DLF, the country's biggest property developer, may announce a "relief package" for customers of its second Gurgaon project, 'Express Greens', a few days after it announced a similar package for those who had booked at its 'New Town Heights' residential project, also in Gurgaon.
Unitech is pinning its hopes on the sub-Rs 5 lakh category of flats to counter the slowdown in the property sector. So are a host of others. Apart from Unitech, others such as Omaxe, Raheja, Tata Housing and Ansal API are planning new projects in the suburbs of satellite towns or smaller cities to target the bottom segment, to generate more cash.
The move comes in the backdrop of the failure of the health ministry's World Bank-sponsored National Pharmacovigilance Programme to generate sufficient ADRs from select medical colleges. The central government also intends to provide financial support to institutions to run such monitoring centres. The health ministry has asked the finance ministry to introduce a budgetary head specifically for ADR monitoring, to ensure sustained government funds for the project.
High-end brands like Moschino and sports lifestyle brands such as Puma and Levi Strauss are devising strategies to reduce inventories and old stock pile-ups. While so far the thrust was on end-of-season sales, the low offtake due to the slowing economic environment has compelled most branded apparel makers to look at means to reduce stock to almost nil while maintaining margins.
At least a dozen global firms, including Roche, Pfizer and Astra Zeneca got a nod from the Drugs Controller General of India to conduct over 50 clinical trials on Indian volunteers this month, official data reveals. The global clinical research outsourcing market is projected to touch $23 billion by 2011, with consultancy firm KPMG estimating that India will corner 15 per cent of this in two years.
The reasons for the growth of the luxury industry are not hard to find. It is still in a nascent stage in India and is growing at a scorching pace as the aspiration for better products is on the rise. The consumer market in India has shown a high growth trajectory and by 2025 is expected to become the world's fifth biggest consumer market as incomes and living standards are bound to grow, according to an Assocham study.
Despite the ongoing trouble India's largest drug maker, Ranbaxy, is facing in the United States, domestic pharmaceutical companies are betting high on the world's largest drug market with added vigour.
Colas, by industry estimates, now comprise only 38 per cent of the Rs 7,500 crore domestic market for sparkling drinks, while flavours (clear lime, cloudy lime, orange, apple) command 54 per cent. Until three years ago, cola products had a 46 per cent share of the total soft drinks market, while non-colas had 47 per cent. But the 'per head' consumption is still low, at a yearly nine servings of 200 ml.
The shareholders want Daiichi to offer the same price (Rs 160) that was offered by Ranbaxy while acquiring a 45 per cent stake in Zenotech a year ago. Daiichi has to make an open offer as it has indirectly become the major shareholder of Zenotech by virtue of the Ranbaxy acquisition.
India's largest drug manufacturer, Ranbaxy Laboratories, had falsified data and test results of medicines manufactured at its Himachal Pradesh facility to obtain marketing approval in the United States, says the US Food and Drug Administration.
Consumer goods manufacturers, expecting to see a revival of demand from the nearly Rs 16,500 crore Pay Commission arrears for government employees, are likely to be disappointed.
At least 38 per cent, or 8.3 million square feet, of its projected commercial space of 21.4 million square feet in its six parks will thus remain indefinitely on hold. The rentals from all these parks were expected to generate revenues for its AIM-listed associate Unitech Corporate Park, which has invested pound 317 million to acquire majority stakes in all the six seed projects in return of leasing rights.
Players such as Food Bazaar, Reliance, More and Vishal have already launched their private labels in this category. Names such as Tasty Treat, Disney, Ching's, Smith & Jones from the Future Group stables and Reliance Select from Reliance Retail among others are challenging the market dominance of Maggi in terms of in-store purchases in these retail formats.
Korean conglomerate LG Electronics plans to set up learning and design centres across India. The centre will help employees hone their skills across departments such as industrial design, marketing, lifestyle research, economic and market research among others. The company plans to bring on board specialists in these sectors as faculty for the same.
The move comes 18 months after the cash-strapped developer was allotted 35 acres by the Delhi Development Authority to build and maintain an international convention & exhibition centre, hotels and allied commercial facilities. The cost of the project is estimated at Rs 6,000 crore (Rs 60 billion) and was expected to be completed in three years.
Ever since the government announced that state-owned banks will provide home loans up to Rs 20 lakhs (Rs 2 million) at not more than 9.25 per cent for the first five years, real estate developers have started working their prices around the Rs 20-lakhz (Rs 2-million) figure. Dozens of real estate developers have announced homes at below Rs 25 lakhs (Rs 2.5 million) in the National Capital Region of Delhi.
Property developers expect to boost sales of homes and borrow funds at lower rates after the Reserve Bank of India on Friday reduced its key benchmark rate and cut the cash-reserve ratio requirement in a bid to help banks lower interest rates and lend more to cash-starved sectors, including the real estate. They are hopeful of attracting more overseas investment in projects as demand revives.
DLF, India's biggest real estate developer, has repaid dues and may not need to approach lenders to take advantage of a central banks relaxed rule that allows banks to restructure cash-strapped real estate companies loans.
Having faced sourcing issues for potato in 2008, food and beverage major PepsiCo is planning to ensure supply by introducing farming equipment and technology and new potato seed varieties to decrease chances of crop loss. It also aims to increase the acreage under contract farming by entering new states across the country.
The sector, for long, has been a barometer of economic activity in any country. Demand goes up in a boom as people buy more homes and cars, and businessmen put up more commercial space and factories. Conversely, the demand slumps quickly in a slowdown.
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