Kalpana Pathak &Amp; Rajesh Bhayani

Stories by Kalpana Pathak &Amp; Rajesh Bhayani

CAs face peer pressure

CAs face peer pressure

Rediff.com   4 Apr 2009

Firms denied peer review certificate may be barred from auditing

LSE in talks with MCX-SX to pick up equity stake

LSE in talks with MCX-SX to pick up equity stake

Rediff.com   30 Mar 2009

The London Stock Exchange, the world's third largest exchange in terms of value of shares traded, is in talks with Financial Technologies to buy a stake in its stock exchange arm MCX-SX.

Now, a platform for trading loans

Now, a platform for trading loans

Rediff.com   19 Mar 2009

Soon, there will be an exchange-like platform for trading in loans.

RIL to pump out K-G gas in a month

RIL to pump out K-G gas in a month

Rediff.com   13 Mar 2009

RIL has been using gas from GAIL during the past three months to test-fire the 1,440-km east-west pipeline, India's longest, from Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh to Bharuch in Gujarat. Only 100 km of the pipeline remains to be test-fired. It will transport gas from the world's largest gas discovery at the Krishna-Godavari basin in the Bay of Bengal to Jamnagar in Gujarat, where it has set up the world's largest petroleum refinery.

B-schools to hike number of seats

B-schools to hike number of seats

Rediff.com   12 Mar 2009

Despite a troubled job market that could continue for another year or more, many B-schools are looking at expanding the number of seats by up to 50 per cent and launching new programmes. B-schools maintain the demand for good students will remain even in a troubled job market and the student pool and programme portfolio need to be expanded. "Besides, when these students pass out in the next two years, the market will be better," said a director from one of the institutes.

Selling by FIIs may accelerate

Selling by FIIs may accelerate

Rediff.com   10 Mar 2009

Even as foreign institutional investors are rushing out of the Indian equity markets, there are fresh indications that their selling may accelerate in the coming weeks.

Peer audit review of Sensex-Nifty cos soon

Peer audit review of Sensex-Nifty cos soon

Rediff.com   10 Mar 2009

The Securities and Exchange Board of India is all set to begin the proposed peer audit review of the companies that form the Sensex and Nifty benchmark indices.

Placement woes: IIMs seek new strategies

Placement woes: IIMs seek new strategies

Rediff.com   10 Mar 2009

The options include doing away with Day Zero and reducing placement fees. Day Zero is the name given to the day placements begin at the IIMs. Day Zero and Day One are reserved for top companies and placement fees are higher on these days. In good times, most students are placed on these days, leaving the smaller companies to return empty-handed.

Cash-strapped firms seek to farm out oil blocks

Cash-strapped firms seek to farm out oil blocks

Rediff.com   6 Mar 2009

Falling crude prices and the global credit crunch have jeopardised India's efforts to attract more investment in oil exploration and production, with several domestic and international companies opting to sell part of their participating interest in E&P projects. Around half-a-dozen companies are currently in talks with exploration and production majors -- mainly state-owned Oil India and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation -- to farm out part of their stakes.

8 in race for city gas distribution

8 in race for city gas distribution

Rediff.com   4 Mar 2009

Eight companies are in the fray for rolling out gas networks in six cities, bids for which were invited by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board. The deadline for submission of the bids expired on Tuesday.

Gold imports on crash course as prices skyrocket

Gold imports on crash course as prices skyrocket

Rediff.com   26 Feb 2009

Gold purchases by India, the world's largest importer of the metal, are down to a trickle because of high prices, prompting local traders and jewellers to reprocess scrap and jewellery to cater to rapidly falling local demand.

Economy hotel players bullish amid slump

Economy hotel players bullish amid slump

Rediff.com   23 Feb 2009

At a time when the economic slowdown is eating into corporate earnings, the country's economy hotels, including Krizm Hotels and Berggruen Hotels, are going ahead with their expansion plans.

Govt earned windfall profits on high crude prices

Govt earned windfall profits on high crude prices

Rediff.com   19 Feb 2009

High crude oil prices in 2008 have left the government richer by a few thousand crore rupees. In 2008-09, the government earned "windfall profits" from the petroleum sector as crude oil prices spiked, touching a high of $147 in July 2008.

Indian refiners beat global peers in margin game

Indian refiners beat global peers in margin game

Rediff.com   13 Feb 2009

Refining margin is the difference in prices of crude oil and finished products. More exposure to diesel behind less fall in Indian refining margins.

Slowdown: Diesel, petrol consumption drop sharply

Slowdown: Diesel, petrol consumption drop sharply

Rediff.com   13 Feb 2009

Here is another sign that the economy is slowing. The growth rate of diesel and petrol consumption is down sharply, though it is still in the positive territory.Year-on-year growth in diesel consumption in December 2008 was down to a mere 1.5 per cent as against 10.7 per cent growth in December 2007. Consumption of petrol grew 5.5 per cent in the month compared with 9.5 per cent in December 2007.Preliminary data for January showed that diesel consumption grew only 2 per cent.

B-schools prod students to float ventures

B-schools prod students to float ventures

Rediff.com   9 Feb 2009

Mumbai-based SP Jain Institute of Management and Research has announced that it will provide initial financial assistance to the tune of Rs 20 lakhs (Rs 2 million)to any of its students who wishes to don the entrepreneurial hat. The business school has set up an entrepreneurship cell in association with National Entrepreneurship Network.

Currency futures to see growth

Currency futures to see growth

Rediff.com   7 Feb 2009

The five-month-old exchange traded currency futures market is set to witness competition, rising volumes and innovations with the United Stock Exchange of India gearing up to launch the product in April.

Oil marketers plan 3-fold hike in outlets

Oil marketers plan 3-fold hike in outlets

Rediff.com   4 Feb 2009

After a year of sluggish growth in fuel retail outlets, the three state-run oil-marketing companies--Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation--have chalked out aggressive plans for expansion in the next financial year. They will be commissioning over 2,100 outlets in 2009-10--over three times what they added in the current year--at an investment of about Rs 1,200 crore.

KG gas ruling: Fertiliser, power firms to benefit

KG gas ruling: Fertiliser, power firms to benefit

Rediff.com   2 Feb 2009

According to sources, the government has provided a list of 20 companies to Reliance Industries for sale of gas as per the gas utilisation policy. Some of these companies include Nagarjuna Fertilizer & Chemicals, Chambal Fertilizers & Chemicals, Tata Fertilizers and Oswal Chemicals & Fertilizers among others.

Satyam open offer: Sebi to discuss warrants

Satyam open offer: Sebi to discuss warrants

Rediff.com   2 Feb 2009

The Securities and Exchange Board of India is expected to take up two critical issues at a board meeting scheduled February 2