Leslie D'Monte, Mumbai

Stories by Leslie D'Monte, Mumbai

Banks reduce deposit rates, say rates will decline

Banks reduce deposit rates, say rates will decline

Rediff.com   17 Dec 2008

The decisions come within 24 hours of the home loan package offered by public sector banks. Chennai-based Indian Bank reduced interest rates of domestic term deposits of Rs 1-5 crore (Rs 10-50 million) by 150-25 basis points across various maturities.

No big cheer for textile firms

No big cheer for textile firms

Rediff.com   8 Dec 2008

The government on Sunday announced a package of Rs 1,400 crore (Rs 14 billion) under the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme and 2 per cent interest subsidy up to March 31 next year. But the textile industry had demanded 4 per cent interest subsidy along with reintroduction of the duty drawback scheme.

Turnaround at least a year away for IT firms

Turnaround at least a year away for IT firms

Rediff.com   8 Dec 2008

The last couple of months have dealt a severe blow to IT firms, which has even prompted the top listed Indian IT services providers to inform investors that they need to scale down their growth expectations from the sector that, on an average, has been growing almost 30 per cent year-on-year.

Move aside desktops; here come 'nettops'

Move aside desktops; here come 'nettops'

Rediff.com   4 Dec 2008

It all started with the advent and success of smaller laptops or netbooks, as they are called, in June 2008. Now, Indian and multinational PC makers like Asus, HCL Infosystems and Wipro are ready to give a push to the retail sales of even smaller desktops or Nettops, based on Intel Atom processors. Others like Dell, HP and Lenovo are expected to follow.

Terrorists one-up on tech

Terrorists one-up on tech

Rediff.com   1 Dec 2008

Terrorist attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and consistently exploiting India's gaping security loopholes -- both on terra firma and in cyberspace. Yet, India's seriousness about electronic surveillance as a preventive measure appears to be woefully inadequate.

Hotels plan tough protection measures

Hotels plan tough protection measures

Rediff.com   28 Nov 2008

Hotels are not typically equipped to handle terrorist attacks and present ideal soft targets around the world, according to experts. Even the private security guards that the hotels hire do not always have the expertise to use weapons. This is set to change now, hotel officials say.

Sprint mulls managing Indian WiMax networks

Sprint mulls managing Indian WiMax networks

Rediff.com   19 Nov 2008

"While telecom operators may get a licence for spectrum and have the money to build networks, they may not necessarily have the management skills. We are in talks to explore possibilities of knowledge transfer and help operators build capacities by lowering entry barriers," said Barry West, CTO, Sprint, and president, Xohm. Globally, Sprint is not doing well. It is now banking on WiMax to boost its revenues.

Realtors plan cut in staff, wage bill

Realtors plan cut in staff, wage bill

Rediff.com   25 Oct 2008

Parsvnath Developers is expected to sack its non-performing staff post Diwali as part of its cost cutting measures. "Non performers have to go. Cost cutting measures will start in 15 to 20 days,'' said Pradeep Jain, chairman of Parsvnath, told reporters on the sidelines of a conference in New Delhi on Friday.

Cybercrime, phishing flourish as markets falter

Cybercrime, phishing flourish as markets falter

Rediff.com   24 Oct 2008

Sample this. Five cyber-thieves, allegedly part of a network that hacked into the account of a Noida businessman, were nabbed today for a Rs 1.66 crore (Rs 16.6-million) cyber hack. They used Internet banking to transfer the money from the businessman's account with the Punjab National Bank's Noida branch to their own account.

Finally, Ranbaxy becomes part of Daiichi Sankyo

Finally, Ranbaxy becomes part of Daiichi Sankyo

Rediff.com   21 Oct 2008

While 22 per cent of the promoters' stake in Ranbaxy was sold through an off-market transaction, the remaining came from a preferential share allotment. Daiichi Sankyo had earlier picked up more than 20 per cent of Ranbaxy's shares through an open offer. Ranbaxy Chairman and Managing Director Malvinder Mohan Singh said the remaining 12-13 per cent promoter shareholding will change hands in the coming weeks, thereby taking Daiichi's share in Ranbaxy to over 60 per cent.

Repo cut: India Inc sceptical

Repo cut: India Inc sceptical

Rediff.com   21 Oct 2008

India Inc, while welcoming the Reserve Bank of India's move to cut the key interest rate, expressed doubts on lenders' response to pass on the benefits to customers.

Axon race: HCL gets a free run as Infy pulls out

Axon race: HCL gets a free run as Infy pulls out

Rediff.com   11 Oct 2008

Infosys had bid at 600 pence a share for the UK company. Infosys will get the one per cent inducement fee that Axon has to pay to the party unable to close the deal.

New York firm to buy Chennai BPO for Rs 950 cr

New York firm to buy Chennai BPO for Rs 950 cr

Rediff.com   8 Oct 2008

New York-based REcap Partners-LLC is all set to buy out Chennai-based business process outsourcing firm HOV Services along with its two units operational in Beijing and Hong Kong for around Rs 950 crore

Dow halts R&D work at Chakan after govt order

Dow halts R&D work at Chakan after govt order

Rediff.com   30 Sep 2008

Dow India would comply with all the directives stated by the government to work outa solution to the current situation, the company said. Recently the company's research facility at Chakan was razed by a group of villagers, following which members of the Warkari sect claimed responsibility for the act, saying they would not allow the facility to come up at a place which is sacred to the followers of the 17th century Bhakti movement saint Tukaram.

SAP takes centre stage with HCL, Infosys' bid for

SAP takes centre stage with HCL, Infosys' bid for

Rediff.com   29 Sep 2008

With India's two leading IT outsourcing companies, Infosys and HCL Technologies, vying to acquire the UK-based consulting firm Axon, SAP implementation is back in focus.

IT firms fish for overseas acquisitions

IT firms fish for overseas acquisitions

Rediff.com   29 Sep 2008

Eyeing to make 8 buys to meet their revenue guidance.

Govt cold to Mallya's FDI proposal

Govt cold to Mallya's FDI proposal

Rediff.com   27 Sep 2008

Though FDI is allowed in the sector, foreign carriers cannot acquire stakes in Indian airlines.

Now, Ranbaxy AIDS drug under US lens

Now, Ranbaxy AIDS drug under US lens

Rediff.com   22 Sep 2008

It is now probing the quality of AIDS medicines supplied by the company to developing countries under US government-funded programmes. Estimates suggest that Ranbaxy has received over $9 million from the programme so far. Ranbaxy had a turnover of $1.5 billion in 2007-08, of which a quarter came from US sales.

Essar Steel lines up $4-bn investment in N America

Essar Steel lines up $4-bn investment in N America

Rediff.com   22 Sep 2008

The investments would be made in the company's acquired companies, Algoma in Canada and Minnesota Steel in the US, as well as greenfield plants in Trinidad and Tobago. The groundbreaking ceremony for the first steelmaking facility in Minnesota's Iron Range was held on Sunday.

Tech toys rule at the Games

Tech toys rule at the Games

Rediff.com   18 Aug 2008

The Olympics have come a long way since the first one in Athens where athletes alone mattered. Over a century later, technology too is helping athletes at the 2008 Beijing Olympics games to smash records.