* AUTOMOBILES: Nissan Motor Co and Renault SA plan to invest around $320 mln in a new car assembly plant in India that will become operational in 2014.
* AVIATION: AirAsia is likely to invest around $50 mln in its joint venture with Tata Sons for a low-cost Indian airline that may begin operations by December.
* AUTO ANCILLARIES: Anand Group has signed a pact with South Korea 's Mando Corp for merging two joint ventures into Mando Automotive India.
* BANKING: RBI may allow real estate companies and brokerages to apply for banking licences. Royal Bank of Scotland will lay off a quarter of its workforce and shutter some branches in India .
* CONSUMER DURABLES: Several companies are planning to hike price by around 5%.
* INFRASTRUCTURE: India Infrastructure Finance Co may stand as a guarantor to bonds issued by private infrastructure companies.
* INSURANCE: Life Insurance Corp former chairman T.S. Vijayan takes over as the chairman of Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority.
* LAW: The Supreme Court has ordered setting up a team to analyse the recorded telephonic conversations of Niira Radia in relation to the 2G scam for criminal content. The apex court has ruled that the capital markets regulator can seek audited accounts of companies seeking nod to function as credit rating agencies.
* MINING: The apex court has begun final hearings in the Karnataka iron ore mining case.
* MUTUAL FUNDS: HSBC Global Asset Management will scrap exit load on all its funds.
* REGULATORY: IRDA has introduced a standard definition for 46 commonly used terms in health insurance policies to standardise health insurance.
* RETAIL: Government may reconsider the SME sourcing clause for foreign retailers planning to set shop in India .
* TELECOM: Analysts say companies operating in Mumbai will heave a sigh of relief on the pricing front with the exit of Uninor. CDMA operator Sistema Shyam Teleservices will close operations in 10 areas in 30 days and participate in the upcoming spectrum auctions.
