Anindita Dey &Amp; Shivani Shinde In Mumbai

Stories by Anindita Dey &Amp; Shivani Shinde In Mumbai

Advance tax collections send early warning signals

Advance tax collections send early warning signals

Rediff.com   16 Dec 2008

Most private firms see lower pay-outs; govt banks save the day.

Newspaper fax edititions: Lowering FDI cap mulled

Newspaper fax edititions: Lowering FDI cap mulled

Rediff.com   13 Dec 2008

Ministry officials said the matter is being reviewed with the objective of bringing down the FDI cap from 100 per cent to 26 per cent in line with the limit for news media. This decision for the review was taken while discussing the proposal of US-based Dow Jones and Company for setting up a wholly-owned subsidiary to carry out publishing the facsimile edition of Wall Street Journal in India.

RBI cautions banks over realty loans

RBI cautions banks over realty loans

Rediff.com   12 Dec 2008

Asks lenders to make sure that end use of advances to commercial real estate.

CBDT to reopen cases on group investments

CBDT to reopen cases on group investments

Rediff.com   11 Dec 2008

Field formations may re-examine cases from 1997.

Now, VCs to invest in rural tech

Now, VCs to invest in rural tech

Rediff.com   8 Dec 2008

Venture capitals in India, which traditionally invested in urban segments or technology sector, have begun investing in rural-centric technology firms. Avishkaar India Micro Venture Capital Fund, Acumen Fund, and Rural Innovations Network are showing increased focus on rural markets.

Start-ups bail out IITians facing placement blues

Start-ups bail out IITians facing placement blues

Rediff.com   6 Dec 2008

On the back of a global meltdown, big-ticket firms may not be flocking at the premier Indian Institute of Technology campuses. IITians, however, have not lost all hope. Many are looking at start-ups for their first jobs.

Reserve Bank likely to lose financial independence

Reserve Bank likely to lose financial independence

Rediff.com   27 Nov 2008

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) may be brought under the category of other regulators, who might have to park their funds with the government. Banking sources said the move would deal a final blow to the financial autonomy of regulatory bodies.

'India is a high-talent country'

'India is a high-talent country'

Rediff.com   19 Nov 2008

Ben Verwaayen, CEO, Alcatel-Lucent, does not consider India as a low-cost destination. Rather he does not like to use the word offshore in the context of India. "If it is just about cost then I would not have been in India but to some other low-cost country. For me, India is a high talent country," he adds. As the person who was heading British Telecom's operations before taking over Alcatel-Lucent, he has pushed over a billion dollar of outsourcing work to India.

Aviation assets: Banks may get RBI succour

Aviation assets: Banks may get RBI succour

Rediff.com   19 Nov 2008

With banks apprehending large-scale defaults in the aviation sector, RBI is examining data from all lenders regarding their exposure to it. One of the options under consideration of the regulator is to extend the number of days for the banks to classify an asset as default.

Currency woes may hit IT firms' earnings

Currency woes may hit IT firms' earnings

Rediff.com   17 Nov 2008

The IT industry, which has already taken a hit of more than Rs 500 crore in the second quarter because of the appreciating dollar against the rupee, will now be hit by adverse cross-currency movements even as they attempt to boost the share of revenue from the UK and the Eurozone. Unfortunately, the hit will be despite attempts by software makers to step up hedging in the pound and the euro. The IT industry earns about 60 per cent of its revenue from the US.

Red tape may be cut for FIIs

Red tape may be cut for FIIs

Rediff.com   17 Nov 2008

Sebi likely to come out with a policy paper soon.

BPO attrition down 5-15%

BPO attrition down 5-15%

Rediff.com   17 Nov 2008

Industry insiders as well as sector experts said that companies are unlikely to miss this opportunity to rationalise bloated boom-time salaries.

FCCB issuers may be given buyback option

FCCB issuers may be given buyback option

Rediff.com   15 Nov 2008

Promoters or issuers of foreign currency convertible bonds may be allowed to buy back the bonds if they go in for prepayment.

Tech firms look beyond headcount to grow revenue

Tech firms look beyond headcount to grow revenue

Rediff.com   5 Nov 2008

In fact, firms like NIIT Technologies and EXL Services are already reaping the benefit of the first- mover advantage with over 20 per cent of their revenues coming from non-linear business in the quarter ended September 30. A non-linear business' focus moves away from the tendency to measure growth on the basis of headcount or the concept that the more the number of people working, the more the revenue.

Convertible debentures: Interest paid to be taxed

Convertible debentures: Interest paid to be taxed

Rediff.com   3 Nov 2008

While ECBs are pure loans, FCCBs have an in-built option for the lender to convert them into equity of the companies on maturity. Both in ECB and FCCB, till maturity, the borrower is expected to make interest payments on the amount borrowed. Incidentally, the AAR ruling of October 10 had been sought by a non-banking finance company. Till October 31, NBFCs were not allowed to borrow funds from overseas in foreign currency.

Mid-cap IT firms may shed 10% staff

Mid-cap IT firms may shed 10% staff

Rediff.com   29 Oct 2008

India's mid-cap software companies may shed as much as 10 per cent of their workforce as revenues and margins have shrunk owing to a global slowdown, analysts say.

ECB, FDI norms may be eased

ECB, FDI norms may be eased

Rediff.com   22 Oct 2008

ECBs may be allowed to put loans upto $ 500 million for rupee expenditure by Indian infrastructure companies under the automatic approval route. At present, such loans need RBI approval. The government may also raise the limit for dollar borrowings for rupee expenditure, which would need RBI approval. So, if a company is borrowing say $ 750 million, it can immediately access foreign funds up to $500 million without prior permission, but will need approval for the rest.

RBI keeps keen eye on banks' overseas deals

RBI keeps keen eye on banks' overseas deals

Rediff.com   20 Oct 2008

The screening of data is more intense in the case of foreign and some private banks which act as custodians for foreign institutional investors, according to sources close to the development. Indian banks, both public and private, send capital to their foreign offices for everyday requirements in the inter-bank market and for client commitments.

VC funds vote for clean tech

VC funds vote for clean tech

Rediff.com   17 Oct 2008

Indian clean technology businesses are finally catching the attention of investor community. New Ventures India - founded by World Resources Institute and CII-Godrej Green Business Centre - aims to fund 50 entrepreneurs in this segment by 2010 with a target investment of $250 million

Govt may raise bank exposure limits to equity

Govt may raise bank exposure limits to equity

Rediff.com   17 Oct 2008

The government has sought data from the Reserve Bank of India to consider a proposal to enhance the investment limit for bank exposure to equity markets. This will be part of several measures to boost domestic institutional participation in the markets at a time when foreign institutional investors are exiting.