* AVIATION: Singapore-based Tiger Airways to offer low-cost tickets from six Indian destinations to Singapore . Indian skies saw air traffic fall 3.0% during 2012, and 3.8% in January.
- Ratan Tata has said the approval by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board to Malaysian carrier AirAsia for taking 49% stake in a proposed joint venture with Tata Sons would reinforce investment sentiment in India .
* ENERGY: The government has constituted a steering committee on offshore wind energy to push development of such projects in the country. Oil minister has said state-owned oil-marketing companies need to be compensated for the revenue losses incurred by them on sale of subsidised fuels or they would end up in the red soon.
* FINANCE: Everstone Capital to buy 15% stake in Hinduja Leyland Finance for 2 bln rupees.
* INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Embassy Group and private equity major Blackstone to buy IT park in Bengaluru for 19.51 bln rupees.
* PENSION FUNDS: India 's pension fund regulator has allowed fund managers of the National Pension System to invest directly in stocks.
* REGULATORY: The RBI has sought complete verification of the beneficiaries' list under the farm loan waiver scheme, with priority on areas where indebtedness was high.
- SEBI at its board meet on Friday said it is likely to tweak preference share norms allowing them to be listed on the stock exchanges to make it easier for banks and companies to raise funds. SEBI plans to shift illiquid stocks from the normal trading platform to "call auction" system in a bid to curb share price manipulation. ITDC, WESTLIFE DEVELOPERS, PILANI INVESTMENT are some of the likely illiquid stocks.
* SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE: The revised special economic zone norms are likely to be announced along with India 's foreign trade policy in March.
* STEEL: Rajasthan has reduced local tax on stainless steel wire and wire rod to 5% from 14% earlier.
* STOCK EXCHANGE: The Inter-connected Stock Exchange of India is looking to sell its broking arm ISE Securities & Services and has invited bids for the same until Mar 22.
* TAXATION: The government is looking to cut the withholding tax on foreign investments in corporate bonds.
* TOBACCO: Rajasthan has hiked the value-added tax rate for tobacco products to 65% from 50% in the state's Budget for 2013-14 (Apr-Mar).
* TELECOM: The Empowered Group of Ministers on spectrum has decided that the telecom department will approach the Supreme Court after the conclusion of Mar 11 auction of 2G spectrum.
