DAILY SECTORS ALERT - 27.12.2013

* AGRICULTURE: Environment Minister Veerappa Moily is expected to cast his vote in favour of allowing genetically modified food crops in the country. 

* AUTOMOBILE: The government has decided to make minor changes in the final notification on quadricycle to address strong concerns raised by a majority of companies including TATA MOTORS, MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA, MARUTI SUZUKI INDIA, TVS MOTOR CO and Piaggio. 

* AVIATION: Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Ashok Lavasa as secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation. Air India got approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs to sell five Boeing 777-200LRs to Etihad Airways. Air India has put on the block a 1.33 acre property in Chennai.

* BANKS: National Housing Bank is planning to offer funds at concessional rate to Bharatiya Mahila Bank for lending to home loan seekers. 

* FERTILISER: Government has appointed Shaktikanta Das as the fertiliser secretary. 

* GOLD: The government will soon relax conditions for import of gold dore by refiners. 

* GOVERNMENT: Union Cabinet has approved setting up of an inquiry commission to look into the incidents of physical and electronic surveillance in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi , allegedly without authorisation. The environment ministry has eased state-level clearance norms and has scrapped mandatory environmental impact assessment and public hearing process in some cases. Is likely to overlook minor defects revealed during the course of multinational companies seeking refuge under India 's new safe harbour norms. 

* INRASTRUCTURE: Highway developers may have to wait longer for a bailout programme as the finance ministry and plan panel have sought changes in the draft for the package.  About 2 trln rupees worth of key infrastructure projects are stuck due to delay in receiving state approvals. 

* INVESTMENT: Canada 's largest quick-service restaurant chain Tim Hortons plans to enter Indian market. 

* IPO: Supermarket operator Spencer's Retail plans an initial public offering soon as the chain inches close to making its first profit, group Chairman Sanjiv Goenka said. 

* METALS: Steelmakers are poised to raise prices from Jan 1 by 700-1,000 rupees per tn to offset higher production costs triggered by rising input costs and freight charges. 

* OIL & GAS: Adani Gas Limited has reduced compressed natural gas and piped natural gas (domestic) price in Ahmedabad and Vadodara by 10.05 rupees per kg and 8.2 rupee per kg, respectively. Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, C. Rangarajan, hinted deregulation of diesel might happen anytime soon. 

- The government's plan to negotiate cheaper gas price with Qatar in exchange for increased airline seats between India and the Gulf nation is unlikely to find favour among all ministries. Directorate General of Hydrocarbons has recommended to the oil ministry that production-sharing contracts expiring in the next few years be extended by 10 years or till the economic life of the field is over. 

* PHARMA: PET Container Manufacturers Association refuted recommendations suggesting ban on use of polyethylene terephthalate containers for packaging of pharmaceutical products. 

* REGULATORY: Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan met Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and Economic Affairs Secretary Arvind Mayaram to discuss current macro-economic conditions.  RBI said a steep rise in interest payment of private non-financial foreign direct investment companies in 2011-12 (Apr-Mar) resulted in a decline in the net profit, even though growth in sales of select companies at the aggregate level improved marginally. A number of bitcoin operators in India have begun suspending their business, following RBI's warning against use of such virtual currencies. 

* TAX: SEBI Chairman U.K. Sinha has sought clarity on taxation policy to be applied to retirement-focused funds to tap the huge pool of capital.  India is now looking to take away the favourable tax treatment available to investors from Cyprus under the bilateral tax treaty between the two countries. 

* TELECOM: Telecom Secretary M.F. Farooqui said that a decision on spectrum usage charge will be taken before the scheduled spectrum auction in January. BHARTI AIRTEL, Vodafone, IDEA CELLULAR and the local unit of Telenor have stepped up pressure on the government to replace the current system for levying spectrum-usage charge with a flat structure.

DAILY STOCKS ALERT - 19.12.2013

* AKZO NOBEL INDIA : Managing Director Amit Jain will step down on Dec 31 and Chief Financial Officer Himanshu Agarwal will act as operating head. 

* ALSTOM INDIA: Has won a 10.7 bln rupee contract from BHEL. 

* BRIGADE ENTERPRISES: Royal Bank of Scotland Asia Merchant Bank ( Singapore ) sold its entire 3.13% stake in company via a bulk deal on NSE. 

* DLF: Has completed sale of 74% stake in insurance joint venture with Prudential Financial to Dewan Housing. 

* ESSAR OIL: Will complete the dollar refinancing of its rupee debt by the end of 2013-14 (Apr-Mar).

* FUTURE RETAIL: Plans to restructure its home furnishing chain Hometown. 

* GMR INFRASTRUCTURE: Expects to sort issues related to Maldives airport by May. 

* HDFC BANK: Has sought Foreign Investment Promotion Board's nod to up its foreign shareholding limit since total foreign investment in the bank was
52.18% of its paid-up capital. 

* HINDALCO: Tribals in Odisha have threatened to intensify their stir if company resumes bauxite mining at Mali Parbat. 

* HINDUSTAN UNILEVER: Has entered the premium rice market with launch of Gold Seal Indus Valley basmati rice. 

* INDIAN HOTELS: To expand 'Gateway' brand in tier II and III cities. 

* INFOSYS: Plans to hire 15,000-16,000 engineering graduates next fiscal indicationg a better demand outlook. 

* KOTAK MAHINDRA BANK: Kotak Investment Advisors is setting up a 38.5 bln rupee fund to buy non-performing assets from lenders. 

* NTPC: Has tied up 55-mln-euro loan from Germany government-owned developmental financial institution KfW. 

* OIL & NATURAL GAS CORP: Government asks company to pay $75m to South Sudan for licence extension. 

* PIPAVAV DEFENCE: Shareholders have approved raising up to $200 mln. 

* RELIGARE ENTERPRISES: Customers Bancorp Inc, which was previously to invest $28 mln in the company through share warrants, will not do so anymore.

* SITI CABLE: Promoter got pledge on 51.8 mln shares released on Tuesday. 

* SPECIALTY RESTAURANTS: Morgan Stanley Asia Singapore sold 500,000 shares, or 1.06% stake in company, through a bulk deal on NSE. 

* TATA STEEL: Is looking to sell a 25-acre property in Borivali, Mumbai, which earlier housed the company's steel wire production plant. 

* TITAN CO: Plans to double its share in India 's jewellery market to 10% over the next five years. 

* ZENITH INFOTECH: Bombay High Court has stayed winding up of the company till Apr 16, to enable cloud computing operations sale.

FREE DAILY STOCKS ALERT - 18.12.2013

* 3I INFOTECH: Plans to raise 3-4 bln rupees by selling non-core subsidies over the next 12-18 months 

* COAL INDIA: Tender seeking to appoint a vendor for a 30 bln rupee project to import 5 mln tonnes of coal has failed to attract any participants.

* DECCAN CHRONICLE HOLDINGS: Supreme Court has refused to entertain a plea of the company against a high court order directing it to vacate the printing press premises for paying back 1.1-bln-rupee loan to KOTAK MAHINDRA BANK. 

* FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGIES: Forward Markets Commission on Tuesday declared the company and its founder Jignesh Shah as not fit and proper entities to be on the board of any commodity exchange. The Bombay High Court has directed Jignesh Shah to remain present in court on Wednesday in the matter of MMTC versus the company.

* FUTURE RETAIL: Has sold 22.5 % stake in Future Generali India Life Insurance Co to INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT TRUST.

* GLENMARK PHARMACEUTICALS: Merrill Lynch has bought 2.1 mln shares of the company at 518.80 rupees per share through a bulk deal on BSE. 

MARUTI SUZUKI INDIA : Parent Suzuki Motor Corp will shift its entire export operations for the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and South-East Asia to
India by the end of 2014-15 (Apr-Mar). 

* NHPC: Has sought help from the project monitoring group under the cabinet secretariat to fast-track its 75-bln-rupee project in Arunachal Pradesh. 

* OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORP: Plan to boost oil production from Mumbai High is being derailed by the huge subsidy burden on the company.

* PETRONET LNG: The Asian Development Bank will provide $150 mln loan to the company for expanding capacity of its Dahej liquefied natural gas terminal.

* PTC INDIA FINANCIAL SERVICES: Has divested its entire 16.76% stake in Meenakshi Energy for 2.09 bln rupees. 

* RAJESH EXPORTS: The income tax department on Tue raided company's retail arm, Shubh Jewellers, which has stores across Karnataka.

* STATE BANK OF INDIA : The bank said the nationwide bank union strike on Wednesday will not hit its operations.

* SUN PHARMA ADVANCED RESEARCH: The US Food and Drug Administration said it cannot approve the company's Venlafaxine 300 mg tablet application in its current form.

* TRENT : UK-based Tesco Plc has approached the Foreign Investment Promotion Board to buy 50% stake in the company's wholly owned arm Trent Hypermarket.

* TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES: May report foreign exchange gain of 1.5 bln rupees in  Oct-Dec earnings.

* TATA MOTORS: Plans to shift manufacturing its two highest-selling models 2518 & 3118 to new plant in Uttrakhand to avail the higher excise benefits.

* TATA STEEL: Puts 25-acre land at Borivli in Mumbai for sale. Land value estimated at 10 bln rupees.

* ZENITH INFOTECH: The Bombay High Court has directed company to sell its mainstay cloud computing business to repay dues to foreign currency convertible bond holders.

FREE DAILY SECTORS ALERT - 12.12.2013

* AGRICULTURE: Minister Sharad Pawar said rabi crop sowing is progressing well, boosting prospects of a higher production this year. Around 3 bln tn of subsidised urea, which is meant to reach farmers, is being smuggled to chemical industries, minister of state for chemical and fertilisers said.

* AUTOMOTIVE: French carmaker Renault, which makes the popular Duster sport utility vehicle, will raise prices in January to offset high input costs. German luxury carmaker Mercedes Benz plans to locally assemble 90% of the cars it sells in India , up from 50% now.

* BANKING: RBI will award new bank licences three months after screening applications, said head of the external panel set up to make recommendations
on licences.

* COMMODITIES: The Andhra Pradesh government decided to increase the support price for oil palm fruit brunches to 7,516 rupees per tn from 6,907 rupees.

* COURTS: Supreme Court has directed Sahara group to furnish details of the source of over 170 bln rupees the group claims to have redeemed to its
debenture holders. The Sahara Group has agreed before the Supreme Court to deposit title deeds of 71 properties with the Securities and Exchange Board of India as assurance that it is not trying to escape payment of its 200-bln-rupee dues to investors.

* ECONOMY: STATE BANK OF INDIA has revised its current account deficit projection for 2013-14 (Apr-Mar) lower to $40 bln or 2.2% of GDP. RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan has said India 's growth is stabilising but it is too early to claim that the economy is in the midst of a strong recovery.

* ENERGY: Petroleum Secretary Vivek Rae said there is need to restructure regulatory bodies in oil and gas sector and set good international petroleum
industry standards.

* HEALTHCARE: Private equity company Actis plans to sell its stake in Sterling Hospitals back to the original promoters, Girish Jain and family. Johnson & Johnson's hip replacement device has been put on recall alert in India by the health ministry, following global reports of metal poisoning.

* INFRASTRUCTURE: The Comptroller and Auditor General has highlighted "undue benefit" to the tune of 58.87 bln rupees given by the civil aviation ministry
to Mumbai International Airport, which runs the commercial airport in Mumbai.

* INITIAL PUBLIC OFFER: BSE's offer size could range between 4-10 bln rupees, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ashishkumar Chauhan said.

* MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS: Moody's has acquired India 's knowledge process outsourcing firm Amba Investment Services.

* PHARMACEUTICALS: The Competition Commission of India has directed the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists to desist from anti-competitive practices that affect supply of drugs.

* POLITICS: The Bharatiya Janata Party favours the abolition of income, sales, and excise taxes, and the party may include this in its vision document to be unveiled ahead of the general elections next year.

* REGULATORS: RBI will take more steps in the coming weeks to improve liquidity and depth of gilt markets. RBI will provide additional liquidity to the tune of 100 bln rupees through the 14-day term repo auction, scheduled for Friday. A committee set up by SEBI recommended tighter insider trading norms by including even public servants and judges trying corporate cases in under the ambit of insiders and connected persons.

* TELECOM: The Department of Telecommunications has in total provided 54.76 bln rupees as set off to various telecom operators, who had bought second generation spectrum. The Tata Group will invest 40 bln rupees in two tranches in its telecom arm Tata Teleservices, after banks said they could not renew loans for the company till its annual losses were funded. The Department of Telecommunications has sent a proposal to a group of ministers to hive off more than 61,600 telecom towers owned by Bharat Sanchar Nigam into a separate company.

* TRADE: India is pursuing a case for reducing non-tariff trade barriers for its products in Chinese markets.

FREE DAILY SECTORS ALERT - 11.12.2013

* AVIATION: The proposed amendments to the existing aircraft leasing norms are unlikely to be implemented before the general elections, civil aviation secretary has said. 

* AUTOMOTIVE: Japan 's Isuzu Motors is setting up its first car plant in South India at an investment of 30 bln rupees. 

* CHEMICALS & FERTILISERS: Demand for chemical pesticides in 2013-14 (Apr-Mar) is seen down 1% at 54,685 tn from 55,249 tn in the previous year. 

* COMMODITIES: Food Minister K.V. Thomas said the government is considering restructuring of the import duty on edible oils. 

* ECONOMY: India is looking to raise import of crude from Iran and make existing trade arrangements with the West Asian nation more efficient, Economic Affairs Secretary said. Commerce and industry ministry will release trade data for November on Wednesday. 

* ENERGY: Supreme Court rejected an appeal to restrain a promoter group from moving International Court of Arbitration to settle a dispute on ownership of 155 mln shares of Haldia Petrochemicals. Prices of cooking gas in India increased 3.46 rupees per cylinder after the Government raised commission paid to dealers by over 9%. 

* GOVERNMENT: Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has designated Revenue Secretary Sumit Bose as the new finance secretary. 

* INSURANCE: Aegon Religare Life Insurance has received IRDA's approval for majority of the 12 products it aims to re-launch under the new product regime from Jan 1. 

* LEGAL: The Supreme Court has allowed The Chatterjee Group to continue with arbitration proceedings before the International Chamber of Commerce, Paris, to resolve its dispute with the West Bengal government over the ownership of Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd. 

* PHARMACEUTICALS: The Reserve Bank of India has sought clarity on whether foreign portfolio investments can be allowed in existing companies without government approval. 

* RAILWAYS: Indian Railways earned revenue of 893.39 bln rupees for Apr-Nov of the current financial year (Apr-Mar), up by 13.27% on year. 

* REGULATORS: SEBI's international advisory board has suggested implementation of tougher measures to curb insider trading activity.

* TELECOM: Delhi High Court has sought details of Nokia India 's offer to the Brazilian government to settle its tax demand in the Latin American country. 

FREE DAILY SECTORS ALERT - 10.12.2013

* BANKING: United Forum of Bank Unions has called all-India strike on Dec 18. 

* COURTS: The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Centre, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and Nuclear Power Corp on a plea seeking restraint on
commissioning of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant. 

* ECONOMY: Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan said the Indian government may squeeze spending as it aims to reduce the fiscal deficit to 4.8% of gross domestic product. RBI Rajan said tackling inflation remained the on the top of the agenda for the central bank. 

* ENERGY: Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board to determine marketing margin of private companies for supplying domestic gas to urea and LPG producers. 

- The government has formulated a draft policy on usage of surplus coal and it is being circulated to various ministries for comments. 

- Central Electricity Regulatory Commission has finalised draft guidelines for tariff determination, which will be implemented for 5 years starting April. 

* HEALTHCARE: Dubai 's DM Healthcare Llc plans to invest 40 bln rupees in four years in India 's fast growing healthcare market. 

* INFRASTRUCTURE: Tata's realty division has opted out of the race for Chennai airport privatisation programme as the bidding norms do not allow airlines or its group entities to own more than 10% in the special purpose vehicle selected to manage the airports. 

* INVESTMENT: Foreign Investment Promotion Board has cleared nine proposals, but deferred Vodafone Group's plan to increase foreign investment in its Indian arm. 

* GOVERNMENT: Strong capital inflows may increase demand for government debt, but these flows also pose a 'sudden-stop risk', RBI Deputy Governor Harun Khan said. 

* PHARMACEUTICAL: Supreme Court has ruled that Government's drug pricing order will take "immediate" effect with "absolute obligation" on companies. 

* TAXATION: Finance ministry has asked Cyprus to provide, in two months, information under the Double Tax Avoidance Agreement. 

* TELECOM: The Cabinet has given approval to the Empowered Group of Minister's decision on spectrum pricing. 

- RELIANCE INDUSTRIES Chairman Mukesh Ambani on Monday said his company was open to joining hands with BHARTI AIRTEL to improve telecom network for 4G services in Punjab . 

* TRADE: Cabinet has cleared the Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement with UAE, which is likely to encourage more foreign fund inflows from the region. 

FREE DAILY SECTORS ALERT - 05.12.2013

* AGRICULTURE: Maharashtra Cabinet approved a proposal of to enact a legislation to link sugarcane price to income of mills, as suggested in the C. Rangarajan Committee report on sugar decontrol.

* AUTOMOBILES: Honda Cars is looking to hike prices of its entire product range in the country from the first week of January.

* AVIATION: The government plans to hand over operations and management of six airports--Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Jaipur and Lucknow --to private parties.

* BANKING: General perception amongst banks that credit risk in lending to small and medium enterprises is "very high" is a wrong notion, RBI Deputy Governor Chakrabarty said.

* ECONOMY: JPMorgan has warned of external threat to India 's economy despite the decline in the current account deficit to 1.2% of GDP in Jul-Sep.

* ENERGY: India taking steps in right direction to attract investors for hydrocarbon exploration, but many challenges lie ahead in unconventional hydrocarbons exploration, International Energy Agency said.

- India and Japan are in the process of working out modalities for joint purchase of LNG and will finalise a framework for the same within three months.

- The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has said world oil demand in 2014 will rise by 1 mln bpd to average 90.78 mln bpd.

* ENTERTAINMENT: Mexico-based Cinepolis has signed up with mall developers to open 50 screens in Andhra Pradesh with an incremental investment of 1 bln rupees over the next 30 months.

* EXCHANGES: The reporting platform developed by Clearing Corp of India Ltd for over-the-counter foreign exchange and interest rate derivatives will be operational from Dec 30.

* PHARMACEUTICALS: The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has set new ceiling prices for 18 formulations in the latest round of new drug pricing policy. Government may issue compulsory licenses on some patented diabetes drugs to make them more affordable and accessible.

* REGULATORY: The Securities and Exchanges Board of India has simplified dematerialised account opening process for trading in the securities market.

- The Securities and Exchanges Board of India has sought clarifications from the merchant banker of Great Eastern Energy Corp regarding the company's proposed initial public offering. The government is likely to approve a second term for UK Sinha, the chairman of Securities and Exchange Board of India.

* TELECOM: Vodafone will invest $3 bln in India over the next two years to expand its network, especially in rural areas.

FREE DAILY SECTORS ALERT - 26.11.2013

* AGRICULTURE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Chavan, along with representatives of farmers' and sugar mills' organisations, will meet Prime Minister Singh
Tuesday. 

* AVIATION: SPICEJET and JET AIRWAYS have agreed to pay 250 mln rupees and 800 mln rupees, respectively, to Airports Authority of India by Nov 29 to settle dues. 

* BANKING: Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ is open to acquiring an Indian bank to get a foothold in the retail market. 

* ENERGY: Economic Affairs Secretary Mayaram met oil companies, led by INDIAN OIL CORP, to discuss their dollar requirements in the coming days.India's oil imports from Iran may no longer require special insurance cover as European Union looks set to lift sanctions following the nuclear deal with Tehran . 

* HOSPITALITY: The RBI has included hotels costing over 2 bln rupees and convention centres costing more than 3 bln rupees in the infra lending
category. 

* INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: iGATE Corp's arm Pan-Asia iGATE Solutions signed credit agreement with DBS Bank and ING Bank N.V. Singapore for secured term loan facility.
* INSURANCE: IRDA Chairman Vijayan said most life insurance companies that had submitted their proposal for re-launch of products would definitely get
regulatory approval well ahead of the Jan 1 deadline. 

* MINING: The Centre said in Supreme Court it had "serious objection" to the plea for making Shah panel report on illegal iron-ore mining public and
sought time to file affidavits on behalf of mines and environment ministries.

* PHARMACEUTICALS: Pfizer is likely to make key changes in its India management structure. 

* POLICY: The Union Cabinet has deferred decision on revised foreign direct investment policy for the pharmaceutical and realty sectors. 

* POLITICS: Aam Aadmi Party filed a defamation case against the head of an online news portal and two senior officials of TV news channel for airing
"doctored" sting operation on its Delhi assembly candidates. 

* POWER: Nine companies, including TATA POWER CO, ADANI POWER and NTPC, have submitted initial bids for the proposed 4,000 MW UMPP in Odisha's Bedabahal.

* REGULATORY: Large companies striking synchronised arbitrage deals that weaken the rupee have caught the RBI's attention. 

* RETAIL: Wal-Mart Stores plans to shelve expansion of its cash-and-carry stores in India until 2015 as it focuses on compliance with US anti-graft law
and inquiries related to that in India . 

* TAX: Finance ministry has clarified tax authorities shall not return any applications received under its Service Tax Voluntary Compliance
Encouragement Scheme. Government is considering a Goods and Services Tax rate much lower that the standard rate for small businesses. 

* WEATHER: Cyclonic storm Lehar is likely to intensify and make a landfall on coastal Andhra Pradesh near Kakinada , Thursday.

FREE SECTORS ALERT - 20.11.2013

* AGRICULTURE: Maharashtra Government has suggested a six-point solution that will also help cane farmers get their dues from mills including the need to immediately export 2.5 mln tn sugar from the country.

* AVIATION: Foreign Investment Promotion Board approved Singapore Airlines' proposal to set up a joint venture company with Tata Sons. 

* BANKING: Bharatiya Mahila Bank has tied up with FIS for the bank's technology services. Financial Services Secretary Takru said improvement in recoveries of bad loans of PSU banks in Jul-Sep was clear indication that sector's health was on upturn. 

* ENERGY: Nearly a dozen companies including Tata Sons, JINDAL STEEL & POWER, Birla Corp, and MONNET ISPAT & ENERGY may lose captive coal mining licences for delaying development of the blocks. 

* EXCHANGES: The Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai Police has initiated an inquiry against the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange, after one of its members filed a complaint alleging cheating. 

* COURTS: Persons not convicted but in police custody or jail will remain eligible to contest elections, Supreme Court said. 

* FINANCE: Finance Minister Chidambaram said current rise in government bond yields temporary phenomena, and he expects RBI to take measures to address it. 

* FOOD AND BEVERAGES: Fast-food chain Burger King will enter India through a joint venture with the Everstone Group, which has got sub-franchise rights for all India from Burger King Worldwide. 

* HOSPITALITY: Lalit Suri Hospitality Group will buy West Bengal government's 10% stake in Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata once it is fully operational. RMZ Corp is set to buy India 's second Four Seasons hotel project in Bengaluru for over 4 bln rupees. 

* INVESTMENT: The Foreign Investment Promotion Board approved 20 foreign direct investment proposals worth 9.16 bln rupees. 

* REALTY: A Mumbai-based diamond merchant has bought Cadbury House, a popular South Mumbai landmark, for around 3.50 bln rupees. GIC and Ascendas will jointly invest 30 bln rupees towards development of commercial real estate in India . 

* REGULATORY: RBI has asked banks to report online data on issuance of guarantees, letters of undertaking and letters of credit from the quarter ended September. All-women self-help groups will be eligible for interest subvention for loan up to 300,000 rupees at 7%, RBI said. 

- Rupee value of the special currency basket for payments under the deferred payment protocol between India and erstwhile Union of Soviet Socialist Republics has been fixed at 86.513657 rupees with effect from Nov 18, RBI said. 

SEBI's primary market committee has recommended that grading of initial public offering should not be mandatory. 

* RETAIL: Future Group is in talks with private equity firm Actis Capital to buy Nilgiris, a Bengaluru-based supermarket chain. 

* TELECOMMUNICATIONS: Vodafone India has urged Finance Minister Chidambaram to accept TRAI's recommendations of 3% uniform levy.

FREE DAILY SECTORS ALERT - 06.11.2013

* CURRENCY: The Indian rupee could rise above the 61-per-dollar mark because of foreign inflows, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said.

* GOVERNMENT: The Government is not in favour of granting dual citizenship, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Ravi said.

* TECHNOLOGY: Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp, the second-largest exporter of IT services from India , reported industry-leading revenue growth of 6.7% for Jul-Sep, and raised its outlook for the year for the second time.

* MEDIA: Producer Rakesh Roshan said his film 'Krrish 3' has collected 1.08 bln rupees at the box office in four days.

FREE STOCKS ALERT - 23.10.2013

* APOLLO TYRES: Has lost bid for dismissal of Cooper Tire & Rubber Co's lawsuit seeking to force a takeover by the Indian company.

* ATUL LTD: Is hoping to resume work at its Tarapur factory soon.

* AXIS BANK: Nilesh Shah to take over as Chief Executive Officer of the bank's investment banking arm Axis Capital.

* CAIRN INDIA: Reported a 46% year-on-year rise in consolidated net profit at 33.85 bln rupees for Jul-Sep, on account of foreign exchange gains.

* EROS INTERNATIONAL: Posted a net profit of 369.7 mln rupees in Jul-Sep, up 41.76% from 260.8 mln rupees a year ago.

* FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGIES: The Economic Offences Wing has arrested Managing Director of NK Proteins, Nilesh Patel, the largest defaulter in the National Spot Exchange scam.

* GAIL INDIA : The oil ministry has decided to exempt the company from sharing the fuel subsidy burden.

* GUJARAT FLUOROCHEMICALS: Jul-Sep net profit down 60% on year to 560.6 mln rupees. Net sales up 7.86% on year to 6.95 bln rupees.

* GUJARAT PIPAVAV: Jul-Sep net profit at 440.8 mln rupees against 81.7 mln rupees a year ago. Net sales 1.1 bln rupees against 864.7 mln rupees.

* ING VYSYA BANK: Jul-Sep net profit grew 17.4% year-on-year to 1.76 bln rupees led by a 19% growth in net interest income and a 21% rise in operating profit.

* JAIPRAKASH POWER: Is in talks to sell two hydropower plants to Abu Dhabi National Energy.

* JET AIRWAYS: Holiday unit JetEscapes has tied up with Royal Caribbean International to offer holiday packages to Singapore and Malaysia .

* JUBILANT LIFE SCIENCES: Might soon list itself on the New York Stock Exchange. 

* KPIT TECHNOLOGIES: Reported a consolidated net profit of 667.35 mln rupees in Jul-Sep, up 10.97% from a quarter ago.

* LANCO INFRATECH: Has not paid salaries to close to 1,000 employees for the past three-four months.

* MULTI COMMODITY EXCHANGE OF INDIA : Promoter Jignesh Shah has been allowed to remain on the board until Forward Markets Commission takes a call on his 'fit and proper' status. Promoter FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGIES (INDIA) has proposed to expand the exchange's board so that it can retain two berths.

* NHPC: Will close subscription for its public issue of tax-free bonds maturing in 10, 15 and 20 years on Wednesday instead of Nov 11.

* PSL: Has said its bankers, led by ICICI Bank Ltd, approved restructuring the company's debt on Sep 23. 

* RELIANCE INDUSTRIES: May rope in Prabir Jha, senior vice president and chief human resources officer of TATA MOTORS, as its HR head. The company plans to run an exclusive chicken restaurant chain called 'Chicken came First' in India in partnership with a UK-based company.

* SKF INDIA: Posted Jul-Sep net profit of 465.8 mln rupees against 452.6 mln\ rupees a year ago. Net sales of 5.66 bln rupees as against 5.34 bln rupees a
year ago.

* STATE BANK OF INDIA : Will take a decision on raising additional capital via qualified institutional placement in a month, Chairperson Bhattacharya said.

* TATA POWER: May sell some investments to raise equity to reduce debt.

* TATA TELESERVICES ( MAHARASHTRA ): Has denied reports of merger talks with parent TATA TELESERVICES. 

* VASCON ENGINEERS: Has sold out its investment in Zenith Ventures.

* WIPRO: Posted Jul-Sep consolidated net profit of 19.32 bln rupees, beating analysts' estimate of 18.42 bln rupees. Net sales of 109.92 bln rupees too
were above expectations of 109.46 bln rupees. The company has guided revenue between $1.660 bln and $1.690 bln for Oct-Dec for its IT services business.

* ZENSAR TECHNOLOGIES: Jul-Sep net profit up 119.6% on year to 706.3 mln rupees. Net sales up 9.8% on year to 5.90 bln rupees.

FREE DAILY STOCKS ALERT - 22.10.2013

* BHARTI AIRTEL: Telecom Consultants India has initiated the process to sell 30% stake in the company's unit Bharti Hexacom.

* CLARIANT CHEMICALS: Has shortlisted four real estate developers to sell its 87-acre land parcel in the Thane district of Mumbai.

* DABUR INDIA: Promoters of the company to enter the real estate market through a joint venture with a US-based private equity investor.

* DEWAN HOUSING FINANCE CORP: Jul-Sep net profit rose 50.4% on year to 1.29 bln rupees. Revenue rose 42.9% to at 11.67 bln rupees. Has said talks of stake sale in the company to a strategic investor are just rumours and there are no plans to issue any fresh shares as of now.

* DLF: Has given L&T Construction the contract to build its luxury residential project, The Crest, in Gurgaon, Haryana. Value of the contract totals around 13.37 bln rupees.

* FEDERAL BANK: Plans to raise a little over $100 mln abroad for export credit and foreign currency requirement. 

* FRONTLINE CORP: Has signed a shareholders agreement and power purchase agreement with Palaniandavar Spinning Mill, for supply of wind power up to 300,000 units per annum for a period of 5 years. 

* IPCA LABORATORIES: Morgan Stanley Capital International to exclude the company from Global Small Cap Indices from Thursday.

* JAGRAN PRAKASHAN: HDFC Mutual Fund's shareholding in the company fell to 3.05% after it sold 5.09 mln shares.

* JET AIRWAYS: May shift focus to medium-haul international routes. The company has written to the Airports Authority of India seeking an extension of deadline till Mar 31 for paying enhanced security deposit.

* JK LAKSHMI CEMENT: Jul-Sep net profit falls nearly 80% on year to 103 mln rupees. Net sales fell 8.7% to 4.49 bln rupees.

* KARNATAKA BANK: Higher provisioning on account of deteriorating asset quality dragged bank's Jul-Sep net profit down 75.3% on year to 289.5 mlnrupees. 

* KELLTON TECH SOLUTIONS: Will acquire stake of US' Supremesoft Global Inc with offices in the Washington DC Metro area, and Hyderabad .

* NHPC: Board to consider buyback of shares on Thursday.

* ORBIT CORP: Jul-Sep consolidated net loss at 260.98 mln rupees against 81.09-mln-rupee net profit a year ago.

* PIRAMAL GLASS: Jul-Sep net profit up 112% on year at 91.2 mln rupees. Net sales were up 10.5% on year at 4.66 bln rupees.

* POLARIS FINANCIAL: L&T Infotech eyes company's services business unit estimated to be valued at $400 mln.

* RADICO KHAITAN: Will transfer its Indian made foreign liquor business to a proposed subsidiary.

* RALLIS INDIA: Jul-Sep consolidated net profit was at 747.5 mln rupees, up 21.4% from the year ago period. Total income rose 24.1% to 6.02 bln rupees.

* RELIANCE INDUSTRIES: According to the company's estimates, production at the D1 and D3 fields in the Krishna Godavari basin is likely to fall 55% to 6.26 mscmd by 2020-21.

* SESA STERLITE: Vedanta Aluminium will triple its capacity by 2015 to 2.3 mln tn to cater to demand in India .

* SUN TV NETWORK: Supreme Court disposed a petition seeking action against former communications minister Dayanidhi Maran for allegedly routing telephone exchange-owned high-speed lines of BSNL for commercial use by the company.

* SWARAJ ENGINES: Jul-Sep net profit was at 171.7 mln rupees, up 22.6% year-on-year, while net sales rose 24.7% to 1.50 bln rupees.

* TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES: Has won a multi-year, multi-million euro order from Bombardier Transportation to manage the information technology backhaul
of its newly-commissioned data centres in Germany .

* TATA STEEL: Arm Tata Steel Europe won a contract to supply rail tracks and steel sleeper plates to UK 's Network Rail for at least five years.

FREE DAILY STOCKS ALERT - 09.10.2013

* EID PARRY INDIA : Company produced 22,027 tn of sugar in September, down 88% from 192,700 tn an year ago.

* FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGIES: In a show cause notice, the Forwards Market Commission put blame for National Spot Exchange crisis not only on the exchange's management but also on "key management personnel" which included Chairman Jignesh Shah and MCX-SX Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Massey. Income tax department feels many of the investors of arm National Spot Exchange exist only on paper.

* GITANJALI GEMS: Bombay High Court has directed Mehul Choksi, chairman of the company, not to sell or transfer his 4.19-acre Alibaug property till completion of arbitration proceedings between him and Kotak Mahindra Investments.

* GOL OFFSHORE: Has secured a 7.10-bln-rupee contract from OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORP to reconstruct gas processing platforms on the west Coast.

* GREAT EASTERN SHIPPING CO: The Reserve Bank of India said foreign institutional investors cannot purchase any more shares of the company as they have crossed the investment limit of 24% of its paid-up capital.

* GREAVES COTTON: Company has divested its entire stake in its step-down German subsidiary, Greaves Farymann Diesel GmbH.

* HINDUSTAN UNILEVER: Life Insurance Corp has tendered a large part of its holding in company to Unilever Inc it its open offer targeting share puirchase amounting $4.5 bln, on advice of government.

* HINDUSTAN ZINC: Has given contract to ABB to supply three mine hoists systems to augment production at its Rajasthan's Rampura Agucha mine and transform it from an open-pit to an underground operation. The ministry of mines has circulated a Cabinet note proposing sale of the government's residual stake in company, but its rider threatens to delay the process.

* IDBI BANK: Will provide home and auto loans at its Base Rate of 10.25% for the festival season. It will also waive off the processing fee for both home and auto loans.

* INDIAN OIL CORP: Is contemplating to move court against West Bengal government accusing it of not complying with the provisions of the share purchase agreement made for offering the government stake in Haldia Petrochemicals.

* KAJARIA CERAMICS: The Reserve Bank of India said foreign institutional investors cannot purchase any more shares of the company as they have crossed the investment limit of 24% of its paid-up capital.

* NTPC: Official from the company and COAL INDIA met Finance Minister P. Chidambaram to sort out issues related to dues that the power producer owes to the miner.

* ORIENTAL BANK OF COMMERCE: Has cut rates on personal loans, consumer durable loans, and four-wheeler loans by 25 basis points with effect from Thursday.

* PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK: Cut fixed interest rates on car loans, two-wheeler loans, and consumer durable loans to 10.65%, 12.25% and 12.75%, respectively, valid till Jan 31.

* RELIANCE INDUSTRIES: Proposal for appointing an independent consultant to assess the reasons for the drop in output at its KG-D6 block has been rejected by the block oversight committee, comprising Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, government and RELIANCE-BP-Niko.

* STATE BANK OF INDIA : Has cut interest rate on bulk deposits of 10 mln rupees and above and with a maturity bucket of 7-60 days to 8.50% from 9.00% from Thursday.

- The bank will not be reducing its lending rates post the liquidity easing steps taken by the Reserve Bank of India on Monday, newly-appointed Chairperson Bhattacharya has said.

-  Chairperson Bhattacharya said bank may not be able to complete the process of an associate bank merger in 2013-14, but may start the initial process for the same.

* SPICEJET: Is expanding international operations to improve dollar earnings and offset losses caused by currency rate fluctuations. The company has launched services to Kabul and Guangzhou .

* UNITY INFRAPROJECTS: Is trying to push deeper into urban projects like pumping stations, tunnels, and water pipelines to offset the slowing momentum in infrastructure space.

FREE DAILY SECTORS ALERT - 27.09.2013

* AVIATION: Airports in Chennai, Lucknow , Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Guwahati and Jaipur, identified for privatisation in the current fiscal, are likely to see fresh investment of 42.5 bln rupees.

* COAL: Vedanta Group is looking at coal mines in India to complete its portfolio.

* COMPANIES: Winsome Group has requested its consortium of lenders to give a special dispensation for restructuring its 60-bln-rupee loan.

* COMMODITIES: Income Tax Department has begun issuing fresh demand notices to co-operative sugar mills in Maharashtra for paying cane prices over and above the fair and remunerative price.

* ENERGY: India is set to start electricity export to Bangladesh next week when the two countries inaugurate a 500-KV transmission line. Troubled by huge unpaid bills against power sales to Jharkhand, DamodarValley Corp may shut down part of its 5,700 MW thermal power plant capacity next month.

* FINANCE: Companies issuing preference shares and warrants to foreign investors will soon not require prior permission through the Foreign Investment Promotion Board. Life Insurance Corp of India is subscribing to debt instruments of private sector companies at a time when banks are struggling with liquidity in a slowing economy. Loans worth 64.92 bln rupees were referred to the corporate debt restructuring cell in September.

* HIGHWAYS: The National Highways Authority of India has sent a proposal to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to remove the toll plaza from the Delhi- Gurgaon Expressway, and hand over to it the control of the road.

* REAL ESTATE: Supreme Court has upheld Bombay High Court's verdict that asked builders to pay 5% value added tax for sale of under-construction houses between 2006 and 2010 in Maharashtra . The real estate fund of Morgan Stanley has abandoned plans to invest nearly $200 mln in an upcoming commercial real estate project in Mumbai after the rupee's recent plunge against the dollar.

* RAILWAYS: Board plans to introduce tatkal quota in first-class air-conditioned coaches to cater to people who are unable to get flight tickets at the last minute.

* REGULATORY: SEBI has decided to streamline and simplify stock exchanges' investor grievance redressal mechanism by reducing the timeline of proceedings
and providing upfront monetary relief to small investors who have claims of less than 1 mln rupees. Reserve Bank of India might crack a whip on home loan roducts offering cashback facility or EMI waiver.

* RETAIL: Hettich India plans to invest 5 bln rupees in five years to capitalise on the growing domestic demand and make the country a global manufacturing hub
for its parent. Future Group will look at offloading stake in three of its fashion brands Clarks , Celio and Turtle.

* TELECOM: Tata Teleservices , Russia 's Sistema JSFC, and Aircel are in exploratory talks for a three-way merger to create India 's third-largest telecom company by subscribers. Khaitan Holdings Mauritius, an investor in Loop Telecom, is likely to initiate international arbitration against the government on Monday.

FREE DAILY SECTORS ALERT - 25.09.2013

* AVIATION: Etihad Airways will consider more equity investments in carriers if the investments add value. IndiGo reported a six-fold jump in net profit to 7.87 bln rupees in the year to March.

* BANKS: Banks start withdrawing zero-interest monthly installment schemes after the Reserve Bank of India 's advisory against the practice of banks offering customers the option of staggered payments on big-ticket purchases.

* BROADCAST: New Silk Route has started discussions to sell its 80% stake in 9X Media.

* COMPANIES: Tata Group chairman Cyrus Mistry bought shares in four group companies over the last few days. Essar group is tapping loans from Chinese banks to cut the cost of funding their oil to steel empire. Maxis Communications Berhad has told Central Bureau of Investigation that it is yet to get the $7.9-mln payment towards legal costs imposed on Siva Ventures.

* DIVESTMENT: The government has postponed the launch of Central Public Sector Enterprise Exchange Traded Fund to January to make way for big-ticket divestment plans for state-owned companies like COAL INDIA and INDIAN OIL CORP.

* ENERGY: State transport units may be allowed to buy diesel at a subsidised price with an aim in to encourage public transport.  India and US are pushing Nuclear Power Corp of India and Westinghouse Electric Co to expedite commercial discussions for 30,000 MW nuclear generation in the public sector in 20 years.

- Power Finance Corp will start inviting bids for 4,000 MW units each in Odisha and Tamil Nadu starting Sep 25.

* EXCHANGES: Futures contracts on S&P BSE 100 Index have received certification from US-based Commodity Futures Trading Commission that will allow futures contracts to be offered or sold to persons in the US . The Enforcement Directorate and Mumbai police have found possible indications of money laundering in National Spot Exchange.

* ENGINEERING: US-based Emerson Group will purchase Pune-based Virgo Valves and Controls for about $450 mln.

* GOLD: India 's gold jewellery exports rose to $561-mln in August from $441-mln in July.

* INFRASTRUCTURE: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the development of 19.43-bln-rupee Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust port road project in Maharashtra on a build, operate and transfer basis. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved four-laning of the Solapur-Yedeshi section of National Highway 211 in Maharashtra .

- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs allowed infrastructure debt funds to take over existing bank loans, thereby stretching the tenure of the loans and facilitating long-term financing to infrastructure projects.

* PHARMACEUTICAL: US Food and Drug Administration is recruiting additional drug investigators to increase inspection of drug makers in India .

* RAILWAYS: Plans to invite bids to develop five stations under the public- private partnership model.

* STEEL: Karnataka government has started the process to auction iron ore mines as per a Supreme Court directive. Vedanta Group is optimistic that the Odisha government will soon allot another mine for its refinery in Niyamgiri after 12 gram sabhas voted against allowing the company to mine bauxite at the site.

* OIL AND GAS: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved a policy that allows exploration of shale oil and gas only by state-owned exploration companies on acreages-under-the-nomination regime.

- Government is considering a new proposal to hike diesel prices by 90 paise per ltr every month or 50 paise every 15 days, and a 10-rupee per cylinder increase in cooking gas prices from Oct 1.

* RETAIL: L Capital Asia, investor in Genesis Luxury, wants to exit the company and has asked its founder to either buy out its 40% stake or sell the company altogether. Parle Agro is re-entering the carbonated soft drinks market in India with the launch of Cafe Cuba , a carbonated coffee drink.

* TAX: TILAKNAGAR INDUSTRIES has come under the Income-Tax Department's scanner after its survey raised doubts over the mega project status claimed by the company for its Shrirampur distillery. The tax department carried out search operation at offices and homes of several executives of Anand Rathi Financial Services. 

DAILY STOCKS ALERT - 12.09.2013

* ATUL AUTO: Company sells 3,204 units in August, up 38% on year.

* COAL INDIA: Company is likely to float a tender for its maiden coal import by September-end and will seek advance payment from its customers for the imported coal. Company is in a tie-up with INDIAN OIL CORP to become a producer and parts-supplier of explosives to ease its procurement need.

* COLGATE PALMOLIVE ( INDIA ): Expands toothpaste range with launch of 'Colgate Active Salt Healthy White'. Appoints actors Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shriya Saran as brand ambassadors.

* FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGIES: Motilal Oswal Securities said it was not aware of any irregularities of the National Spot Exchange before the breakout of the payment crisis. Has denied having a role in the transaction between Multi Commodity Exchange and IL&FS. Securities and Exchange Board of India has renewed the license of company's affiliate MCX Stock Exchange for one year.

* IDEA CELLULAR:  Is in talks with private equity firms including Fidelity and Blackrock to raise funds.

* IDFC: RBI has withdrawn restrictions on overseas investors from purchasing shares of the company, as shareholding of such entities in the company has gone below the prescribed limit, the RBI said in a press release today.

* INFOTECH ENTERPRISES: Signed a five-year contract to provide software engineering services to Alstom Transport RSC.

* JAIPRAKASH ASSOCIATES: Will see its overall debt getting reduced by 15% with the sale of its subsidiary's cement manufacturing business in Gujarat to ULTRATECH CEMENT.

* JET AIRWAYS: Company would have to develop Abu Dhabi as an exclusive hub for flights to North America, South America, Africa and the United Arab Emirates ('exclusive territories'), according to the final commercial cooperation agreement signed with Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways.

* KINGFISHER AIRLINES: Holding company UB Group has loaned more than 13 bln rupees to the company, and will continue funding the company for now.

* MAHINDRA HOLIDAYS: Will mull merger of its wholly-owned subsidiary Bell Tower Resorts with itself on Tuesday.

* NATIONAL BUILDINGS CONSTRUCTION CORP: Plans to build 10,000 houses over the next five years with an investment of 60 bln rupees.

* NHPC: Will discuss a proposal to bring changes in the Articles of Association to enable buy-back of some of its shares from the government.

* PARSVNATH DEVELOPERS: Has dropped its plan to sell prime land in Connaught Place , Delhi .  It will now develop a commercial building on the plot at a cost of around 700 mln rupees.

* POWER GRID CORPORATION OF INDIA : Has drawn up annual capital expenditure plans of $4 bln for the next five years.
* RAYMOND:  Company is looking for a new advertising agency, but plans to continue with its 'The Complete Man' tagline.

* RELIANCE POWER: Forest clearance for company's 700 MW Tao-II hydroelectric power projects can be considered only after the power ministry submits interim findings of a study being done by it.

* RELIANCE INDUSTRIES: Has complained to the petroleum secretary that the directorate-general of hydrocarbons was being inconsistent and acting in a manner that damages the oil and gas sector. Is looking at acquiring big coal mines in the US .

* SESA GOA: Company is likely to commence iron-ore mining operations in Liberia by the year-end.

* SHOPPERS STOP: Has opened new outlet at Inorbit Mall, Vadodara.

* SPICEJET: Has begun a pilot project to directly import aviation turbine fuel, and has signed an agreement with RELIANCE INDUSTRIES to provide technical support for the same.

* TATA GLOBAL BEVERAGES: Tata Starbucks looking at promoting India sources Arabica beans from TATA COFFEE plantations using Starbucks' global network.

* TATA POWER: Company will defer its expansion and buyout plans due to adverse economic conditions.

* TATA MOTORS: Group global wholesales declined 16.2% on year in August to 81,457 units on account of weak performance by the domestic entity.

* ULTRATECH CEMENT: Board approved the acquisition of the Gujarat cement unit of Jaypee Cement Corp via a demerger.

* UNITED SPIRITS: Diageo will strike sales agreement with company, will pay company a fee for handling distribution and promotional activities.

* WOCKHARDT: Company has brought in new head of quality to ensure good manufacturing practices are followed. Move comes after quality concerns were
raised at two of its plants by overseas regulators.

* ZENSAR TECHNOLOGIES: Has inked a pact with Kapela Fund 1 and Tomorrow Trust to set up a Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment company in South Africa .

FREE SECTORS ALERT - 12.09.2013

* AVIATION: Competition commission of India will examine issue of domestic airlines almost simultaneously hiking fares by 25-30%.

* BANKING: RBI is relooking at norms on issuance of non-convertible debentures by non-banking financial companies.

* CONSUMER GOODS: Kyndal India Pvt Ltd, importer and manufacturer of premium spirits in India , has formed an equal joint venture, Terra Inc, with Bangalore-based JP Group to market their portfolio of spirits in rural areas.
- Amway India to focus on 38 bln rupees men's grooming products market. Tobacco companies in India may face steeper taxes with the government planning measures in response to the World Health Organisation seeking a 30% reduction in tobacco prevalence in the country by 2025.

* ECONOMY: Rating agency CRISIL has cut its growth forecast for India 's 2013-14 (Apr-Mar) gross domestic product to 4.8% from 5.5%, while it raised its forecast for agricultural sector growth to 4.5% from 3.5%.

* ENERGY: Supreme Court has asked the government to clarify on its powers, functions and role in allocation of coal blocks. Power ministry has sought a subsidy of over 243 bln rupees to help fuel-starved power plants use costly imported liquefied natural gas The move will help plants of NTPC, Essar Power, RELIANCE POWER, LANCO INFRATECH, GMR Energy, GVK, TORRENT POWER and other firms to run their stranded plants optimally.

* GOVERNMENT: Gujarat government signed memorandums of understanding with companies such as MARUTI SUZUKI INDIA, HERO MOTO CORP, Siemens Software Company, LARSEN & TOUBRO and Tata Group for setting up of five centres of excellence in engineering.  India extended a $144 mln line of credit to Liberia to fund a power transmission and distribution project, and inked an energy pact with the country.

* HOUSING: The National Housing Bank has capped lending rates for specialist mortgage lenders which seek refinance from it. Rates capped at 10.75% on home loans for the economically weaker sections.

* INFRASTUCTURE: Government has cleared a raft of projects worth 1.2 trillion rupees under the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor project as part of its initiative to spur manufacturing in the country.

* REGULATORS: RBI is considering accepting the Malegam Committee's recommendation, and recognising a self-regulatory organisation for the micro
finance sector.
- RBI will subscribe to $4 bln bond of International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, an arm of World Bank. Finance ministry is favouring making the Forward Markets Commission a division of the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

* SHIPPING: Visakhapatnam port plans to spend 45 bln rupees to expand cargo handling capacity from the existing 65 mtpa to 110 mtpa by 2015-16.

* TELECOM: Samsung India Electronics is eyeing 4 bln rupees from consumer electronic products and home appliances sales from east India in Sep-Nov. The existing regulatory framework of the telecom sector is likely to witness a major overhaul as the government intends to bring in changes in the existing rules and regulations for levying penalties on companies. -Polycom Inc, which provides unified communications and collaboration solutions, is in talks with telecom operators in India to offer video-to-video services using its RealPresence CloudAxis Suite. Reliance Jio Infocom could bid aggressively for airwaves in the 900 Mhz band for the Delhi , Mumbai and Kolkata circles in upcoming auctions, spurred by the telecom regulator's proposal for a 60% cut in base prices of this bandwidth, say analysts.

* OIL AND GAS: Union Cabinet is expected to approve the winding-up of Petronet India Ltd, the financial holding company promoted by INDIAN OIL CORP, HINDUSTAN PETROLEUM CORP, and BHARAT PETROLEUM CORPORATION.

FREE STOCKS ALERT - 11.09.2013

 * ACC: Planning to rope in franchise manufactures to produce bricks from fly-ash.

* ATLANTA : Subsidiary MORA Tollways has achieved financial closure for the Mohania-Ara project in Bihar through its special purpose vehicle.

* BHARATI SHIPYARD: Bankers turn increasingly wary of company's 58.6-bln-rupee debt recast programme in tough business conditions.

* BRITANNIA INDUSTRIES: Company plans to sell the prime property of Britannia Garden estate in Bengaluru and an 8.5-acre property in Chennai to raise close to 7 bln rupees.

* COAL INDIA: Government has appointed Khaitan & Co as legal adviser for the 5% divestment through offer for sale in the company.

* COUNTRY CLUB: Board approves proposal to raise up to $150 mln.

* DOLLAR INDUSTRIES: The Calcutta Stock Exchange-listed is setting up a fabric processing unit in Erode district of Tamil Nadu with an investment of 350 mln.

* DECCAN CHRONICLE HOLDINGS: Company has been declared a wilful defaulter by CENTRAL BANK OF INDIA. The bank has referred the matter to the Reserve Bank of India .

* EROS INTERNATIONAL MEDIA: Parent company Eros International Plc has sought approval for an initial public offering in the US .

* FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGIES: Company owned National Spot Exchange said five of the 19 defaulters against whom the exchange has initiated legal proceedings have committed to provide collaterals which could be sold to recover 13.28 bln rupees due from them.

* GAIL INDIA: Has signed a $60-bln, or 3.8 trln rupees, deal with two US-based companies for bringing in close to six mln tn of liquefied natural gas over a 20-year period beginning 2016-17.

* GUJARAT FLUOROCHEMICALS: Has incorporated a subsidiary company, Gujarat Fluorochemicals GmbH, in Hamburg , Germany .

* HCL TECHNOLOGIES: UK-based mining company Anglo American Plc has selected the company to deliver information technology services.

* HINDALCO INDUSTRIES: The Company’s capex outlay for 2013-14 (Apr-Mar) has come down to 50 bln rupees from 140 bln in 2012-13, as most of the company's capacity expansion projects are nearing completion.

* HINDUSTAN UNILEVER: Parent company Unilever Plc will keep investing in emerging markets such as India even though growth is slowing.

* INDIA CEMENTS: Company's Managing Director Srinivasan named as accused in charge sheet filed by Central Bureau of Investigation in a case of corruption against Jaganmohan Reddy.

* JAIPRAKASH POWER VENTURES: Has clarified that it has not mandated ICICI and IDFC as advisors for selling hydro assets.

* JINDAL STEEL AND POWER: Has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Republic of Liberia for setting up a 2X175 MW plant in that region.

*  NMDC: The Income Tax Department slapped a 16.31-bln-rupees demand notice on the company for assessment years 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10, alleging the company had under-invoiced some export accounts.

* NTPC: Kerala has suggested adopting pooled tariff policy from company's power plants in the country to make gas-generated electricity affordable for customers in the state.

* SKS MICROFINANCE: In a bid to scuttle founder Vikram Akula's attempt to get on the board, the company said shareholders have no right to nominate directors.

* STATE BANK OF INDIA : Raises salary limit eligibility norms for car loan seekers. Also increased service charges by 0.51%.

* TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES: Has been chosen as the strategic information technology partner by Scandinavian Airlines. Has bagged a five-year deal to electronically link all police stations in Goa .

* TATA MOTORS: Has launched its pick-up multi-utility vehicle Xenon in Nepal . The company's wholly owned arm PT Tata Motors Distribusi Indonesia has launched Aria, Vista, and Safari Storme vehicles in Indonesia . Company will launch 25-30 new products, upgrades and variants in the second half of the financial year.

* TATA POWER: Gujarat may accept hike in tariff for power from company's Mundra plant.

* TATA TELESERVICES ( MAHARASHTRA ): Lost 28,483 subscribers in August, shrinking its total user base to 10.31 mln.

* VOLTAS : Has won an order to install variable refrigerant flow systems for air conditioning at Mantri Developers' residential project in Bengaluru.

* ZENITH INFOTECH: A division bench of the Bombay High Court has dismissed an appeal by the company against the winding-up proceedings initiated by holders of foreign currency convertible bond of the company.

DAILY SECTORS ALERT - 10.09.2013

* AGRICULTURE: The southwest monsoon started exiting India by withdrawing from extreme west Rajasthan, about eight days behind the normal schedule of Sep 1.The US Food and Drug Administration is conducting inspection of arsenic level in rice being sold in the American markets including those of the basmati variety imported from India.

* AUTOMOTIVE: Toyota Kirloskar Motor Vice-Chairman Vikram Kirloskar has been elected president of Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers. Automotive parts supplier, Cooper Standard has commissioned its manufacturing facility at Bawal in Haryana at an investment of $7 mln. Ford India , effective Thursday, hiked prices of its compact sport utility vehicle EcoSport by 30,000-50,000 rupees and has announced a 1-5% hike across models.

* AVIATION: IndiGo has raised fares by 25% to offset the impact of rupee's fall against the dollar and spike in international crude oil prices. Air India has put properties, including four flats at Peddar Road in Mumbai and a land parcel in Gurgaon, on the block and expects sale of these properties to fetch the airline 550 mln rupees. The Air Passengers Association of India has taken the airlines to the Competition Commission of India, over alleged cartelisation as airlines increased fares by 25% in tandem.

* BANKING: The Reserve Bank of India is keen on banks offering mobile point-of-sales terminals to enable cashless transactions at non-branch locations.

* COMMODITIES: Forward Markets Commission has imposed an additional margin of 5% on base metals trading in futures to tackle volatility in markets.

* GOVERNMENT: India 's widening current account deficit has pushed up the country's external financing requirements and thereby the country's external debt. The government will soon take steps to curb inessential imports and cut wasteful expenditure. The government has not taken any decision to hike oil product prices yet, and will not take any hasty decision on the same.

* MEDIA: The ministry of information & broadcasting has decided to collect revenue data from broadcasters to ascertain their loss from the proposed cap on advertising at 12 minutes an hour from October. The Sahara Group has entered into a long-term alliance with the Dainik Bhaskar Group to expand the Q Shop retail chain in Delhi through Super Bazar outlets.

* OIL AND GAS: India and Japan announced setting up of joint study group on liquefied natural gas to analyse its procurement and competitive pricing in the Asia Pacific markets. The RELIANCE INDUSTRIES-British Petroleum combine, CAIRN INDIA and OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORP, had got some of their Krishna-Godavari Basin clocks partially cleared by the Cabinet Committee On Investments; have scaled down their investment plans.

* PHARMACEUTICALS: US Food and Drug Administration has named at least five companies including RPG LIFE SCIENCES and Marck Biosciences among 43 drug-makers that have failed to meet their annual facility fee payment obligations.

* POWER: Essar Power will start mining from the Mahan coal block at Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh by the end of 2014. Nuclear Power Corporation of India plans to enhance nuclear energy capacity by 10 times to 60,000 MW by 2032. RKP Energy Pvt to set up 120 MW power plant at Srirampur, near Chhatrapur in Ganjam district in Odisha with an investment of 5 bln rupees.

* REGULATORY: RBI has raised the cap on cash resident individuals can carry abroad to 10,000 rupees from 7,500 rupees earlier. Non-resident investors including non-resident Indians can buy shares of Indian companies on the exchanges through a registered broker under the foreign direct investment scheme. The Securities and Exchange Board of India has decided to give top priority to the claims of stock exchanges and clearing corporations over collaterals, deposits or margins of defaulter entities. Securities and Exchange Board of India has signed regulatory cooperation and information exchange pacts with counterparts in 31 European countries for greater oversight of hedge funds and other alternative investment funds with cross-border presence. Serious Fraud Investigation Office will commission a fraud detection model later this month to spot corporate wrongdoing at the initial stage.

* RETAIL: France-based Lacoste has said it will not cut product prices in the Indian market. Vikram Bakshi, the joint venture partner of US fast food chain McDonald's, approached the Company Law Board (CLB) on Monday for his reinstatement as managing director of the joint venture company, Connaught Plaza Restaurants Pvt.

ABP Pvt, which runs The Telegraph English daily and Anandabazar Patrika Bengali daily, has decided to raise cover prices of its Bengali daily and newly launched E bela tabloid to 5 rupees and 3 rupees respectively.

* TELECOM: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India recommended that the reserve price for spectrum in the 900 Mhz and 1,800 Mhz be reduced by 60% and 37%, respectively, from the current existing base rates.

FREE DAILY STOCKS ALERT - 05.09.2013

www.rupeedesk.in

* APOLLO HOSPITALS ENTERPRISES: A consortium headed by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Co is close to concluding a deal with Prathap C Reddy-controlled company which could see an investment of 5-6 bln rupees.

* AXIS BANK: Restrictions placed on purchase of shares of the bank by foreign investors has been withdrawn. Has said its total direct and indirect exposure to National Spot Exchange is insignificant.

* BAJAJ AUTO: Is expecting to receive required government approvals for its much-talked about RE60 quadricycle in 30-45 days.

* BRITANNIA INDUSTRIES: Is restructuring its business to beat slowdown. Company is focussing on expanding margins and cutting costs for the last one-and-a-half months.

* COAL INDIA: Company has signed agreements to supply coal to 16 private power projects worth 845 bln rupees with a generation capacity of over 14,000 mega watts.

* CESC: Has synchronised the first 300 MW thermal power unit of 2 X 300 MW project at Chandrapur, Maharashtra .

* FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGIES ( INDIA ): Has clarified that it does not provide any loan facilities to non-resident Indians to remit money. The income tax department will issue notices to two dozen borrowers of the company's arm National Spot Exchange as their probe so far has revealed that most of the trades undertaken by them were not backed by underlying commodities.

* HCL TECHNOLOGIES: Has entered into a pact with US-based Direct Energy to implement and manage the latter's residential billing and customer care operations in Alberta, Canada.

* GITANJALI GEMS: Promoter has pledged 1.56 mln shares of Gitanjali Gems on Aug 26.

* MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA: Will find it tough to meet its vehicle sales target for 2013-14 (Apr-Mar).

* POWER GRID CORP: Has approached the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission seeking cancellation of two power transmission lines contract awarded to RELIANCE INFRASTRUCTURE as it has not yet begun work on the projects.

* RELIANCE INDUSTRIES: Company and its partner BP have relinquished an exploration block in the Krishna-Godavari basin after a commercial oil discovery because the Director General of Hydrocarbons found that reserves were spread outside the block's area. Is on track to invest $24.4 bln in key projects by 2017 as its oil and gas business is turning around with two new gas finds while US shale gas and retails segments are growing fasters, Goldman Sachs said.

* SML ISUZU: Has sold 796 vehicles in August against 931 vehicles a year ago.

* SUBROS: Is staring at flat sales growth in the current financial year ending March as against a target of 15%.

* SUZLON ENERGY: Lenders recasting company's debts have put restrictions on any cash payment by the loss-making company to its unsecured debtors.

* SREI INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE: Is planning to bid for some of the 90 wind mills of troubled oil producer KS OILS, now being put up for auction.

* TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES: Has secured a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract from Macau-based telecom service provider CTM for deploying an information technology-based billing solution.

* TATA POWER: A working capital crunch, exacerbated by the dramatics slide in the rupee has forced company to rethink its expansion plans.

* TATA MOTORS: Is launching the diesel version of its small car Nano by the end of March.

* TATA STEEL: Has raised prices of its flat products by 5%, and those of long products by 3-5%.