B S Reporter In Chennai, Bangalore

Stories by B S Reporter In Chennai, Bangalore

ArcelorMittal to help farmers handle investments

ArcelorMittal to help farmers handle investments

Rediff.com   18 Sep 2008

Vijay Bhatnagar, chief executive officer of ArcelorMittal India, said, "The move is aimed to ensure that these people, who have never handled large sums of money, do not get misguided by unscrupulous elements and end up losing their money. The objective is to figure out ways for these people, who have very little or no education and financial knowledge, to get the highest possible returns through the safest possible investments."

Demand slumps: Experts call for cut in home prices

Demand slumps: Experts call for cut in home prices

Rediff.com   18 Sep 2008

While end-users in big cities such as Mumbai and Delhi are postponing buying houses due to a number of reasons such as unaffordable prices, rise in interest rates and increase in their monthly pay-outs among others, investors have sold off their properties to pay for losses suffered in the stock and property markets, consultants said.

More Indian tourists head abroad

More Indian tourists head abroad

Rediff.com   18 Sep 2008

About 64 per cent of the total outbound Indian tourists had sightseeing on the agenda; others travelled to explore new places, seek a change from daily routine, destress and visit family and friends, the report stated. Nature, safety and hygiene are among the important factors considered when selecting a travel destination. Singapore emerged as the most common travel destination for Indians (24 per cent) in the next 12 months, followed by Dubai, Australia, and Malaysia.

Greenpeace campaigns for tracking e-waste

Greenpeace campaigns for tracking e-waste

Rediff.com   17 Sep 2008

This, says Greenpeace, is necessary because most computers and other gadgets during their dismantling land up in the hands of people who do not have the knowledge to handle them. They often burn the printed circuit boards to recover metals and this releases toxic fumes of dioxins and Gullet that are poisonous, and carcinogens. Greenpeace has called for manufacturers to clean up their act and take back their products for its final disposal in an environment-friendly manner.

Booking a bus ticket? Try online

Booking a bus ticket? Try online

Rediff.com   12 Sep 2008

Online bus booking started in India around 18 months ago. It is estimated to be a 15,000-crore market and is growing at 20 per cent a month. Currently, bus booking is less than 0.01 per cent of the total online travel booking segment. On an average, portals charge 10-20 per cent commission on ticket value from bus operators. On an airline booking, it is below 5 per cent.

Hindujas plan to set up N-plants

Hindujas plan to set up N-plants

Rediff.com   12 Sep 2008

The expansion into nuclear is part of the group's plan to invest as much as $ 50 billion by 2014 to expand its business in the world's second-most populous nation. The group has already concluded talks with overseas companies which can offer technological and related support to enter the business. "There will be a flood of American investments in the country once the deal is concluded," S P Hinduja said.

InfoSpace opens first India R&D centre

InfoSpace opens first India R&D centre

Rediff.com   10 Sep 2008

Jim Voelker, Chairman and CEO, InfoSpace, Inc said, "India's high growth and depth of technology talent make it an exciting location to expand our global research capabilities." The Bangalore centre which has close to 20 people now, will ramp up in size in due course, according to company sources. It will focus on enhancing the development and delivery of InfoSpace's consumer products and business solutions.

HCL Tech may raise $1 billion for acquisitions

HCL Tech may raise $1 billion for acquisitions

Rediff.com   10 Sep 2008

The company is in talks with a few private banks and has signed on Citibank as one of the bankers to raise these funds, said sources. HCL Technologies and Citibank declined to comment saying that 'they do not comment on market speculation'.

Bengaluru airport to double capacity

Bengaluru airport to double capacity

Rediff.com   2 Sep 2008

The cost for the second terminal is expected to be close to Rs 3,000 crore (Rs 30 billion), around 20 per cent more than the first. It is expected to take three years for completion and will also include the second runway as part of expansion of this airport.

Godrej hopes to cash in on Bengaluru's fears

Godrej hopes to cash in on Bengaluru's fears

Rediff.com   27 Aug 2008

Godrej has provided three security products -- tyre killers, under vehicle surveillance, boom barriers -- to be installed around Bangalore's Vidhana Soudha, as part of its mandate to secure key government offices. The company is aiming for Rs 400 crore (Rs 4 billion) in revenues in FY 2008-09 as against Rs 300 crore (Rs 3 billion) it registered last year and has set a target to achieve Rs 1,000 crore (Rs 10 billion) by 2012-13.

Bangalore in throes of diesel shortage

Bangalore in throes of diesel shortage

Rediff.com   25 Jul 2008

A weak monsoon and the subsequent shortage of electricity has pushed Bangalore into an unprecedented fuel crisis.

Top 4 IT firms post modest results

Top 4 IT firms post modest results

Rediff.com   19 Jul 2008

Muted rupee-term guidance, no upward revision in dollar-term guidance, an uncertain global business environment, forex losses due to over-hedged positions and low volume growth by the top four Indian IT firms this week spooked investors on Friday.

Intel arm to fund WiMax firms

Intel arm to fund WiMax firms

Rediff.com   29 May 2008

Intel Capital, the investment arm of Intel Corp, is seeking further investment opportunities to support its WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) strategy, since it believes the technology could shake up the wireless data market.

'India, UK can work on chip IP design'

'India, UK can work on chip IP design'

Rediff.com   28 May 2008

UK and Indian semiconductor industries share potential synergies in the areas of design, device and applications, according to a study by the India Semiconductor Association, a trade body representing the Indian semiconductor industry, the UK Trade & Investment, and Science & Innovation Network UK. ISA president Poornima Shenoy said, "ISA is focused on business support to its members and the Indian semicon community."

Infosys turns green with its buildings

Infosys turns green with its buildings

Rediff.com   24 May 2008

Developed by the US Green Building Council, LEED Green Building System aims to promote design and construction practise that increases profitability while reducing the negative environmental impacts of buildings. The Bangalore-headquartered company was working with experts on the subject to employ the latest technologies in every aspect of energy consumption in areas like lighting and air-conditioning, the company said in its annual report filed with the SEC.

Realty sector may benefit from sub-prime crisis

Realty sector may benefit from sub-prime crisis

Rediff.com   20 May 2008

Currently, the US contributes 40-45 per cent of the total IT/ITeS outsourcing and offshoring business in India and is the single largest market for India's IT/ITeS business. The real estate sector's growth is fuelled by demand. In India, the demand is derived mainly through shift in global economic conditions. Thus any change in the real economy will have an impact on the physical real estate (construction or ready office space) market.

Blackstone to up focus on India

Blackstone to up focus on India

Rediff.com   19 May 2008

Blackstone Group, a global private equity player, is set to increase its focus on India. After setting the ball rolling on its corporate private equity and recently starting off its real estate opportunity focus, the company during the past week has set up Blackstone Altius Advisors, an event-driven strategy focusing on opportunities in the Asia Pacific region. Event-driven strategies are those where PEs fund merger and acquisitions or bankruptcies scenario.

Now, get a loan to buy an aircraft

Now, get a loan to buy an aircraft

Rediff.com   19 May 2008

With the high net worth individual (HNIs) base growing rapidly in the country, banking institutions and finance corporations are now intensifying their lending operations in the field of aviation.

HDFC Bank expands mobile banking

HDFC Bank expands mobile banking

Rediff.com   7 May 2008

HDFC Bank's customers will now be able to enjoy a complete suite of banking and commerce services over their mobile phones with the bank partnering with ngpay, a mobile solution brand from JiGrahak Mobility Solution.

Star India mulls print media foray

Star India mulls print media foray

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2008

STAR India, a wholly owned subsidiary of STAR Hong Kong, is exploring the possibilities of getting into the print media business in India. Last week, top STAR executives including STAR Hong Kong CEO Paul Aiello, STAR India CEO Uday Shankar and COO Jagdish Kumar were in Bangalore for meetings with possible joint venture partners for the print foray. The company is said to be in talks with Vijay Mallya's UB Group.