BS Reporters In Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore

Stories by BS Reporters In Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore

Airlines see logic in ATF futures

Airlines see logic in ATF futures

Rediff.com   8 Jul 2008

Low-cost carriers SpiceJet and IndiGo were two of the main traders of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) at the Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX), which started trading of ATF futures on Monday, market sources said. Around Rs 34.8 crore worth of ATF was traded till five on Monday evening.

Auditing firms face EU heat

Auditing firms face EU heat

Rediff.com   7 Jul 2008

Auditing firms in the country could soon run out of business if they do not get themselves verified according to the guidelines mentioned in the Eighth Directive issued by the European Union (EU). EU will recognise balance-sheets of companies audited by firms that fit their specified standards.

Imported aircraft: RIL, GMR, DLF evade tax

Imported aircraft: RIL, GMR, DLF evade tax

Rediff.com   7 Jul 2008

Nearly 30 Indian firms that have imported aircraft for charter use are under the scanner of the Customs authorities for allegedly flouting import norms in order to evade taxes.

Govt may ease service tax norms for truckers

Govt may ease service tax norms for truckers

Rediff.com   3 Jul 2008

The finance ministry is considering meeting a key demand of truckers by easing procedural issues and raising the abatement on service tax.

Inflation: Slowdown in demand imminent

Inflation: Slowdown in demand imminent

Rediff.com   21 Jun 2008

Maruti Suzuki and other Indian companies are bracing themselves for a slump in demand after a 13-year high inflation triggered fears of curbs on consumer spending and the central bank raising interest rates, thereby hurting India Inc's expansion plans. The annual wholesale price index -- the most watched index in the country to gauge rising prices -- rose to 11.05 per cent in the last 12 months ending June 7.

Inflation: Interest rates to rise

Inflation: Interest rates to rise

Rediff.com   11 Jun 2008

Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) Chairman Deepak Parekh on Tuesday said that interest rates may rise owing to higher inflation, but lending rates are unlikely to change in the next one month.

TCS hedges $1.5 billion to tackle Re fluctuations

TCS hedges $1.5 billion to tackle Re fluctuations

Rediff.com   10 Jun 2008

Chief Executive S Ramadorai said, "We have hedged for about $1.5 billion. I believe one has to run the business on fundamentals and not on currency fluctuations." He also said it was very difficult to predict the rupee movement as in the last one-and-a-half months, the currency has begun to depreciate against the dollar.

India Inc's new mantra to tackle fuel crisis

India Inc's new mantra to tackle fuel crisis

Rediff.com   10 Jun 2008

Adversity often brings out the best in companies, even state-owned ones. Faced with a bloated fuel bill, companies are busy devising new ways to control costs. These range from cut in travel to shift to cheaper fuels and even reduced recruitment. Power equipment maker Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd has a brand new strategy in place -- it will set up onsite fabrication units rather than transport equipment over long distances.

'Link PSU pay to performance'

'Link PSU pay to performance'

Rediff.com   2 Jun 2008

The second central public sector units (PSU) pay revision committee report has suggested a new classification of state-owned companies linking salaries and remuneration to productivity and performance.

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."

BJP promises infra boom in Karnataka

BJP promises infra boom in Karnataka

Rediff.com   26 May 2008

According to Jagdish Shettigar, chairman of BJP's economic cell and former member of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council, infrastructure, especially road building, will be a priority. It is now also certain that work on the controversial 111-km Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise connecting Bnagalore and Mysore will be accelerated. "We have always supported NICE," said a BJP leader.

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.

Two European bids in MTN fray

Two European bids in MTN fray

Rediff.com   21 May 2008

The race for South African telecom major MTN Group is hotting up with the possibility of two other players evaluating a bid or a strategic relationship with the company. Banking sources say European telecom major Deutsche Telekom and Russian telco Vimpel Communications are also studying the possibility of talking to the MTN Group.

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.

Bharti, MTN in talks for 50:50 cash-share deal

Bharti, MTN in talks for 50:50 cash-share deal

Rediff.com   15 May 2008

Banking sources said with the MTN shareholders asking for a higher price than what Bharti had initially offered, the Indian telecom company might now pay 50 per cent of the money in cash and the rest through shares in Bharti Airtel. The sources added that MTN is also believed not to favour signing an 'exclusivity' contract with Bharti Airtel under which it would be bound not to talk to any other competing bidder till the negotiations with them have been concluded.

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.

Oils take farmers down slippery slope

Oils take farmers down slippery slope

Rediff.com   5 May 2008

The all-pervasive mustard blooms, which mark winter landscapes in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, are fast shrinking, and so are the fortunes of the poor dry-land farmers growing the crop. Even the high prices of oil in the market do not translate into gains for these farmers, who have now been exposed to a glut of oil imports, thanks to removal of import duties on edible oils.