State-run power firm NTPC overstated its profits by Rs 938 crore (R 9.38 billion) in 2007-08, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India said in a report, but categorically stated that chances of Satyam like frauds in PSUs are very remote.
State-run NTPC has agreed to buy natural gas from Reliance Industries but is opposed to paying marketing margin to the private firm and wants to use the fuel at plants other than Kawas and Gandhar that were identified by the government.
In a bid to diversify its product portfolio, National Thermal Power Corporation plans to enter into new areas like power distribution and electricity supply besides consolidating its presence in hydel power sector.
Adani Ports, NTPC, Infosys, Hindustan Unilever, HCL Technologies and Sun Pharma were among the other big gainers. However, Larsen & Toubro, Bajaj Finance, State Bank of India, Axis Bank and HDFC Bank were amonh the major laggards.
The Union Cabinet has cleared an initial public offer of 10 per cent of its equity in National Thermal Power Corporation to raise Rs 3,000 crore (Rs 30 billion), power secretary R V Shahi said on Thursday.
The last batch of quarterly earnings, global trends and trading activity of foreign investors will guide the equity market movement in a holiday-shortened week ahead, analysts said. Volatility may continue amid investors' cautious approach in the election season. Markets will remain closed on Monday due to the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Mumbai.
Around 90-100 people received burn injuries, and the condition of some of them was serious.
They said rampant infrastructure development without a plan is making the fragile Himalayan ecosystem even more vulnerable to the effects of climate change which acts as a force-multiplier.
Four major banks including State Bank of India and ICICI Bank have been appointed as the preferred banks for extending loans to employees of NTPC for investing in the power major's maiden public offer.
NTPC raises new demands, while CIL is not willing to yield
With the government making a distinction between the privately-run Reliance Natural Resources Ltd and the government-run NTPC Ltd in relation with the gas dispute with Reliance Industries Ltd, the ministry of power is likely to take up NTPC's case with the Empowered Group of Ministers.
In a development that could deliver a setback to Reliance Industries, the Bombay high court on Monday allowed power PSU NTPC to amend its petition, seeking implementation of a gas supply agreement.
NTPC, which currently generates over 43,000 MW, aims to add 14,000 MW capacity by 2017.
The crisis-riden CWG has received a further jolt with two power PSUs, NTPC and PowerGrid, deciding to hold back their Rs 40 crore sponsorship money out of a combined committed sum of Rs 60 crore for the event.
"All requirements including providing bank guarantee have been met by NTPC and gas flow can start as early as tomorrow," an official said.
India's largest power generation company National Thermal Power Corporation on Tuesday embarked upon a major overseas fund raising exercise and decided to establish medium term note programme of $1 billion.
Another FPO, that of NMDC, is also likely to be held by end-this fiscal, the official said.
Anil Ambani Group firm RNRL on Tuesday welcomed the government's move to protect NTPC's interest on sourcing gas from Reliance Industries, saying effective legal steps will defeat the Mukesh Ambani firm's 'malafide attempts to dishonour' its commitment.
The issue received bids for over 25 crore (250 million) shares against 41.22 crore (412.2 million) equities on offer, according to the data available with the National Stock Exchange.
A Division Bench led by Chief Justice Swatenter Kumar on Thursday dismissed NTPC's appeal. The suit between the two parties relates to their gas supply agreement.
The CBI is investigating into the alleged irregularities in NTPC awarding a contract to Russian power equipment supplier Technopromexport (TPE) to supply equipments for its Rs 8,600 crore (Rs 86 billion) 1,980-mw Barh (Bihar) Super Thermal Power Project in 2005.
Reliance Industries has cautioned that NTPC should not make comments on matters sub-judice lest they are construed as attempt to influence the outcome of its court case seeking natural gas at price committed in 2004.
According to sources close to the development, NTPC is likely to hit the capital market with a follow-on public offer to raise nearly Rs 6,000 crore (Rs 60 billion) early next fiscal. The government would divest 10 per cent of its stake and 10 per cent would be the fresh equity offered by NTPC.
From the Sensex basket, Power Grid, Asian Paints, Tata Motors, Tata Steel, NTPC, Sun Pharma, Mahindra & Mahindra, HDFC Bank, Tata Consultancy Services and JSW Steel were among the major gainers. Kotak Mahindra Bank, Bharti Airtel, Axis Bank, Wipro, ICICI Bank and IndusInd Bank were among the laggards.
Decks have been cleared for National Thermal Power Corp's foray in oil exploration sector with the government awarding one block to the power major under the fifth round of New Exploration Licensing Policy.
There can be no forgetting the Margaret Thatcher principle of leaving something on the table for the small investor.
Power major NTPC on Friday said it plans to foray into nuclear power generation.
Larsen & Toubro, Axis Bank, Reliance Industries, UltraTech Cement, Mahindra & Mahindra, IndusInd Bank, ICICI Bank and Tata Steel were the other big gainers. Sun Pharma, HCL Technologies, Asian Paints, Nestle and Infosys were the laggards.
Investors' wealth jumped Rs 13.78 lakh crore on Monday as the benchmark equity index Sensex hit its lifetime high after exit polls predicted a massive win for the BJP-led NDA in the Lok Sabha polls. The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 2,777.58 points or 3.75 per cent to hit a record peak of 76,738.89 in early trade. The benchmark finally ended at 76,468.78, registering a sharp rally of 2,507.47 points or 3.39 per cent.
Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Co Ltd (RasGas) of Qatar has pulled out of state-run National Thermal Power Corporation's tender for supply of 3 million tonnes of LNG for its power plants.
The government has sought details from National Thermal Power Corporation for its proposed public offer for increasing equity by up to five per cent
'Those betting against PSUs will likely be punished in this upswing.'
The court on Tuesday ordered BSES -- part of billionaire Anil Ambani's Reliance Infrastructure Ltd to pay state-run NTPC the Rs 700 crore (Rs 7 billion) it is owed by May 31.
Govt to earn Rs 13,000 crore via stake sales in NTPC and IOC.
Among the Sensex firms, Power Grid, NTPC, Tata Steel, Tata Consultancy Services, JSW Steel, Wipro, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, Reliance Industries and Bajaj Finance were the major gainers. Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, Hindustan Unilever, Larsen & Toubro and ITC were among the laggards.
State-run NTPC will invest about Rs 20,000 crore to set up a 3,960-megawatt (Mw) coal-based power project in Madhya Pradesh. NTPC had signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government and MP Power Trading Company regarding this, the company said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange.
Confidence in the company as government is the biggest shareholder.
