* AUTOMOBILES: Ford India has launched a limited edition of Figo hatchback with the petrol version priced at 415,999 rupees ex-showroom Delhi . Harley-Davidson cuts prices of some of its models by 400,000 rupees; the company plans to locally assemble three more models--Fat Boy, Fat Boy Special, Heritage Softail Classic.
* BANKING: Fitch Ratings has said that the issuance of new banking licences in India is likely to be highly selective given the challenges that new entrants face and the cautious approach of RBI.
* DEBT MARKET: Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said Monday that the government is examining removing the sub-limit for foreign institutional investors in debt segment.
* ECONOMY: Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has expressed hope of interest rate cut but added that a final call had to be taken by the RBI governor. The finance minister said India 's current account deficit was "a more worrying deficit" than the fiscal gap, making it imperative to attract foreign inflows.
* FINANCIAL SERVICES: HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORP, DEWAN HOUSING FINANCE, LIC HOUSING FINANCE, and National Housing Bank have sought RBI's approval to raise up to $1 bln via external commercial borrowing. National Housing Bank aims to securitise home loan pools worth 2 bln rupees within a month.
* FOREIGN TREATY: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will visit Abu Dhabi later this month to discuss an investment protection treaty between the two countries.
* OIL AND GAS: Arvind Mayaram, secretary, department of economic affairs, the finance ministry said that the government could levy a cess to block diversion of bulk diesel by companies trying to take advantage of price arbitrage.
* PHARMACEUTICALS: The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion plans to extend the provision of compulsory licence beyond cancer drugs, a move that may result in steep fall in prices of key drugs.
* ROADS: National Highways Authority of India has received 17.77 bln rupees from the government as its share from the toll collected on national highways for the current financial year, much lower than the 35.54 bln rupees announced in the Budget last year.
* STEEL: India 's finished steel production grew 3.1% year on year in Apr-Jan to 64.47 mln tn, Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma said.
* TAXATION: India has signed an agreement with Bhutan for avoidance of double taxation and prevention of tax evasion.
