* BANKING: National Housing Bank disbursed 95.16 bln rupees as refinance support to banks and housing finance companies during the first six months of 2012-13 (Jul-Jun).
* CEMENT: Lafarge has short-listed Temasek Holdings, Singapore 's sovereign investment fund, and Baring Asia as potential buyers for a minority stake in its Indian arm Lafarge India .
* CORPORATE: Indian companies invested $3.30 bln in overseas joint ventures and subsidiaries in January, higher than $2.57 bln invested in December.
* ECONOMY: Citibank cut India FY14 GDP growth forecast to 5.7% from 6.2%. Bank of England : Kept its bank rate unchanged at 0.5%. STATE BANK OF INDIA Chairman Patip Chaudhuri has ruled out further interest rate cuts.
* ENERGY: US has approached the World Trade Organization against India, alleging that the latter's policy favouring local manufacturing of solar cells and modules is restricting US exports of the same.
* CONSUMER GOODS: Mrs Bector's Food Specialities Ltd, which owns the Cremica brand, may go for a public listing of its biscuit unit.
* GOVERNMENT: Comptroller and Auditor General of India Vinod Rai has said the government has tried to reduce the federal auditor to an accountant with no role in auditing policy. Nearly 8,500 income-tax officers, assistant commissioners and administrative officers of the Income-Tax Department have announced a nationwide agitation to draw the government's attention to their long-pending demands.
* INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp's net profit for the quarter ended December rose 16% on year to $278.8 mln.
* INSURANCE: HDFC Life has sent a legal notice to Life Insurance Corp seeking action against its agents who it claims are spreading malicious rumours about the private insurer.
* METALS: India and Uruguay have signed a letter of intent to explore investment opportunity and exchange of technical know-how in iron ore and steel sectors.
* POWER: Thermal power plants with 16,000-MW capacity, entailing investment of over 800 bln rupees, may not get the benefit of coal price pooling.
* RAILWAYS: Railways Minister said half of the money raised from the recent hike in fares has been wiped out due to the steep increase in diesel prices for bulk users.
* REALTY: The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority has envisioned a 50-bln-rupee project to redevelop its housing colonies on its own. Blackstone Group, Embassy Property and HDFC Property Fund are set to buy special economic zone Vrindavan Tech Village for 19.51 bln rupees. The finance ministry is favouring the housing ministry's proposal to extend income-tax breaks for affordable housing in the Union Budget.
* RETAIL: Future Group will list Future Lifestyle Fashions on the stock exchanges in Apr-Jun.
* TAX: The government is considering a surcharge on income of over 10 mln rupees per annum.
* TELECOM: Vodafone will challenge the income tax department's fresh notice related to transfer of shares.
