world Let's take a look at some of the most expensive stocks in the world.
Mobile phone sales: The TOPPERS! Mobile phone sales across the world fell to 1.75 billion units in 2012, a 1.7 per cent decline from 2011 sales, according to Gartner, Inc.
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| February 13, 2013 | | Petrol, diesel prices may be HIKED this week State-owned oil firms are losing Rs 1.32 a litre on petrol as international oil rates have firmed up during the last two weeks.
Why salaried class wants more IT exemption The survey was conducted in major places like Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune, Chandigarh and Dehradun on 'Budget 2013: Common man's expectations from the FM', the industry body said.
COLUMN: Do more with less GDP The slide in India's growth rate over the last five quarters, with the figure for the current year (2012-13) now projected to touch a 10-year low of five per cent, has thrown those who used the gross domestic product benchmark in the past to claim exceptional performance into a tizzy.
Images: World's 30 HIGHEST railway bridges India will have the highest railway bridge in the world by 2016, over the river Chenab.
Why Nasscom needs a new programme New kinds of businesses and evolving customer expectations urgently demand a re-appraisal of its focus and agenda.
Auto Awards: The BEST cars of 2012 Best cars selected by enthusiasts and owners across 10 different categories.
Ten things about BlackBerry 10 First impressions of the OS on the smartphone have been positive, with many calling it a 'fully-finished' device at launch.
World's TOP Internet domains hosting VIRUS! Let's take a look at world's top Internet domains hosting malware.
Mr FM, you can help seniors live with dignity What senior citizens expect from budget.
Can Godrej group achieve its ambitious growth targets? The group is selling off unprofitable businesses and narrowing its focus to raise revenue ten fold by 2021.
25 COMPANIES that offer BEST pay Let's take a look at 25 companies in the United States that pay one of the highest salaries and know how to keep their employees happy.
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| February 12, 2013 | | Honda Cars launches new CR-V at Rs 19.95 lakh Honda Cars India Ltd on Tuesday launched an all new version of its sports utility vehicle CR-V which will be cheaper by up to Rs 270,000 from previous model as the company looks to strengthen foot hold in the Indian market.
Beyond Tech launches Phablet PII priced at Rs 14,999 The phone comes with a screen size of 5.7 inches and has a 5-point multi-touch capacitive screen with 1280x720 HD IPS display.
Photos: Why India's BIGGEST FDI project is in limbo Let's take a look at the protests against the Posco steel plant in Orissa.
Vegetable, edible oil prices drive inflation to 10.79% It was 10.56 per cent in December.
CarZ: How it changed rules of auto servicing business Founded in 2008, car servicing company Carz, which has recorded annual revenue growth of 200 per cent, plans to optimise its resources.
Airlines that CHARGE HIGHEST fees in the sky Let's take a look at airlines that charge highest fees in the sky.
India's economic recovery hopes dashed as IIP shrinks India's industrial output contracted by 0.6 per cent in December, 2012 compared to a growth of 2.7 per cent in same month a year ago.
It's always a PERFECT time for an ice cream in India Let's take a look at people, and even animals, enjoying the ever-delicious ice cream.
15 quotes REVEAL Mark Zuckerberg's amazing STORY! Let's take a look at 15 quotes that define Mark Zuckerberg's life and business.
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| February 11, 2013 | | How India is exporting its corruption to other nations Like China, Indian companies are adopting ruthless and corrupt practises while doing business in developing nations.
IMAGES: This mall gets more tourists than NY, LA Dubai Mall, one of the world's largest shopping arcades, had a total footfall of 65 million visitors last year, a figure more than the number of tourists visiting cities like New York and Los Angeles, annually.
Why your city is unable to build metro rail like Delhi's How did Delhi Metro get it right and why haven't other Indian cities been able to replicate the Delhi model?
Mr FM, A little focus on education can go a long way What students expect from the Budget.
PHOTOS: This is how most people in India TRAVEL! While some of the journeys are memorable for fun and adventure, others highlight the pathetic transport infrastructure which fails to offer a comfortable ride to daily commuters.
Some STUNNING facts about China's RISE to power Let's take a look at China's massive productive activities.
You CAN'T enter these buildings for FREE! Let's take a look at how much fees some of the tallest buildings charge.
IMAGES: World's 30 busiest airports The world's busiest airports by passenger traffic are measured by total passengers, defined as passengers enplaned and passengers deplaned plus direct-transit passengers.
How India and the world's major economies will perform Let's take a look at how India and world's major economies will perform in the next four years.
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| February 08, 2013 | | Why auto companies are giving up on electric cars Recent moves by Japan's two largest automakers suggest that the electric cars still are not ready for prime time - and may never be.
New Honda CR-V will be LAUNCHED on Feb 12 The potential for a petrol only, 5-seater, not-so-true off-roader is still a huge question mark.
Facebook has about 50 mn duplicate user accounts ocial networking site Facebook has said it is having approximately 50 million duplicate accounts besides 22 million of misclassified and undesirable accounts.
Dogfights over fares: Flying gets cheaper in India! Faced with falling market share, full service airlines are slashing ticket costs to compete with low-cost carriers.
Boeing permitted to conduct flight tests of Dreamliner The US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has allowed Boeing to carry out flight tests of its 787 Dreamliner in order to help it check its troubled electrical system and batteries which is suspected to be the root cause of battery fire in one of its planes last month.
Why govt lets MNCs sell insulin at a higher price The drug regulator recently asked some domestic companies to cut prices of insulin while MNCs, which are major players, are allowed to set their own price for the drug.
20 websites that get MOST unique visitors! Let's take a look and find out which websites in the world see the most unique visitors.
Risky rides on overloaded vehicles, but they don't care! Transporting people and goods is a big challenge in most countries around the world.
Amazing IMAGES of divisible gold bars in Switzerland Let's take a look at divisible gold bars at a refiner and bar manufacturer in Swiss town of Balerna.
UPA's MISMANAGEMENT of the economy laid bare India's problem cannot be blamed on external considerations alone.
FACTFILE: How smartphones have GROWN over the years Let's take a look at the projected growth of the smartphone usage around the world.
MULTI-MILLION retirement packages of CEOs Let's take a look at some huge retirement packages of CEOs.
Where does India RANK in renewable energy? About $400 billion of investment may be required in the Indian power sector in the next five years to provide improved grid infrastructure.
India's per capita income RISES to Rs 5,729 per month India's per capita income, a gauge for measuring living standard, is estimated to have gone up 11.7 per cent to Rs 5,729 per month in 2012-13 at currentprices, compared with Rs 5,130 in the previous fiscal.
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| February 07, 2013 | | All that you wanted to know about HRA A look at different scenarios in which you can and cannot claim HRA.
IMAGES: Beers that have lost the fizz and market Let's take a look at some beers that are struggling to retain customers.
Filing returns can save you from future I-T trouble You need to file returns if your income is not taxable.
Starbucks' NEW outlet in Delhi Starbucks opened its 7th store in India at New Delhi's Connaught Place.
India's GDP growth to fall to 5%, lowest in a decade India's economic growth rate this fiscal is estimated to be sharply lower at 5 per cent, lowest in a decade, on account of poor performance of manufacturing, agriculture and services sector.
Apple, Lenovo plan cheaper smartphones for India Want to take on Samsung and Nokia in India.
12 MILESTONES in Internet's journey Let's take a look at some of the path-breaking milestones in the Internet's journey.
Amazing IMAGES of Google's new office in Israel Let's take a look at Google's new beautiful office in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Why BlackBerry may NOT succeed in India Experts feel that BlackBerry's efforts are too little and too late for India, which is a price sensitive market.
How Sahara Group ACQUIRED London's Grosvenor House Even as Sebi probed, OFCD money moved across the globe, Aamby Valley (Mauritius) at centre of global transactions; All transactions legal, no Sebi bar on doing business: Sahara
Audi to launch S6 by May; refreshed RS5 to follow Audi has already launched the facelifted Q5 and the 2013 Audi R8 this year. To take on BMW, it is planning two more exciting launches this year.
Images: 10 FASTEST cars in India These are the rides that are blessed with a personality that can outshine all others.
In Pix: 18 BOUNCIEST stock markets in the world Here we take a look at 18 bounciest stock markets in the world, including India.
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| February 01, 2013 | | RBI to introduce gold-linked products to cut imports The central bank wants to bring 20,000 tonnes of gold held in households into the banking system.
Nissan to launch automatic variant of Micra, Sunny As part of its plans to have a 10 per cent share in the domestic automobile market, Japanese auto giant Nissan said it would introduce an automatic transmission variant of its flagship hatchback 'Micra' and mid-sedan 'Sunny' soon in India.
IMAGES: This $1m SUV has ostrich leather and diamonds Let's take a closer look at this $1 million SUV.
Can new CEO guide Airtel through its existential crisis? Telecom as a market is heading towards saturation and Airtel, the industry leader, is strongly impacted. The company needs to do nothing short of re-inventing itself if it wants to keep its earlier growth momentum going.
India among TOP countries in number of BILLIONAIRES Let's take a look at some of the countries that have the most billionaires in the world.
High court orders Dunlop liquidation The high court in Kolkata has ordered winding up of the Pawan Ruia group's tyre maker, Dunlop India, directing the official liquidator to take possession of all the company's assets and books of records.
Amazing IMAGES of Facebook's new headquarters Let's take a look at new headquarters of Facebook in California, United States.
IMAGES: Maruti's Jan sales down 1%, Hyundai's up 4% The company had sold 115,433 units in the corresponding month last year, MSI said in a statement.
Lenovo bets big on India, aims to take on Samsung The company, which sells more phones than Samsung in China, aims to sell 1 million smartphones in India next financial year.
Images of WEIRDEST currencies used in the world Let's take a look at some of the weird currencies.
Realty, a SAFE bet for politicians to park black money Advances to firms for deals that never go through are the best way to convert this into legal cash.
India, not China, will be electronics hub: Sibal Manufacturing market in India is huge, said Kapil Sibal in California.
Legal battle brews after Taj Mumbai gets eviction notice After New Delhi's Taj Mansingh and Taj Palace hotels, lease renewal of Indian Hotels Company's Mumbai property, the most iconic, is facing trouble.
These are the most SECRETIVE tax havens in the world Let's take a look at some of the most secretive tax havens in the world.
Sneak preview: How good is the all new Sail sedan? Though Sail leaves it predecessor Aveo far behind, does it match up to the competition? Here's first look at the just launched Sail and its four competitors.
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| January 29, 2013 | | Does the market like dirty money more? In 2012, partly due to stringent disclosures, P-note custody inched up from Rs 1.51 lakh crore (Rs 1.51 trillion) to Rs 1.77 lakh crore (Rs 1.77 trillion), an increase of 17 per cent.
RBI rate cut: What India Inc has to say India Inc's reactions to the RBI rate cut.
Rate cut: How it affects your LOANS and DEPOSITS The new effective repo rate for the third quarter is now fixed at 7.25 per cent while CRR rate has revised to 4 per cent.
Firms go beyond patent cliff for growth In the last one month, Indian pharmaceutical company Lupin has won US Food and Drug Administration nod for three of its contraceptive pills, and has at least nine approvals pending with the regulator.
Stunning PHOTOS of Kolkata airport's NEW terminal On January 20, President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the new integrated terminal at Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.
COLUMN: Win-win deal in sustainable energy Sustainable Energy Bond programmes is an approach that comes with a business model that satisfies all stakeholders on the good old fashioned single bottom line of money - while also offering social and environmental benefits, writes .
PIX: These were the world's most POPULAR brands in 2012 Let's take a look at most well-liked consumer brands of 2012.
RBI cuts rates: Housing, auto loans to be cheaper In its Third Quarter Review of Monetary Policy 2012-13, the Reserve Bank of India has reduced the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) by 25 basis points from 8.0 per cent to 7.75 per cent with immediate effect.
In Pix: These 27 trains are the FASTEST in the world Let's take a look at some of the fastest trains in the world.
25 cars fetch JAW-DROPPING prices at auction Let's take a look at 25 cars that have been sold for jaw-dropping prices at an auction.
Why investing in commodities is still the SAFEST best Let's take a look at some commodities and see how they are expected to perform in the next two years.
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| January 28, 2013 | | Volkswagen hikes prices of Polo, Vento by up to 2.27% Post the increase in rates, the Polo will now be cost between Rs 492,000 and Rs 7,08,000, while the Vento will be priced at Rs 732,000-996,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi).
Rich tax: Is it justified? If you earn Rs 12-15 lakh a year, you could attract additional taxes. Should you worry?
FM's roadshow: Hints at new taxes in upcoming Budget The various statements attributed to Chidambaram during his meetings with investors in Hong Kong and Singapore reveal a lot about the broad trend of ideas that would influence his next Budget.
Tablets touched by Windows 8 With no sign of Microsoft Surface yet, here are three devices for work and play.
Toyota wins back world's top auto sales crown from GM Toyota Motor Corp regained the crown as the world's top selling automaker in 2012, posting record-high sales and beating rivals General Motors and Volkswagen.
IMAGES: Most expensive stamps ever sold at auctions Let's take a look at some of the most expensive stamps ever sold in auctions.
Sedan war: Renault Scala AT vs. its 4 closest RIVALS The newly launched automatic version of the successful sedan has an attractive price point and offers a fuel efficiency of 17.97 kmpl. Here is how it stacks up against its four competitors from Honda, Hyundai, Volkswagen and Skoda.
Special: Has UPA KILLED the India growth story? India growth story has been deeply hurt by a suffocating bureaucracy and a workforce, which is 'unskilled'.
How you can SAVE TAX by investing in MFs This is an equity diversified fund and investors enjoy both the benefits of capital appreciation, as well as tax benefits.
Photos: India's 17 SPECTACULAR airports Riding high on the aviation boom, India has built 17 international airports.
India's HIGHEST selling cars in 2012 Maruti Alto continues to be India's most preferred car with 2.87 new owners in 2012.
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| January 25, 2013 | | SPECIAL: So, what's with the yen? The yen is its own animal, with unique behaviour patterns, reflecting the uniquely magical nature of Japan.
GAAR: Here's what you need to know A look at a few important questions on GAAR and their answers.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner: What caused the fire? An investigation into the battery of Boeing 787 Dreamliner that caused a fire in Boston early this month, showed signs of thermal runway and short-circuiting, US government investigators said.
FUTURE CARS: A look at Hyundai's concepts Fascinating cars the Korean auto giant is working on. These have technologies such as eye-tracking, gesture-based control and self-healing paint.
Why RBI will cut rate The central bank has clearly signalled the conditions under which monetary easing would take place early this quarter. And, current conditions meets the RBI's paramters
Why entrepreneurs will struggle to make it big in India India's inability to set up new projects means older, inefficient companies reap windfall profits while new businesses will struggle.
IMAGES: Forget supercars! This hypercar costs $3.4m take a look at one car that is set to hit the market with well over a million dollar tag.
IMAGES: India's top 25 hotels TripAdvisor has announced the winners of its 2013 Travellers Choice awards for hotels. In their 4th year in India, the awards have identified the 104 most outstanding properties across the country.
IMAGES: Most expensive coins ever sold in the market Let's take a look at some of the most expensive coins ever sold.
SPECIAL: Why is gold a bit anti-India? Roughly, 700 tonnes or about 33 per cent of the total gold mined in the world is consumed in India.
IMAGES: The stunning new Bentley Mulsanne gets better! When Bentley go about making a car, it goes without saying that the word 'luxury' is taken care of.
A look at how tech moguls SPEND their WEALTH Let's take a look at how tech tycoons are indulging in their favourite hobbies.
Public funds made these BIG projects SUCCESSFUL! Let's take a look at some of the most successful crowdfunded projects on Kickstarter in 2012.
New Lamborghini Aventador @ Rs 4.7 crore The launch of Aventador Roadster is a perfect beginning to this year in India.
Human condition is better than before: Gates Gates was referring to the impact of the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals, especially about the goal to reduce child mortality.
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| January 24, 2013 | | SPECIAL: Speeding up Dhaka In a city where 45,000 people on average live on every square kilometre of space, making it one of the world's most congested, and it often takes two to three hours to negotiate a 20 km distance, even a railway overpass counts as a big urban milestone.
World's 30 BIGGEST banks In the list of world's 50 biggest banks for 2012, China has six banks in top 50-the largest group from any single country, according to Global Finance.
Auto cos look for the NEXT blockbuster as sales fall Despite launching new cars and tweaking the existing ones, carmakers witnessed lower sales in 2012. Three of them have got their act together and planning to launch the machines that have potential to be the best car on the road.
2 Indian airlines among the world's most DANGEROUS Let's take a look at 30 of the most dangerous airlines, including two from India, in the world.
Why online ticketing portals are struggling Travel portals are losing serious business, as customers book tickets with the airlines directly. To survive the trend, travels portals are reworking their business strategy.
Global growth: Nations that LEAD the race China and India are still at the top among the fastest growing economies in the world.
VOTE! Should government tax the rich MORE? Government is mulling higher taxes for the rich to help it fund welfare programmes and bring down fiscal deficit. Do you think it is a right thing to do?
Home loan: Better chances for women borrowers A younger co-borrower may help you get a longer tenure loan, while income of a non-taxpayer co-borrower can be shown as savings to get a bigger loan. Women are seen as more responsible when it comes to repaying loans.
Why stock markets are gaining while economies struggle Changes in the economic environment have altered the dynamics of stock markets. In the recent past, they have started defying investment fundamentals.
Taxing 'very rich' should be considered: FM P Chidambaram said tax rates that were announced in 1997 (in the Budget he had presented then), have remained and have survived four governments and four finance ministers.
How SpiceJet plans to reverse its FORTUNE To turnaround, the airline bets on heavily-discounted tickets and new overseas routes.
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| January 23, 2013 | | India 4th LARGEST in steel output There was no change in the top three steel producing nations with China, Japan and the US retaining their slots in the respective order in 2012, World Steel Association data revealed.
Rolls-Royce: 400 workers may lose jobs According to the Unite union, Rolls-Royce sent an internal memo to its staff to detail its proposals.
Rajat Gupta seeks new trial, reversal of conviction India-born former Goldman Sachs director Rajat Gupta has asked a US court for a new trial to reverse his conviction on insider trading charges, arguing that the district judge had committed "serious evidentiary errors" that tipped the scales decisively in the case.
Road ahead isn't that bumpy thanks to Chidambaram It is not just a mere coincidence that the change in the government's response happened when Chidambaram took charge.
Why real estate firms should NOT get sops they asked Real estate companies have asked the government to give them infrastructure status that will enable them to access cheaper money raising options. Does the speculative sector deserve this?
Indian CEOs most optimistic in world The CEOs of Indian companies have emerged as the most optimistic lot in the world when it comes to expectations for improvement in global economy this year and revenue prospects of their own businesses in the longer term.
PICS: Faster, more gorgeous newly launched Audi R8 The electrifying super sports car, Audi R8, from the stable of the legendary German auto-giant, Audi AG, is finally out in a fresh avatar.
Column: Is the MODI miracle overrated? On an important governance measure, there is a Nitish Kumar effect, a Naveen Patnaik effect, but no Modi effect.
Soon, option to pay home loan EMIs for 30 years RBI committee nudges banks for long-term fixed loan product.
Here's the next BEST thing in the supercar world Ferrari and McLaren take battle off the track with their new super cars.
15 economies that will RULE the world by 2050 Let's take a look at some of the economic powerhouses by 2050.
7 factors that will DECIDE price of GOLD this year Let's take a look at the arguments that will decide the price of gold this year.
IMAGES: 30 most reliable car companies in the world Let's take a look at some car companies and see how reliable their models are.
ILLICIT financial outflows: India ranked at No. 8 The developing world lost $859 billion in illicit outflows in 2010, an increase of 11% over 2009, according to Global Financial Integrity.
Samsung launches NEW Galaxy Grand at Rs 21,500 South Korean mobile handset maker Samsung on Tuesday launched its latest offering from its popular Galaxy stable, under the Galaxy Grand label, with dual-SIM, priced at Rs 21,500.
Transaction fee on air passengers? No, says SC "The transaction fee shall not be collected from any passenger in any form or under any other name," a bench of justices D K Jain and Madan B Lokur said.
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| January 22, 2013 | | Smartphones will rule over handsets market in 2013 By 2018, smartphones will account for 69 per cent of all handset shipments.
Exit from highway project signals new GMR strategy The company also needs to get its power plants going if it wants to reduce its debt burden.
'India likely to be water-stressed soon' Planning Commission Member K Kasturirangan, who is also former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation, said the country should address the question of water recycling, desalination, hydrological mapping and optimisation of water usage.
COLUMN: All about India's firmer eastward gaze Leveraging Indo-Asean trade talks means a stronger Look East policy.
Fuel cost is artificially high: SpiceJet CEO Neil Mills, chief executive, spoke to Business Standard on its strategy and the unprecedented scheme of selling a million tickets at a base price of Rs 1.
Why dual pricing of diesel will CAUSE problems The current complex pricing of diesel will give rise to bribery and law-breaking.
Why corporate earnings are not as ROSY as it seems After several tumultuous quarters, corporate India's earnings are turning positive. The ongoing earnings season has started rather well, with even laggards beating most estimates. Dig deeper and you will realise that the recovery is not real.
Audi drives in the STUNNING R8 at Rs 1.35 cr Luxury car maker Audi has launched a new version of super sports car R8 in India, priced between Rs 1.35 crore and Rs 1.74 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi).
IMAGES: 10 most beautiful currencies of the world In this slide show, we present a brief history of the currency of India as well as 10 most beautiful currencies of the world.
Motown rocks! These 8 COOL cars may soon be in India The ongoing Detroit Motor Show has plenty of interesting cars this time round
Initial wage negotiations at Hero inconclusive The initial wage negotiations between workers and management of two-wheeler major Hero MotoCorp's Gurgaon plant remained inconclusive on Monday and the matter has now been referred to Haryana Deputy Labour Commissioner for further deliberations.
Narendra Modi on what makes Gujarat an economic hotspot Despite the global slowdown, our growth rates in Gujarat have not been impacted very adversely, says Narendra Modi.
What you must do to SAVE taxes Before jumping to meet the investment target, check if you really need to.
IMAGES: Super Car Show 2013 all set to take off Hannu Mikkola will be present as the guest of honour at the Parx Super Car Show 2013.
Chidambaram kicks off his campaign to woo investment Chidambaram was also hopeful that fiscal deficit will be contained within the targeted 5.3 per cent of the GDP this fiscal and trimmed to 4.8 per cent in the next.
Sergey Brin spotted testing new Google glasses Straphanger Noah Zerkin spotted Brin riding a downtown train on Sunday evening, holding a plastic bag and sporting a winter hat.
Sony unveils thinnest and lightest Xperia Tablet Z The tablet is complete with an array of impressive specs and running a modified version of Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean.
Govt willing to support Kingfisher revival plan Kingfisher Chief Executive Sanjay Aggarwal met officials at the ministry of civil aviation to discuss the revival plan, which was earlier rejected by the regulator.
Small traders should not be affected by FDI: SC A bench headed by Justice R M Lodha asked the Centre to file its response within three weeks.
IMAGES: America's first ever Lego Hotel America's first ever Lego Hotel currently being built at Legoland in Carlsbad, California.
'Every transformation in India has come amidst crises' It is not as if the political class is unaware of the magnitude of the issues India faces. The disconnect is in the politician's belief that it is enough to manage the outrage to get re-elected, that electoral sops rather than long-term solutions is the road to sustain power, says Shankkar Aiyar, author of Accidental India: A History of the Nation's Passage through Crisis and Change.
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| January 21, 2013 | | Gold may become COSTLIER by Rs 700 per 10 gm Gold prices are likely to rise by up to Rs 700 per 10 gram in the short term with tapered demand following the government decision to hike import duty on the precious metal, according to jewellers and analysts.
Govt hikes import duty on gold, platinum to 6% Gold imports in 2011-12 amounted to $56.5 billion and in the current financial year, till December, they are estimated at $38 billion.
JLR to assemble 2nd model in India The variant, which will be the second JLR model in India, with a 2.2 litre diesel engine will be introduced in India for the first time at an entry price of Rs 44.5 lakh or Rs 4.45 million (ex-showroom, Mumbai) and will be assembled at Tata Motors' Pune facility.
Spicejet bounces back; posts Rs 102 cr profit The Chennai-based airline promoted by Kalanithi Maran had reported a net loss of Rs 39.26 crore (Rs 392.6 million) in the same period the prior year.
Catamaran fishing in uncharted waters Launched as a raw fish supplier, the company is now planning to set up organised centres to sell both raw and cooked fish.
Lamborghini global sales jump 30%; India up 21% During the year, the Asia Pacific region contributed 35 per cent of the global total sales.
Watch out Porsche, Ferrari; Corvette is BACK! On 60 anniversary of 'America's sports car' Corvette, we look at the past and the future of this iconic machine.
A peek into secretive world of Kalanithi Maran Kalanithi had started Sun TV in 1993 with a team of 25, many of whom were his friends from college. In 2012, Forbes estimated his wealth at $2.8 billion. Was it all business acumen behind meteoric his rise? Find out
Dreamliner probe widens, excess battery voltage ruled out Last week, governments across the world grounded the Dreamliner while Boeing halted deliveries after a problem with a lithium-ion battery on a second 787 plane, flown by All Nippon Airways Co, forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing in western Japan.
Life after Hotmail: How SUCCESSFUL is Sabeer Bhatia? Sabeer Bhatia may not have hit bull's eye with his recent ventures, but he loves the challenge of setting up new businesses.
Truths investors won't tell FM on his Singapore trip India needs administrative reforms that make it easy for investors to do business in the country. Currently, it is more difficult to do business in India than in Rwanda, Pakistan, Nepal, Kenya, Nigeria and Bangladesh.
World's top 20 economic SUPERPOWERS The world economy is projected to grow at an average rate of just over 3% per annum from 2011 to 2050, doubling in size by 2032.
How diesel price HIKE will ADD to inflation However, the American brokerage said it continues to expect the Reserve Bank to cut policy rates by 25 bps on January 29.
Post Budget, prices of diesel SUVs may go up Move to be aimed at reducing subsidies on the fuel.
Crisis: Diamond dream SHATTERS in Surat One thousand and five hundred diamond polishing units of Surat had got together to challenge the monopoly of multinationals by sourcing rough diamonds straight from miners.
Tata Consultancy Services set to OVERTAKE Infosys Tata Consultancy Services, India's number one information technology services company, could overtake Infosys to become the most profitable one for the first time on a full-year basis in 2012-13.
Q3 results season starts with a BANG! The aggregate numbers suggest an improvement in the operational performance of these companies.
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| January 18, 2013 | | What petrol, diesel, LPG will cost in 4 metros The government has partially deregulated diesel price allowing a hike of 40-50 paise a litre per month for retail customers and nearly Rs 11 for bulk consumers, a step that is feared will have a cascading effect on inflation.
Why diesel price hike is good for India India's move to raise the price of subsidised diesel should help with its plans to sell shares in state companies, including Oil India Ltd, to help bridge the government's fiscal deficit and gives a boost to private oil refiners looking to enter the market for bulk diesel sales.
Are foreign automakers beating Indian on their turf? India is expected to grow at a fast clip for many more years to come. So, every automobile maker worth its ignition key wants a piece of the action.
How Sistema plans to strike it big in India The company hopes to sell devices that keep track of everything from buses, terrorists to loved ones.
Are Indian CEOs OVERPAID? PM raised the CEO salary issue couple of years back. RBI and Sebi, too, flagged it recently. Are companies really paying their CEOs more than their counterparts elsewhere?
Taj's lease woes continue: Now, Palace fate uncertain DDA exploring options, including auction and renewal of lease.
Chinese economy posts SLOWEST growth in 13 years The Chinese economy grew at its slowest pace in 13 years posting 7.8 per cent year-on-year growth in 2012 amid external jitters and domestic woes.
IMAGES: World's 25 most amazing libraries These are a book lover's paradise.
IMAGES: Industrialists featured on postage stamps Here are some of the prominent businesspersons and organisations India Post has featured on their stamps.
Cities with HIGHEST, and LOWEST per-capita GDP Let's take a look at highest and lowest per-capita GDP in largest metropolitan economies around the world.
IMAGES: Birth, flight and grounding of Dreamliner Let's take a look at the birth, flight and grounding of Dreamliner.
This Indian city is the world's MOST POLLUTED! Let's take a look at some of the most polluted cities in the world's biggest economies.
Indo-Pak tension casts a shadow on border trade According to customs officials, the cross-border movement of trucks will drop further.
Wipro's Q3 net up 18% at Rs 1,716.4 crore The Bengaluru-based company had posted a net profit of Rs 1,456.4 crore (Rs 14.56 billion) in the year-ago period, it said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange.
Par Panel for rice at Rs 3, wheat at Rs 2 to ALL A Parliamentary panel suggested scrapping separate foodgrain rate and quota for poor and general public and said the UPA's ambitious Food Bill should guarantee 5 kg of rice and wheat to all beneficiaries at uniform price of Rs 3 and Rs 2 per kg, respectively.
Pix: WORST companies to work for in AMERICA Let's take a look at some of the worst companies to work for in the United States.
IMAGES: 10 most popular car launches of 2012 2012 was undoubtedly a year of shocks and surprises for the automobile industry of India.
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| January 17, 2013 | | Diesel price hiked, petrol to be cheaper The government has allowed oil companies to raise diesel price by 50 paise a litre per month; bulk users to be charged market price.
Importers continue to stock up gold for weddings The wedding season in India, the world's biggest buyer of the metal, is slated to start later this week and will continue until May.
Will Renault's small car bet pay off? Carlos Ghosn has appointed small-car specialist Gerard Detourbet to design one specially for India.
Stunning VIEWS from London's new skyscraper Standing 309.6 metres (1,016 ft) high, the Shard is the second-tallest building in Europe, and the second-tallest free-standing structure in the United Kingdom.
10 companies that will record MOST PROFIT in 2013 Let's take a look at companies projected to record biggest profits this year.
IMAGES: Stunning pedestrian bridges across the world These pedestrian bridges offer mind blowing views and have innovative features making them architectural marvels.
World's BIGGEST emerging markets for retail sector Let's take a look at some of the biggest emerging markets for the retail sector.
Don't bring new taxes in Budget, India Inc tells FM Stresses on need to boost investor sentiment through stable regulation.
Tension with Pak to wound medical tourism industry Hospital chains like Apollo, Medanta, Max and Ganga Ram attract patients from Pakistan.
Flying from Mumbai to be COSTLIER The order would take effect from February 1 and be in force for a year.
Bengal Leads 2013: No-show from India Inc The only flag bearers of Bengal Inc were Umesh Choudhury, vice-chairman, Titagarh Wagon; Sanjay Bansal, head, Ambootia Tea, S K Banerjee, head, Makaibari Tea.
Religion meets business at KUMBH Consumer companies see Rs 1,500-crore sales opportunity.
20 INDIAN firms that will shape the global economy Twenty Indian firms are among the 100 'global challengers' that are not only reshaping their respective industries but are also outpacing established players from the West, according to the Boston Consulting Group.
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| January 16, 2013 | | Hyundai to hike car prices from Feb Hyundai Motor India will increase prices of its vehicles by up to Rs 20,000 across all models by February 1.
SPECIAL: Corporations, children and responsibility Companies can be more alert on how various aspects of their operations impact children, writes .
'Modi model,' template for India's development? There are those who question whether Gujarat is the growth miracle that many claim or routinely assume that it is, says .
25 companies granted MOST PATENTS in 2012 Let's take a look at some companies that were granted most patents in 2012.
2013 Maruti Wagon R: Better looks and improved mileage Rolled out in a fleet of four, which comprises three petrol variants along with a CNG counterpart, the freshly redesigned Wagon R has much more than just an exterior upgrade to offer its buyers.
PIRACY threatens world's most crucial oil routes Let's take a look at most important oil chokepoints in the world.
Wikipedia launches online travel guide Wikivoyage.org debuts with 50,000 articles in more than a half-dozen languages.
IMAGES: Glimpses from Gujarat's bustling economy Gujarat is one of the most prosperous states in India.
Facebook UNVEILS new friends-based search tool Called the 'graph search', it allows users to search people, places with the social network.
Jet to END Milan flights to cut LOSS Jet, earlier, pulled out of Johannesburg, New York routes.
IMAGES: Mind-blowing cars at the Detroit Auto Show Let's take a look at some of the world's most impressive cars at the Detroit Auto Show.
Infy partners NovaSom to offer cloud-based user portal The new portal provides physicians with a single, easy-to-use interface that speeds up the order-to-delivery of devices, processing of diagnostic data and management of insurance claims.
IMAGES: GDP growth in India and around the world Let's take a look at GDP growth around the world, including India.
Japan's ANA GROUNDS all 17 Boeing 787s ANA said instruments on a domestic flight early Wednesday indicated a battery error.
SPECIAL: Are women employees SAFE in India? It is both bold and subtle. Sexual harassment in office or outside is a reality for most women. India Inc needs to respond better to their concerns.
Last minute tax planning: A COMPLETE guide Broadly, there are three ways toensure that you pay optimal tax; Claiming tax free income, incidental actions that bring tax benefits and finally investing/saving for tax benefits.
Indo-Pak trade talks come to a HALT The Indian side has clearly told Pakistan it would not proceed any further on the matter.
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| January 15, 2013 | | How to plan your finance post wedding It is important that as a newly married couple you take time to focus on your combined finances.
Remarkable economic growth in India, China: Bernanke Emerging markets like India and China are witnessing a remarkable transformation, despite a slowdown in economic growth, lifting millions of people out of poverty, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has said.
IMAGES: A restaurant where robots cook and serve food A sci-fi restaurant in China has employed robots to work as waiters, cooks, entertainers and receptionists.
IMAGES: Check out these interesting and whacky gadgets! Some interesting and whacky gadgets showcased at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
American companies that hire MAXIMUM foreign workers Let's take a look at companies that issue most visas.
IN PIX: Why Audi Q5 will remain leader in its segment The face-lifted Audi Q5 now looks more elegant, had a powerful engine and is more stable. For those obsessed with mileage, the SUV gives a 14.6 kmpl.
Dreamliners bring Air India reason to CHEER Sale, leaseback of aircraft fetch Air India $150 million; funds to be used to partly repay bridge loan.
IMAGES: Most innovative companies in the world Let's take a look at some of the most innovative companies in the world.
Is Gujarat as 'VIBRANT' as Modi markets it? The writer feels that though Gujarat has made rapid economic progress, the growth has not been inclusive.
A rush to SAVE taxes can cost you dear It often leads to unnecessary investments, which might not be able to serve your goals.
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| January 14, 2013 | | TCS Q3 net jumps 27% to Rs 3,550 cr The company's revenues rose 21.7 per cent to Rs 16,070 crore (Rs 160.7 billion).
Why some reforms on anvil are not good While government should be appreciated for recent reforms, some on the anvil seem ill considered. These include higher tax rates above an income threshold, the re-introduction of the estate duty, and higher import duty on gold.
Big real estate boom in Pune's hotspot Ambegaon Ambegaon is going to be one of Pune's most vibrant real estate boom areas over the next 10 years.
New Maruti Wagon R @ Rs 3.58 lakh Although the new Wagon R will be costlier by about Rs 10,000 across variants from the outgoing version, it will be more fuel efficient by 8 per cent at 20.51 kmpl.
Indian economy - A VICTIM of two experiments? India's monstrous public distribution system ensured that the government, and not private players, became a huge hoarder of food grains.
Bank-linked insurance may not be cheaper Many of these are group products and don't get tax benefits; compare premiums and products, make sure they fulfil your needs.
Not all convinced on INFOSYS turnaround A handful of brokers upgraded their views on IT outsourcer Infosys Ltd after better-than-expected earnings on Friday spurred a nearly 17 percent rally in its shares, although some company watchers remain unconvinced it has turned the corner after a string of disappointing quarters.
Your mobile number on sale for 30 paise! There are firms that collect your personal contact details from multiple sources. What can you do?
MahaVitaran opposes rate revision of Dabhol project The Dabhol power plant has seen power generation plunge in recent days on account of dwindling gas supplies.
Banks want debt repayment in KFA's revival plan Kingfisher had been asked to give its repayment plan in that meeting, failing which the lenders would not be shy of starting the process to sell its assets pledged with them, bankers said.
IMAGES: Ferrari F12 is most powerful road-going car Rohin Nagrani drives the most powerful road-going Ferrari ever.
Run-up to the Budget: FM wields the axe on allocations Before Budget, departments see outlays shaved.
India-Mauritius trade pact put on hold Talks not to resume till the island nation expedites revision of double-taxation avoidance agreement.
IMAGES: 15 most congested cities of the world MSN.com recently came up with a list of 15 most congested cities of the world.
BIGGEST fees paid by companies to banks Let's take a look at some of the biggest corporate fees paid to investment banks by companies.
Labour unrest brews at Hero MotoCorp's Gurgaon unit For the past 15 days, workers at the Hero factory have been wearing black arm-bands and abstaining from tea within the premises.
Planning for a big car? Check these face-lifted sedans Those who prefer to go with an established model for which reviews and feedback are immediately available, here are some popular sedans face-lifted to offer buyers a bigger bang for the buck.
What is the per capita INCOME in India and world? Let's take a look at per capita income in India and around the world.
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| January 13, 2013 | | Air India showing signs of revival With the gradual shrinking of Mallya-owned Kingfisher Airlines and rise in fares by 30-40 per cent in 2012-13 as compared to last year, the carrier improved its market share from 16 per cent to 20 per cent in the last seven to eight months.
Photos: Most EXPENSIVE chocolates in the WORLD Chocolates may help a person relax but talking about it is exciting. For chocolate lovers, here is a list of most expensive chocolates in the world.
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| January 11, 2013 | | Fuel, LPG may get costlier soon The ruling United Progressive Alliance's political leadership is holding consultations on options like raising diesel and LPG prices to cut an unprecedented Rs 160,000 crore (Rs 1,600 billion) revenue loss expected from selling auto and cooking fuel below cost this fiscal.
India Inc showers praises on Narendra Modi, Gujarat Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today came in for fulsome praise from India Inc with RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani hailing him as a leader with "grand vision" and his younger brother Anil Ambani of ADAG putting him in the league of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel.
25 most UNDERVALUED stocks in the market Let's take a look at 25 most undervalued stocks in the market.
Mining ban sees a NEW, cleaner Goa Today, with mining in Goa banned, the equation is simple: $4.8 billion a year is the cost of clean air and water.
These 11 popular SMALL cars just got BETTER! Here is an extensive list of enhanced hatchbacks that are impressive from buyers' viewpoint.
Credit Suisse cuts India's FY13 growth forecast to 5.7% The three main reasons behind the cautious optimism about Indian economy include, first, weaker rupee which will boost net exports, secondly, the government's reforms will provide a quick boost to business confidence, and thirdly, the previous rate rises should support investment and durables consumption.
Walmart bribery charges: US lawmakers release papers Congressman Elijah Cummings of Maryland and Henry Waxman from California, who are investigating bribery charges at Wal-Mart's Mexico unit, announced on Thursday they had documents which confirmed that Wal-Mart CEO Michael Duke and other high-ranking personnel were personally informed about the bribery allegations as early as October 2005, according to a CNN report.
Countries that will see FASTEST, and SLOWEST growth Let's have a look at 20 nations expected to grow fastest and slowest in 2013.
Meet India's 'courteous' railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal prefers to maintain a low profile and people who work with him say the minister is "very courteous".
Nov industrial output DOWN 0.1% Analysts polled by Reuters had expected output to grow 0.7 per cent annually.
IITs can't expect govt funds forever The decision by the Indian Institutes of Technology ( IITs) to increase tuition fees by 80 per cent from Rs 50,000 to Rs 90,000 per annum is a welcome step in correcting the fee distortions prevalent in most state-owned higher education institutions.
Photos: World's 25 TALLEST hotels The world's top five tallest hotels are located in United Arab Emirates.
Amazing IMAGES of wacky, hand-made cars in Hyderabad Ever heard of a car shaped like a handbag, a burger or a wedding gown? Itishree Samal visits a museum in Hyderabad which houses many such quirky designs.
Infosys' Q3 revenue UP 12% at Rs 10,424 crore Infosys revenue for Oct-Dec quarter up 12 per cent.
15 industries that saw BIGGEST job growth in the US Let's take a look at industries that experienced substantial wage growth.
Why govt showed the door to RBI Dy Governor Gokarn probably became the fall guy for resisting calls for interest rate cuts by the government and industry lobby groups, despite uncomfortably high inflation and/or for depreciation of rupee.
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| January 10, 2013 | | Morgan Stanley cuts 1,600 jobs as business languishes The cuts represent roughly 6% of its institutional securities unit - which includes sales, trading and investment banking, sources say.
This Mitsubishi Pajero has more to it than rally genes! Learning to fly, again.
Income-Tax RATE in India and around the world Let's take a look at effective income tax and Social Security rates on $100,000 of gross income around the world.
Why govt should not hike the tax rate for rich Reducing tax evasion will help government to earn more revenues.
Suzuki Swift X-TRA special edition launched in Germany The Suzuki Swift has been a great success for the Japanese car maker whose forte is small cars.
New Indica D90: More power, more features Tata Motors has added what the old Indica lacked. The new Indica D90 comes with Fiat sourced 90BHP Multi-Jet diesel engine that also powers Manza Club Class sedan. The automaker has also added features that are unmatched in its class.
VW Gol is the best selling small car; Maruti Alto 2nd The Alto received this title in 2010 and retained it for the following year as well, however in 2012, the top spot was stolen by VW Gol which is a sort of Brazil's Alto.
IMAGES: 25 inventions that changed the world economy Let's take a look at 25 inventions that have had a lasting impact on our lifestyle.
Why government needs to depoliticise rail fare hikes There is no reason why railway fares and freight rates should not be fixed on the basis of commercial principles, as is done with other transport services.
IMAGES: World's 10 amazing railway stations Icons of a nation's booming infrastructure, these grand transport hotspots have set several records.
Gold may LOSE sheen in year 2013 Returns from the yellow metal may be subdued, as focus returns to equities.
IMAGES: Tata Pixel to be ready by 2014 Tata most-awaited car, after Nano, will be ready by 2014. The car is going to be the first proper four-seater for such a small footprint and also a passenger vehicle with the smallest turning radius.
Budget wishlist: What should the FM do While the nation hopes to see a populist Budget, here are some pre-Budget suggestions to Finance Minister P Chidambaram.
Clinical trial deaths rise; pharma cos say not at fault Firms, foreign and Indian, reiterate they follow the rules fully. Earlier, SC had rapped govt for gaps in law and enforcement, including on compensation.
UNEMPLOYMENT rate in world's major economies Let's take a look at unemployment rate of people under 25.
China's Three Gorges dam generates record power The Three Gorges power plant, China's largest hydropower project, generated a record 98.1 billion kilowatt-hours (kwh) of electricity in 2012, according to an official announcement.
How the hike in rail fares will PINCH your pocket A passenger travelling to Thiruvananthapuram from New Delhi on a Mail or an Express train in Sleeper Class will now have to shell out an extra Rs 186.
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| January 09, 2013 | | OilMin moots Rs 4.50/L HIKE in diesel, Rs 100 for LPG The Oil Ministry has proposed a Rs 3-4.50 per litre hike in diesel price and Rs 100 in LPG rates along with raising the number of subsidised cooking gas cylinders for households to nine a year from the current cap of six.
Congress backs rail fare HIKE, CPI slams move The Congress on Wednesday endorsed the decision to hike railway fares, saying it becomes "inevitable" sometimes, but was evasive on whether party chief Sonia Gandhi was taken on board on the issue or not.
First train fare HIKE in a decade Effective from midnight of January 21, the hike will help railways earn an additional Rs 6,600 crore a year. Railway Minister P K Bansal said it was imperative.
How Maruti plans to change its fortune Maruti Suzuki expects a pick-up in demand for petrol cars, even as the diesel segment continues to clock strong volumes. It is also trying to grow exports.
This amazing hotel recreated the lost city of Atlantis Atlantis, The Palm is a 1,539 room, ocean-themed destination resort located at the centre of the crescent of the man-made Palm Island in Dubai.
Subsidising airlines on non-viable routes is wrong Its recent decision to scrap rules that make it mandatory for airlines to deploy 10 per cent of their capacity on unviable routes like Jammu & Kashmir, the northeast and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and subsidise those that agree to do so flies in the face of logic.
Phuket a HOT market for Indian property buyers Easy property rules and comfortable prices make Phuket an attractive investment destination.
SPECIAL: Why India Inc should not own banks There is a persuasive case to be made that India's banking sector needs to be more open; but aspects of the recent decision to award more licences are, none the less, disquieting.
The curious case of Ramalingam and $5 bn US bonds The town of about 70,000 people in the south-central region of Tamil Nadu has been getting many new visitors since December 31, led by the police and income tax (I-T) department. The attraction is a resident named T M Ramalingam, found with what appear to be international bills of exchange worth Rs 27,000 crore.
2 Indian airlines among world's biggest budget carriers Southwest Airlines remains the world's biggest low cost carrier (LCC), according to Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA).
COLUMN: The politics of a super-rich tax Mr Chidambaram is known for his ability to think up new taxes to collect more revenue, and a tax for the super-rich could be one of those ideas he might introduce in the coming Budget.
Why IIT fee hike won't fix financial woes Tuition fee does little to even meet the institutes' operating expenses; directors differ on fee hike.
IMAGES: Smart gadgets you would love to own! One of the world's biggest trade shows, Consumer Electronics Show showcases some of the best tech innovations.
Two Boeing 787 incidents raise concerns about jet Incidents stark reminders of problems that have hit Dreamliner since July, prompting federal regulators to call for engine and fuel line inspections
Why investing in India will give great returns The Goldman Sachs report that suggests the stock market, Nifty, could grow 17 percent to reach 7,000 by December. At this rate the country will be second to Korea, and better than China.
PHOTOS: These 6 diesel cars will be launched in 2013 As auto enthusiasts in India wait eagerly for the launches slated for 2013, we take a brief look at some of the most popular upcoming diesel cars of the New Year.
Those with Rs 12 lakh annual income may be taxed more For such a tax in India, Rs 12.77 lakh a year could be the threshold, says former chief statistician Pronab Sen.
Revealed! COMMON words used by fraudster employees Investigators working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed that 'cover up', 'write off'', 'illegal', and 'failed investment' were used most often by employees carrying out rogue trading and fraud.
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| January 08, 2013 | | Tough biz environment a major challenge: Tata Tata, who stepped down as head of the Tata group on December 28 after 21 years at its helm, was replying to a query about the biggest challenge for his successor.
Motown winter: Can sales revive if RBI lowers rates? December car sales data was a mixed bag. While some reported growth in sales other saw a dip. This probably can be because customers are waiting for a rate cut from RBI.
Why Mahindra lost all its joint venture partners Last 20 yrs have seen 4 JVs ending prematurely. What does this mean?
IMAGES: 25 biggest brand names in the world Let's take a look at 25 biggest brand names in the world.
IMAGES: Most expensive cameras in the world Let's take a look at some of the most expensive cameras around.
Beat the fuel HIKES with these hybrids from Honda Honda Accord Hybrid and Accord Plug-in Hybrid are a perfect package of beauty, opulence, economic viability, and performance.
Companies that laid off MOST workers in 2012 Let's have a look at some companies that fired most workers in the past year.
Top EPFO officials face action Last week, the Ministry of Labour and Employment suspended the second in command in EPFO's Hyderabad office.
Tepid growth in jobs and salaries ahead Hay Group, a global management consultancy, in its annual General Industry Compensation Report covering all levels of management, expects a pay increases of an average 11.2 per cent across job roles in 2013.
P Mohapatra: Banker by chance, success with hard work As a young management trainee with SAIL, Pallav Mohapatra was spoilt for choice. He had offers from Allahabad Bank, Bank of Baroda, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank and State Bank of India. He chose SBI only because the bank offered him a posting in Lucknow.
Street sees pick-up in earnings momentum With market sentiment improving, companies are focused on balancesheet repair.
FIs turn down Glaxo's open-offer price The British pharma and consumer products maker had announced the open offer in November last year to raise its stake in its subsidiary to 75 per cent from 43.16 per cent at present.
India to supply life-saving medicines to Iran Entering Iran may lead to trouble for those having significant presence in the US market.
10 New Year resolutions that can help you save money! When you make those New Year resolutions, you're thinking about fresh starts and the year ahead. What you might not realize is that they also could save money.
Impose HIGHER taxes on super-rich: Economists Leading economists have asked the government to levy higher taxes on super-rich, encourage small savings and try to bring down inflation to 4-5 per cent.
The BIG problem Indian economy faces While much attention has been devoted to interest rates and industrial revival, the bigger problem for the economy could be its external vulnerability.
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| January 07, 2013 | | Why mobile biggies are RUSHING to launch phablets Handset manufacturers are drawing up big plans for large display phones. Bigger than smartphone and smaller than tablet - phablet is going to be the buzzword this year in mobile space.
SPY SHOTS! What will the NextGen Hyundai i10 be like? The internet is abuzz with sightings of the next generation Hyundai i10 in Europe.
Sensex SWINGS: What lies in store? Not only has the Sensex swung wildly in the interim, staying below 10,000 for months in late 2008, but the market's winning stocks have changed in composition and character.
Gadgets that can IMPROVE Windows 8 experience Here's how you can make life easier while using Windows 8 on your old desktop and also three new devices which make the most of the new interface of the OS.
MISTAKES to avoid while buying a house Buying your first home is a dream come true. But it can easily become a nightmare, if things go wrong.
Why India managers are optimistic. 20 REASONS If early indications are anything to go by, 2013 looks decidedly better than 2012.
Export growth: China does a better job than India Despite the rupee losing value against the dollar, Indian exports fell in April-November by nearly 6 per cent. China, on the other hand, managed to retain export competitiveness and registered a 7 per cent growth in exports during the same period, despite the yuan rising against the dollar.
IMAGES: A tour of Amazon's logistics centre Take a tour of Amazon's logistics office.
Hyundai readies compact sedan; Verito, Amaze watch out Hyundai Assan chairman Umit Karaarsalan confirmed that the company is working on a compact sedan at the Izmit plant in Turkey. The car will use the next generation i10 components.
IMAGES: Biggest gold companies in the world Let's take a look at 14 biggest gold companies in the world.
How alarming is India's current account deficit? The Fisc and savings-investment gap lie at the heart of policy responses.
Air France-KLM in advanced talks to buy Alitalia Alitalia is owned by CAI, a consortium of investors that bought the then-bankrupt airline in 2008.
Anand Jain, Congress MP cos charged for insider trading It's not just India's largest company, Reliance Industries that's under scrutiny for insider trading in Reliance Petroleum Ltd in 2007. Anand Jain's investment company, Vinamra Universal Traders Private Ltd, and MoTech Software, then led by Annu Tandon, now a Congress politician and MP, are among a dozen entities facing regulatory action.
Special: Oil & gas sector worth a short-term trade Watch news flow & price movements carefully. If gas prices are rationalised, there will be a genuine turnaround & these stocks could be multibaggers, says Devangshu Datta.
Rupee gains 17 paise against dollar in early trade The rupee had recorded its biggest slump in two months by plunging 57 paise to close at 55.07 in previous session on Friday.
The 30 BIGGEST companies in India Indian Oil Corporation is India's biggest company by revenue.
Ford may LAUNCH these beauties in India soon Find out cars that Ford may launch in India and the facelifts it plans for the existing models.
Column: License Raj is DEAD. Licensor is NOT The near decade of India under Dr Singh has convinced most that India is an Absentee State, where governance is grossly missing and rule of law virtually non-existent, writes .
New diktat for India's airlines Govt moots new regional connectivity policy; plans to offer subsidy on non-viable destinations.
Goldman, 5 others shortlisted for NTPC share sale Others shortlisted by the Department of Disinvestment for the NTPC offer were Deutsche Bank, SBI Capital Markets and Kotak Mahindra Capital.
Tax-free bonds may get the axe CBDT was considering discontinuing these bonds in the coming Union Budget.
Slowdown blues: IT firms set to HALVE campus hiring The slowdown shadow is looming on performance evaluation systems, too.
TOP JOBS up for grabs in finance this year It's not everyday that we see top jobs becoming vacant in finance.
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| January 04, 2013 | | Diesel, LPG prices may go up again The Kelkar Committee, which was appointed by Finance Ministry to suggest a roadmap for fiscal consolidation, has suggested immediate hike in fuel prices and complete deregulation of diesel prices by start of 2014-15 fiscal.
Out-priced: Rs 12,000 a sq ft new normal in Mumbai! Buyers as well as investors are fast realising that Rs 12,000 a square foot is the new normal in Mumbai's residential market, including most of the main suburbs.
How to solve the gold riddle In the absence of adequate foreign capital flows, it also raises questions about India's foreign exchange reserves buffer and its external vulnerability.
Where is the diesel price HIKE that India needs? The cheer of the New Year was darkened by news that India's public finances continue to be in dire straits.
IMAGES: Billionaires whose wealth rose the most Richest 100 billionaires added $241 billion to their wealth in 2012.
QUIZ: What are the REAL names of these companies? There are some companies that are more well-known by their acronyms than by their full names.
World's BUSIEST airports, New Delhi in top 30 list Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the world's busiest airport, but it looks set to lose that title to Beijing Capital Airport in 2013.
This time, Chinese set eyes on Gujarat for auto base Honk Kong Stock Exchange-listed Great Wall Motor explores sites at Sanand & Halol.
SPECIAL: The innovative Mr Tata Some of the group's innovations include its first indigenous car, the Indica in 1999, Ginger budget hotels in 2002, small truck Ace in 2005, super-computer Eka in 2005, and the world's smallest car, the Nano, in 2008.
Infra biggies queue up for largest PPP project L&T IDPL, Gammon, IL&FS in race for Rs 21,147-cr Mumbai elevated rail corridor
PHOTOS: Most exciting MUV, SUV facelifts Sports utility and multi utility vehicles have emerged as the most exciting segment in the country last year with an annual growth of 62 per cent. Here are 10 SUVs and MUVs facelifts that captured buyers' imagination.
HSBC says India's gold consumption likely to recover Cuts its 2013 price forecast to $1,760 an ounce from $1,850.
2013 to be a better year for IT sector: Infosys Company's co-Chairman S Gopalakrishnan says uncertainties continue as unexpected events happen
Oldest pvt Swiss bank pleads guilty in tax evasion case The bank charged with helping US taxpayers hide $1.2 bn in offshore bank accounts
Ritz AT: Maruti's new RIVAL to automatic Brio, i10 The largest carmaker in India, Maruti Suzuki, launched the new variant of Ritz at the beginning of the New Year priced at Rs 615,000. If you wondering what special about the car; it's the automatic transmission, which is offered with VXI petrol variant. And it's good.
How MAJOR commodities performed in 2012 Gold wasn't the only commodity that performed well in 2012.
8 New Year resolutions to make you financially secure Everyone steps into a new year with optimism and positivity. The beginning of the year is when you can start afresh and make changes to all the unsuccessful financial practices adopted in the previous year. Here are eight financial resolutions, which will help you to make better and smarter financial decisions going forward.
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| January 03, 2013 | | Mukesh Ambani 18th richest man in the world Indian business magnate Mukesh Ambani is the 18th richest person in the world with a personal wealth of $24.7 billion in 2012, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, a daily ranking of the world's 100 wealthiest individuals.
Tata's remarkable ROLE in rise of Indian business Ratan Tata demitted office as chairman of the Tata group in a blaze of congratulatory comment that, in a sense, says much about the strengths and weaknesses of Indian business in a globalised world.
Options for car buyers after diesel price RISE by Rs 10 The Oil ministry is set to raise the diesel prices by Rs 10 per litre over the next ten months. Planning Re 1 increase per litre per month for the coming 10 months. This means the wide-gap between diesel and petrol will reduce. Should a car buyer still buy diesel cars or opt for other options?
Images: World's 25 BIGGEST airlines United Airlines, following its merger with Continental has emerged as the world's biggest airline measured by available seat kilometers (capacity).
IMAGES: World's top stock exchanges by IPO value Let's take a look at world's top stock exchanges by IPO value in 2012.
IMAGES: Amazing gadgets set for launch this year This year will see launch of plethora of gadgets that will change the way we look, touch, feel and drive.
Y V Reddy to head 14th Finance Commission Panel to recommend sharing of divisible resources between states and the Centre from 2015 to 2020.
Now, pay more for cars Price increases, to ease pressure on operating margins, in 0.5-2.5 per cent range.
Broker caught with $5 billion US bonds The Tamil Nadu-based broker is member of commodities exchange from Dharapuram, some say bonds are most likely to be fake.
KFA should revive for its employees, passengers: Singh Says the airline should present satisfactory operating plan to DGCA and work on its rescue plans
IMAGES: 8 stunning new SUVs coming to India We bring you a complete list of hot new SUVs and MPVs coming in 2013 that will certainly make your heart skip a beat.
US CEOs pan fiscal cliff deal; to continue debt fight Say Washington wasted an opportunity to address the nation's long-term debt.
Satyam ex-directors win ruling in US class-action suit Judge ruled that ther lawsuits failed to allege that the ex-directors recklessly failed to discover the fraud.
What are the investment avenues after retirement? Retirement is usually associated with investing in safe avenues, which are reliable and generate a regular source of income.
Iris scan to add layer to Aadhaar authentication System to be introduced in first quarter of 2013.
2012 was the most challenging year, says Subbarao RBI's task was made more difficult by exchange rate volatility.
Cyrus Mistry's FIRST message as chairman Tata group will invest over Rs 45,000 crore on various businesses over next two years and would look to expand its presence in global markets besides in India, the group's new chief Cyrus P Mistry said.
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| January 02, 2013 | | Watch out for these 5 hidden costs when buying property Property is a person's biggest purchase. While buying one, you don't just pay for the house value - there are hidden costs that can take up to 25 per cent of the property value.
Tips to control your urge to spend Unrestrained and random spending can be very harmful, both in the short term as well as in the long term.
Labels must for GM food Industry clueless about implementing labelling ru#8804 FSSAI dithers over regulations.
4 stocks that gave positive returns since 2008 PI Industries, GCPL, Colgate and HUL have delivered positive returns every year since 2008.
Images: Now, an ATM for clean WATER As dawn breaks, two queues start forming at the only petrol pump inLakshmangarh, a small town in Rajasthan's Alwar district.
Nifty crosses 6,000 Auto, metal shares gain.
IN PIX: 25 countries and their GDP in 2012 Countries across the world struggled to post good GDP numbers.
Infrastructure: World's 30 BEST cities While Vienna retains the top spot as the city with the world's best quality of living, according to the Mercer 2012 Quality of Living Survey, Singapore tops list for cities with the best infrastructure.
Over 35 NEW CARS to hit Indian roads in 2013 Almost every car maker is offering either new models or face-lifted versions of existing models.
SUV is the buzzword in Motown The demand shift from compact cars to spacious multi-seaters and stylish sports utility vehicles has forced every car maker to fast track their blueprints for compact and mid-sized SUVs and MUVs.
Gujarat sells 200 acres allotted to Peugeot While the carmaker still has another 300-odd acres to set up the proposed plant, state government officials said the government might sell the remaining land, too, if the demand came up in future.
Global investors skip PE route to go solo in India The move will help the LPs save the fee they pay private equity firms and play an active role in these investments.
Markets: 13 things to look forward to in 2013 The year may see E listing, Sensex @ 25000 and end of gold rally among others.
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| January 01, 2013 | | Party on the bourses to continue this year Just on the basis of the earnings growth of 15%, Sensex could go up to 22,000-23,000
Mutual funds try to 'switch' off direct plans Impose steep exit loads on existing investors moving to direct plans, whereas moving from a direct plan to a distributor-supported plan attracts no such fee.
Mercedes-Benz India to raise prices by 1-3% Cites rising inputs costs, volatility of the rupee-euro, high interest rates for increased prices.
ANALYSIS: US economy would dodge bullet for now May help US steer clear of recession, although enough austerity would remain in place to likely keep economy growing at lackluster pace.
2013 might bring cheer to the IT sector Industry leaders say lack of certainty in the business environment troubles them most.
Foreign retailers may wait till 2014 for India action Though international biggies are already in India, they are yet to formalise plans for front-end multi-brand retail.
After battering, telcos to charge more As metros are more or less saturated, telcos may be forced to look at smaller cities for growth.
Mining sector to gear up for overhaul While the past year has been full of controversies, the next promises a better regulatory regime.
Regulatory framework: Tighter regulation on the cards Industry experts feel strengthening the regulatory regime through the proposed laws is the first step towards a modern corporate law.
New minister, new Act for a brave new corporate world Pilot was there at the right place at the right time to take home the Bill.
IndiGo to rejig routes to Singapore No IndiGo flights will be available on the Mumbai-Bangkok route from March.
Hemmed in at home, Tata Power swings focus abroad African joint venture Cennergi, formed six months earlier, already executing projects
IMAGES: Two Indians among best-performing CEOs For years, people have bemoaned executives' zealous focus on short-term results.
'Fiscal cliff' deal reached The agreement includes a balance of spending cuts and revenue increases.
Slimmer, powerful GIZMOS line up for 2013 The year 2012 saw users transitioning from feature phones to smartphones as they moved from just talking and texting to tweeting, networking socially and shopping with increasing mobile Internet penetration and lower data tariffs.
IMAGES: 20 most expensive wines in the world The attraction of these wines is not in consuming but collecting.
Promoters whose WEALTH grew the FASTEST in 2012 Habil Khorakiwala, chairman of pharma major Wockhardt, is on a well-deserved holiday abroad.
IMAGES: 10 most expensive business gifts in world There are some who spend millions of dollars on gifts.
Mercedes-Benz: 4 new STUNNING cars soon in India Announcing launches of not less than four of its dashing rides that are to take place over the next 6 months, Mercedes has definitely created tidal waves in the already raging waters of its arch rivals.
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| December 31, 2012 | | Facebook forced to drop flawed special New Year app Nearly a week after Facebook launched its New Year's messaging feature, the social networking site was on Monday forced to drop the app following aflaw that allowed anyone to see and even delete personal messages intended for others.
Strike by RBI staff deferred The United Forum of Reserve Bank Officers and Employees has decided to defer tomorrow's proposed nationwide strike.
Why MFN status to India is delayed Pakistan has delayed the grant of Most Favoured Nation-status to India along with abolition of a negative trade list regime "for a short time" because of reservations expressed by several industries, Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim has said.
Core sector growth slows down to 1.8% in Nov Growth rate of eight core sector industries declined to 1.8 per cent in November, from 7.8 per cent in the same month last year, due to drop in production of coal, natural gas and cement.
Govt offers 17 coal blocks to PSUs Initiating the process of allocation of coal mines, the government on Monday invited proposals from PSUs for alloting 17 blocks to them, mostly for captive power plants.
Mining ban: IT dept takes Rs 3,000 cr hit The Income Tax department is taking a hit of up to Rs 3,000 crore in tax collection following a Supreme Court-enforced ban on mining activity in Karnataka and Goa, a key IT department official said.
2012: A challenging year for the telecom industry The government is banking on the second round of spectrum auction and customer-centric moves such as free national roaming to rebuild the telecom sector, impacted by controversies and court judgements that have shaken investor confidence.
Aakash-2 to come loaded with app Over 200 teachers and students have been working for the last six months to port all projects that have been developed under the National Mission on Education through ICT over the last three years on Aakash-2.
Flying out of Delhi will be cheaper from Jan 1 Flying out of Delhi would become cheaper from Tuesday, with the development fee (DF) charged by the operator of IGI airport here being reduced by Rs 100for domestic and Rs 700 per international passenger.
Wipro gets shareholders' nod for demerger Wipro on Monday said its shareholders have approved the company's plans to hive off non-IT business into unlisted arm.
Two events that will decide stock market's fate in 2013 With government surviving the winter session and the required reforms in place, two events will decide the movement of markets - outcome of US fiscal cliff and RBI's stance on the rate cut.
'App-y New Year' You might love them or hate them, but you just can't ignore them.
Why bureaucrats can take BETTER decisions in 2013 The scandals that came to light in 2012 made ministers and bureaucrats wary of taking any decision. They feared that they might get embroiled in controversies later on. This, however, seems to be changing.
Have you met Ratan Tata? Tell us! Ratan Tata retired as chairman of the $100 billion Tata Group on December 28, his 75th birthday.
Buckle up: Economy to regain its earlier growth rate The recent spate of reforms will boost India's economy and it will soon regain it earlier growth rate.
Why govt needs to focus on manufacturing URGENTLY Unless manufacturing becomes the engine of growth, providing at least 70 million additional jobs, it will be difficult for India's growth to be inclusive.
World's five tech CEOs to watch in 2013 Heads of Apple, Microsoft and HP, Infosys and Wipro's IT business would be keenly watched.
IMAGES: Most expensive cars sold at auctions in 2012 Let's take a look at some of the most expensive cars sold at auctions in 2012.
IMAGES: Five smartphones to look out for in 2013 2012 was an action-packed year for smartphones in India.
Govt may not be able to roll out GST before 2014 polls Two sub-committees, set up by the government to resolve the issues of compensation to states for revenue loss on account of a reduction in central sales tax and the final design of GST, are also likely to miss the December 31 deadline.
Tata's brand building: A roundabout tale The Tatas' track record in brand building has been chequered for a group that has ironically had and continues to have a fairly strong presence in consumer-facing businesses.
Bread and butter, not corruption, focus of Indians Country's mood at the end of 2012 is markedly different from that at the end of 2011.
Over a 3rd of power units have less than 7 days' coal The latest numbers showed 34 of India's 90 power stations were running on critical coal stocks.
KFA pilots pin hopes on Gopinath venture Some pilots are already in touch with Gopinath while others are betting on Kingfisher's revival.
Tata Group's four little gems Trent, Tata Global Beverages, Titan Industries and Tata Chemicals may not be big contributors to the Tata kitty, but these are still significant to its growth story.
India's mega projects that face BOTTLENECKS A series of mega projects that have faced bottlenecks and which the Cabinet Committee on Investments has to clear.
50 stocks that you can BUY for 2013 Here is a list of stocks spanning various sectors that brokerages and research houses across the country are recommending for 2013.
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| December 28, 2012 | | Ratan Tata was a brilliant leader: India Inc Ratan Tata, an iconic corporate leader, retired as Chairman of the $100-billion Tata Group on Friday after a 50-year run, on his 75th birthday.
The man who made Tata Group a $100 billion EMPIRE Ratan Tata, an iconic corporate leader, retired as chairman of Tata Group after a 50-year run on Friday but kept away from office on his last day at the helm of one of country's oldest business empires. Tata, who turned 75 today, is in Pune for his birthday.
Highways hit roadblocks in 2012 Against the target of awarding 8,800 km highways during 2012-13, contracts for only 1,100 km could be given by the government in the first three quarters of the fiscal.
18 people who went from POVERTY to WEALTH There are some people who are born wealthy and then there are some who become rich.
Is Chidambaram's plan to create big banks feasible? Consolidation will help banks derive economies of scale, but integration will not be easy.
Ratan Tata the quiet titan: Lord Kumar Bhattacharya He has succeeded because he knew there needed to be a huge transformation in innovation and R&D capacity.
RARE PHOTOS reveal start of Ratan Tata's journey We take a snapshot of his illustrious life through the lens of photographer Gopal Shetty.
Why Sebi BANNED former Tata Finance MD from market Call it a coincidence - as Ratan Tata was preparing to hand over the baton of Tata Sons to Cyrus Mistry, Sebi banned Dilip Pendse, former MD of the erstwhile Tata Finance from the capital market for a period of two years.
What makes Ratan Tata a SUPER achiever Ratan Tata has achieved change and success, with dignity.
2012: A tumultuous year for Indian aviation It was not a smooth sailing for the Indian aviation industry in 2012 as it saw the grounding of Kingfisher Airlines and financial trouble hitting Air India and other carriers besides a prestigious $500 million airport upgrade contract bagged by a leading Indian infra firm being terminated by the Maldives government.
Ratan Tata and high-decibel slugfests Throughout his two-decade long stint as chairman, Tata has never shied away from any adversary or adversity.
Exclusive: Ratan Tata, by someone who knows him well Few people know Ratan Tata as well as R K Krishna Kumar does. Widely perceived to be among the managers closest to Tata, Krishna Kumar assesses Ratan Tata, the man and business leader, in this exclusive interview to Rediff.com's .
AMAZING story of how Ratan Tata BUILT an empire! Ratan Tata created India's first truly multinational business group. As he prepares to step down, the bar's been raised sky-high for his successor.
SPECIAL: Tata's global score: 50-50 While the jury is still out on how Tata has done in his global ventures, the fact is they have been bold, but not necessarily beautiful.
Opportunities that Ratan Tata MISSED Tata will surely feel good about many of his initiatives, but there are businesses that are not successful as of today. Some of them include domestic car business, pharmaceutical, and telecom.
For Ratan Tata, life BEGINS at 75 Unlike his predecessor, JRD Tata, who in 1991 handed over to him the chairmanship of Tata Sons as well as control of the trusts, Ratan will continue to retain control of the latter.
Why Tata Sons pledged Rs 2,600 cr worth of shares Find out why Tata Sons pledged 11 million shares in Tata Motors, 10 million in Tata Steel and and 15 million in Tata Consultancy Services with Centralbank Financial Services Ltd.
EXCLUSIVE! The truth about Russi Mody, Ratan Tata spat Mody held important positions in Tata group and led Tata Steel till he retired in the early 1990s.
What the new Tata boss LOVES and HATES Cyrus Pallonji Mistry, 43, currently the Deputy Chairman of Tata Sons has been a director of Tata Sons since 2006.
IMAGES: Journey of Ratan Tata's triumphs and trials To say that Ratan Tata leaves behind a huge legacy would be a gross understatement.
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| December 27, 2012 | | Why it makes sense to start investing early! For most people, investing may not even be on the priority list when they start their career.
Petro, power rates must be HIKED: PM Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday made a strong case for "phased" hike in prices of petroleum products, coal and power as they are "underpriced" warning that failure to control subsidies would lead to cut in plan expenditure.
Why Tata Power is a BIG challenge for Mistry The company is in a financial storm, as its biggest investment, on the 4,000 Mw Mundra Ultra Mega Power Project (UMPP) didn't go according to the script.
Planning to buy a dream home? Read on... Owning a home is a dream for most of us and thanks to the diverse home loan schemes available to make that dream a reality.
Diesel, kerosene prices may be hiked by Rs 10/litre Diesel prices may be hiked by Rs 10 per litre over a 10-month period and kerosene rates increased by same quantum over the next two years if a proposal being mulled in the Oil Ministry is accepted.
Investing in platinum? Here are a few tips While investing in gold and silver has been going on, another investment avenue that is blooming since past few years is the 'noble metal' or platinum.
Stocks overshadow gold's glitter with strong rally Gold has been glittering bright for investors for many years, but the year 2012 saw Indian equities overshadow the yellow metal's sheen with returns of more than 25 per cent.
PAN card has expanded into unconventional areas Importance of Permanent Account Number card has grown over the years.
SILVER offered higher returns than gold in 2012 Silver outperformed gold in 2012 in the domestic as well as international markets on resumed stockists' demand amid expectations of a revival in global industrial activity.
Ratan Tata to retire tomorrow, Cyrus Mistry to succeed him Marking a generational change, Tata, who turns 75 tomorrow, will hand over the reins of the group to 44-year-old Cyrus Mistry, who was chosen his successor last year and formally appointed Chairman earlier this month.
Tepid sales, labour issues mark a rough year for auto Beginning with a bang amid all the glitz and glamour of the biennial Auto Expo, the year will be ending with a whimper for the automobile industry as sales dwindle, and the worst-ever industrial violence at Maruti Suzuki's Manesar plant leaves a big scar.
Drought spoilt farm sector's dream run in 2012 A hefty increase of Rs 1 lakh crore (Rs 1 trillion) in farm credit target to Rs 5.75 lakh crore (Rs 5.75 trillion) was a major highlight for the sector in 2012, while the continuing farmers suicide and the reports of a Parliamentary panel and a Supreme Court appointed committee recommending ban on field trial in GM crops were setbacks.
Why these CEOs would GRAB the headlines next year Some of them have ambitious plans to fight the slowdown, while some would seek to revive their image.
When will Mumbai get the swanky MONORAIL? The launch of the first stretch of the Mumbai monorail project's first phase has been postponed yet again, this time to August 2013.
AMAZING things Saudi prince wants in superjumbo Alwaleed bin Talal is reportedly spending $500 million on a fully customised A380 from Airbus.
Indian employees most optimistic on economy in 2013 Indian employees most optimistic on economy in 2013 Indian employees are most optimistic about the country's economy as 83 per cent of the workforce believe that situation would improve in the New Year, says a survey.
How and when TDS deductions can be avoided There is no uniform rate for TDS deduction. Depending on the source of earnings, it can range from 1% for sale proceeds to 30%.
BIHAR is the fastest growing state, Gujarat lags In a huge turnaround, Bihar has emerged as the fastest growing state in the country with figure of 10.9 per cent, overtaking Gujarat whose growth has dipped.
China opens the world's LONGEST high-speed rail line China has opened the world's longest high-speed rail line.
Classic Ferrari to become world's most expensive car The stunning 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione is one of just 74 models built by the Italian car maker.
2012's most EXPENSIVE gadgets and gears Let's take a look at some of the most expensive gadgets and gears launched in 2012.
FDI hungry govt agrees to Ikea's demands FIPB likely to allow cafs and restaurants in its review of conditional approval on December 31.
India's most EXPENSIVE real estate deals in 2012 Let's take a look at five most expensive property deals in 2012.
IMAGES: 6 'affordable' luxury cars In the last couple of years, the luxury car segment has evolved significantly and demand for premium and luxury sedans and SUVs has increased rapidly.
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| December 26, 2012 | | Handsome pay packages lure AI pilots to Gulf Lured by fatty pay packages and "better" work conditions, flag carrier Air India's pilots are taking a flight to the Gulf airlines leading to a severe shortage of commanders.
Know all about the cheque truncation system India processes as many as 1.2 billion cheques annually and, therefore, the implementation of this system would drastically cut down the waiting period involved. The system will be implemented nationwide from January 1.
An exciting year for banking in 2013 Approval to the long-awaited Banking Laws Amendment Bill by Parliament towards the end of 2012 has paved the way for enhanced banking space and may see entry of new players and mergers and acquisitions in the sector in the coming year.
Investors make a killing in banking, FMCG MFs Mutual fund equity schemes which only invest in sectors such as banks and fast moving consumer products (FMCG) have emerged top performers across product categories in 2012. But these schemes face stiff challenges to repeat such outperformance in 2013.
Biggest corporate legal BATTLES in 2012 Severe jolt to Sahara Group, strict scrutiny of mining activities and scrapping of licences for 2G spectrum dominated the corporate legal battle in 2012 in the Supreme Court which gave a decisive victory to telecom major Vodafone in a Rs 11,000 crore tax case.
SPECIAL: Mr FM, this is what you should do in 2013! India has a high and rising current account deficit rather than a surplus; fiscal deficits far exceed anything close to prudent; and the inflation numbers have exposed India as an embarrassing outlier among emerging market countries.
Watch out IT giants, Infy to get aggressive on pricing The company has tried for a long while to maintain its prices and margins, even if it had hit growth. This seems to be changing. In a recent analysts meet, many noted the management had finally turned aggressive on pricing to drive volume growth.
A dismal picture for cash-strapped railways in 2012 It was a tumultuous year for the railways as a cash-strapped ministry saw four ministers in quick succession, resulting in indecision and delay in policy making process.
Is the tide turning for real estate? Analysts have turned bullish after success of some big launches and revival of home sales. There is optimism on rate cuts by RBI and hope for lower inflation; which may renew buyers' interest in real estate in coming months.
RANKING: Cars that give owners highest satisfaction Here are the cars that have most satisfied owners.
The MAKING of Tata's Team A Tata hired the best talent from across the world as he saw early on that to survive in the wake of economic liberalisation, Indian companies needed to go global and adopt best practices.
JLR's success masks Tata Motors' FAILURE In the past, Tata Motors gave India its many first - country's first indigenous car (Tata Indica), first sports utility vehicle (Safari), first micro truck (Ace) or a Rs 100,000 car for the common citizen (Nano). After JLR's acquisition, however, the company has failed to connect with Indian car buyers.
24 most EXPENSIVE domain names in the world Let's have a look at some of the most expensive domain names of all time.
AI makes one more attempt to SOAR Improves market share but rivals outperform in revenue growth and on-time performance.
M&M's Rs 1800-cr project facing delay due to land woes TN may be losing its grip on the overall Rs 4,000-cr investment plan due to this delay.
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| December 24, 2012 | | IMAGES: Check out Mitsubishi's swanky Pajero! Mitsubishi's newest Pajero has more to it than rally genes.
Why was the year 2012 eventful for retail The year started on a sombre note for the sector, with the lingering effect of the decision to put on hold relaxation of FDI in retail in 2011.
Why India needs more Ratan Tatas he is the most prominent Indian leader whose inner values and outer actions demonstrate an evolved higher level of responsible leadership.
Ratan Tata's journey is inspirational: Adi Godrej Few businessmen demonstrate the zeal that he does for innovating for the bottom of the pyramid, says Adi Godrej.
IMAGES: 18 biggest consumer brands in the world Citi has has identified "World Champions" of the consumer discretionary sector.
Good news: Markets can give 14% returns in CY13 As reforms and favourable rate cycle kick in, we could see further improvements in earnings growth and market re-rating.
How TCS HELPED Ratan Tata grow his empire Apart from his vision, what helped Ratan Tata pursue his global dreams was the phenomenal success of Tata Consultancy Services, which is 74 per cent owned by Tata Sons.
Tata Motors working on a mini SUV, revamping Nano Deep in Tata Motors' largest factory, engineers don 3D glasses to play with car designs and prototypes projected from a 10-metre wide computer screen. Their quest? The automaker's next blockbuster car model.
Putin visits India today; Sistema issue on agenda Defence deal, other key trade and investment pacts also likely.
Cyrus Mistry can HIT the ground running Cyrus Mistry, who takes over captaincy of the Tata group this Friday, doesn't have to worry about the wicket. With a team comprising some of India's best corporate leaders - all carefully handpicked by his predecessor - Mistry can surely hit the ground running.
Draft 12th Plan proposes spectrum trading National Development Council meet to discuss this next week.
How India can GROW like China Interview with Professor, Stanford University.
PHOTOS: 25 major FDI destinations in the world Countries all over the world are struggling to attract foreign direct investment.
Ratan Tata reshaped the Tata DNA: Rahul Bajaj The very fact that Ratan Tata is retiring at 75 speaks volumes of his commitment to managing the Tata companies through values, says .
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| December 21, 2012 | | Can RBI keep the lid on INFLATION? The central bank is struggling to do so, after unleashing a panicky expansionary policy after the Lehman crisis.
REVEALED: Why some MNCs are reporting lower profits Since the government eased the rules in 2008, many MNCs have squeezed local arms, leaving little for small investors.
Job market to see modest hiring, 10% pay hike likely After remaining mostly stagnant in 2012 due to global economic slowdown, Indian job market is expected to grow only at a modest pace next year, although still better than other countries, while high-performers can look forward to pay hikes of 10-15 per cent in 2013.
Over 100 cases of suspected frauds to overflow to 2013 Mandarins of Corporate Affairs Ministry, headed by a young minister, have a busy year ahead, as they would be confronted with over 100 pending cases of probe into suspected frauds overflowing from 2012, and look into overhauling the way companies operate and are regulated.
Corruption in India Inc alarmingly HIGH Corporate corruption in India is not just about bribing bureaucrats to bypass laws; it's about accounting frauds, kickbacks and cybercrime.
How Ratan Tata won battles against cliques Ratan Tata has made sure his successor won't have to battle cliques within the group - unlike his own experience after he took over.
IMAGES: 25 biggest aluminium-producing countries Aluminium is the third most abundant element (after oxygen and silicon), and the most abundant metal, in the Earth's crust.
India's 30 BIGGEST companies, IOC is No.1 In the Fortune 500 list of Indian companies, 83 are owned by the government, 370 are private sector firms and 47 are foreign owned.
Is gold's bull-run over after 12 years of gains? All negatives that contributed to the gold bull run, such as US fiscal cliff and Euro zone crisis are easing out. Some experts believe that the days of very easy gains, when you could just buy gold, hold it, and see it rise 10, 11, 12 percent each year are over.
Has Maruti found a solution for its labour woes? After having sustained huge losses due to a spate of violent protests by workers since 2011, the company is putting in place measures to prevent a repeat.
Have FAITH in India, says GE India boss Our 2013 profitability growth will be at double the revenue growth rate: John L Flannery
IMAGES: 10 most expensive SUVs in the world There are some SUVs that are so expensive that only a few can afford them.
2012: A DARK year for India's power sector Fluctuating between hope of fuel supplies and despair of prolonged grid failures, it was mostly a gloomy year for the power sector in 2012, but it is looking forward to brighter days ahead under a new and young minister.
How Google uses doodles to honour artists Google's use of doodle to commemorate artists and events have become quite famous.
Internet's share in India's GDP may touch $100 bn The number of Internet users in India will go up from 120 million at present to 330 million by 2015, according to a report by McKinsey.
The Leela's new gamble: Will it succeed? Capt C P Krishnan Nair, 90, has been a trailblazer of sorts in the hotels business.
Vijayalakshmi Iyer: Bank of India's saviour? Restoring the bank to its former glory will be the top priority for Vijayalakshmi Iyer, the seasoned banker who took over as chairperson and managing director of the Mumbai-based bank last month.
Festive season fails to cheer Tata Nano sales One of the Nano vendors lays off 75 workers, others on wait-and-watch mode.
Divestment: Finally some light at the end of tunnel The non-starter Rs 30,000-crore (Rs 300 billion) divestment programme of the government got a little boost towards the close of the year.
Tata's apology and Manmohan Singh's large-heartedness Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata has dubbed as "completely untrue" critical comments against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh attributed to him in an interview and apologised for "any embarrassment".
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| December 19, 2012 | | Corruption: RAILWAY employees are the worst Over 8,800 complaints of alleged graft against railway employees were received by the Central Vigilance Commission last year.
Why Samsung, Apple are not yet worried about Nokia It's too soon to bet that Nokia's on the road to recovery after its new Lumia smartphones were sold out in many stores across Europe and America, as retailers say supplies have been short ever since their launch.
Should you stay away from STOCKS right now? It's been a tough three years for retail investors. With the Sensex giving barely 4 per cent annual returns, even lesser than the inflation rate, it is very difficult to keep waiting. Investors are, therefore, booking profit and exiting the markets. Should you?
Diesel subsidy? Restrict it for public transport only If diesel subsidy can be confined to the running of public transport vehicles and agricultural pump sets, then it will stop benefiting private car owners and sundry other unintended recipients.
IMAGES: Will Samsung's gamble click? Its Android-based camera has created a stir.
How political wrangling is killing a power plant Unexpected discovery of huge coal reserves beneath NTPC's Karanpura plant site has led to a stand-off between the coal and power ministries.
COLUMN: Doha's 'gateway' to nowhere India has completely failed to uphold its key interests at climate talks, which have fallen short of their 20-year mission.
Industry wants Didi to bring Tatas back to Singur Assocham is planning to write a letter to the West bengal chief minister, asking her to bring back the Tatas to regain business confidence.
World's 20 BEST airlines, Singapore Airlines is No. 1 Singapore Airlines bagged the first position for 17th year in a row.
IMAGES: 7 most expensive imported cars in India For all car enthusiasts, here's a short encounter with the seven most expensive cars that can be imported into India.
IMAGES: 20 most amazing skyscrapers in the world Let's have a look at 20 most amazing skyscrapers in the world.
REVEALED: Fiat's grand plans for India It's like Fiat India has just added a supercharger to its India strategy, after a long lull. The Italian carmaker plans to introduce nine products by 2016 in India. And it includes models from Jeep and rally car brand Abarth.
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| December 18, 2012 | | Toyota fined $17.4 mn for delays in safety reports The US on Tuesday slapped a record 17.35 million fine on the world's biggest automaker, Toyota Motor Corporation, for "failing" to report safety defects to regulators within five days as required by federal law.
Why 'industrial policy' help for electronics is good Domestic supply of electronics is already less than half of domestic dem#8743 and although it is growing at 16 per cent already, demand is growing much faster.
SPIED: Chevrolet Enjoy MPV caught testing in Mumbai GM India's MPV contender Chevrolet Enjoy has been in the spyshots spotlight for sometime now.
When Rupee devaluation might be sensible? Not at the moment, says FM; almost never, says his advisor.
iPhone 5 sales set a new RECORD in China Apple Inc's new smartphone iPhone 5 sold more than two million handsets in China in the first three days after the launch, setting a new record in its second largest market.
Sebi action can improve retail response to IPOs Retail investors shunned the Bharti Infratel initial public offering.
RBI keeps key policy rates unchanged The Reserve Bank has kept the key policy rates unchanged in its Mid-Quarter Monetary Policy Review.
5 innovations from IBM that will change the world In about five years, you may be able to feel the touch of a Banarasi or a Kanjeevaram sari through your smartphone screen before buying it online, claims IBM.
IMAGES: 10 countries with largest gold reserves World Gold Council estimates that central banks will have purchased 500 tonnes of gold in 2012.
IMAGES: 20 best new startups and apps in the world Here are 20 of the best apps and startups that launched in 2012.
Are 'refurbished' electrical items any good? Many of us would recoil at the thought of refurbished electronics, with many preferring to buy new items because we trust that nothing can go wrong with them, but refurbished does not always mean a resurrected defective product.
Prices of these 28 cars have been SLASHED! To clear the inventory, nearly all car manufacturers are flaunting the 'discount' banner at their respective outlets.
Why Ratan Tata LIKES West Bengal Singur was a "great disappointment" but the Tata Group might still go to West Bengal, hints outgoing chairman of the group Ratan Tata.
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| December 17, 2012 | | Confused which tablet to buy? Here are the top 4 It was confusing enough to choose the next smartphone, thanks to the clutter of hardware and operating systems that exist and now the confusion lends itself to tablet PCs too. You can go wild between 7-inch or 10-inch tablet PCs, the OSes and brands and prices. Here's a list of top four tablets to help you make a choice.
Sky war: Airbus Neo versus Boeing Max The battle for the skies is moving to a new orbit - fuel-efficient narrow body planes. While Airbus has cashed in on the first mover advantage in this space with its A320 Neo, Boeing, which launched its plane in August last year, is catching up fast.
Indian economy, missing women, BJP and cricket 'It's very hard to win elections on policies that don't offer much now, but promise more growth and income in the future,' Vivek Dehejia and Rupa Subramanya tell Rediff.com's Faisal Kidwai.
It's time for builders to CUT real estate prices High unit prices and interest rates have cramped buyers' ability to purchase property.
IMAGES: The stunning Land Rover Freelander 2 Should the sled be replaced with the revamped Land Rover Freelander 2.
Govt lowers growth forecast for current fiscal to 5.7% The government on Monday lowered the growth projection for the current financial year to 5.7-5.9 per cent from 7.6 per cent estimated earlier, while pitching for supportive monetary and fiscal policies to improve investor confidence.
Can Chidambaram keep his Budget team together? In less than five months of resuming charge of the finance ministry, Palaniappan Chidambaram has put in place virtually a new team to take charge of the government's fiscal policy management in the remaining months of its tenure. Will the celebrated economists and IAS officers share the required equation remains to be seen.
Skoda REVEALS the next generation Octavia The current Octavia, known as the Laura here, is getting a little long in the tooth so it's right on time, this new model.
Is Mallya ready with a revival plan for Kingfisher? Lenders to Kingfisher Airlines (KFA) will meet its promoter, Vijay Mallya, and the rest of the brass on Monday, to chart a way forward for the grounded airline.
IMAGES: 12 countries that saw most patent filings Countries around the world are witnessing an increase in patent applications.
How Tata plans to make NANO a success The world's cheapest car, the Tata Nano, is being "refreshed" to realise its full potential, says Ratan Tata.
Realtors in play to make space for retail giants However, leading real estate players like DLF and Unitech denied being in talks with any foreign brands.
Perception of India improved in last 6 months: Godrej 'Formation of the Cabinet Committee on Investment is very positive news.'
Most central schemes named after Nehru-Gandhi family 27 out of 58 institutions and schemes being run by the Centre are named after Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.
IMAGES: Most expensive cities in the world While prices are rising just about everyday in Indian cities, they are nothing compared to some places.
China to open world's LONGEST high-speed rail line China is set to open a 2,298-km high-speed railway line, the world's longest, in about two weeks, linking the capital city with the country's trading hub of Guangzhou.
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| December 14, 2012 | | Indian Oil Corp retains top rank in Fortune 500 list State-run Indian Oil Corp is the biggest company in terms of revenue, followed by Reliance Industries, according to the Fortune 500 list of Indian companies for 2012.
How many villages in India don't have mobile services? About 57,271 villages in the country are yet to be connected with mobile services, Parliament was informed.
Why ex-bankers will LEAD the financial innovation race There would be entrepreneurial exits from the financial sectors over the next few years, and many of these will result in enterprises that will generate value by sharing the benefits of financial innovation more fairly.
Nehru Place among world's top notorious IT markets Indian capital's famous Nehru Place market has been placed among the top 30 notorious IT markets of the world that deal in goods and services infringing on intellectual property rights, an official US report has said.
22 HOTSPOTS for investment, Indian cities slip Indian cities have slipped to the bottom of the investment destinations list.
Be your own man: Ratan Tata to Cyrus Mistry Tata spoke about his 50 years with the group, 21 as its chairman, the highs and lows of his tenure, his equation with Mistry and his post-retirement plans during an expansive interview to PTI in his office at 'Bombay House', the group headquarters.
Why India Inc is not chasing growth any more Declining GDP growth, persistently high consumer inflation, poor public finances and worsening macro-economic indicators. In such a scenario, should Indian companies chase growth or consolidate their market position?
Inflation declines to 7.24% Inflation declines to 7.24%.
The tussle: Finance ministry vs. regulators The distance between North Block and Mint Road has been growing for quite some time. The latest evidence of tension is the finance ministry's decision to introduce a clause in the Banking Amendment Bill allowing banks to trade in commodity futures, despite the central bank's reservations on the issue.
More steps soon to turn the economy around: FM In the recent past, government has taken a number of measures, including opening up of foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail and hiking foreign investment cap in the aviation sector, to boost economic growth and restore investor confidence.
IMAGES: 15 amazing facts about McDonald's McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants.
IMAGES: Biggest money-laundering settlements by banks Let's take a look at biggest money-laundering settlements with US authorities.
IMAGES: 30 most connected countries in the world DHL Global Connectedness Index documents both the potential to increase global connectedness and the problems the world has actually encountered in doing so.
India's headline inflation seen picking up in Nov A poll forecast the wholesale price index , India's main inflation measure, rose an annual 7.6 per cent in November, up from 7.45 per cent in October.
Can Force Motors make a mark in SUVs? The automobile maker entered the passenger car segment last year with only one model, but failed to impress the market. It is now banking on new launches to boost sales.
Govt bats for made-in-India IT products While the drive will help the domestic sector, it will also help the government ensure there are no cyber attacks from malware loaded on devices manufactured abroad.
Book Jet tickets online, pay on delivery! Jet Airways on Thursday announced a convenient payment option for its customers, which allows them to book tickets online on the domestic carrier's portal and pay by cash later, a move aimed at enhancing the airline's distribution network.
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| December 13, 2012 | | Competition? Apple OUTSHINES rivals Apple's stock may be sliding as investors fret about growing competition, but store visits and interviews with smartphone and tablet shoppers in 10 cities around the world suggest consumers share little of that negativity.
China's UCWeb eyes 100 million users in India Firm had opened India office in 2011, its first facility outside China.
Bandra land gives big boost to Mumbai realty The commercial exploitation will partially fund the Rs 5,300 crore Mumbai Urban Transport Project-II which envisages improvement in the suburban rail transport system.
Why you need to wait for unbreakable TVs, smartphones LCD screens were expected to slowly fade and die, giving way to lighter, thinner and tougher organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels in everything from smartphones to televisions. But LCD is refusing to go quietly as its picture quality keeps getting better.
Steps being taken to deal with fake currency: FM "It is not possible to check supply of fake notes at the source itself as "there is a state support"
You can now know if you bought a GM food India might not have started growing genetically modified food crops, but it does import food products that contain GM ingredients. Consumers who buy them have no way of knowing what they contain. The government has come up with guidelines to let you know if the item purchased is genetically modified.
Why Walmart can escape US' Foreign Corrupt Practices Act US officials did not prosecute companies accused of bribing officials in foreign countries when companies disclosed the conduct to authorities, fired responsible employees and took steps to improve compliance with the law.
Corporate frauds: How MNCs fail in India Here's a list of allegations of corporate governance failure by MNCs in India.
The greed and double standards of MNCs in India Apart from fraud and corruption, MNCs have serious governance issues in India. Some of them include higher royalty payment to the parent, undervaluing assets of subsidiaries that are being merged and so on.
BEST Amul advertisements in 2012 Amul's advertisements have entertained Indians since decades.
IMAGES: 10 amazing supercars that cost a fortune There are some supercars in the world that cost millions of dollars, but are worth their price.
Satyam settles Aberdeen, other claims in accounting fraud Pays $68 million to settle with the claimants.
Retail FDI one of many items on Walmart lobby list Others like IBM, Coke and Pepsi also lobby for foreign markets.
I have paid advance tax: FM, tells others to follow Finance Minister P Chidambaram wants tax payers to pay advance income tax in time like he did.
Unitech Corporate Parks puts Gurgaon property on block Unitech Corporate Parks Plc, the real estate investment company listed on London's Alternative Investment Market in which developer Unitech Ltd holds a 40 per cent stake, has decided to put one of its largest assets in India on the block with a valuation of Rs 3,000 crore.
Pfizer to pay $55 million to settle Protonix case US Department of Justice had charged Wyeth for promoting its acid reflux drug Protonix for unapproved uses and making unproven claims.
IMAGES: 10 economies facing ageing populations A whopping two billion people will be 60 years and older by 2050.
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| December 12, 2012 | | 27 Indian firms involved in lobbying in the US As Wal-Mart's disclosures on lobbying generated political heat in India, records with American House of Representatives show that around 27 Indian companies have spent money on lobbying in the US.
SPECIAL: Can India's old telecom giant survive? Until March 2009, MTNL had Rs 11,429.37 crore of reserves and zero debt in its books. In three years a lot changed. At the end of 2011-12, the debt stood at Rs 9,647.49 crore and the reserves had dwindled to Rs 1,906.70 crore, after it paid Rs 11,000 spectrum fee.
Rs 225,000 crore: Money Sahara has raised from public Sahara Group's recent statement says that the total fund received and raised from public since 1978 till September 30, 2012 with accrued interest, including life insurance policy holders' fund, mutual funds, Credit Cooperative Q shop customers advance, bank loans in India and overseas, etc" stood at Rs 225,000 crore.
IMAGES: Most amazing tech accessories of 2012 Some of the most amazing accessories were launched in 2012.
What Walmart's lobbying disclosure REVEALS The issues, which have been disclosed by the Walmart in its quarterly reports before the US House of Representatives and the Senate, range from a host of foreign issues like FDI in India, to enhanced market access for investment in India and China.
Why poor nations are more CORRUPT than the rich The richest countries are also the cleanest, while the poorest are perceived as the most corrupt.
Why NMDC FPO is an attractive offer for investors The stock has underperformed the market due to concerns on mining volumes, delayed expansion, and lower realisations. However, now the volume outlook is improving with gains expected from FY14 onwards, given the ongoing capacity expansion.
How foreign companies can WIN in India India's demographics offer a wealth of opportunities for foreign firms. Where to start? An expert on Indian business offers some tips.
A VIBRANT Gujarat, but for whom? It is also a reservoir for human labour in the state, producing hundreds and thousands of bodies who build the state's highways, run its small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and work its farms.
Videocon to join 4G club in second half of 2013 To launch 4G long-term evolution services in 1,800 MHz band.
Govt to ask airlines to cut fares, boost PLF The ministry will meet domestic carriers next week to discuss how the upper limit in each bucket could be reduced to bring down average airfares, which have been rising in the past few months.
Why developed economies are SUFFERING It's not entirely true that advanced economies are suffering because of technological stagnation rather than a financial meltdown.
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| December 11, 2012 | | Air India's debt to oil cos? Rs 4,064 crore only! Of the total outstanding of Rs 4,064.77 crore, a sum of Rs 2,571.73 crore (Rs 25.71 billion) is overdue payment, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
Is Volkswagen planning Vento CNG for fleet operators? Volkswagen is possibly planning an entry level Vento CNG for the metros.
'Present crisis is comparable to Lehman shock of 2008' The present financial crisis in Europe and other countries is affecting Asian economies not just through trade or slower Asian exports, but through financial channels and can be compared to the Lehman shock of 2008.
The secret behind Gujarat's agriculture MIRACLE Perhaps, the most credible of Modi's accomplishments, for the agriculture sector, has been the radical improvement in the power infrastructure in the state.
Kingfisher DENIES report of stake sale to Etihad Kingfisher is in discussion with various investors, including Etihad, for equity investments in the company, but matters are merely at negotiation stages, it said in a statement to the stock exchange.
IMAGES: 30 best countries in the world to be born in Let's take a look at 30 best countries to be born in.
SPECIAL:Is India heading for another economic crisis? The government thinks that it can buy peace with its own people, not by providing an environment for growth, but by bribing them into silence, writes M R Venkatesh.
Why cash transfer of subsidies is NOT helping the poor As the government gets ready to roll out its ambitious cash transfer of subsidies scheme on January 1, <I>, Santosh Tiwari</I> & <I>Indulekha Aravind</I> get on the ground to investigate how the experiments are working out.
Disputed property title could block your ownership A thorough background check will ensure hassle-free title for an immovable property. Ensure that all the parties are involved in the process of sale.
IMAGES: 10 hottest destinations for beer business Here we look at 10 destinations that are simply great for beer companies.
Meet Chidambaram's BUDGET dream team Tough balancing act in the offing in the last budget of UPA-II.
Why Ratan Tata loves to HATE media The Tata Group chairman may have gone overboard in his criticism of a profession called journalism.
US sees India as RISING economic powerhouse The US intelligence has predicted that in 2030, India could be the rising economic powerhouse of the world as China is seen today and that it will continue to consolidate its power advantage over Pakistan.
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| December 10, 2012 | | Builders can't end deals if their demands aren't met Apartment buyers are often put in a tight spot by developers who demand more money after initial payments.
Volvo sees rising competition in luxury bus segment Swedish brand has a 74 per cent share in the luxury bus segment, but competition is picking up speed.
In election time, oil and gas return to haunt Modi Though Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation officials term it a case of mismanagement, the 'dubious' deal has raised many questions.
Can Narendra Modi take CREDIT for Gujarat's growth? Through a series of ground reports from Gujarat, with expert opinions and data analyses, Business Standard tries to unfurl the secret of the state's growth across sectors.
Your money, their business Family offices provide investment advice, plan succession and even help buy airplanes.
GMR ouster big blow to India's reputation in S Asia The realist school of thought currently employed by Delhi, that friendships don't matter as long as national interest is taken care of, is all very well to pursue, except in this case Nasheed exemplified both friendship and national interest. After its errors of judgement on the Maldives, India's next opportunity will come only when elections are held.
Dream house? Check the prices in the metros! Business Standard brings to you a snapshot of average current rates and unit sizes in localities that offer property in the price range of Rs 2 crore (Rs 20 million) to Rs 4 crore (Rs 40 million).
Doha: if not now, when? At the Doha climate change conference, the world agreed to strengthen the framework for future action.
Domestic car sales down 8% According to the data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers on Monday, motorcycle sales last month went up marginally to 8,67,518 units from 8,67,088 units in November, 2011.
E-gold, gold plans or ETFs: What's best? While e-gold is cheaper than gold plan, it's not tax-friendly like gold ETFs.
COLUMN: Keeping an eye on China Don't ignore the Asian giant's economic problems and political tension.
India is suffering from inertial inflation High support prices, wage inceases and RBI's assumption of an 'acceptable' rate of inflation are responsible for the continuous price rise.
IMAGES: 10 most expensive gadgets in the world Here we take a look at 10 insanely expensive gadgets in the world.
Images: World's 30 BEST cities to live in European cities continue to dominate the list of world best cities to live in according to the Mercer 2012 Quality of Living Survey.
15 AMAZING FACTS about the rise of Starbucks Here are 15 amazing facts about one of the fastest-growing companies in the world.
Candid chat with Bajaj junior Rajiv Bajaj talks about his de-risking strategy, as well as his company's much-speculated relationship with Renault-Nissan
DTH companies queue up to raise funds for expansion The DTH industry had been growing at an explosive rate, with 100 per cent increase in customer base and a steady income from customers.
Stocks of MNCs with high promoter stake lose steam Have underperformed the market in the rally that started in November.
Walmart 's LOBBYING bill hits Rs 125 cr on India entry Global retail giant Walmart - waiting for years to open its supermarkets in India -- has been lobbying with the US lawmakers since 2008 to facilitate its entry into the highly lucrative Indian market.
India hurt by scams, retrospective taxation acts: Tata The outgoing Chairman of the Tata group Ratan Tata is "rattled" by India's current image emerging from scams and retrospective taxation, and wants the government to give an "irreversible commitment" that law of the land has sanctity.
10 global companies CUT 1 lakh jobs in 2012; HP tops With an aim to save costs in troubled economic times, just 10 companies together have announced nearly one lakh job cuts worldwide since start of 2012 and they include giants like HP, Google and Citigroup.
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| December 09, 2012 | | Tatas won't get into airline business: Ratan Tata Once pioneers in civil aviation, the Tata group is unlikely to get into the sector because of "destructive competition", its outgoing Chairman Ratan Tata said.
Reliance halts US lobbying for 4th straight quarter Leading corporate house Reliance Industries has kept its lobbying activities among US lawmakers on hold for the fourth quarter in a row, after having paid nearly $2 million to its lobbyist in Washington in past few years.
FDI in telecom sector plunges to $43 mn Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as a source of funding has shrunk to a trickle for the once lucrative telecom sector with foreign investment inflows plunging to $43 million in the April-September period of the current fiscal.
FIIs pump $21 bn in Indian stocks in 2012 Overseas investors have made net investments of $1.2 billion in the Indian equity market during the first week of the month, taking the total for 2012 so far to a whopping $21 billion.
RIL opposes uniform marketing margin for natural gas Reliance Industries has opposed a move to make marketing margin charged by it and other sellers of domestically produced natural gas uniform, while giving gasimporters a free hand, saying that it would be a gross discrimination.
Airport: Maldives terms takeover a victory, GMR silent Indian firm skips midnight ceremony Maldives terms takeover a victory for its people.
Kolkata concern for GSM operators Kolkata has emerged as one of the key concerns for the telecom companies providing GSM services.
Indian oil companies are hungry for deals Faced with soaring demand, stagnant output at home and a need to diversify from Iranian crude imports lost to Western sanctions, Indian oil companies are hungry for deals like Oil and Natural Gas Corporation's ( ONGC's) Kashagan buy that promise supplies sooner rather than later.
HDFC Bank upbeat on loan growth in FY14 The credit growth is expected to be better in the next financial year on the back of higher gross domestic product (GDP) growth, according to HDFC Bank Ltd, the country's second largest private lender.
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| December 08, 2012 | | MACL back at helm at Maldives airport Two years after it handed over the Male International Airport's operations to Indian infrastructure major GMR, the Maldives' state-run MACL was back at the helm on Saturday.
Airport Metro Express likely to run again next year Unwilling to wait till Delhi Metro's Phase-III is completed, the Centre wants construction work on "some sections" of the Phase-IV project to start immediately once the detailed project report is completed.
Tata Motors offers discounts of up to Rs 1.5 lakh At a time when others car makers are planning price hikes, Tata Motors on Saturday announced discounts and freebies worth up to Rs 1.5 lakh on purchase ofdifferent models which are valid till the end of this month.
Inflation remains primary concern for RBI: Gokarn Ahead of the mid-quarter review of the monetary policy on December 18, RBI Deputy Governor Subir Gokarn on Saturday said inflation continues to be the primary concern for the central bank.
West Bengal campus: Infosys to wait Software major Infosys would wait for some more time before taking a decision on the future of its first development facility at Rajarhat near themetropolis.
Ratan Tata denies using strong words against govt Tata Sons on Saturday denied that group Chairman Ratan Tata has used words such as "venal" business environment or accused the government of"inaction" in media interviews.
Wipro to acquire Singapore's LD Waxsons Group Wipro Ltd on Saturday said it will fully acquire LD Waxsons Group, a Singapore-based fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) company for an all cash consideration of about $144 million (nearly Rs 790 crore).
FDI in retail will BENEFIT consumers, farmers: PM A day after winning Parliament's approval to the decision of allowing FDI in retail, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said the move will benefitfarmers and consumers and help introduce new technologies in agri marketing.
Obama urges Congress to extend middle class tax cuts US President Barack Obama urged the Congress to extend the middle class tax cut that is set to end this month.
Iran oil sanctions: US extends waiver for India The US has extended waivers that exempt nine countries, including India and China, from fully complying with American sanctions targeting Iran's oil exports, citing their significant reduction in oil import from Tehran.
Retail FDI victory fuels govt's reforms push The government wants to use the FDI victory impetus to clear the Companies Bill and those amending the banking and pension Acts.
GMR begins check-out from Male It is business as usual at Ibrahim Nasir airport; Maldives to retain staff hired by GMR.
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| December 07, 2012 | | Does McDonald's use Indian potatoes? This is the time to analyse the French fries served by McDonald's in India
How to make job exchanges work They should be able to provide counselling, training and employment.
Infosys FY 13 revenue outlook under threat: UBS Customer deferrals, ramp-downs in a few large projects, delays in large deal closures due to Hurricane Sandy may cause threat to outlook.
Govt seeks parliamentary approval for more spending Most economists expect the government to end the fiscal year with a fiscal deficit of 5.6-5.8 per cent which could mean an additional borrowing of 300-500 billion rupees.
New jobs: What Indian employees look for For Indians, job security is more important than other factors such as salary and perks.
Govt to infuse Rs 2,000 crore into Air India Last year, the government approved a $5.8 billion bailout plan.
Why India's economic growth will pick up in 2013 A decline in oil prices, improving demand situation in abroad markets and structural reforms at home will help Indian economy regain its high growth trajectory in the coming years, according to US investment banking giant Goldman Sachs.
IMAGES: 20 slowest-growing cities in the world Let's have a look at 20 slowest-growing cities in the world.
Air India threatens to stop operations to NE airports The airline has been operating so far on the assumption that the funds would soon be available.
US seen extending Iran sanction waivers to India Is likely to give another six-month reprieve from financial sanctions to India, South Korea, Turkey and others.
Murdoch relies on Indian-origin CFO in taxing times Rupert Murdoch-controlled News Corp rejigged its top brass as it announced plans to split the company into two, one to look after its publishing portfolio and the other, for the media and entertainment unit. Bedi Ajay Singh took over as the chief financial officer of the publishing arm.
IMAGES: 10 cities where everyone has a job There are some cities where nearly everybody has a job.
Piramal Group's PE to raise $185 mn in new fund Investors have stepped up ploughing money into the healthcare sector in India.
SPECIAL: Is OVL making the right acquisitions? Some analysts have raised doubts on the wisdom of the recent deal. Though the Kashagan field has been under development for 12 years, involving an investment of almost $50 billion, the output isn't great. Even the earlier acquisition of Imperial Energy Corporation has not met the targets.
REVEALED: What the Samsung Galaxy S4 will be like The new Galaxy series phone will have bigger display, better resolution, sharper camera, and faster processor. Analyst believe that the biggest draw would be unbreakable screen.
Apple to return some Mac production to US in 2013 Apple makes the majority of its products, from Macs to the iPhone and iPad, in China, the world's factory floor for electronics.
World's 30 LEAST corrupt nations Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index measures the perceived levels of public sector corruption in countries across the world.
IMAGES: 10 highest selling cars of November We bring you a list of the top 10 cars that scored the best in the month of November 2012.
Apple, Samsung face off in court again Apple scored a sweeping legal victory in August at the conclusion of its landmark case against its arch-foe.
HSBC might pay $1.8 bn money laundering fine The potential settlement, which has been in the works for months, is emerging as a test case for just how big a signal US prosecutors want to send to try to halt illicit flows of money moving through US banks.
The price India pays for its DELAYED rail projects The government on said its ambitious Kashmir rail plan has the largest cost overrun of Rs 5,500 crore among those rail projects which have been delayed by more than a decade.
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| December 06, 2012 | | India's air traffic growth to be world's 2nd highest India's domestic air travel market would be among the top five globally, experiencing the second highest growth rate in domestic passenger traffic after Kazakhstan but before China, IATA said.
Infy plans to roll out Rs 700 cr project for India Post It would help the PSU transform its banking and insurance operations cross 150,000 post offices in the country.
IMAGES: Fiat to launch Jeep in India in 2013 The carmaker wants to enter the fast-growing SUV segment in the country. The off-road pick-ups and luxury SUVs will be the first vehicles from the Chrysler, owned by Fiat, stable to be launched in India.
2 Indian CEOs among world's most powerful people Forbes magazine recently came up with a list of most powerful people.
Cars to be more expensive as companies plan price hike The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India on Thursday said it will increase the prices of its vehicles across all models by up to Rs 20,000 from January due to increasing pressure on its margins due to currency fluctuation. Honda Cars India and Volkswagen India said they, too, are contemplating the same.
RISE and FALL of a telecom giant Let's take a look at the rise and fall of the giant.
The men who took on Iron Man and Superman Jason Kothari and Dinesh Shamdasani are making Valiant a name to be reckoned with in the comics industry.
Citigroup CUTTING 11,000 JOBS worldwide The cuts, which amount to about 4 per cent of the bank's workforce, carry the fingerprints of Citigroup's Chairman Michael O'Neill.
IMAGES: 3 stunning SUVs fight it out on Indian roads Safari Storme, XUV 500 and Duster are put through the wringer. Which one will emerge unscathed?
World's most CORRUPT nations, India at 94 Corruption continues to ravage societies around the world, reveals Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index 2012.
StanChart to pay $330 mn fine for Iran deals The payment is on top of the $340 million it has already paid to the New York State Department of Financial Services.
Why owning the world makes no sense for Ranbaxy It has exited most non-profitable geographies and is no longer chasing acquisitions. Will the new strategy pay off?
Not many takers for office space in Mumbai As global and domestic economies continue to flounder, vacancies at many existing and new commercial properties across India's commercial capital have risen to 30-50 per cent levels from 14-15 per cent in 2009.
S Viswanathan: SBI's own 'Kingfisher man' S Viswanathan is the new managing director of State Bank of India's associates and subsidiaries.
Apple's shares swallow BIGGEST LOSS in 4 years Possible higher dividend, capital gains taxes weigh.
Complan, Saffola, Kellogg's under lens for false claims Complan and Horlicks, which claim to make kids taller in India, do not make any such claims in the UK
Villages without post offices: Uttar Pradesh is No.1 There are over five lakh villages in the country which do not have post offices, the government said.
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| December 05, 2012 | | Jay Lee: Samsung's unassuming heir apparent On Wednesday, Lee junior, 44, was promoted to vice chairman, moving him a step closer to eventually taking over from his 70-year-old father in what looks to be a well choreographed long-term succession plan. And investors seem to like the idea.
Audi Nov sales zoom 89%; revises 2012 target The company's primary growth driver this year has been the A range of sedans, led by the A4 and A6, followed by the SUVs, Q5, Q7 and Q3.
SPECIAL: How futures trading affects farmers Futures trading involves speculation of prices of a commodity, depending on its demand-supply prospects in the future. In this type of trading, buyers and sellers do not actually possess the commodity and the deals are done on paper (see box 'Understanding futures trading').
Images: A FLYING tricycle to avoid rush-hour traffic A man in the US has built a tricycle that will let you soar into the sky and cruise over rush-hour traffic jams.
Why Wipro's demerger is GOOD for investors An ostensible reason for the demerger was the low profitability of the non-IT business, which was a drag on Wipro's bottom line. It accounts for 14 per cent of the company's turnover but only 6 per cent of its operating profit.
1 mn: That's the no. of EMPLOYEES govt banks need In the next five years, 80 per cent of general managers, 65 per cent of deputy general managers, 58 per cent of assistant general managers and 44 per cent of chief managers would be retiring.
COLUMN: Little has changed in urban India There are some flyovers, JNNURM logo-bearing buses and terribly designed housing for the poor. That's it.
India's 5 BEST cities to live in Indian cities do not fare well compared to their global peers in the list of best cities.
How Wal-Mart got a foot in the door of India retail Wal-Mart and other retailers lobbied for years to gain access to India's market, lured by the promise of a middle class that will one day rival China's.
IMAGES: Six Indian cities among major growth centres Let's take a look at economic growth in 25 major cities of the world.
How realtors have profited from rising India, China This extract from The $10 Trillion Prize demonstrates how property developers have profited from the rising affluence in India and China.
Pratip Chaudhuri: SBI's CONSCIENCE keeper? The chairman of India's largest bank on why he would like to forget the first six months of his stint and the steps he has taken to revitalise the institution.
Aadhaar can help PLUG leakages in govt programmes Here is how UID can help to cut down bureaucracy by automating major parts of government subsidy programmes. In addition, it will help government save on cost and give intended beneficiaries better access to the programmes.
Current stock market rally to SUSTAIN until early '13 The writer believes that the current stock market rally will continue until early 2013. He predicts this based on partial success of current Parliament session, resolution of US' fiscal cliff, and government disinvestment.
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| December 04, 2012 | | US SEC charges China affiliates of top accounting firms Monday's move indicated China was refusing to yield in talks with the United States over access to Chinese audit papers, trying to keep foreign regulators off what it sees as its turf.
IMAGES: 6 most fuel efficient hatchbacks in India Fuel-efficient hatchbacks are the favourite of Indian car owners.
Are you game for these SMALLER sedans? The different tax structures for smaller and larger vehicles in the Indian market have resulted in the emergence of a unique category of compact sub-four-metre sedans and utility vehicles that are gaining favour among consumers. Come mid-2013, half-a-dozen sub-four-metre vehicles will be on road.
Apple iTunes debuts in India Apple has priced songs at about Rs 12 with latest Bollywood albums, like Dabangg 2, being offered at Rs 96.
'Walmart and Bharti have hoodwinked the government' M P Achuthan, Rajya Sabha member from Kerala, who blew the whistle on the company flouting FDI norms in India, has submitted a petition to the Prime Minister's Office, revealing details of how Walmart violated norms while investing $100 million in Cedar Support Services, a company that was earlier known as Bharti Retail Holdings. He speaks to Manu A B about the MNC
How fraud has grown in India over the years Let's take a look at how fraud has grown in the country.
Sahara refund case: Hearing deferred till tomorrow Supreme Court defers till Wednesday hearing on Sahara Group's plea.
Even without US 'cliff,' world economy teeters The global economy is on edge - and that's without the U.S. "fiscal cliff."
India sets up seaside 'village' to nurture IT start-ups Even three decades after Infosys, India's second-largest software service provider, was founded by middle-class engineers, the country has failed to create an enabling environment for first-generation entrepreneurs.
End of the era of mega profits for Jindal Power? When the initial public offer of Jindal Power was announced in 2009, it was seen by investors as a golden opportunity to own a quality stock.
Taking entrepreneurship to the heartland's young From mid-December, about 100,000 Class IX students in 1,000 government schools across 10 districts of Bihar will spend two hours on Saturdays reading a glossy storybook, probably the best designed ones that they have ever read.
Ajay Bijli: Making of the multiplex king PVR has bought 69.27 per cent of the promoter's stake held by the Kanakias in Cinemax for Rs 395 crore.
IMAGES: 10 stunning cars launched in 2012 Notwithstanding the high prices of fuel, most of the cars that have been launched so far are utility vehicles.
25 best-performing stock markets in the world These stock markets have delivered healthy gains in 2012.
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| December 03, 2012 | | After 7 slow quarters, China's economy sees revival The pace of activity in China's vast manufacturing sector quickened for the first time in 13 months in November, a survey of private factory managers found, adding to evidence that the economy is reviving after seven quarters of slowing growth.
Is Asia doing enough to curb Iranian oil purchases? Asia's buyers of Iranian crude believe they've cut their purchases from Tehran enough to justify an extension of their U.S waivers, and strictly speaking, they probably have.
The biggest financial SCAMS of pyramid schemes None of India's financial regulators has any interest in proactively dealing with pyramid schemes.
COMPLAINTS: Which life insurer tops the list? Here's a list of life insurance companies that have the maximum number of customer complaints against them in various categories such as claim disputes and unfair business practices.
Indian oil cos focus on production to grab new assets While not all the oil bought overseas turns up in domestic refineries, it can give companies a stake in the global crude trade.
Images: Award winning architectural WONDERS The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design honour buildings for new architecture, landscape architecture, interiors and urban planning.
Morgan Stanley RAISES India's GDP forecast Morgan Stanley on Monday raised India's growth forecast for the current financial year to 5.4 per cent from 5.1 per cent projected earlier citing better than expected GDP growth in the September quarter and stabilisation in non-agriculture growth indicators.
IMAGES: 20 most beautiful cars in the world While there are many cars in the world, but only few are really beautiful.
A flat in Dubai will cost LESS than one in Bandra! A house in the world's tallest building with the who's who from around the globe as your neighbours is no longer a distant dream.
How much INCOME makes a person HAPPY? Study says the amount of net annual income needed for people to feel happy is $161,810.
Another IT hub EMERGES in Andhra It is located on the Visakhapatnam-Vizianagaram stretch of N-5, around 16 km from Visakhapatnam city.
India among BIGGEST steel producers in the world India is among the major steel producers in the world.
Maruti vendors yet to approach Gujarat govt for land Maruti was allotted around 640 acres of land at Hansalpur which lies nestled between Mehsana district and the Sanand-Viramgam area.
No jingle bells for India's investment bankers Year-end bonuses to be low to zero, as banks cut jobs, re-deploy staff.
'Rupee may rise if political parties agree on reforms' Interview with Associate director (commodities & currencies), Angel Broking.
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| November 30, 2012 | | PF account statements now just a click away Members can register themselves on the website using any government issued photo identity card and cell no. as passwords.
IMAGES: JLR drives in new Range Rover The stunning car's top-end model can go up to Rs 1.9 crore.
STUNNING cars: Owner's pride, neighbour's envy The Los Angeles Auto Show saw the debut of a range of new models including the Toyota RAV4, Mazda a6, Kia Sorento, Subaru Forester, Porsche Cayman, Chevrolet Spark EV and Audi diesel.
Two laws, two ministries, one continuing confusion Forest law vests overall control over the productive assets of the jungles in the forest bureaucracy.
SPECIAL: Bad old moneylenders are back with vengeance Activists created a climate of opinion against MFIs, while politicians capitalised on the frenzy.
India's Q2 GDP growth falls to 5.3% India's economic growth has declined to 5.3 per cent in July-September this fiscal, from 6.7 per cent in the same period a year ago
15 biggest oil companies in the world Oil is a multi-billion business and some companies are really reaping in the benefits.
SPECIAL: The big problem of Biyani's shrinking empire The country's biggest retailer is splicing and selling businesses as it strives to reduce its mountain of debts. In the long run, his operations need to generate cash flows.
Sandoz to close generic development centre Closure would mean manufacturer might not be able to launch any new generic products in India in future.
Bharti, Vodafone in the dock SC directs CBI to take action over extra spectrum allocation during NDA rule.
Corruption, bribery, frauds: Indian firms WORST hit India has the second highest number of fraud-hit companies, according to a report by global advisory firm Kroll.
Goldman Sachs sees Nifty at 6,600 pts by 2013-end Financial major Goldman Sachs on raised the Indian stocks to "overweight" from "market-weight" and said the NSE Nifty will scale the 6,600 level by December 2013, on the back of growth recovery and moderation in inflation going forward.
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| November 29, 2012 | | 15 quotes reveal Starbucks's Howard Schultz story Starbucks's Chairman and CEO Howard Schultz has built a coffee empire that extends to almost all parts of the world.
Bharti's African safari remains a cash guzzler Has already invested $13 bn and needs another $9 bn to expand business, even as cash demands rise at home
Tata Motors plans 3 block closures at Jamshedpur plant Block closure planned keeping in mind the weak demand of commercial vehicles.
Can Rajat Gupta delay his surrender date? A US court has agreed to hear next week a bid by India-born former Goldman Sachs Director Rajat Gupta to delay his surrender to federal prison and remain free on bail while he challenges his conviction on insider-trading charges.
Common Man's View: Why I am against FDI in retail It will be bad for the farmer and the consumer. It will be bad for the poor -- urban and rural. It will put a lot of people in the retail trade out of jobs. It will increase fuel use, says G V Dasarathi who is in charge of buying groceries in his family.
Best countries for business: New Zealand is No. 1 Take a look at the 25 best countries for doing business.
Must slash current account deficit to 2.5%: Rangarajan Pegs the current account deficit for the current fiscal at 3.5 per cent of the GDP.
Why France HATES Lakshmi Mittal French government is up in arms against Lakshmi Mittal after 629 workers lost their jobs on closure of two furnaces of ArcelorMittal. Things have got so bad that President Holland has threatened to temporary nationalise ArcelorMittal. In France, people consider him as a big-bad mega-rich Indian who came to lay off workers and drive French steel industry to ruin.
IMAGES: 11 incredibly fast trains in the world While India has many fast trains, but they come nothing close to some of the fastest trains in the world.
Economic growth: Bihar BEATS Maharashtra, Gujarat! Bihar has been the top performer among the major states in terms of economic growth during the 11th Five Year Plan which ended on March 31, 2012.
Rupee up 61 paise, ends at 2-wk high Forex dealers said a higher opening in the domestic equity market and strengthening of euro against the dollar overseas also supported the rupee.
Sensex crosses 19K as Goldman upgrades India Sensex crosses 19,000-mark for the first time since October 5.
SPECIAL: Walmart's ride to India gets bumpier Walmart is getting embroiled in one controversy after the other in India. Political parties in opposition are already rallying against FDI in retail. Can it still manage to launch its retail business successfully in the country?
BUDGET: 2% hike in excise duty, service tax likely Restoration of Customs duty on crude oil & rollback of exemptions likely.
Animal spirits are BACK on the deal street M&As worth $10 bn on anvil.
IMAGES: Volvo to launch V40 Cross Country in India Volvo cars are overshadowed by the big three Germans in India and it's time that the Swedish manufacturer do something to step up its game.
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| November 28, 2012 | | Ratan Tata positive, says India's outlook not as bad Tata said he expects China to move towards democracy. He said many democracies would also have to find ways of 'enforcing what they want to do if they want to move forward'.
Sistema to scale down India exposure Won't put in more money, irrespective of SC decision on curative petition.
How India can curb RISING gold import Massive imports by India, of $60 billion and 1,067 tonnes in 2011-12 (up from $40 billion in 2010-11), have contributed in pushing prices of the noble metal to record levels internationally.
Markets likely to range-trade in the short-term Tentatively, watch for a rise beyond 5,820 to a new 52-week high, or a drop below 5,600.
Why working at Google is a dream come true Google rated as one of the best employers is known for offering the best facilities to employees.
15 BIGGEST overseas acquisitions by Indian companies A look at the deals in the past that made news, awed investors and probably gave management sleepless nights.
Why Singur still remains a headache for Mamata The people of Singur feel they have lost their representative in the government who would plead the issue of fast-tracking the process of returning their land, which seems to be a distant reality, with the battle being fought in the courts.
Amazing IMAGES of Pagani's supercar Huayra Pagani Automobili is an Italian manufacturer of sports cars and carbon fibre.
Diageo-Pernod Ricard slugfest reaches India The acquisition of United Spirits will arm Diageo with a formidable mass-market portfolio, but consumers are up-trading rapidly.
SPECIAL: Show us the cash, Mr Vijay Mallya In a meeting later this week, bankers will insist on a commitment on funds. But many say Kingfisher better not fly again under a promoter who just blew money trying to run a glamorous airline.
All about Aakash's Chinese inheritance Revelations about motherboards' origin have cast doubts about its India tag.
RISE and FALL of housing prices in 20 cities Housing prices in 9 cities across India have risen while it has dropped in 11 cities.
Investors RICHER by over Rs 1 lakh cr Investor wealth on Tuesday swollen by over Rs 1 lakh crore on all-round buying in stock market after credit rating agency Moody's said India's outlook is stable and agreement over debt relief package to Greece that boosted markets globally.
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| November 27, 2012 | | Bangladesh factory blaze: Why Walmart is sorry The fire at the Bangladesh garment factory once again brings to light the substandard and unsafe methods resorted by factories working for multinationals.
INVEST to make homes eco-friendly, reap rich rewards Buying and installing the equipment are the major cost factors, which can be recovered in a few years.
India's Q2 growth likely to drop to 5.1% According to a research report by Karvy Stock Broking, "the GDP growth for the second quarter of this fiscal is estimated to drop to nearly three and a half year low of 5.1 per cent."
Can SEBI do better than flogging the dead horses? Investor bodies have been repeatedly making the point that suspending companies from exchanges only plays into the hands of the promoters who do not have any intention to service investors.
How Indian Railways plans to run BULLET trains! The Indian Railways has joined hands with China for cooperation in developing high-speed rail corridors in selected routes in the country.
'London favourite tourist destination for Indians' According to figures from the Mayor's official tourism and investment agency, London & Partners, the number of Indian tourists is now at a five year high, with 145,000 visitors in the first half of 2012 -- up 28 per cent from 113,000 in the same period last year.
10 most PROSPEROUS countries in the world Let's take a look at 10 most prosperous countries in the world.
10 quotes REVEAL how Bill Gates became so rich Let's take a look at some of his best quotes.
How Ponty Chadha built a Rs 10,000 crore business Slain businessman Ponty Chadha built from scratch a Rs 10,000 crore business and forged close ties with many
Climate change talks: Has India Inc lost hope? There is definitely lack of active participation from the industry, primarily due to the poor performance of the carbon credit market and the general negative sentiment in the economy.
GSK to spend $904 mn to lift stake in India arm Open offer to increase holding to 75%, fails to enthuse institutional investors.
Etihad close to buying minority stake in Jet The two parties have been in talks for a month and a half.
4 Indians among world's top business thinkers Four Indian business thinkers have been featured in Foreign Policy Magazine's Top 100 Global Thinkers list.
Amazing IMAGES of Aston Martin's luxury cars Aston Martin is famous for producing one of the most luxurious and beautiful cars in the world.
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| November 26, 2012 | | This is the biggest deal by an Indian company in 2012 ONGC Videsh and ConocoPhillips said the transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2013.
RIL demands freeing of gas pricing RIL gets $4.2 per million British thermal unit for the gas produced from its KG-D6 fields in the Bay of Bengal.
PM to launch mission plan for electric cars soon Govt will save Rs 30,000 cr in fuel by giving Rs 14,000 cr subsidy to industry for making electric vehicles.
India outsourcing BLAMED for $2.3bn loss by UBS trader This is the third instance when outsourcing of key oversight jobs by global banks to India has come under the regulatory scanner abroad for ineffective controls against suspicious financial transactions.
Motorola Mobility shuts down India website In August, firm had said it will shrink operations in India, lay off 4,000 employees worldwide as part of restructuring plans
Buying a smartphone? Be a wise geek How does one pick the right smartphone out of the confusing array? Here's what you need to keep in mind.
INDIAN city among world's leading hubs for start-ups Let's take a look world's leading cities for start-ups, including one from India.
Realty boom: How SAFE are Noida's skyscrapers? Noida is going vertical with several high-rise luxury apartment complexes, malls and offices in the works. But are these safe?
How to understand our rights in the virtual world Nearly 70 per cent of urban users access the internet for social networking in India.
Seven HOT spots for property investors The list of cities that leading property consultants feel can give fantastic returns to investors based on the development in the area. These areas are not in any metro but could have proximity to one.
'Digital consumption is growing the fastest in India' Interview with CEO and co-founder, Saavn
COLUMN: Fighting Delhi's smog Although each vehicle has become cleaner, air quality remains poor because of the drastic increase in the number of vehicles
RIL insider trading case: Sebi plays spoilsport Moves Bombay HC against CIC order issued in 'public interest'
India Inc in a rush to go abroad for funds Lower bank rates the main draw; $6 bn to be raised in next few months.
India to thrash out rating issue with Moody's Govt to strongly pitch for better rating, to argue India has successfully weathered its problems and govt capacity on growth remains high.
Mallya: Finest brain in India's spirits industry With United Spirits all set to be acquired by Diageo, there aren't too many local spirits barons of significance and stature left.
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| November 23, 2012 | | IMAGES: Samsung launches 3G camera for Rs 29,900 Electronics major Samsung on Friday launched its 3G-powered Galaxy Camera in the country for Rs 29,900, which allows users to directly share pictures and videos on social networking sites.
Special: Videocon's big telecom GAMBLE In the debate whether spectrum was over- priced or not, the focus seems to have shifted from Videocon's telecom gamble.
'Excessive workload as bad as joblessness' Researchers led by Associate Professor Peter Butterworth from the Australia's National University said poor psychosocial job quality is measured by factors such as high job demands, low job control, poor job security and low job esteem.
PSU banks worth INVESTING even in this slowdown Even as concerns over PSU Banks' asset quality and growth rates remain, there are few that offer a favourable risk-reward equation.
Airport test: How Google hires the BEST employees Many things have changed in the company that has graduated from a Stanford dorm room in 1998, to a 33,000-employee powerhouse but the airport test has remained a constant.
The prices of these commodities will RISE The southwest monsoon in 2012 might have left Indian shores a couple of months back after having a rather uneven run during the four-month season, but its after-effect in pushing up prices of onion , edible oils , pulses , potatoes and banana is likely to be felt all year long.
Unilever sharpens focus on emerging markets Company plans to tap 75 per cent of revenues from emerging markets, from the current 53 per cent.
IMAGES: Here comes the new BMW X6 for Rs 78.90 lakh The official prices of the two variants turned out to be pretty much what the market had predicted.
Toyota takes the battle to Nissan Buzz around Innova Aero and cheaper multi-utility brands of competitors make the going tough for Evalia in a crowded market.
A tour of the NEW Google office in Toronto Hailed as one of Toronto's greenest workplaces, Google generates 100 per cent of power for the office from clean green sources.
3 Indian cities see highest rental growth in world Rental rates are increasing everywhere.
Karnataka: People living near gold mines at RISK Cases of arsenic poisoning are on the rise in areas near gold mines in Karnataka.
STUNNING cars you would love to drive! A look at gorgeous machines on display at one of the top auto shows in China.
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| November 22, 2012 | | Slowdown now hits education institutes Low admissions, loan-funded capital expenditure pull down creditworthiness of many, with banks wary of lending.
More Free Trade Agreements, less red tape Govt policy, not trade with Asean, stifles manufacturing.
'Books will be dead and become collectors' items' There are over 1.5 billion people on the Internet today, but you have seen nothing yet, says Google's Nikesh Arora.
Images: WORST forms of child labour in Asia While South Asia is still lagging in curbing child labour, South American countries like Brazil and Chile have made significant strides.
COLUMN: The soft power that India ignores The spin-offs from providing some sort of formal training for the hospitality business are huge.
High gold prices let Indians feel richer, spend more High gold prices let Indians feel wealthier and spend more, making monetary policy less effective.
West Bengal to raise Rs 3,000 cr from 'idle' govt land To unlock about 80 acres of premium land in Kolkata, held by four state-owned transport companies.
Kejriwal warns govt on RIL gas rates He also described Moily as Mukesh Ambani's agent.
No takers for Mukesh's RGTIL Valuation slips on rights cancellation; OIL pulls out, GAIL puts plan on ice.
Climate change: 3 Indian cities face HIGH risks Kolkata came in at seventh while Mumbai was in the eighth position and Delhi at 20th in the fifth annual 'Climate Change and Environmental Risk Atlas 2013', recently released by Maplecroft, a British firm specializing in risk analysis.
SPECIAL: Which way is the market headed Different trading methods work better during different phases.
AI's Mumbai-London Dreamliner flight from next week Dreamliner is a 256 seater plane with 18 business class seats and 238 economy class seats.
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| November 21, 2012 | | SPECIAL: Fish and a philosophy A cooperative in Kolkata shows the way for urban sewage management.
BOOM for Maruti 800 in foreign markets Even as Maruti Suzuki's once bread-and-butter M800 model is seeing interest wane among buyers in India, demand for the country's once most iconic car has shot up in markets abroad.
Subsidy BURDEN: Govt's petro bill turns a headache Earnings fall, even as fuel subsidy outgo set to climb new high of close to Rs 1,00,000 cr.
All about Piaggio's top-down strategy When Vespa returned to India, the excitement at the launch event in late April this year was understandable.
Cable TV digitisation opens up host of opportunities Here's a look at how some businessmen plan to grab the opportunity.
'Let it snow', roars Jaguar in the US Rivals have long been offering the feature, putting Jaguar's sedans at a competitive disadvantage in the US.
Vijay Mallya's twin hats draw criticism Vijay Mallya was made a Member of Parliament's standing committee on chemicals and fertilisers earlier this year.
Chevrolet to LAUNCH 2 more cars in India, soon Chevrolet started the year with Sail UVA hatchback and Enjoy MPV, and is the only automaker to have refreshed all its models within a span of one year.
NEW LAUNCHES: Find out changes made to 4 small cars This festive season, manufacturers went all out to launch new cars and upgrade existing models to retain customer loyalty. The most exciting launches were in small car space. Find out if the upgraded cars do give buyers more bang for bucks.
Slowdown? These cars still have a LONG waiting period While some carmakers are lowering their sales targets, Maruti Suzuki DZire, M&M XUV500 and Renault Duster are selling strong.
India's 20 most POWERFUL women in business Chanda Kochhar has been named as the most powerful woman in business in India for the second consecutive year by Fortune Magazine.
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| November 20, 2012 | | India: World's 4th most 'vacation-deprived' nation Indians come on the top when it comes to preferring work over vacations and they tend to either cancel their holidays for urgent assignments or to indulge in office work even on off-days.
Honda to 'Amaze' India with its first diesel model Apart from considering a sports utility vehicle on its premium hatchback Jazz platform, using the same 1.5 litre engine that will power the entry level sedan Amaze, R&D officials of the company said they are also working on smaller diesel engines keeping in mind the Indian market.
New ultraslim Fossil watches @ Rs 4,995! Fossil recently unveiled its latest collection of watches 'Georgia'.
Will Obama's moves HIT Indian IT sector? Phaneesh Murthy, CEO, iGATE, is one of few businessmen who openly said Obama's re-election is not the best news for IT outsourcing industry.
India's credit drought might be here to stay India is finally waking up to the fact that its credit drought might be here to stay.
Kingfisher turnaround plan likely this month-end Bankers and the senior management are expected to convene another meeting later this month.
3 Indians in Fortune 2012 biz people list The list has been topped by Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos with Apple CEO Tim Cook coming in at the second place.
Obama worst US president for outsourcing: Bhagwati Barack Obama is the worst US president as far as outsourcing is concerned, says Jagdish Bhagwati.
India's HIGHEST paid women executives Kavery Kalanithi of Sun TV Group has retained her position as country's top paid business woman although her pay package declined to Rs 57 crore in 2012, according to Fortune magazine.
US fiscal cliff won't impact Indian IT: Nasscom A fiscal cliff refers to the simultaneous expiry of tax breaks and the introduction of spending cuts.
It takes 8 years' savings to buy home in Mumbai, Delhi Hyderabad, Pune most affordable to rent and buy.
10 hottest property markets in the world Let's take a look at some of the major financial cities in the world.
SPECIAL: Should you invest based on analysts' calls? Take note of aggressive ones, but don't base your investment decisions solely on these. Read on to know why...
LPG mess: Will you get more subsidised cylinders? The domestic LPG business in the country, which caters to 133 million households, has undergone a sea of reforms in the current financial year, helping the government check the burgeoning subsidy bill.
Why Kejriwal calls NREGS a joke NREGS has no place in the scheme of things that Kejriwal prescribes for the nation in his book Swaraj.
There is no AUSPICIOUS day for investing While some investors follow fundamental research and price charts to invest in stocks, there some who rely on planetary movements to invest. Here are some heuristics investors resort to and ways to avoid it.
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| November 15, 2012 | | Petrol price reduced by 95 paise per litre Oil companies have cut petrol price by Rs 0.95 per litre with effect from midnight tonight.
Govt to HANDHOLD stressed sectors: FM Chidambaram said that government will work out a strategy to assist industry segments reeling under the impact of economic slowdown.
Asia still a bright aviation market despite slowdown While China continues to be the largest engine for growth in Asia, other parts of the region were also seeing significant increases in demand for travel with a fast-expanding middle class providing a 'brighter outlook' for Asian carriers, the latest study by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines has said.
Will Indians be better-off than Americans by 2060? Let's take a look at GDP per person in 2011 and 2060 around the world, including India.
IMAGES: Two stunning electric cars from BMW One of them, i-3, is a city car that the company will start selling in 2013. The other, i-8, is an electric sports car that will be available in 2014.
Mobile handset sales: Who are the toppers? Despite a 3 per cent dip in global mobile phone sales to 428 million units in the third quarter, smartphone sales jumped a full 47 per cent, according data released by research firm Gartner.
Fiscal cliff: Obama talks tough once again Emboldened by a victory at the hustings, Obama made it clear that the wealthiest Americans would have to pay higher taxes and tax breaks for middle class should stay.
India's IT sector faces tough times In its mid-year review, the software association Nasscom has revised its forecast for software and services exports (IT & ITeS) for the current fiscal year of 2012-13 to 11 per cent, from the 11-14 per cent range indicated at the beginning of the year.
Can Vikram Akula do a Jobs with SKS? The storyline pretty much resembles that of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who was fired from the company in 1985.
Can HUL take over L'Oreal's hair care market share? By targeting the salon-going consumer through Tresemme, Hindustan Unilever is taking its premiumisation agenda to the next level.
STOCKS: Where should you put your money this Diwali? As investors struggle to find quality stocks following the sharp rise in the benchmark indices, four brokerages give their picks.
What does the new Samvat hold in store for markets? At first glance, the last samvat the year as reckoned by the lunar calendar, from one Diwali to the next has seen decent gains for equity investors.
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| November 14, 2012 | | India's requests for web content removal rises Indicating a growing trend of the government surveillance of internet activities of people and organisations, India sought confidential web user details in as many as 2,319 cases from Google in the first six months of 2012.
Sensex likely to touch 24,000-mark in Samvat 2069 Samvat 2069, which will run till next Diwali, is likely to see smart gains in the Indian benchmark indices with the Sensex likely to surpass 20,000-mark and trade in the range of 22,000-24,000 zone over the next one year, say experts.
'Global rating agencies are like restaurant critics' Standard and Poor's in its report on October 10 had said that there was one-in-three likelihood of rating downgrade for India in 24 months if 'the country's economic growth prospects dim, its external position deteriorates, its potential climate worsens, or fiscal reforms slow'.
No salary: Kingfisher employees in a limbo Kingfisher Airline employees, who have not received their May salary despite an assurance from the airline management, are likely to chalk out an action plan next week, if they do not receive their dues by November 17.
Bonded labour practice thriving in modern forms Practice has been outlawed but evolving structure ensures that it proliferates in modern forms.
When public debt turns not only risky but toxic There are both similarities and differences between euro-zone public debt today and mortgage-backed securities in 2007.
SPECIAL: Navin Jindal's toughest hour A look into the controversies the 42-year-old chairman and managing director of Jindal Steel and Power has battled in the last six months.
Taj's global ambitions: Much room for improvement Indian Hotels Company reported a 29 per cent increase in net loss in the first half of this year.
Why India Inc will report LOWER earnings next quarter The government is the biggest consumer and investor in the economy. And once it starts cutting back on expenditure to bring down fiscal deficit, it will affect corporate earnings.
Are legislative HURDLES over for FDI in retail? The question is not whether FDI in multi-brand retail is desirable or not, but whether the rules of conducting business in Parliament need to be reviewed.
For rich Indians, no pause button on spending Indians are indeed spending big on luxury cars, plush homes and taking more foreign trips than before.
Gujarat's growth model better than other states: CLSA Gujarat has a far better chance, according to analysis by research firm CLSA, of sustaining its high growth trajectory in the next few years as compared with competing states such as Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
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| November 11, 2012 | | Afghanistan beckons Indian industry with red carpet Afghanistan is ripe and ready for more investments from India and offers a lot of opportunities.
Hotels, airline tickets set to PINCH pockets Though prices of airline tickets have risen over the previous two quarters, this hasn't dampened customers' spirits.
M&M unlikely to go aggressive Mahindra & Mahindra would not be an aggressive bidder to take over Aston Martin.
Govt says acting on black-money holders' list Kejriwal had alleged Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani, Naresh Goyal and some members of Dabur Group's Burman family had secret accounts in HSBC.
FM to meet state CMs, banks to review credit flow Chidambaram will look at recovery issues with state govts, pending projects, and flow of credit to micro & small enterprises, weaker sections and minority community.
Sensex: Short-term bias seems negative The Sensex rallied to a high of 18,973 in mid-week trade, rising about 220 points from the previous week's close.
FMCG shows signs of a let-up with volumes slipping Second quarter numbers hint at a rocky road ahead with a slowdown in discretionary categories set to continue.
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| November 09, 2012 | | Biggest deals in India: Diageo-United Spirits tops UK-based Diageo's acquisition of 53.4 per cent stake in Vijay Mallya-led United Spirits for Rs 11,166.5 crore ($2 billion) could be the biggest inbound M&A deal so far this year.
Once an export hub, Tirupur is today a ghost town A series of events brought South India's largest garment export hub to its knees.
Pre-paid cards: BEST for the festive season! For all those who face a tough time choosing gifts, a pre-paid gift card is an excellent option.
Fiscal consolidation: How REAL is it? Despite earnest government statements, fiscal correction is still distant.
Some cheer for Mallya: United Breweries' profit rises United Breweries Ltd on Friday posted a net profit of Rs 34.2 crore (342 million) for the second quarter ended September 30, as against Rs 19.5 crore (195 million) in the year-ago period.
Don't STIFLE outsourcing, India tells America US do not commit, but says outsourcing should create more jobs in both countries.
US explores treaty to nail tax defaulters in India Through these engagements with more than 50 countries, the US is looking to implement information reporting and withholding tax provisions, commonly known as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.
Why Rajat Gupta's sentencing is balanced The 15-page judgment is amazingly lucid, elegant and balanced.
Retail FDI game may not be over Spanner may have been thrown in the government works on foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail.
COMPLAINTS: Which bank tops the list? State-run banks accounted for nearly two-third of the customer complaints received during the last financial year, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday said in its report on trend and progress of banking in the country.
How SLUM dwellers contribute to Bangalore's economy A study has found that the poor households earned a total of Rs 1,545 cr, spent a total of Rs 1,185 cr, and contributed a savings of Rs 360 cr to the city in 2011.
How China plans to REVIVE its sluggish economy Chinese President Hu Jintao on Thursday promised speeding of political reforms and the creation of a new growth model to revive the country's sluggish economy and doubling the GDP by 2020, as he opened the historic Communist Party Congress that will see a change of guard at the top.
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| November 08, 2012 | | HSBC pegs FY14 GDP at 6.9% on reform push HSBC on Thursday said the Indian economy, which is projected to grow at 5.7 per cent this fiscal, is likely to grow at a faster pace next fiscal at 6.9 per centfollowing the recent spate of policy reforms.
Telecom industry needs to hike call rates: Airtel Telecom market leader Bharti Airtel on Thursday said the industry will need to raise tariffs as margins of operators are getting hurt at the current rate but ruleditself out to be the first to take the step.
IT sector CHEERS Obama re-election Industry players, analysts and Nasscom do not see any negative implication on the industry.
How Obama's VICTORY will affect Indian stock markets On the day Obama won, Indian markets reacted positively; even IT stocks gained. Will the trend continue?
Why Tatas want to acquire Orient-Express? It will expand their footprint radically, give them a huge presence at the top end of the market, and reduce their dependence on India.
CHALLENGES Nestle faces in India Nandu NandKishore, executive vice-president Nestle S.A., discusses the challenges the company faces in India and future plans for the country.
95 companies using stock market to fund terror Home Minister's statement regarding the investment of terrorist funds in the stock market is yet another wake up call.
Commodity prices RISE on Obama's victory Barack Obama's re-election as the President of the United States has proved favourable for commodities markets amid hope that the recently announced third round of quantitative easing (QE3) for brining liquidity into the financial system would continue in future as well.
IIT fee rise: Too little, too late Some say it's overdue and the fee is far less than institutions elsewhere; others argue it would burden students.
Has gas pricing policy been MISHANDLED? A market-determined price is the best option but the Constitution makes it clear that natural resources are a national asset.
Cognizant widens its gap with Infosys Beats estimates with 22 per cent increase in net profit.
New BMW 7 Series will be LAUNCHED in 2013 Sources said that BMW India is not going to upgrade its flagship 7 Series sedan in 2012.
Skoda's popularity a HUGE concern for Volkswagen India Volkswagen said that it will reposition Skoda brand in India, to align with its global practice. This means, the company wants to move Skoda brand down the pecking order; and reduce price of the cars sold under the brand name.
Countries with the BEST Internet speed in the world Global average connection speed once again saw a solid quarter-over-quarter increase, growing 13 per cent to reach 3.0 Mbps.
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| November 06, 2012 | | COLUMN: Why we must welcome FDI in retail It is a myth that FDI in retail will kill at local kirana stores.
India's FALL from grace If Manmohan Singh's new reform push is sabotaged, it may be time for radical solutions, like greater decentralisation.
With MNCs in retail, farmers LOSE, consumers gain Weidlich said that India failed to take Ayurveda and Siddha medicines to the world market.
The A to Z of India's most controversial sector Familiarity with the alphabet is important to understand the language of the country's most controversial sector.
Invest in gold; Prices don't matter Besides being an investment instrument, it is hedge against inflation and store of value.
Focus on growth, beware of European headwinds: Basu Nation will not be immune to 2014-15 European banks debt obligations, says Kaushik Basu.
Why is Rajat Gupta less equal than others If Gupta had given Raj Rajaratnam information that Goldman Sachs was going to get an investment from Warren Buffet (and suppose, if Rajaratnam had not sold an already long position in Goldman stock based on this material, non-public information), would this have amounted to a criminal offence on Gupta's part?
FII share in top 100 firms at 6-yr HIGH Foreign institutional investors have raised their stakes in India Inc by acquiring close to two of every five equity shares held by the in the top 100 listed firms.
Telecom firms HANG UP on CDMA spectrum Tata Teleservices Ltd has decided to pull out of the upcoming 2G spectrum auction, leaving no takers for spectrum in the CDMA 800-MHz band. This will deprive the government of around Rs 18,300 crore.
World's top 20 investment hotspots: India at No.4 India has emerged as one of the top five investment destinations in the world.
How to plan for HEALTH-related expenses You need to start much early considering costs have risen 40-70% in just five years.
Should you HOLD on to a controversial company's stock? Often, the stocks of companies mired in controversy continue to do well. What should you do?
Mukesh Ambani among the world's 30 RICHEST Let's take a look at the 30 richest businesspeople.
How Henry Morgan built an ICONIC car company What initially started off as a car garage and dealership later went on to become a full-fledged automobile manufacturer.
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| November 05, 2012 | | Morgan Superdry: Is it BIKE or CAR? You decide The Morgan 3 Wheeler is a rider's car. It is in essence a motorcycle with an additional wheel.
India to be among top 10 pharma markets globally by 2020 Experts believe that the industry has the potential to grow at an accelerated 15-20 per cent CAGR for the next 10 years to reach between $49 billion to $74 billion in 2020.
How jobs will determine the US election The latest report, out Friday and the last before the final voting on November 6th, shows US economy added 171,000 jobs higher than the 125,000 expected.
Indians get the taste of new Apple with iPhone 5 Apple's latest smartphone, the iPhone 5, has made it to Indian markets 42 days after its US launch.
Why Gupta's sentencing SHOCKED Indian businessmen If Sebi had adjudicated Rajat Gupta's case, he would have got off with a mild fine or probably the charges would have been dropped, not in spite, but because of his impeccable track record.
Why Wipro's business is under STRESS T K Kurien believes the company is on the right track.
How to make your PORTFOLIO inflation-proof With the average WPI-based inflation at 7.5% and CPI-based one above 10%, a bit of aggression is required to beat inflation. Four experts give their views.
ICICI Bank starts 'cash back' on home loan EMIs Now you can get 'cash back' for paying the monthly instalment on your home loan.
Buying electronic goods on EMIs doesn't make sense Check for hidden costs such as processing charges, especially for products below Rs 50,000.
How I missed the bus: Nusli Wadia In this interview -- his first in over three years -- Wadia also talks about the road ahead for his group.
Jet eyes bigger share of global passengers Jet Airways plans to increase capacity on international routes by reconfiguring existing aircraft and adding new ones.
17 companies that spend the MOST on research Some companies spend a lot on research and development to stay ahead in business.
A look at economic destructions caused by hurricanes Superstorm Sandy is the latest hurricane to leave a trail of both human and economic devastation in the United States.
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| November 02, 2012 | | DIGITISATION helps broadcasters, more than consumers Post digitisation, broadcasters will be able to cut down their revenue loss, and it's the customer paying for set top box.
Corporates to cut gift budget by 50% this Diwali Indian corporates will cut their budget for Diwali gifts by about 50 per cent this year due to high inflation and shrinking profit margins, a survey by industry body Assocham said.
Orient Express posts profit, reviewing Tatas' offer Swinging back into profit for the third-quarter with net earnings of about $18 million, luxury hotel chain operator Orient Express on Friday said it is consulting financial and legal advisors on the Tata group's takeover bid and will reply to the offer in due course of time.
COLUMN: Why RBI should embrace speculation Indeed, the average volatility of the rupee since January (10.6 per cent, up substantially from 6.8 per cent in 2011) has been higher than that of the euro (9.5 per cent, down quite a bit from 11.4 per cent in 2011) -- the first time this has happened in at least 10 years.
Countries with BEST financial infrastructure A report on countries with best financial system in the world based on seven parameters including - institutional environment, business environment, financial stability, banking financial services, non-banking financial services, financial markets, and financial access.
Madi, Gauss, Flame: Year's most sophisticated malware In 2012, the most significant of the cyber espionage incidents were related to the activity of Madi, Gauss and Flame malware.
Lessons from Delhi Airport Metro's crisis At one level, the ongoing tussle between the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and the Anil Ambani-controlled Delhi Airport Metro Express Pvt Ltd (DAMEPL) may confirm the misgivings of those who think public-private partnerships (PPPs) are a risky way of bridging the infrastructure gap.
Wipro net up 24% to Rs 1,611 crore Total income from operations during the reporting quarter stood at 10,620.3, against Rs 9,064.5 crore in the July-September period of last fiscal, an increase of 17.16 per cent.
Which nations received the HIGHEST FDI? Foreign Direct Investment to Asia reached record heights in 2011, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) World Investment Report 2012.
'I almost felt the weight of India on my shoulders' Vijay Govindarajan, a shy Harvard student who became one of America's most respected professors, speaks to Arthur J Pais about turning the traditional outlook on innovation on its head.
Images: He is the all-time RICHEST Indian Although the list spans 1,000 years, some aspects of wealth appear consistent throughout history; there are no women on the list, only three members are alive today, and 14 of the top 25 are American.
Two Indians among world's best business professors Let's take a look at some of the best B-school professors in the world.
No proposal to hike RIL gas price till 2014, says govt IAC activist Arvind Kejrival yesterday claimed that Jaipal Reddy was shunted out of petroleum ministry due to his opposition to gas price revision.
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| October 31, 2012 | | Wall Street reopens after two-day shutdown The New York Stock Exchange was back in business on Wednesday.
How smartphones stretch our working days The study suggests that by giving users round the clock access to emails, the all-singing, all-dancing mobile phone adds as much as two hours to their working day.
Column: Why most of our heroes turn out to be CORRUPT Everyone feels that they have to compromise on their values due to greed of others.
Mobile handset sales top 100 million units The second half of CY 2012 continues to see launch of a number of high value, aspirational smartphone models.
Govt will try to restrict fiscal deficit to 5.3%: FM The strategy to achieve the target would be to maximise revenue collections and control expenditure, Chidambaram said, while seeking support of the political parties to deal with economic and financial problems facing the country.
IMAGES: Meet Taigun, Volkswagen's mini SUV The VW Taigun made its world premiere in Brazil, and is perhaps a Volkswagen Golf, in emerging markets.
How long can RBI maintain status quo on policy rates? Bank lending has seen a significant fall. RBI needs to bring liquidity into the system immediately.
Then and Now: Glimpses of China's success story China is the world's fastest-growing major economy, with growth rates averaging 10% over the past 30 years.
SPECIAL: How Indian Railways can be turned around The new railway minister's biggest contribution would be to allow the technocrats in the Indian Railways to function freely.
Wadia succession plan puts Jeh in driver's seat Most group firm MDs will report to Nusli Wadia's younger son.
Cherrapunji, a HOTSPOT for international companies Known for being the wettest place on earth, this sleepy town near India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya has attracted some top-notch companies of the world who test their products there.
No difference between RBI and finance ministry: Subbarao Interview with the Governor of Reserve Bank of India.
12 countries where women get the BEST deal Let's have a look at 12 where women get the best deal.
Now, wear your baggage to save extra charges on flights An Irishman has come up with a bizarre new "wearable luggage" that can hold a total of 15 kg of luggage and can help you beat the baggage charges levied by budget airlines.
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| October 30, 2012 | | Subbarao defends policy stance, warns of 8% inflation RBI Governor Duvvuri Subbarao on Tuesday defended the bank's decision to keep the key policy rate unchanged saying inflation could rise to above 8 per cent in the near-term.
Now, pesky messages bother the Telecom Minister! The Trai recently issued a consultation paper to seek public views to strengthen regulations to check pesky calls and SMSes.
Indian consumer confidence down in Q3 The levels of optimism reported by Indian respondents this quarter are three points lower than the third quarter in 2011, where India was leading the global sentiment at 121 points, Neilsen said in a statement.
Kingfisher revival plan: Mallya meets civil aviation secy The services of Kingfisher can be restored only after the DGCA is convinced that the carrier can provide safe and sustainable operations.
Telecom auction: Flop show or success? GSM operators say upcoming auctions will be a dud, while govt hopes to rake it in.
Why RBI cut GDP forecast to 5.8% Indian economy recorded a growth of 5.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2012-13.
A look at FACILITIES Rajat Gupta will enjoy in prison His prison, at Otisville, figures in Forbes 2009 list of the 10 cushiest prisons in the US.
4G can bring the next telecom REVOLUTION Despite the infamous scams and taints that the industry has faced, each Indian can claim to be a proud beneficiary of the country's telecom revolution.
Vijay Mallya denies deal with Diageo There is no way out for Mallya's debt problems unless he sells some of his stake, says an analyst.
Companies CAUTIOUS on hiring; await better scenario IT, ITeS, production, manufacturing, engineering, construction, real estate, automobiles, logistics and retail, among others, are expected to see better hiring trends.
Orient-Express likely to spurn $1.8bn Tata offer Firm's board expected to meet by Thursday to take a call on the offer.
RBI cuts CRR to inject Rs 17,500 cr, rates unchanged The Reserve Bank has kept the key policy rates unchanged, while the Cash reserve Ratio (CRR) has been cut by 25 bps to 4.25%.
How DTC may bring relief on I-T rates At a press conference on Monday, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said when the final version of the Bill was tabled in Parliament, the government would abide by the recommendations of the parliamentary standing committee on DTC.
FM sets fiscal road map; RBI sings growth tune Market hopeful of cash reserve ratio, interest rate cut today.
Is India becoming irrelevant to US? India's trade practices, also singled out, once, as "unfair", are no longer even mentioned.
Reaction to Gupta shows maturity that India lacks Nuanced US reaction to Rajat Gupta's fall shows greater maturity than the extremes we go to in India.
Audi S6 set to hit Indian roads soon Audi S6 is the sporty and more power-packed version of the fascinating luxury sedan, Audi A6.
Don't get CONNED: Insurance is not investment Agents are still misleading consumers by suggesting insurance products are good investments.
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| October 29, 2012 | | RBI cuts growth forecast to 5.7%, rate cut likely In its macroeconomic review report, the RBI has cut FY13 GDP growth forecast to 5.7% vs 6.5%.
New Railway Minister hints at fare hike New Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal on Monday gave ample hint of a possible passenger fare hike to improve services in the railways.
Want financial freedom? Decide the goals In spite of having sufficient money, the absence of direction leads to losses.
Microsoft targets Google, Apple with Windows 8 Windows 8 is Microsoft's most powerful attempt to expand the once-ubiquitous operating system's reach.
New rules for Indian generic drug makers Regulator says fee would enable it to quicken approval process.
Which is the best tablet in the market? Find out... A comparison of the latest tablets in the market.
Richard Branson lauds the efforts of India's airlines Interview with Virgin Group owner.
Rajat Gupta's remarkable rise and inexplicable fall Rajat Gupta, an important man with exemplary personal qualities, falls to disaster because of a combination of a personal failing and circumstances with which he cannot deal.
What Fortune 500 cos can learn from Tatas, Godrej Interview with The Insead chaired professor of 'Marketing and Innovation'.
Chidambaram unveils road map for fiscal consolidation Worried over high budget deficit derailing growth, Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Monday unveiled a five-year road map for fiscal consolidation to promote investments, contain inflation and take India to high growth trajectory.
IMAGES: iPhone 5 to be launched in India on Nov 2 The thinnest and lightest iPhone, has been completely redesigned to feature a new 4-inch Retina display; an Apple-designed A6 chip for blazing fast performance; and ultrafast wireless technology with a better battery life.
SPECIAL: What the Rajat Gupta trial teaches us When important people are involved in insider trading, only quick and firm action against them sends a powerful message.
One withdrawal from PF can cost you Rs 21 lakh Withdrawing the amount each time you move job(s), or otherwise, can make a huge dent in your retirement corpus.
If more women were employed, India's GDP would rise 27%! Nearly one billion women around the world could enter the global economy during the coming decade.
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| October 28, 2012 | | Odisha to scrap IT park pact with K Raheja The Odisha government had entered into a memorandum of understanding with the K Raheja Corporation in 2008 for setting up an IT park in the Mancheswar industrial estate area
Raghuram Rajan moves up the ladder Rajan has shifted from the conventional ground floor room occupied by CEAs to a room on the first floor, adjacent to Chidambaram's office.
Desh Deshpande to shut Silicon Valley venture The Nasdaq-listed company, which develops and markets bandwidth management solutions for fixed line and mobile network operators worldwide, shot into fame during the earlier technology bubble with market capitalisation at one point of time touching as high as $18 billion.
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| October 26, 2012 | | Virgin Atlantic to RESTART Mumbai-London flight It would also fly to Hyderabad, Bangalore and Goa as and when it gets the approvals.
Phaneesh Murthy: Obama cannot stop IT outsourcing Indian IT companies have played a big role in making US companies more competitive and have created more jobs than taking them away.
Rajaratnam seeks reversal of conviction Rajaratnam's appeal against his conviction comes a day after a federal judge sentenced his friend and business associate Indian-American Rajat Gupta to two years imprisonment for leaking boardroom secrets to him.
Citi chairman planned Pandit's OUSTER for months O'Neill told Pandit in an "abrupt encounter" at the end of the day on October 15 that "the board has lost confidence in you".
India is biased against new telecom players: Anil Ambani In his letter dated October 11, written before the last EGoM meeting, Ambani has said the government would incur a loss of at least Rs 35,000 crore if the EGoM had decided to charge for excess spectrum beyond 6.2 MHz only prospectively from 2012, and not from 2008.
Kingfisher readies revival plan; mgmt, DGCA in talks The license of Kingfisher was issued on August 26, 2003, and is valid till December 31 of this year.
Lessons that the Rajat Gupta case holds for India The two bigger takeaways from this case for Indian regulators and enforcement agencies are the speed and efficiency with which it was concluded.
Why Sanjeev Goenka is foraying into IT biz Limited opportunities in his 100-year power business might have prompted Sanjiv Goenka to enter a new business area, but there could be other growth plans up his sleeve.
SPECIAL: How platinum is taking on gold Dussehra began with platinum jewellery sales scoring over gold ones, amid expectation of a higher potential of price spurt in the white rare metal.
All about index funds and COSTLY errors Even funds don't promote these as low-cost options.
'Only 1 in 4 Indians holds full-time job' Workers aged between 15 and 30 years are five times more likely to remain unemployed and twice as likely to be under-employed.
Rates: Why the Reserve Bank is in dilemma The Reserve Bank of India's dilemma over rates is its alone.
BSE, NSE among top 10 exchanges in Asia-Pacific region Tokyo SE Group topped the list followed by Hong Kong Exchanges, Shanghai SE and Australian SE in the top-four. The Indian bourses are fifth and sixth.
10 best countries to start a business Let's take a look some countries that are best when it comes to growing business.
REVIEW: What's new in the latest Chevrolet Spark? The car has a more powerful engine compared to its competitors and give a mileage of 18kmpl.
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| October 25, 2012 | | ONCE AGAIN! Petrol, diesel to cost more Petrol price is to go up by 30 paisa per litre, diesel by 18 paisa as government decides to hike petrol pump dealers commission.
PM panel expects 6% GROWTH in current fiscal The Indian economy grew at a faster pace of over 8 per cent in two consecutive fiscal before falling to a nine year low of 6.5 per cent in 2011-12.
Five Indian firms on 50 most INNOVATIVE companies The companies include Larsen & Toubro, Hindustan Unilever, Infosys, TCS and Sun Pharma
US visa programme puts consultants on OVERDRIVE The government is looking for 10,000 immigrants each year under the EB-5 visa programme. Last year, 2,408 Chinese immigrated under the scheme compared to 37 Indians
The 11 richest Indians in Forbes list Forbes' annual ranking of 100 wealthiest Indians was released on Thursday.
Rajat Gupta's sentencing: A lesson for others The Indian Institute of Technology and Harvard educated former McKinsey head is one of the most prominent Wall Street titans to be charged by fellow Indian and Harvard alumnus Bharara.
I lost my reputation, says apologetic Rajat Gupta Gupta, 63, read from a prepared statement for six minutes before being sentenced.
Companies GEAR UP for brisk festive sales Unlike last year, when sentiment was low, government's reform push and stable rupee this year is bringing consumers back to stores.
'Rajat Gupta hasn't really lost the trust' The Silicon Valley people, who knew former McKinsey chief Rajat Gupta, reacting to the two-year jail term imposed on him for insider trading, said what happened is a tragedy, horrible and sad, but also feels Gupta will be back.
Zero tax: What the 'happiness economist' has to say The 78-year old British economist tells Business Standard about his research that the so-called 'zero tax' is not the most efficient at least when it comes to happiness.
Judge shows leniency while sentencing Rajat Gupta Showing lenience and also appreciation for his humanitarian work, Judge Jed S Rakoff of the Federal District Court in Manhattan handed a two-year prison term to Rajat Gupta, former head of McKinsey and Co and also a former director of Goldman Sachs and Proctor and Gamble for leaking insider information.
A corporate honcho's stunning FALL from grace The Diwali of 2011 saw Gupta surrender himself before the FBI after charges of insider trading were filed against him by Manhataan's top federal prosecutor India-born Preet Bharara.
Rajat Gupta's American dream turns sour No one knows what Rajat Gupta gained from leaking insider information to Raj Rajaratnam. The irony is that he did not make any money.
Wall Street's most high profile executive sent to jail A criminal case was filed against Gupta by the United States Attorney's Office on October 26, 2011 for insider trading.
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| October 24, 2012 | | A corporate honcho's stunning FALL from grace The Diwali of 2011 saw Gupta surrender himself before the FBI after charges of insider trading were filed against him by Manhataan's top federal prosecutor India-born Preet Bharara.
FIIs buy Sensex shares worth over $4-bn in July-Sep Push the broader market Sensex to surge over 1,300 points or more than 7% during the period.
Oil Min approves RIL's plan to raise KG-D6 production Agrees with RIL's stand that CAG cannot do a performance audit of the company.
Kingfisher staff want 4 months pay in lumpsum by Friday Say chief executive's claim is grossly incorrect and as many as 90% of the employees have outrightly rejected the offer.
I'm not an absconder: Mallya The airline's pilots and engineers at Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai have rejected the three-month salary offer.
Rajat Gupta to be sentenced on Wednesday Will Judge Jed Rakoff be swayed by the former Goldman director's influential well-wishers or will he deliver stiffer punishment?
PIX: Sunset for Mumbai's famous black and yellow taxis The black and yellow cabs, hired by millions of people in Mumbai for nearly half a century will fade away into history.
SEBI to outsource truck-load of Sahara job The cost of such a project, say industry sources, could come to around Rs 100 crore.
IN PIX:10 fastest-shrinking cities in the world Twenty-eight cities are on track to shrink between 1990 and 2025.
The alarming picture of poverty in India One in three of the world's malnourished children is in India, more even than in sub-Saharan Africa, according to a United Nations study.
Can SUZLON ride out the storm? The latest crisis in the form of default to bondholders can be a crippling blow.
Commercial realty to pick up MOMENTUM in 2013 Consultants expect the sector to grow 20-25% next calendar year.
IMAGES: Chevrolet Spark facelift REVEALED! It gets new colour options, revised front and rear fascias, re-shaded interior and a newly designed instrument cluster.
Relationship manager is NOT the best advisor They hawk the 'best loan, credit card, insurance products, forex deals'... but you may not need them.
Tata Nano: DOWN but not out Tata Motors is trying hard to popularise the car and increase it sales. Will the renewed efforts deliver?
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| October 23, 2012 | | Festive sales: New Alto bookings cross 21,000 Buoyed by good response to its new Alto 800, which has touched 21,200 bookings within a week of launch, Maruti Suzuki India is looking to cash in on the ongoing festive season sales.
Poor are honest borrowers: Chidambaram The minister said while big corporate houses can easily get loans of even of Rs 1,000 crore (Rs 10 billion), the poor face problems.
Investors on a buying spree of Kingfisher scrips The foreign institutional investors have more than doubled their holding to 2.46 per cent stake in Vijay Mallya-led UB group's Kingfisher Airlines, while small individual shareholders hiked their holding significantly to 17.59 per cent during the quarter ended September 30.
Obama-Romney debate: Financial issues dominate With the argument that a nation needs to be economically strong to be a successful world leader, the Republican presidential candidate was the first one to inject domestic and economic policies into the debate.
TCS' N Chandrasekaran says growth will beat estimate For two consecutive quarters, Tata Consultancy Services has recorded volume growth of five per cent, leaving its peers behind.
Why now this hue and cry over spectrum pricing The biggest players in the country's telecom industry had all managed to secure more than their authorized share of spectrum and would have to pay for it, has been in the public domain for some time now.
How inflation eats into your retirement plan After 15 years, the value of Rs 1 crore reduces to Rs 36 lakh only.
Zee's Subhash Chandra wants to be a global player Zee's revival taught him that professionalising is fine but shareholders can never forfeit responsibility.
'Walmart contributes to increase in poverty' FDi helps a tiny minority in our country, says Hema Swaminathan, Assistant Professor, Centre for Public Policy, Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore.
World's LARGEST mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4 China Mobile extended its lead as the world's largest operator group, growing connections by 11 per cent year-on-year to 683.1 million.
The Walmart protests that India IGNORED Given a history of labour issues, the latest protest in US Walmart stores is important.
Are you ready to be an entrepreneur? Be ready with a financial kitty for at least a couple of years. Here's some help on how to proceed.
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| October 22, 2012 | | Mumbai realtors offer GOODIES to woo buyers New development rules trigger rush of festive-season launches, firms also offer goodies to woo buyers.
Infosys vs TCS: Which company performed better? The second-quarter results of the major Indian software companies threw up few surprises.
Havin coffee @ India's 1st Starbucks : )! Starbucks opened its coffee shop, ever, with locally sourced and roasted beans, in Mumbai. and Rajesh Karkera were there when the American coffee chain commenced operations.
Does development mean traffic, dust, garbage? Growth is happening faster than we ever imagined. Construction is booming and expansion is gobbling agricultural land.
Why you should NOT buy a car this festive season Discounts on cars would be higher in the December-March period, new models would be on offer.
India Inc to see REVIVAL in earnings growth The sample, however, is still small as it includes only six of the 30 Sensex companies - Infosys, Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank, TCS, ITC and Bajaj Auto - that have declared results so far.
Mumbai's Alibag a hotspot for the rich Plots costing Rs 400-Rs 2,000 per sq ft provide options for almost everyone.
Why did it take so long to suspend Kingfisher? Kingfisher has hastened to point out that a suspension was not a cancellation.
New technology can produce 'petrol from air' A small British firm claimed to have developed a revolutionary new technology that can produce petrol using just air and electricity.
Top 10 emerging business hotspots: Ahmedabad tops At roughly Rs 71,270 crore, Ahmedabad saw the highest volume of investment by various companies in last two years among top 10 emerging business destinations, said global real estate consultancy, Cushman & Wakefield (C&W).
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| October 20, 2012 | | Bankers concerned over Kingfisher losing licence Bankers concerned over Kingfisher losing licenceKingfisher lenders, including SBI, on Saturday expressed concerns over the airline losing its licence to fly, but said recovery of loans through sale of its assets is the last option."... we are concerned as we have no control on these developments.
Orient-Express to be a value buy for Tatas Indian Hotels' ambitious bid to acquire Orient-Express Hotels (OEH) has disappointed the Street. However, this might be a knee-jerk reaction.
Posco seeks extension of in-principle nod for its SEZ The multi-product SEZ will bring in more than Rs 2.11 lakh crore of net foreign exchange in 30 years.
Breather for telcos on spectrum fee In a relief to the incumbent telecom operators, who have more than 6.2 MHz spectrum, the department of telecom (DoT) on Friday clarified the retrospective fee on spectrum beyond 6.2 MHz would be calculated based on the 2001 auction price, indexed to the prime lending rate (PLR) of a state-owned bank.
Kingfisher must satisfy DGCA on safety: Ajit Singh Ailing Kingfisher Airlines will have to satisfy aviation regulator DGCA about safe flight operations and also make sure that its employees are not disgruntled before it resumes its services, Civil AviationMinister Ajit Singh said.
DGCA SUSPENDS Kingfisher's license Aviation regulator DGCA on Saturday suspended the flying licence of beleaguered Kingfisher Airlines for failing to come up with a viable plan for its financial and operational revival and resolve the impasse withits employees over payment of their salary dues.
PM launches Aadhar-enabled service delivery system With UPA facing allegations of corruption, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said his government wants to use new technology to curb dishonesty and bring transparency in governance.
Airtel launches 4G service in Pune After Bangalore and Kolkata, Bharti Airtel launched Airtel postpaid 4G services in Pune, the first 4G service in Maharashtra.
Shortage of air traffic control officers in India With burgeoning air traffic, India could soon face a severe shortage of air traffic control officers (ATCOs), a top aviation official said today, asking the Airports Authority of India to take immediate steps torecruit them in large numbers.
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| October 19, 2012 | | TCS' net rises 49.2% to Rs 3,434 cr The company's consolidated revenue was up 34.3 per cent at Rs 15,621 crore (Rs 156.21 billion) for the second quarter.
Coffee major Starbucks finally lands in India This flagship Starbucks outlet will have place for upto 150 people.
India among HAPPIEST nations, China way behind The Happy Planet Index (HPI) 2012 report, released in June this year, confirmed that the world is still "not a happy planet" as no country is able to combine success across the three goals of high life expectancy, high experienced well-being and living within environmental limits.
Air India staff to raise banner of revolt again Though no strike threat has been given, a joint forum of eight Air India unions representing different sections of staff of the national carrier has said they would soon start wearing black badges, take out silent marches and rallies, hold gate meetings and adopt a 'No pay, No work' policy.
What made Jhunjhunwala buy into DB Realty? There is a convincing fundamental story in the real estate firm, despite legal problems.
OECD wants India to unleash more reforms OECD wants India to reduce trade and FDI barriers, and issue more banking licences.
Education loans may become cheaper These will also be easier to get and treated at par with housing and SME loans.
Why Vikram Pandit was forced to QUIT Citigroup When Pandit was in Japan last week, meeting International Monetary Fund and World Bank officials, Michael E O'Neill, the new chairman of Citigroup since April, was applying the final touches of his masterplan to remove Pandit.
Can the TATAS take over Orient-Express this time? Offer valued at $1.86 bn comes 5 years after Bermuda chain rebuffed Indian Hotels.
Why financial TSUNAMIS are expected soon The World Bank-IMF meetings in Tokyo show the extent of policy makers' worries about global economic prospects.
CHEAPER air travel in India could be illusory According to sector experts, UDF charges are likely to go up in the absence of ADF.
World's WORST business decisions taken by companies All companies make mistakes, but some mistakes prove to be too costly.
IMAGES: 10 closest RIVALS of the stunning Mahindra Rexton M&M's primary target is the Rs 21.7-lakh Toyota Fortuner, that has a 70-per cent market share in its category.
India Inc's business confidence slips According to the Regus business confidence survey, Indian businesses' confidence index decreased 2 points (from 143 to 141) since April 2012.
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| October 17, 2012 | | Mahindra launches STUNNING Rexton at Rs 17.67 lakh The first launch from its Korean arm is produced at the Chakan plant with some localisation, the company said.
The success story of Bank Bazaar In just two years, Bank Bazaar.com was chosen as one of the 'Hottest Startups' in India.
'Aim is to double India's share in world trade' Rising cost of credit and infrastructure bottlenecks are hurting the export sector, says Rafeeque Ahmed, President, Federation of Indian Export Organisations.
Telecom giants launch India's first 4G phone The phone will work on both 2G, 3G as well as 4G networks seamlessly.
Sales growth PLUNGES to single-digit across sectors Automobiles, banks, pharma and software firms growth drivers slowdown in cap goods, construction, power.
IMAGES: 10 companies that offer the best perks Some companies are offering amazing perks to keep their employees satisfied and loyal to the firm.
IMAGES: These 4 CNG cars likely to be launched soon Diesel cars though deliver a high mileage but are heavy on the pocket.
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| October 16, 2012 | | How India plans to fight the menace of cyber crime Many experts feel that it was time the private sector was roped in to fight this battle as the number of cases appear to be going up each day.
Vikram Pandit steps down as Citigroup CEO Pandit will be replaced by Michael Corbat, who previously served as Citigroup's CEO of Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Will Kingfisher's last-ditch effort work? With no end in sight to the 16-day impasse over a lockout and strike by its workers, Kingfisher Airlines management has called a meeting with their representatives on Wednesday in a last-ditch effort to convince them to return to work.
How competitors plan to beat Maruti Alto Sensing stiff competition from Maruti Suzuki with the all-new Alto 800 with an aggressive price tag, Hyundai and Tata Motors announced deep price cuts and launch of new special edition variants, respectively to beat the market leader.
IMAGES: The Rs 2.44 lakh Maruti Alto launched The Alto was first launched in September 2000 and has registered sales of over 2 million units so far.
Why India scores POORLY in global hunger index India's extremely poor score in successive years in the global hunger index (GHI) should remind policy makers of the unfinished agenda of liberalisation.
Learn from Air India: Don't subsidise MTNL and BSNL Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), the two big state-controlled telecom companies, have written to the government asking that it bear the entire cost of the additional spectrum assigned to the two giants.
How to EXIT stocks before they fall sharply Satyam Computer, Pyra-mid Saimira, KS Oils and Kingfisher Airlines are among those companies whose shares have fallen like eggs on the floor.
IMAGES: Ford Figo facelift launched at Rs 3.84 lakh Ford expects the sagging car demand to get a boost during the forthcoming festive season.
Analysts turn BULLISH on Reliance Fact that RIL will get the much required support from another segment like shale gas is a big positive for the stock.
Despite odds, Indians lead the 'American Dream' party Indian immigrants were the leading company-founding group. They founded 13.4 per cent of Silicon Valley's startups and 6.5 per cent of those nationwide.
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| October 15, 2012 | | RIL net drops 5.7% to Rs 5,376 crore Net profit, however, was up 20 per cent from Rs 5,703 crore (Rs 57.03 billion) earning in the first quarter. Also, profits before tax was up 25 per cent on a sequential basis to Rs 6,803 crore (Rs 68.03 billion).
Only less than 10% management grads are employable According to the National Employability Report by Aspiring Minds, employability of management graduates is at dismal low levels particularly in the field of business consulting, followed by analyst and functional roles.
US duo wins the Nobel Prize for Economics US economists Alvin Roth and Lloyd Shapley won the Nobel Economics Prize for their research on "the theory of stable allocations and the practice of market design."
How Mamata RUINED the profitable Railways An effort is on to change the fortunes of the country's largest transport network. But it's a long journey ahead.
Slowdown over, growth RECOVERY in 6 months: Montek The economy will turn the corner in the next six months as the deceleration of the past several quarters has been arrested, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said on Monday.
SC refuses to stay Centre's FDI policy in retail The apex court asked Reserve Bank of India to amend Foreign Exchange Management Act regulations within two weeks to allow implementation of FDI in retail sector.
In Bengal's industrial wasteland, RETAIL offers hope The retail sector in Mamata Banerjee's homeland, West Bengal, has provided jobs to as many 40,000 young people in the state.
Fewer Gurgaon projects but DLF is still king of the land Realty player retains dominant position, thanks to its enviable land bank.
Inflation rises to 7.81% Inflation rose to 7.81 per cent in September, from 7.55 per cent in August.
20 interesting facts on the rise of BRICS BRICS is the title of an association of leading emerging economies. As of 2012, the group's five members are Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Eight years after revival, Dabhol struggles to survive Dabhol has faced a series of catastrophic equipment failure and is currently battling thinning gas availability.
Campus recruitment: IT cos to go slow Educational institutes feel the pain as hiring roughly 50% of usual this year.
'Indians were richer than Chinese' Indian and Chinese households are going to spend $10 trillion per year by 2020, say Michael Silverstein and Abheek Singhi.
REVIEW: The all new Chevrolet Sail U-VA The Sail is not the most feature-rich car in its segment.
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| October 12, 2012 | | IMAGES: Cars that make even James Bond drool Cars attached with hi-tech gadgets have been an inevitable part of James Bond movies.
Infosys to hike salaries of Indian staff by 6% Infosys was the only company among the large software services firms, which had not hiked salaries so far.
How many Indians use Internet? Find out... About a third of the world's population has access to Internet.
Now, a non-bailable WARRANT against Mallya A Hyderabd court issued a non-bailable warrant against Kingfisher as well as Mallya on Friday in a cheque bounce case, said a Times Now report.
Holding illiquid stocks? Don't panic, there are options You could exit on completion of your set target or on spurt in the stock price.
Most Indian websites are not mobile ready: Google Google's intent in India is to make it an 'online and mobile first' advertisement market.
Rajiv Bansal is Infosys' new CFO Currently the vice president and head of finance, Bansal will take over as CFO from November 1.
Retail inflation moderates to 9.73% This breathes in a sense of relief for the Indian economy already reeling under low growth rate, depreciation of rupee and slowing down of industrial production.
SHOCKING! Industrial production growth slows to 2.7% This comes as a shocker for the Indian economy which is going through turbulent times at the moment.
'Focus on marketing to turn a film profitable' A major concern of the symposium was creating a reality check for desi film-makers in America and Canada.
Infosys Q2 net up 24.29% at Rs 2,369 crore The company's revenues were up 21.7 per cent to Rs 9,858 crore (Rs 98.58 billion) in the second quarter from Rs 8,099 crore (Rs 80.99 billion) in the year-ago period, Infosys said in a BSE filing.
Hunger index: Even Bangladesh OVERTAKES India! Country's performance in reducing hunger is disappointing, says International Food Policy Research Institute.
India's booming infrastructure biz in deep trouble Acute shortage of labour and migration towards social schemes like Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), a large number of construction projects are lagging behind their completion schedules.
DC Avanti: India's 1st sports car will be available soon Deliveries for the supercar twill start in October 2013.
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| October 11, 2012 | | Mobile handset sales to boom in India Mobile handset sales in India are forecast to reach 251 million units in 2013, an increase of 13.5 percent over 2012 sales of 221 million units, according to Gartner, Inc.
IMAGES: These 10 cars will be launched in October Big discounts is not all what car makers have in store for the customers, launch of new cars (facelifts and fresh products) is also in the pipeline.
20 companies worth watching this earning season The biggest losers could be from retail space due to concerns over consumer sentiments impacting footfalls and same store sales.
Market woes: What lies ahead for DLF? Amid allegations, the Street is divided on how things will shape up going head. Analysts feel the stock could see increased volatility and remain under pressure in the near term.
'India, China took less time to DOUBLE output' The two nations doubled their GDP per capita in 16 and 12 years respectively while US took 50 years.
WORMS in served chicken could batter KFC brand Ghosts of the past came to haunt Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) when officials from the food safety department in Kerala raided a Thiruvananthapuram outlet following complaints of worms in the chicken being served.
Will India see a reforms-fuelled burst of growth? It's too early to assess their effect on real investment and output.
What Indian Railways NEEDS the most Independent, powerful tariff body the best medicine.
Walmart workers threaten strike across US on Nov 23 According to news reports, workers held walkouts and marches in cities across the US, including those in Dallas, San Diego, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, Washington DC, Sacramento and even at its headquarters in Arkansas.
Mukesh's firm loses rights for laying gas pipelines Downstream oil sector regulator Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board had been pushing for cancellation of the authorisation given to RGTIL.
A look at how the online world is CHANGING Mass use on Internet started growing 20 years ago.
After IMF, World Bank lowers India's growth forecast The World Bank on Wednesday cut India's economic growth projection to 6% for the current fiscal from 6.9% estimated earlier and blamed the slow down on corruption scandals and a host of policy issues including uncertainty in tax policies.
How Microsoft helps women who take career breaks It is an initiative to help women pursue their career interests after a break and make an easy transition, back into the corporate world.
A thriving economy of AFGHAN business in Delhi! Delhi has a sizeable Afghan community, both long-time residents and visitors who come seeking medical help. <I></I> gives a snapshot of the small but thriving economy that has grown to service them.
Warren Buffett and the art of losing money in airlines All the glamour notwithstanding, investing in airline stocks is a loser's game
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| October 10, 2012 | | India an important global player: Bernanke US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S Bernanke held talks with RBI Governor Duvvuri Subbarao in Mumbai.
Nissan offers EXCITING sops on Micra, Sunny Provides a unique weekly opportunity to get refund on the purchase and winning 500gms of gold.
Car companies to sell 1-3% less vehicles Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers lowered car sales growth projection to just 1-3 per cent for this fiscal from the 9-11 per cent announced in July.
Education loans come back to haunt banks Some banks have seen gross non-performing assets as high as 15 per cent in their education loan portfolios.
Banks should have acted tougher with Kingfisher On October 5, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, or DGCA, finally wrote to the troubled Kingfisher Airlines, asking it to show cause why its licence should not be revoked.
Toyota to recall 8,700 units of Corolla Altis, Camry The company, which is present in India through a joint venture with the Kirloskar Group, will start the exercise from next month and will contact the respective customers, check and change the part, if necessary, free of cost.
Indian business heads meet Geithner, Bernanke Geithner and Bernanke held talks with India's major multinational corporations.
World's largest aircraft A380 may fly to India soon Govt plans to relax air service norms, let international airlines fly any aircraft to India.
'India should be called Subsidystan' Reflating the equity market and unsustainable rupee appreciation can't make up for the lack of qualitative fiscal correction.
Why high-rise development is not that good Today, the telecommunications revolution, the Internet, a concern for global warming and a desire for a healthy lifestyle are redefining urban living.
The inside story of Robert Vadra's realty business Robert Vadra, who is at the centre of a controversy over his property dealings with realty giant DLF and others, began investing in real estate five years ago, in 2007-08.
10 brands that LOST the most value Some brands have fallen a lot in value.
Column: The markets need a speed breaker The flash crash has caused a blip that makes normal analysis suspect. It's time to include waiting periods into trading mechanisms.
Mukesh Ambani is India's RICHEST man Energy tycoon and Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani is the country's richest man with a personal fortune of $19.3 billion, says a report.
India's IT spend to reach $71.5 bn: Gartner The IT spending in India is projected to total $71.5 billion in 2013, a 7.7 percent increase from the $66.4 billion forecasted for 2012, according to Gartner, Inc.
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| October 09, 2012 | | Shrinkage in air passengers: Minister concerned Following the global economic downturn, there were worries about a downturn in the Indian economy.
The success story of Sathya Agencies Sathya Agencies started off as a small store in Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu in 1987 selling electronic appliances and household articles.
Cadburys India to be known as Mondelez In 2010, Kraft Foods had acquired British candy maker Cadbury in a deal worth close to $19 billion.
How life insurance policies can help NRIs Indians have spread to virtually every corner of the globe and have made their mark in the chosen line of business or profession.
India's rural poor needs subsidy on LPG, power: PM At present, around 12 per cent of around 190 million rural households today use LPG to meet their cooking energy needs.
Kolkata's small retailers TOP buyers at Metro Cash & Carry Though a decade of Big Bazaar and Spencers hasn't affected small shopkeepers, most are wary of FDI in retail distorting the market.
Where does India rank in Internet access? Find out... About a third of the world's population has access to Internet.
Say No to subsidised cylinder, get a reward! Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) consumers might soon get to exercise an option to not get any subsidised cylinders.
One-time spectrum fee to net Rs 27,000 cr The empowered group of ministers (EGoM) on telecom headed by Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Monday decided to impose a one-time fee on incumbent operators prospectively for spectrum beyond 4.4 MHz in GSM and 2.5 MHz in CDMA.
What makes a service firm SUCCESSFUL? A few secrets It is about a systematic approach to human resources planning and development built on a bedrock of fairness and equitable treatment, and augmented by inspired leadership -- an aspect of management that is both a science and an art form.
DC Design launches 'Tornado' SUV concept DC Design, has showcased a concept that merges 'supercar performance and style with an SUV's off-roading capability'.
Why politics shouldn't TORPEDO insurance, pension It's unclear how the government will rustle up the numbers to push the legislation through Parliament.
World's 10 companies with LEAST productive workers There are some companies that are able to generate highest revenue with fewest employees.
India's reforms: Is the foreign investor still excited? Global investors say the volatility in policy and the corruption scams of the last two years cannot be erased with two days of announcements.
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| October 08, 2012 | | China tests high speed train in high altitude region China on Monday successfully tested its new high-speed train connecting top cities in the high-altitude northeast region spanning about 921 kilometres.
Absence of reforms will slow growth: Chidambaram India's economic growth during 2011-12 slipped to nine-year low of 6.5 per cent and during the first quarter of the current fiscal it was 5.5 per cent.
Why DLF's deals with Sky Light need explanation Is it the usual practice for DLF to give an advance equal to 86 per cent of the sale price on land, before the sale takes place?
UPA's swing: From policy paralysis to economic reforms The government's frenetic pace of activity resulting in a series of economic policy initiatives in the last two months has taken the opposition political parties by surprise.
Safety nets for child techies Here are some apps that facilitate parental control over children's internet browsing habits.
Emkay Global admits error in Nifty crash; stock tanks Emkay Global Financial Services on Monday admitted an error on its part for the 900-point flash crash of the NSE index Nifty on Friday morning, and said it would help the stock exchange in probe into the matter.
How Indian firms can SUCCEED in foreign markets Home-grown companies venturing abroad have been on the rise. But the trip is fraught with challenges and risks.
Nissan plans SMALL CAR made entirely in India The company's Indian subsidiary, Nissan Motor India, is rapidly strengthening its research and development wing for the purpose.
India is one of the TOP job makers due to offshoring India created 64,370 jobs in the last four years owing to outsourcing activity.
The real story behind India's infrastructure woes PPPs in infra are on the cusp of disaster. The country needs a different strategy to build public services infrastructure.
DB Realty eyes return to Mumbai property mart DB Realty Ltd is taking aggressive steps to come out of the shadows of the second generation telecom spectrum scam.
How to enhance the BATTERY life of your smartphone The solution lies is in getting a good battery pack.
Facebook in bid to give more bang for ad buck While the social media giant says 70 per cent of campaigns gives a return on ad spend of three times or more, many feel Facebook has still not managed a consistently successful model.
Despite crisis, Kingfisher CEO gets HEFTY hike Among the country's three listed airlines also, Kingfisher chief executive officer Sanjay Agarwal's pay package was the second highest in the last fiscal ended March 31, 2012, as per the remuneration details provided in their annual reports.
RIL refuses govt order to swap KG-D6 gas with AP co RIL in a letter to the ministry said if such an "untenable" policy was allowed it would encourage KG-D6 allottees to sell the cheap gas at higher rates during times like plant shutdowns when they don't need the fuel.
IMAGES: 20 most valuable brands in the world Let's take a look at 20 most valuable brands in the world.
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| October 05, 2012 | | India Inc keen on investing in Kashmir Corporate magnate Ratan Tata on Friday said that Congress general secretary, Rahul Gandhi had opened a door for investments in Jammu and Kashmir.
How business can transform Kashmir Rapid economic growth has made full integration of the North-east with the mainstream look possible. The same must happen in Kashmir.
DGCA issues show cause notice to Kingfisher Airlines Spelling fresh trouble for Kingfisher Airlines, aviation regulator DGCA is likely to issue a show-cause notice asking why its flying license should not be suspended or cancelled.
Will the quota system for LPG cylinders work? When household bills for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) jump over 60 per cent for those using 12 refills a year, the increase in the price of cooking fuel will beat that of petrol.
How to increase home loan eligibility The eligibility is calculated on the basis of repayment capacity of the applicant on a monthly basis.
Fewest hours at workplace: Paris is No.1 People in Paris and Lyon spend the fewest hours at their workplace.
Buying your dream home? Read this! Going for a house that you can't afford to pay for is like eating more food than you can digest.
Kingfisher staff salary: Lenders to release money Move follows income tax department's decision to lift freeze on some bank accounts
Existing borrowers can opt for loan conversion Borrowers can make a home loan switch to a bank that is offering a lower interest rate.
India should make it easy to hire, fire workers Foreign investors don't like policy uncertainty and reversibility, says Anusha Chari.
Inflation is denting festive buying The quick survey done by Assocham found that during last year middle and lower middle income families on average spent nearly 29 per cent of their salary on Diwali for shopping, sweets, gifting etc.
How does India fare against Brazil, Russia and China? With the economy slowing down, where does India rank against Brazil, Russia and China?
REVIEW: Is Mahindra Quanto a good car? The Quanto leaves you in no doubts about its machismo or its SUV lineage.
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| October 04, 2012 | | UPA out to sell country's interests in all sectors: Left The Left parties on Thursday came down heavily on the government for deciding on a series of second- generation of reforms, saying they would fight to defeat these policy measures when they are brought in Parliament.
Cabinet nod for hiking FDI cap in insurance, pension The UPA Government continued to display its commitment to reform agenda as the Cabinet today gave nod to two important financial sector reform bills, aimed at increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) in the insurance sector to 49 per cent from the current 26 per cent and opening up of the pension sector. Besides, the Cabinet approved the Companies Bill, 2011.
Obama still AGAINST outsourcing jobs to India Sticking to his opposition to outsourcing jobs to countries like India, President Barack Obama has said that he wants to give tax breaks to companies that are investing in the United States.
Steve Jobs comes alive at Madame Tussauds Madame Tussauds Hong Kong has revealed a wax figure of Steve Jobs.
Automobile sales: Who's the winner in India? Consumers are preferring time-tested category leaders or vehicles that are relevant to the Indian market.
Hope of Kingfisher Airlines resuming operations fades Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh also expressed doubts whether the carrier, facing a partial lockout, will be able to fly from Friday.
Marc Faber on what investors must do to stay RICH I still hold 25 per cent in equities, says Marc Faber.
Infosys stock can fall by 40%: CLSA The share price of Infosys Ltd came under pressure on Wednesday as global equity research firm CLSA said its stock could fall 40% from the current levels in 12 months.
Indian low-cost carriers sniff opportunity in Gulf Routes abandoned by long-haul Gulf carriers like Emirates and Etihad have given Indian low-cost carriers an opening. But can they compete with Air Arabia?
GOOD NEWS! New reform hopes lift Sensex above 19,000 Financials among top Sensex gainers
India moving towards a mobile workforce Traditional office is rapidly giving way to a highly mobile workplace of the future.
'India should cut barriers to boost global trade' SC/STs have seen significant catch-up in education and incomes relative to non-SC/STs in recent years, says Pravin Krishna.
Cities with the longest working hours, Mumbai at No. 3 In terms of working hours, Asian cities still lead the field with an average of 2,154 hours annually, followed by Africa with 2,138 hours, the Middle East with 2,023 hours and South America with 1,989 hours.
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| October 03, 2012 | | Parekh panel for HIKING power charges, rail fares Suggesting big-ticket reforms to attract investment in the infrastructure sector, a high-level committee on Wednesday recommended increasing electricity charges and rail fares.
Petrol price may be cut by Rs 1.6 a litre soon Petrol price may be cut by about Rs 1.60 per litre later this month as appreciation of rupee against the US dollar has helped state firms make profit on the fuel.
Talks fail; Kingfisher crisis deepens With no end to the deadlock, a question mark hung over the airline's plans to resume operations from Friday, after a four-day partial lockout and complete suspension of all operations since Monday night.
COLUMN: Degrowth and Gandhian inspiration Whether it is the avalanche of corruption or economic and environmental crises -- remembering Gandhi seems just too painful. That is because the ideals Gandhi represented and lived seem to recede further and further out of reach.
Taj Mahal, Eiffel Tower in Dubai 's realty project! A replica of Taj Mahal, Taj Arabia, several times bigger than India's architectural marvel, will be a part the Falconcity of Wonders (FCW) - a multi-purpose project being developed in Dubai.
How the MAHARAJAH is selling a dream Air India is going all out to woo business class travellers asking them to fly the Dreamliner, but the jury is out on whether that will be enough to create a brand image.
ADB LOWERS India's growth projection to 5.6% The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Monday lowered India's growth forecast for the current fiscal to 5.6 per cent, from 7 per cent projected earlier, citing falling global demand and impact of delayed monsoon on agricultural production.
COLUMN: What ails India's urbanisation India's sectoral shift away from agriculture to industry and services is reflected in its spatial pattern of urbanisation with firms locating in the bigger cities and metropolises to exploit scale economies.
Indian IT companies defused US outsourcing bogey First, the US today has bigger economic headaches than outsourcing.
RISING prices: An LPG cylinder now costs Rs 883 In the first price revision after the government capped the number of subsidised cylinders for consumers, domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has become nearly 17 per cent dearer, thanks to firm international prices.
BRAND BENGAL seeks to ride piggyback on SRK Will the glamour quotient help boost the state's image?
How to fix America's fiscal problem The political stand-off in Washington makes tax hikes impossible. But there's a way around it.
'Fear that FDI will hurt small shops is misguided' India is not able to specialise according to its natural comparative advantage, says Devashish Mitra.
PHOTOS: 9 stunning cars at the Paris Auto Show This year it is being held between September 29 to October 14.
Is your state posting good GDP growth? Find out... There are vast differences between Indian states and union territories when it comes to GDP, growth and population.
PIX: Apartment rentals are HIGHEST in these 20 cities Eastern Europe and Africa have the most favourable housing conditions.
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| October 01, 2012 | | EXPLAINED: Kelkar committee report on Indian economy According to the report, Indian economy is headed for a "perfect storm" worse than 1991 because government's cashflow by March 2013 is threatening to be Rs 110,000 crore (Rs 1,100 billion) more in the red than the expected Rs 500,000 crore (Rs 5,000 billion).
Aim was to brew India's finest beer: Cobra founder I used to personally deliver beer to Indian restaurants in my car, says Lord Karan Billimoria.
Microsoft proposes revised FEES for H1B visa, green card In a proposal that will hit Indian IT companies the most, US software giant Microsoft Corporation has suggested a whopping fee of $10,000 (over Rs 5 lakh) for a new category of H-1B visas and $15,000 (more than Rs 7.5 lakh) for permanent residency or Green Card.
IMAGES: Stunning cars that will make you drool! The Paris Motor Show is a biennial auto show in Paris.
iPhone 5 vs iPhone 4S: Which is BETTER? Here's a comparison of iPhone 5 with the iPhone 4S.
IMAGES: Mumbai, Delhi among world's cheapest cities While Oslo, Zurich and Tokyo are the world's most expensive cities in the world, New Delhi and Mumbai are the cheapest cities.
Are the govt's food wastage figures CORRECT? The government has often defended its decision to open multi-brand retail to foreign direct investment (FDI) by saying modernisation of the sector through fresh investment would bring down wastage of fruit and vegetables.
'India's economic situation could be worse than 1991' The Vijay Kelkar committee has cautioned that India's current account deficit (CAD) might rise to a record 4.3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2012-13 if reforms to address this do not take place.
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| September 28, 2012 | | Remove subsidy on diesel, LPG by 2016: Kelkar The Kelkar Committee has recommended sharp reduction in subsidies on petroleum, food and fertiliser, which the government said was contrary to its policy of protecting the poor.
Special: Who's afraid of FDI in retail? The experience in developing markets suggests that foreign direct investment in retail need not be a bane.
Fitch LOWERS India's growth forecast to 6% India's economic growth has slowed to a three-year low of 5.3 per cent in the April-June quarter of the current fiscal.
Special: Is the telecom sector's party over? Mobile phone firms are willing to let go of inactive subscribers because holding on to them doesn't help in any way in the new order.
How Daimler India plans to make it big Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, subsidiary of Daimler, Germany, has relaunched itself in the Indian market.
Kitna deti hai? Is the slogan for car buyers The question brilliantly sums up the obsession for mileage among Indian consumers. A study by consumer research agency J D Power has shown why the ad was on the dot.
SHOCKER! Core sector growth slows to 2.1% The eight core sector industries have a weight of 37.9 per cent in the overall Index of Industrial Production.
Are HIGH salaries for CEOs justified? The more crucial point is that India Inc can't argue against transparency.
How Neil Mills plans to make SpiceJet PROFITABLE With a contrarian approach to the Indian market, Mills has reconfigured SpiceJet and eked out its first profit in five quarters. His plan is not without risks.
Amazing cars that will soon make their way to India The slowdown in Europe is a reflection of events at the biennial event, but here are some vehicles that have the potential to either be launched in India or have an impact on the way the Indian automobile industry moves forward.
IMAGES: What's inside the new iPhone 5? Take a closer look at the thinnest and lightest iPhone ever.
Are Indian workers BETTER PAID than others? Find out Where do Indian workers stand when it comes to per capita income around the world?
Emerging economies are not immune to shocks: IMF There is a significant risk that advanced economies could experience another downturn, said the World Economic Outlook report released on Thursday.
IMAGES: Two Indians among 20 generous billionaires There is a new crop of ultra-rich who are giving a good part of their cash to philanthropic causes.
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| September 27, 2012 | | In the fast lane: Gujarat's new growth story Gujarat has caught the fancy of a large number of corporate heavyweights.
Will the NEW Mahindra Reva be a success? Mahindra Reva has developed technologies that will be seen for first time in its new car, NXR.
How StartupVillage plans to tap 1,000 tech innovators Bringing to the limelight some of the brilliant ideas and innovative projects from campuses is a unique initiative by Startup Village, India's first telecom incubator.
IMAGES: The iconic Taj Mansingh likely to be auctioned It is fairly certain that Taj Mansingh, whose 33-year lease agreement with NDMC expired last year and extended for a year, will not get another lease extension.
India needs to woo investors: Raghuram Rajan Even as Standard & Poor's and Fitch have warned India's sovereign ratings could be cut to junk level, the government's chief economic advisor, Raghuram Rajan, says there is no point in grudging that India's ratings are on a par with debt-ridden European nations.
Mallya finally talks of SELLING his businesses In a conversation with Business Standard after an eventful annual general meeting of Kingfisher, he clears the air on many aspects.
Chidambaram SHARPENS tax axe for the big fish Mandatory scrutiny soon by large taxpayer units the FM set up in 2006.
IMAGES: Nissan Evalia vs its three rivals Nissan Evalia came in with a starting price of Rs 849,000.
World's LOWEST roadworthy car is 18 inches only! Mirai was created by students and teachers of The Automobile Engineering Course of Okayama Sanyo High School in Asakuchi, Japan, the Daily Mail reported.
India to BEAT China's growth rate by 2015 World economy is struggling to post growth.
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| September 26, 2012 | | IMAGES: Sony Xperia Tipo@ Rs 9,999 The company plans 6-8 new models in six months across price bands, which may include a few in the sub-10,000 category.
How reforms have revived investors' interest in India According to a research report by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, there has been a sea change in interest in India post the reforms announced last week that included allowing foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail and the civil aviation sector.
Why automobile sector seems to be an interesting gamble The front pages have been highlighting new vehicle launches, which are timed for the festive season. If these are successful, it could mark the bottoming out and turnaround of the automobile sector.
COLUMN: Why people now are so keen about growth Earlier, politicians thought voters demanded a ceiling on inflation. Now, people want a floor on growth.
Airlines may charge EXTRA for water, preferred seats The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) could once again allow domestic airlines to charge passengers for on-board services like preferential seats and drinking water.
IMAGES: How world's 14 top commodities will perform Many financial advisors are advising clients to invest in commodities.
Kelkar panel QUESTIONS FY13 Budget maths Kelkar panel says figures awry, fiscal deficit may cross 6% if reforms not undertaken.
How to bridge the housing shortage in urban India The housing schemes for the urban poor must involve slum dwellers, who will have to take ownership of their area's development.
Economic freedom: Top 20 nations, India falls to 111! India ranks very low at 111th position in terms of economic freedom.
SPECIAL: All about the coal and the CAG Corrective action on the coal scam must not be such as to impose further obstructions to production of coal from the blocks allotted.
Subsidy is fine but is it a burden or boon? Why phasing out the fertiliser subsidy will affect small farmers.
IMAGES: World's 20 most attractive employers Google has retained the top position as the best employer in both categories -- business and engineering -- for the fourth year.
India's HIGHEST paid executives, Naveen Jindal tops Naveen Jindal, Chairman and Managing Director of Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL), has topped the executive pay charts for listed companies in India.
IMAGES: Indians need to work most to buy beer How many hours of work does it take to buy a half a litre of beer at a retail outlet?
How India can avoid a grave economic crisis Instead of boosting growth, policy should focus on addressing the current account and budget deficits.
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| September 25, 2012 | | No tie-up with Bajaj for low cost car: Nissan Japanese auto maker Nissan on Tuesday said it has decided not to continue its partnership with Bajaj for sourcing of ultra-low cost car, ending months of uncertainty.
A helmet that sends SOS on crash! The potentially life saving smartphone app, which can detect a crash and then alert the emergency services, has been designed for bike riders.
Why did the economy go back to the 1991 position? It's the government balance sheet and the external balance sheet of India that are in problem, says Swaminathan Gurumurthy.
Mahindra plans flexible manufacturing line for Quanto As competition heats up in the multi-utility vehicle (MUV) segment, the country's leading utility vehicles player Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) plans a flexible manufacturing line for its latest launch the compact SUV Quanto to capture market share.
IMAGES: Best and worst central bankers in the world Let's take a look at the best and worst central bankers.
India's reform measures watershed, courageous: US The US has termed as "watershed" and "courageous" the Indian government's decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail, saying that the new reforms will send out the "right message" to global investors.
Low output to weigh on food prices The output of pulses and oilseeds in 2012-2013 is likely to fall by 14.61 per cent and 9.62 per cent, respectively, says the first official estimate of kharif season. Experts warn this could trigger a spike in food prices.
Why Rangarajan thinks S&P forecast is wrong Fiscal correction is needed even after the changes that have been made now, otherwise the fiscal deficit would tend to be high.
What is the SOLUTION to India's traffic jams? Cars use more space, crowd the road and move far fewer people. Our educated road planners must count people, not vehicles.
Now, made-in-India sedans for the world Renault India is planning to ship 1,000-3,000 cars of the newly launched compact SUV Duster to the United Kingdom.
Festive season: Airline companies launch fare war After Air India and Jet slashed ticket prices, low-cost carriers respond with 5-20 per cent cuts; likely to spur air travel market's sluggish growth.
No roaming charges rule: Telcos to take Rs 13,500-cr hit At present, GSM operators such as Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular earn 10-12 per cent of their revenues from the national roaming services, which amount to Rs 10,000-Rs 13,500 crore.
IMAGES: India among top economies with large debt Let's take a look at debt situation in the world's biggest economies.
India's Biocon among world's TOP pharma employers Biocon is the only Asian company to be on the list.
Why western bankers are blamed for the financial crisis After being hailed as Masters of the Universe for the last two decades, western bankers are now being blamed for the global financial crisis and being branded as the ugly face of capitalism.
Weather info: Pvt cos step in where Met office fails Market for localised weather forecasting in India offers immense scope; credibility of data a concern.
How to build a portfolio Before jumping to build a portfolio of stocks impacted by the recent reforms, choose the ones which will benefit the most.
Why borrowings will be cheaper post reforms Though household expenses are up, borrowing will be cheaper.
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| September 24, 2012 | | Asians leading users of smartphones in the US As many as sixty-six per cent of Asians, 56 per cent of Hispanics and 55 per cent of African-Americans use smartphones to check e-mails, play games and surf the Web, the Neilson study found.
Column: Why these reforms can't address India's problems Notwithstanding the PM's feeble defence, the reforms announced so far are not enough to deal with India's pressing problems.
The knight in veshti who ushered in India's reforms After dithering for months, if not years, the government suddenly unleashed a barrage of reforms.
GOOD NEWS! No roaming charges from next year NTP 2012, approved in May, aims to abolish roaming charges and allow mobile phone subscribers to use same number across country without having to pay extra charges for services once they are outside their telecom circle.
IMAGES: The stunning Rolls-Royce Phantom II is here! Latest version of pinnacle, super-luxury car features significant updates to drivetrain, electronics and subtle design enhancements.
Indians' reputation for poor manners is no longer funny Rich or poor, unsophisticated or well-heeled, most Indians have little compunction about observing the conventions or rules of public behaviour.
Mamata ACTS saviour, but prices rise in Bengal If popular is white and populism black, then Mamata Banerjee is a curious shade of grey that may be hard to spot in the colour charts.
Windows 8 slated for launch on October 26 If you look at the interface of Windows 8, we believe it is a lot more exciting and informative, which people would actually love to spend time on. Other than making Windows open to the vast storehouse of exciting applications, Windows 8 enables multi-tasking.
Maruti hopes to make a comeback with Alto The country's largest car maker, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI), is looking to regain lost ground in the small car segment with the launch of a completely new version of its erstwhile best- selling model Alto.
Will price kill Nikon's 'budget' FX camera in India? Personal preferences notwithstanding, even many Canon aficionados will find it difficult to resist the charms of the rival's new offering and some may be even considering crossing the pricey Rubicon.
20 countries that have RICHEST people in the world World's richest people have a combined wealth of $25.8 trillion.
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| September 21, 2012 | | World food prices may hit record high in 2013 Global food prices are rising and are likely to touch an all-time high in 2013 due to drought in some parts of the world, according to a report.
Five NRIs on Forbes US richest list The net worth of the richest Americans grew by 13% in the past year to $ 1.7 trillion.
For every job Walmart creates, 17 will be unemployed The retail FDI decision is rooted in the bravado of a leader who scarcely cares for his own people, especially the poor, but is deeply ashamed at being called an "underachiever" by the West.
SPECIAL: How will Sahara pay its investors? The companies have 90 days to deposit the money with Sebi, which has been tasked by the Supreme Court to return the money to the investors.
SPECIAL: Retail sector and economic democracy Proponents of FDI in retail have argued that the story of corporate retail will be quite different in India since our social and economic patterns are in some ways unique.
COLUMN: Is inflation GOOD for growth? "Historically, all possible combinations have occurred: inflation with and without [economic] development, no inflation with and without [economic] development".
How FDI in retail, aviation will boost India's growth The FDI announcements made by the government in multi-brand retail, single-brand retail, aviation sector and broadcast sector are expected to change the landscape of the respective industry.
LPG cylinder sales: How the Indian states RANK Gas cylinders are at the centre of a controversy in India.
Philips re-positions itself in a newer, younger avatar After abandoning the business of making televisions, Philips is trying to reposition itself as a master of youth-centric products.
Government's NEW plan to de-clog the roads The Centre is reportedly considering imposing an urban transport tax and a congestion tax on private cars to control gridlock on urban roads. Growth has increased incomes and car ownership -- but not road space.
Applying for a loan? Know your credit report A credit report is an accumulation of all your loan accounts, loan repayment history, and delinquencies, if any.
IMAGES: Mahindra launches the Quanto at Rs 582,000 Quanto is a compact and versatile SUV with a host of features and technologies.
IMAGES: The good old smiley turns 30! The computer symbol for 'not serious' or now more generally "happiness", made up of a colon, dash and a right parenthesis, was born into existence on September 19, 1982.
Pix: The superfast double-decker Mumbai-Ahmedabad train The Indian Railways on Wednesday flagged off its newest train a double-decker between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
IN PIX: Google emerges world's most attractive employer According to global employer branding firm Universum's global talent attraction index 'The World's Most Attractive Employers 2012', Google has retained the top position in both categories -- business and engineering -- for the fourth year in a row.
22 richest Americans in the world Net worth of the richest Americans grew by 13 per cent in the past year to $1.7 trillion.
How many WORK hours can get you an iPhone? People working in Zurich are able to afford the smartphone the quickest, that is, after 22 hours of work.
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| September 20, 2012 | | Special: Can the Dreamliner become AI's MAGIC weapon? The Dreamliner will allow Air India to finally match the right kind of routes with the right kind of planes, while launching new ones. Some say it won't solve the airline's problems.
Diesel adds to railways' blues With the latest diesel price rise, coming after a rollback of most of the earlier proposals for a passenger fare increase, Indian Railways' operational surplus is expected to come down by 24 per cent, to Rs 11,707 crore (Rs 117.07 billion) in 2012-13 as against the Rs 15,557 crore (Rs 155.57 billion) anticipated at the beginning of the financial year.
Selling jewellery? Be careful, it's actually a big LOSS Documents like sellers' ID, receipts, residence proof will be required. Also, be ready to lose 10-15%.
iPhone 5 available on Indian e-commerce sites Sellers on eBay, the e-commerce site, are offering the iPhone 5 at exorbitant prices, starting at Rs 74,000 and going up to Rs 88,000, to those who cannot wait to flaunt the smartphone.
IMAGES: 20 cities that offer the highest wages Swiss cities top the list of the highest paying cities.
Mumbai, Delhi among cheapest cities to travel by taxi In Cairo the same distance by taxi costs just $1.49 - the cheapest taxi price.
Ikea plans to set up several stores in India Team scouting for space on outskirts of metros.
India Inc to politicians: Put country above politics A day after the Trinamool Congress said it was withdrawing support to the UPA government, in protest against the reform measures announced by the government, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry held a press conference to buttress its views on the importance of sustained reform process.
Safest bet is to bet on yourself: 30-year-old CEO BucketFeet exists to make to make everyone's story more interesting and create connections, says Raaja Nemani.
IMAGES: Countries with most tractors in the world Let's take a look at countries that have the most tractors in the world.
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| September 18, 2012 | | Gas cylinder cap has LESSONS for the future If the government could create a convincing case for capping gas cylinder numbers, there is no reason why the government cannot build a solid case, using similar methods, for a further increase in diesel price.
India among 10 countries with most gold reserves Global central banks bought 157.5 tonnes of gold in the second quarter.
IMAGES: Mercedes-Benz B-Class launched at Rs 21.49 lakh This Mercedes-Benz model is based on the MFA platform that the A-Class is based on.
SHOCKING! Domestic, international airfares rise 9% While the q-o-q domestic fares rose by 29%, the year-over-year increase was 11%.
Vegetable prices push up retail inflation to 10.03% In the urban areas, the CPI rose to 10.19 per cent during the month as compared to 10.10 per cent in July.
Why lending rate will pinch LESS Banks to lower rates shortly; RBI cuts CRR by 25 bps and signals easier policy in October
'RBI's move to cut CRR a preventive step' Reserve Bank of India's move to cut cash reserve ratio has been welcomed by analysts.
Walmart stores to have an Indian touch Plans outlets smaller than in the US, with mostly Indian products, and a desi nameplate.
India doesn't like foreign investors, says Jim Rogers India will find it difficult to grow in a dynamic way because it has a high debt-to-GDP ratio, says Jim Rogers.
IMAGES: 20 most expensive cities in the world Let's take a look at some of the most expensive cities in the world.
IMAGE: These 5 cars will be launched in Sep The first amongst the lot is the Mercedes Benz B Class Sports Tourer.
Rail fares are the HIGHEST in these 20 cities It costs most to travel by bus, tram or subway, taxi and train in Western Europe and North America.
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| September 17, 2012 | | No roll back, no threat to Govt: Chidambaram Indicating unleashing of more measures to boost economy, Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Monday ruled out rolling back decisions on diesel, LPG and FDI in retail and expressed confidence that the government faces no threat from allies either inside or outside.
A tribute to the outgoing Range Rover Not many cars can boast of having seen three dramatically different owners during their product lifetimes, except perhaps the Lamborghini Countach.
The good, bad and ugly of the RBI policy Some reactions to RBI's monetary policy announced on Monday.
SNEAK PEEK: The 7th generation Volkswagen Golf Now, it's time for the seventh generation version - the newest, most-loaded and perhaps the best Golf made yet.
From boom to doom: Story of India's telecom sector The new story is the exact opposite of this history, and tells of slowing growth, falling profits, and negative returns on shares.
More steps on anvil to boost growth: Chidambaram The Reserve Bank is scheduled to come out with second quarter monetary policy review on October 30.
The INSIDE of a smartphone is what really matters Seamless integration and intuitive flow of information between mobile OS & hardware is the only make-or-break feature.
RBI keeps rates unchanged; cuts CRR by 0.25 per cent The central bank kept the short term lending and borrowing rates unchanged.
'FDI move will attract investors, soothe nerves' Govt's decision to allow FDI will attract capital, boost confidence and soothe the nerves, say experts.
Govt lacks imagination, common sense: Jayati Ghosh It's pointless and stupid to allow foreign direct investment in retail and investment, says Jayati Ghosh.
Indian states paying highest and lowest tax revenues Sales tax continues to top the state's largest source of income.
India among top exporters of services, merchandise Merchandise exports, led by Asia, rose by 19 per cent last year to $18.2 trillion.
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| September 14, 2012 | | Reforms: Who praised, who blasted the govt Attacking the government for its "hurried" decision allowing FDI in multi-brand retail, BJP today alleged said that despite strong objections from the Opposition it has been done under foreign elements' pressure and will affect the livelihood of Indians in retail trade.
Major decisions to dispel policy paralysis notion: India Inc India Inc on Friday said major announcements made by government, including operationalisation of 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail, are huge "mood lifters", besides dispelling the impression of any policy paralysis in the government.
FDI decisions to boost growth, generate employment: PM Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday justified the decisions on allowing FDI in multi-brand retail and some other areas, saying these were aimed at pushing economic growth and generating employment in "difficult times".
49% FDI in aviation allowed; industry happy Foreign airlines can now pick up 49 per cent stake in India's domestic carriers, a step that is expected to give a boost to cash-strapped aviation industry.
Divestment in 4 PSUs to raise Rs 15,000 cr The government on Friday approved sale of its minority stakes in four public sector firms -- Hindustan Copper, Oil India, MMTC and Nalco-- to raise up to Rs 15,000 crore.
BIG REFORM: 51% FDI in multi-brand retail cleared The government has cleared the FDI in multi-brand retail.
Who pays the highest and lowest for diesel in India The government's decision to hike diesel price by Rs 5 has shocked the nation.
How large deals played a key role in Wipro's turnaround Analysts expect Wipro's revenue to grow 17 per cent this financial year, largely in line with its FY12 performance. Profits are expected to grow 14 per cent, compared to FY12.
How Montek JUSTIFIES diesel price hike Diesel price hike is a tough decision and we need lot of tough decisions to get to 8 per cent growth rate," Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh told reporters.
SHOCKING! Inflation jumps to 7.55% in August Inflation, as measured by the Wholesale Price Index, was 6.87 per cent in July.
Meet the 'quiet and confident' CEO of Infosys Sarojini Damodaran Shibulal, the 57-year old CEO of Infosys, is a true geek.
COLUMN: Who will build India's infrastructure? The private sector accounted for 30 per cent of all investment in infrastructure in the last Plan period and is supposed to mobilise 50 per cent ($500 billion) of the planned infrastructure spending for 2012-17.
Markets surge on fuel hike, Fed action Markets continued firm trades with buying interest seen in realty, metal and banking shares. The BSE Sensex has gained 386 points (over 2 per cent) at 18,407, after touching a high of 18,456. Nifty is up 118 points at 5,553.
'PDS is broken, alternative methods needed' Direct cash transfers or food coupons should be used to provide services to the poor, says Farzana Afridi.
World's TOP selling and MOST profitable smartphones Apple's iPhone 5 is expected to outsell Samsung's Galaxy SIII.
India is the fourth BIGGEST oil importer in the world Let's take a look at some of the biggest oil importers in the world.
IMAGES: The legacy of BMW 3 Series World over, BMW cars are considered to be royal, pristine and very refined.
Indian economy faces a major CRISIS, but who cares? It is common knowledge that the Indian economy has not just been doing badly for over a year but is actually stumbling towards a major economic crisis.
IMAGES: iPhone 5 does not 'wow', but. . . Apple's screen is still smaller than its main rivals.
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| September 13, 2012 | | Allies, Opposition slam diesel price hike Allies and opposition parties tonight attacked the government over the hike in diesel prices saying it will further hit the common man and demanded an immediate rollback.
Diesel price hiked, subsidised LPG supply cut to 6/year The government has hiked diesel price by Rs 5 per litre, effective midnight tonight.
Inside Air India's Dreamliner: The most striking features It can be a game changer experience for all the long haul travellers for whom flying long hours is a nauseating experience.
PIX: Ford EcoSport to undercut Renault Duster in pricing The car is a tech savvy like many of its prospective owners.
Should coal block allocations be SCRAPPED? Allotments that were done without conducting due diligence should be reversed but the UPA's procedure smacks of favouritism.
These are India's top banks in 2012 The 'Dun & Bradstreet - Polaris Financial Technology Banking Awards 2012' seeks to recognise the growth and resilience of the Indian banking industry.
Centre to support Metro rail projects in 19 cities: PM Noting that an efficient transport system was 'critical' for orderly growth of cities, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said the government has decided to support preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPR) for Metro rail in all 19 cities with a population of over two million.
Net loss down, revenue up despite strike: Air India Though the Dharmadhikari report expects Air India would be cash surplus by eight years, the efforts are on so that it happens earlier.
Capt Gopinath's new plan: Charter flights at CHEAP rates! Capt Gopinath is trying to reinvent the charter business.
Good news! Permanent PF a/c number by 2013 Come March 2013, salaried employees will be able to switch jobs, without worrying about withdrawing or transferring their savings with the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).
iPhone 5: Taller, thinner and better Apple's iPhone 5 has a larger screen but a thinner profile and is 20 per cent lighter than the previous iPhone 4S.
Flat IIP growth: More BAD NEWS to follow? Poor industrial production & lower agri output to further drag GDP growth rates.
Dreamliner to ply on domestic routes soon Air India's new Boeing 787 Dreamliner will start flying on domestic routes from September 19, with the airline hoping that the fuel-efficient aircraft will bring back its good old 'Maharaja' days by saving costs.
Houses with electricity: India's TOP 20 states Of the 1.4 billion people of the world who have no access to electricity in the world, India accounts for over 300 million.
How Indian youngsters are coping with economic downturn Cutting corners, looking at fixed deposits, youth copes with the reality of a downturn.
Amazing IMAGES of ultra-luxurious SUVs Toronto-based Conquest Vehicles now has two SUVs under its belt, Evade and Knight XV.
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| September 12, 2012 | | Cyber threats: WAKE UP before it's too late! Generally, most users tend to underestimate the danger which malware poses for their devices and data.
How Lenovo CONQUERED the Indian PC market In the first quarter of 2009, Lenovo's market share in India was just 4.8 per cent.
Sebi flooded with Sahara refund calls Regulator has set up a special cell to carry out the refunding operation.
Meet the world's most innovative CEOs For an innovation-led change, a CEO must comply with three fundamentals - market feasibility, technical feasibility and associational thinking.
Slowdown: India's industrial output falls to 0.1% The industrial production growth rate has dipped to 0.1 per cent in July, as against 3.7 per cent in the same month last year.
'Good time for retail investors to enter market' These are testing times for the mutual fund industry.
SPECIAL: The story behind Amul's 'utterly butterly' ads When the tag line was coined, V Kurien had only said 'I think it's utterly mad; but if you think, it will work, go ahead'. The man, who passed away, last Sunday, had also told the ad agency that it was free to operate without obtaining his okay.
Sebi may crack down on corporate executive pay Move to make board accountable for performance appraisal.
IMAGES: Unemployment rates in major countries Unemployment rates are increasing all across the world.
IMAGES: Indian states with highest per capita income India has become the fourth largest economy in the world, yet it lags behind several nations in per capita income.
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| September 11, 2012 | | Interest rate cut not enough to buy property Banks and builders are offering lower rates and freebies, but there is also a case for price correction in the future. Wait, if you are not desperate.
Amul Girl weeps for first time to pay homage to Kurien Paying homage to father of white revolution in India Dr Verghese Kurien, who catapulted India from being a milk-deficient country to the world's largest milk producer, 'Amul's' mascot for the first time ever was seen weeping (since 1964) in an advertisement.
Infosys' revised strategy to drive volumes cheers analysts Infosys' acquisition of Switzerland-based Lodestone Holding would provide the software firm respite from investors who have, for long, demanded the company tweak its strategy of walking away from deals that might dilute earnings. Investors have also demanded the company's unutilised cash balances be used to revive growth.
IMAGES: India's top 20 states by GDP Here's a list of 20 best performing states in terms of GDP.
'Indian employers set to slow hiring in Oct-Dec' According to the Manpower employment outlook survey, they are downshifting from the vigorous hiring pace seen over the past two years, with just 27 per cent employers optimistic about strengthening their staffs, says a survey.
COLUMN: Why is the image of shining India TARNISHED? Exuberant expectations about the economy have turned to foreboding as Indians grow pessimistic about their economic future.
'Labour laws hampering India's manufacturing sector' Services cannot create enough jobs that will match the skill sets of the bulk of the work force, says Nirvikar Singh.
Why optimism about Indian economy is waning Forty-nine per cent of Indians polled for the survey are satisfied with the current state of the economy, a seven percentage point drop from last year, while only 45 per cent of respondents are optimistic of the economy improving over the coming four quarters, 15 percentage points lower than the previous year's poll.
How to keep virtual MISCREANTS at bay! Ankit Fadia, 27, is an independent computer security and digital intelligence consultant - better known as ethical hacker - who has worked with government agencies.
IMAGES: These 4 Porsches will eventually land in India Well, the most profitable Supercar maker in the world has been gulped by the monstrous Volkswagen group and now is flushed with cash to invest in newer, path breaking products.
How start-ups learn to bounce back from failures A few have picked up the early warning signals, re-worked their plan and got back to work.
High stress: Indian companies that face a cash CRUNCH With growth rates slowing and global concerns not abating, the Street is increasingly becoming worried about rising stress levels for corporate India.
IMAGES: World's 20 biggest layoffs in 2011 Companies across the world are laying off workers as economic slowdown grips the global economy.
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| September 10, 2012 | | Indian stocks beat their ADRs by 25% in one year US stock market indices may be performing better than India's popular benchmark Sensex, but individual Indian stocks have outshined their own American Depositary Receipts by up to 25 per cent in the past one year.
Spunky, skinny, sizzling: Meet the Ultrabooks If a laptop is priced at Rs 45,000 and onwards, does that price tag make it is extra special? Yes and No. 'Yes', there will be fewer takers for such models. 'No', that does not confirm performance superiority.
Will the NEW Boeing 787 Dreamliner save Air India? As the much delayed Boeing 787 Dreamliner makes an official touchdown, complete with a water cannon salute, in Delhi to join Air India's fleet, the ailing airline is working on a plan to regain its lost space in the international skies.
Indian IT firms among 10 WORST paymasters Indian Information Technology companies are among the world's 10 lowest-paying employers in the segment, with their mid-to-senior level staff getting an average salary of $38,767 (about Rs 21.5 lakh) per annum - less than one-fourth of the IT pay package at globally top-paying Swiss firms.
Kurien, the doodhwalla visionary Kurien, a metallurgical engineer trained at Michigan State University in the US, was serving out his bond which Matthai refused to waive.
Creative people are not contract killers: Prasoon Joshi Prasoon Joshi, president, McCann Worldgroup South Asia, says creativity can flourish irrespective of scale, but needs a culture of fluidity.
Car sales drop 19%; biggest in 10 months Domestic passenger car sales declined by 18.56 per cent to 1,18,142 units in August 2012 compared to 1,45,066 units in the same month in 2011.
India's Milkman Kurien will always ring a bell Known as the father of the White Revolution and affectionately referred to as 'India's Milkman', Kurien was credited with having pioneered the milk cooperative model at the village level.
'Service sector key to GDP and jobs' India among developing nations is far ahead in becoming a service economy, says Uday Karmarkar.
These 17 Indian companies pay LOW taxes Finance Minister P Chidambaram has asked the Income Tax department to focus on the companies that pay less than effective tax rate of 24 per cent.
IMAGES: 30 countries with best living standards There are not many countries that have high per capita income.
These cities help Indian airlines make MONEY! If you have thought that the most profitable international routes for direct flights from India are to the busiest US or European cities, then think again.
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| September 07, 2012 | | 5 Indian firms in world's most innovative companies list Larsen & Toubro, Hindustan Unilever, Infosys, Tata Consultancy and Sun Pharma -- have made it to the list
New Range Rover to be launched on September 29 The latest SUV, as the company states, is the first SUV to have the all-aluminium body frame. With this the bare shell of the Rover becomes just 12kgs heavier than the Mini Countryman Shell.
Why global firms line up to tap affluent Indians From hardselling a dream house next to the London Tower Bridge to eyeing tourism and business opportunity at Universal Studios and Disney Destinations; from drawing target customers for Macau casinos to launching travel guides tailored just for the well-heeled in India, global industry majors are rushing in to tap the increasing spending power of the people in this country.
'Driverless' cars will be a popular trend by 2040 Members of IEEE, the world's leading professional organisation have selected autonomous vehicles as the most promising form of intelligent transportation, anticipating that they will account for up to 75 per cent of cars on the road by the year 2040.
IMAGES: Renault Scala Drives in at Rs 6.99 lakh Petrol variant will be available in the RxE and RxL variants whereas diesel will be the RxL and RxZ variants.
Quiz: Which is the world's most valuable stamp? Take this quiz to find out if this a hobby for you. If you are already into stamp collection, find out how well you know your postage stamps.
BAD NEWS! Govt may hike fuel prices next week According to reports, the price of petrol is expected to go up by Rs 5 and diesel by Rs 6.
SPECIAL: Why the current economic recovery is different Many policy makers and economists have observed that the recovery from the 2007-2008 financial crisis has been much slower than most recoveries of the post-war era, which needed only a little more than a year, on average, to restore output and employment to their previous levels.
Competitiveness: India's rank FALLS further to 59! India's ranking declined by three places to 59th position in the Global Competitiveness Index 2012 2013.
IMAGES: Evade is India's costliest SUV Toronto-based company Conquest Vehicles has launched Evade, the company's first unarmoured SUV in India.
How coal mine workers struggle to make a living After the 2G spectrum scam, the focus is now on the coal scam which has cost the exchequer a whopping Rs 1.86 lakh crore.
IMAGES: 30 most competitive countries in the world Countries all across the world are competing to attract business and tourists.
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| September 06, 2012 | | Petrol costlier in India than in US, Pak, Lanka Petrol in the national capital costs Rs 68.46 per litre as compared to Rs 53.32 a litre in Pakistan, Rs 61.56 in Sri Lanka and Rs 62.25 in Bangladesh.
Recipe to make India's capital market more inclusive This is the concluding part of a three-part series, where discus how share prices in India are manipulated and the future of the country's stock exchanges.
Much of bad news is probably behind us: Citigroup India Citigroup Global Markets veteran Rajiv Nayar is cautiously optimistic as he sees bouts of risk-on and risk-off sentiments affecting capital raising by Indian companies.
Why visiting a bank branch is so outdated Now, customers can do a real time cash deposit into a bank account, withdraw cash, deposit cheques, transfer funds, open fixed deposits, generate bank statements, pay insurance premiums, home loan EMIs and so on.
PHOTOS: A day in the life of workers around the world Labour Day, the first Monday in September is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers.
IMAGES: 20 most influential people in the world Bloomberg has ranked world's most influential people.
'Rural poor are better off than urban poor' India may need to take a fresh look at its monetary policy, says Amartya Lahiri, professor of Economics at the University of British Columbia.
IMAGES: 10 limited edition cars launched so far in India With the festive season approaching soon, many more limited edition cars will be rendered with mouth watering discounts and freebies.
Coal scam: A review of the govt's big MISTAKES Looking back, it appears that the first signs of the problem were visible when the policy on captive coal mining was formulated almost two decades ago.
IMAGES: World's 10 most productive cities A study by the Brooking Institution compared per-capita gross domestic product and employment data from 2010 to 2011 in 200 of the world's largest metropolitan areas.
30 nations that are best geared for economic change Around the world, countries, businesses and institutions are undergoing unprecedented change with new challenges and opportunities every day. Keeping this in mind, KPMG's study 2012 Change Readiness Index assesses these countries' on their ability to manage change and cultivate opportunity in the future.
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| September 03, 2012 | | Loss on diesel sale mounts to Rs 19.26 per litre Losses on sale of diesel at government-controlled rates have hit a record Rs 19.26 a litre, sending state-owned oil companies scrambling for ways to cover the mounting losses.
Morgan Stanley LOWERS India's growth forecast to 5.1% Calling for immediate policy action by the government, it warned that in the absence of such a step the GDP growth could slide even deeper -- to 4.3 per cent in 2012-13.
Stunning PHOTOS of homemade cars There are some car lovers who built their vehicles from scratch with their own hands.
Buying a smartphone? Wait till October The widely-rumoured Apple iPhone 5 is scheduled to make an appearance on 12 September, Nokia-Microsoft, too, is allegedly launching new smartphones and Samsung has already released a new Windows 8 phablet (phone that masquerades as a tablet).
Demand for gold loans set to revive After a significant decline in business in the quarter ended June, leading gold loan companies are set to see a reversal of fortunes. In fact, the recovery already started in August, with a revival in the southwest monsoon.
Column: Govt must get on with social media, not attack it Early last month, as it was trying to contain the fallout from the Assam riots, the government notified a draft framework for social media engagement as part of the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP).
IMAGES: Are these cars or something else? Some people colour their vehicles in different shades, some modify them to extreme length and some give them a complete new shape.
India's manufacturing growth slips to 9-mth low The index, however has remained above the 50 mark - below which it indicates contraction - for more than three years now.
Developers don't find affordable homes 'affordable' Developers could not find the model of affordable housing viable as they used same resources for premium projects and due to rise in cement and steel prices.
Economy slipping into JOBLESS de-growth: Ficci The government has been accused of ushering the economy into a period of jobless growth.
COLUMN: Why has the coal scam become a sweeping saga? The coal scandal began with revelations about the Manmohan Singh government, then expanded in scope to take in the Vajpayee government, and has now become a sweeping saga that lays bare the contemporary Indian state.
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