FREE INDIAN STOCKS ALERT - 03.12. 2013

* ASHOK LEYLAND: Sales in November were down 27% from a year ago at 5,375 units. Sales of light commercial vehicles declined 8% on year to 2,660 units. Company has announced the launch of its intermediate commercial vehicle "Boss" priced at 1.05-1.20 mln rupees. 

* ALSTOM T&D INDIA : Has won a 790-mln-rupee order from POWER GRID CORP OF INDIA to supply 14 shunt reactors to the latter. 

* AMBUJA CEMENTS: The Foreign Investment Promotion Board kept the proposal of Holcim India for acquisition of shares of the company in abeyance. 

* BAYER CROPSCIENCE: Company bought back 2.87 mln shares worth 4.53 bln rupees at 1,580 rupees per share. 

* CAIRN INDIA: Company has struck significant oil reserves in its Krishna- Godavari basin and expects to produce 8,000-10,0000 barrels of oil per day from 2017. 

* COAL INDIA: Has suffered a production loss of around 600,000 tn, or a revenue loss of 500 mln rupees, due to an agitation by contract workers in the mines of arm Mahanadi Coalfields. 

* DENA BANK: Has decided to issue 118.58 mln shares to the government at 59.03 rupees per share. 

* EICHER MOTORS: Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles, a joint venture between Volvo Group and the company, is looking to double its market share in the heavy truck segment in India . 

* GMR INFRASTRUCTURE: Has sought 4.80 bln rupees for recovering fixed costs for its 388.5 MW gas-based power plant from the Andhra Pradesh Central Power Distribution Company. 

* HERO MOTOCORP: Sold 530,530 vehicles in November, a growth of 5.6% from the 502,305 units it sold in the same month last year. 

* IDEA CELLULAR: To seek shareholder approval through an extraordinary general meeting to rise the managing director's pay. 

* INDIABULLS SECURITIES: Board has issued and allotted 58.2 mln convertible warrants of face value of 2 rupees each to promoters, promoter group entities, and one of the whole time directors. 

* MULTI COMMODITY EXCHANGE OF INDIA : The Central Board of Direct Taxes conferred a status of recognised association to the Multi Commodity Exchange of India, enabling traders to set off their losses from derivatives transactions against their business income. 

* STEEL AUTHORITY OF INDIA : Has commenced production at its newly rebuilt second coke oven battery at Durgapur steel plant. 

* STEEL STRIPS WHEELS: Company sold 869,680 wheel rims in November, up 12% from a year ago. 

* POWER GRID CORP OF INDIA : Expects to mop up over 70 bln rupees from its 787.05 mln share follow-on public offer. To start surveillance of its transmission lines using a helicopter to prevent damages and theft from its grid. 

* RELIANCE MEDIAWORKS: Will seek shareholder approval to raise up to 5 bln rupees by issuing shares or convertible securities to qualified institutional
investors. 

* SHREY CHEMICALS: Board has approved issue of bonus shares in the ratio of two shares for every one share held. 

* TATA MOTORS: Arm Jaguar Land Rover has signed a deal to sell 100,000 cars to China 's National Sales Company over the next year for around 460 bln
rupees. 

* TATA STEEL: The company, along with New Millennium Iron Corporation, its partner in the Taconite project in Canada , is planning to rope in additional partners for the project. 

* UNITED BANK OF INDIA : Likely to appoint an auditor to conduct a forensic audit of its accounts for identification of non performing assets. 

*  WIPRO: Has signed a definitive agreement to acquire US-based Opus Capital Market Consultants for $75 mln. 

* ZEE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES: Company has raised advertisement rates by 20% effective today for its channel Ten Sports for the upcoming India-South Africa cricket series. 

- Co's channel Ten Sports hopes to earn 1.2 bln rupees from coverage of upcoming India-South Africa cricket test series between Dec 5-26.

FREE STOCKS ALERT - 06.11.2013

* COAL INDIA: Government to decide on company's follow on pubic offer by first week of December.

* ESCORTS: Plans to make 'Ferrari' tractors in India . Plans to indigenously manufacture the product.

* FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGIES INDIA : Corporate Affairs Minister Sachin Pilot has said the government is taking a holistic view of the payment defaults at arm National Spot Exchange.

* HINDUSTAN MOTORS: Sold a total of 330 passenger vehicles in India in October, 20.9% lower than the corresponding period a year ago.

* IIFL: Has slowly metamorphosed into a non-banking finance company like its peers, with the volatile equity market hurting its broking business.

* KINGFISHER AIRLINES: Local court in Goa refrains banks from taking over promoter Vijay Mallya's Kingfisher villa in the state.

* MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA FINANCIAL SERVICES: Is look at the option of entering the South African market for auto financing.

* MARUTI SUZUKI: May reduce its diesel engine supplies from Italian carmaker FIAT by about half.

* NTPC: Is set to start mining from its captive 'Pakri Barwadih' coal block in Jharkhand to produce power.

* OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORP: Oil Companies from Asia such as Kuwait National etroleum Co, Qatar Petroleum, and Emirates National Oil Co show interest for buying a 26% in ONGC's upcoming Manglore project.

* RELIANCE COMMUNICATIONS: Is on track to sell more than 10,000 iPhones under its 'free' iPhone scheme this month. Has deactivated 10.5 mln unprofitable accounts in September, data from Telecom Regulatory Authority of India showed.

* RELIGARE ENTERPRISES: Company's non-banking financial arm Religare Finvest has reduced its corporate loan book to help tackle rising slippages.

* STATE BANK OF TRAVANCORE: Posted Jul-Sep net profit of 553.4 mln rupees, down 59.20% on year. Interest earned rose 15.9% on year to 24.2 bln rupees.

* TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES: Has received a contract from US-based Zions Bancorporation for its core banking software solution TCS BaNCS.

* UNITED SPIRITS: New owner Diageo has hired consulting firm Accenture to restructure the company's balance sheet.

FREE STOCKS ALERT - 05.11.2013

* BHARTI AIRTEL: Sells complete stock of iPhone 5s on festival demand, seeks additional handsets. In talks to buy out Warid group's telecom business in Congo , Africa . 

* EMPEE DISTILLERIES: Plan to enter the Singapore and Malaysian markets to sell premium whiskey, will have tie-ups with local distributors. 

* INFOSYS: Will need to hire an independent third-party auditor to monitor and review its compliance with certain visa rules in the US . 

* JSW STEEL: Is planning to set up centres in rural India to effectively market its products.  

* KINGFISHER AIRLINES: Promoter Vijay Mally's villa in Goa is attached by SBICAP trustee company after the airline failed to pay dues.

* ORIENTAL BANK OF COMMERCE: Not planning to raise any equity capital for 2013-14, expect the 1.5-bln-rupee infusion proposed by the government. 

* SHREE RENUKA SUGARS: Wilmar International, a Singapore-based agribusiness group, has initiated talks to buy stake in the company.

FREE INDIAN STOCKS ALERT - 18.10.2013

* ADANI PORTS AND SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE: Ministry of Environment and Forests has directed the company to restore all the creeks, water bodies and reclaimed land at the North Port area of Mundra block in Kutch district to the pre-2005 status in six months. 

* ALLIANCE INTEGRATED METALIKS: Has sold 5% stake in its subsidiaries ARGL and ACIL. 

* BHARTI AIRTEL: Nxtra Data, a newly created arm of the company, plans to add new data centres across multiple locations. 

* DLF: Promoter Pia Singh, along with persons acting in concert, will acquire up to 16 mln shares, representing 0.9% stake, from another promoter Mallika Housing Co LLP by Nov 30.

* FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGIES INDIA : The Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai Police has arrested Anjani Sinha, former managing director and chief executive officer of arm National Spot Exchange, after interrogating him for 7-8 hours in the alleged 58-bln-rupee default scam. A special panel examining governance issues at MCX-Stock Exchange has discovered that it has a 99-year deal with the promoter firm and will have to pay a hefty compensation if ties are snapped.

* FOSECO INDIA: Reported a net profit of 49.10 mln rupees for the Jul-Sep quarter, up 0.89% on year. Revenue was down 10.54% on year at 554.77 mln rupees. 

* HCL TECHNOLOGIES: Has said a shift away from traditional on-premise enterprise software from vendors such as SAP and Oracle Corp to cloud-based offering is largely behind poor growth in its software services. 

* HINDALCO INDUSTRIES: The first information report filed by the CBI against Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla has said a coal block in Odisha was granted to the company at the cost of Neyveli Lignite Corp, after Birla met the then coal secretary P.C. Parakh in July 2005. 

- The company has set up an internal team to look into investigations against the company in the light of the discovery of 250 mln rupees in cash at one of its offices by CBI. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik defended his move to recommend the Talabira-II coal block in favour of the company, denying allegations of undue favour. 

-After CBI, the public accounts committee of Parliament has decided to summon for questioning Kumar Mangalam Birla and former coal secretary P.C. Parakh in relation to the coal block allocation case.

* HINDUSTAN PETROLEUM CORP: Has identified Rewari in Haryana as an important pipeline hub to transport fuels such as diesel, petrol and kerosene to Uttar Pradesh from its Punjab and Rajasthan refineries. 

* INFOSYS: Will recruit more than 8,000 employees in Pune over the next six months as part of its expansion plans for which it is getting an additional 150 acres in the city. 

* IRB INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPERS: Was not able to begin collecting toll at its Kolhapur road project despite the Bombay High Court's directive to provide police protection, as anti-toll activists continued protests. 

* JK PAPER: Has launched two copier paper brands--JK C Max and JK Max. JK C Max is targeted at small offices home offices, while JK Max is aimed for upcountry markets. 

* RAYMOND: Plans to offload a minority stake in its engineering arm JK Files. 

* RELIANCE INDUSTRIES: Chairman Mukesh Ambani and BP CEO Bob Dudley may meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday to seek clarity on the gas policy. 

* SPICEJET: Qatar Airways is in talks with the airline operator for a possible acquisition of 24% stake in the company. 

* STATE BANK OF INDIA : Has reinstated the check-off facility to its officer's federation, backtracking from a decision last month to terminate the facility
to clamp down on trade union activities.

* TATA MOTORS: Unveiled its Aria multi-purpose vehicle in South Africa at the Johannesburg International Motor Show 2013.

* WOCKHARDT: Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has asked pharmacies, dispensing clinics, and wholesalers in the UK to return five prescription-only medicines manufactured at the company's plant in Aurangabad .

FREE SECTORS ALERT - 17.10.2013

* AGRICULTURE: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs is likely to take up the issue of minimum support prices for rabi crops today. 

* BROADCAST: Malaysia 's Astro All Asia Networks has told CBI it paid a lower value to buy stake in Sun Direct TV, denying allegations that it paid a premium to buy the stake. 

* COAL: Former coal secretary P.C. Parakh said if the CBI alleges conspiracy in allocation of coal blocks in Odisha, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,
who as coal minister took the decision, should also be seen as a co-conspirator. 

* ECONOMY: India 's services exports declined to $12.31 bln in August from $12.94 bln in July, and service imports fell to $6.29 bln from $6.62 bln. The Planning Commission will carry out a self-appraisal before it comes out with the 12th Plan mid-term review, due middle of next year. 

-The revised version of the Constitution Bill, meant to pave way for Goods and Services Tax, proposes to abolish entry taxes and octroi levied by state governments and municipalities. 

* ENERGY: POWER GRID CORP OF INDIA , STERLITE TECHNOLOGIES' arm Sterlite Grid and Invensa are among seven bidders to set up a transmission system for evacuation of power from Torrent Power's 1,200 MW DGEN generation project. Department of Commerce has asked Iran to accept payment of crude oil imports by India entirely in rupees or face the risk of losing its biggest client.

- The winning bidder of the ultra mega power project in Tamil Nadu will get he rights to develop a minor captive port. A consortium of ONGC Videsh, INDIAN OIL and OIL INDIA has decided against uying an 11% stake that their partner Petronas of Malaysia is selling in a 20-bln oil project in Venezuela . 

* EXCHANGES: At the time the fraud at National Spot Exchange was revealed, SNP Designs and its Managing Director Shalini Sinha, wife of Anjani Sinha, former MD & CEO of the exchange, began punching in leveraged trades worth billions of rupees on MULTI COMMODITY EXCHANGE. The Enforcement Directorate questioned Anjani Sinha, former MD & CEO of National Spot Exchange on Wednesday.  

- Forward Markets Commission has written to the government it suspects the 24 buyer-members who figured in National Spot Exchange payments crisis may have been used as fronts to siphon off most of the 55.7 bln rupees they owe to investors. 

* GOVERNMENT: The finance ministry has permitted authorised travel agents--BALMER LAWRIE & CO, Ashok Travels & Tours, and the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corp--to levy 'facilitation fee' on air tickets booked on government accounts. 

* INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: EXL Services has readied a war-chest to make acquisitions in multiple locations such as the US , Columbia and China . 

* PHARMACEUTICALS: Multinational companies keen to acquire Indian drug firms may no longer be able to forbid them from making and selling similar generic drugs in the domestic market by inserting a 'non-compete clause' in their merger and acquisition agreements. 

* RAILWAYS: Ministry has asked for certain changes in the draft foreign direct investment proposal for the sector in a bid to remove the barriers to foreign investment under the current policy. 

* REGULATORY: The ministry of corporate affairs has formed two panels, one each for inspection of books of accounts of MCX and National Spot Exchange, which can complement the ongoing multi-agency investigation of alleged 58-bln-rupee scam. SEBI has asked the corporate affairs ministry to clarify applicability of the new Companies Law on firms with listed non-convertible debt securities. 

* RETAIL: Tesco has moved a step closer to entering the Indian retail market with Tata group, its partner in India , launching a neighbourhood convenience store format modelled on Tesco Express. eBay, SoftBank and a clutch of private equity players are looking to pump in $150 mln-$200 mln fresh funds into Snapdeal. 

* REAL ESTATE: Foreign investors in the sector may be allowed to bring in only $5 mln as minimum capital, down from $10 mln currently, if the Cabinet approves the proposal.

* TELECOM: India added 4.407 mln subscribers of mobile phone services based on the global system for mobile communications technology in September, compared with an addition of 1.781 mln in August. 

FREE DAILY STOCKS ALERT - 15.10.2013

* APOLLO TYRES: Cooper Avon Tyres Pension Trust has alleged the acquisition of Cooper Tire by the company will be detrimental to pension plans. 

* ANDHRA PRADESH PAPER MILLS: Reported Jul-Sep net loss at 665.70 mln rupees, against a profit of 121.1 mln rupees last year. Net sales were up 3.13% on year at 2.5 bln rupees.

* BHARTI AIRTEL: Vodafone India and IDEA CELLULAR have significantly raised rentals of 2G data plans over the past week.

* CMC: Reported a net profit of 673.12 mln rupees for the Jul-Sep quarter, up 36.26% on year. Sales were up 22.36% on year at 5.6 bln rupees. 

* CROMPTON GREAVES: Company has inaugurated 1600 kV ultra high voltage research centre at its switchgear manufacturing complex in Nashik. 

* DENA BANK: The bank has cut interest rates on its tractor loans by 50-150 basis points for the period Oct 12 to Mar 31. It will offer tractor loans of up to 10 mln rupees at 10.25%. 

* FORTIS HEALTHCARE: Has sold its Hong Kong unit, a primary healthcare chain, to insurance major Bupa for $355 mln to help reduce debt. 

* FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGIES ( INDIA ): The company confirmed that some of its directors had appeared before the economic offences wing in reference to the default by National Spot Exchange.

* FRONTLINE SECURITIES: Board has approved a buy back 24.99% of the company's equity capital at a price of 32.50 rupees per share.  

* HERO HONDA MOTORS: Plans to bring its high-end all-terrain vehicles to India to cash in on the rising demand for such vehicles. 

* IDEA CELLULAR: A telecom department committee has recommended a penalty of 6 bln rupees on the company for its merger with Spice Communications, which the panel found to be a 'wilful' violation of the telecom licence conditions.

* IKF FINANCE: Board has approved plan to delist company's shares.

* INDIAN INFOTECH & SOFTWARE: Board has accepted the resignation of Managing Director Ruchir Mohunta. 

* INDIAN OIL CORP: Company has emerged as the 'selected bidder' for buying 39.99% stake in Haldia Petrochemicals held by the West Bengal government. Has purchased 1-mln barrels of Brent crude from Sterling Oil's Nigerian fields.

* LLOYDS FINANCE: Reported net loss of 5.50 mln rupees for the Jul-Sep quarter against a loss of 4.07 mln rupees last year. 

* LIC HOUSING FINANCE: Company will cut home loan rates on various schemes by 25 basis points from Tuesday. 

* NHPC: Three Nimoo Bazgo hydel project units of the company of 15 MW capacity each, have started operation with effect from Oct 10. 

* NTPC: Plans to create a separate coal mining division in an attempt to secure fuel supplies to run its thermal power plants.

* RELIANCE COMMUNICATIONS: Along with BHARTI AIRTEL will launch Apple Inc's iPhone 5S and 5C in India on Nov 1. 

* RELIANCE INDUSTRIES: Posted Jul-Sep net profit at 54.9 bln rupees, up 1.5% on year against 54.1 bln rupees. Sales for the quarter were up 14.86% on year at 1.04 trln rupees. 

* RELIANCE INFRASTRUCTURE: Will replace VIJAYA BANK in the Nift Midcap 50 index from Nov 29.

* SPECIALITY RESTAURANTS: Company has shut down its 'Machaan' restaurant in Mumbai.

FREE SECTORS ALERT - 09.10.2013

* AUTOMOTIVE: BMW plans to launch an array of car models to take on its sprightlier rivals like Audi and Mercedes Benz and also enhance its annual production capacity to 14,000 vehicles with a fresh investment of 2.10 bln rupees.

* AVIATION: Air Costa Aviation, set to launch operation from Oct 14, plans to invest $100 mln over the next two years in the airline business. Indian Air Force has launched competitive bidding for jet fuel supply, ending INDIAN OIL CORP's dominance on supply of 40 bln-rupee worth of fuel for aircraft and lubricants.

- The proposed Tata Sons-Singapore Airlines joint venture full service carrier is preparing to begin operations within six to seven months and also start international flights soon if the rule for Indian airlines to do so is relaxed.

* COMMODITY: Bayer CropScience, the crop protection and agri-products arm of Germany 's Bayer AG, is in preliminary talks to purchase less than 26% in Kaveri Seeds.

* ECONOMY - The finance ministry has scaled down its projections for the gross domestic product growth in 2013-14 to 5.0-5.5% in its quarterly review (Apr-Jun).

* ENERGY: The government will set up wind and solar farms in Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu in the first phase of the 430-bln-rupee green energy corridors project that aims to add 30,000 MW to the national grid by 2020.

-The finance ministry has rejected a proposal to provide subsidy to gas-based power plants of firms like GMR INFRASTRUCTURE, GVK POWER, LANCO INFRATECH, TORRENT POWER, RELIANCE POWER, NTPC to keep tariffs low.

* FDI: Government is likely to reject the urban development ministry's proposal to scrap all restrictions on foreign direct investment below 50% in real estate on grounds that there can be no exemption on rules such as minimum area norms.

* INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Private equity giant Apax Partners has acquired GlobalLogic for $420 mln (25.78 bln rupees). IBM aims to expand its business with Indian automobile manufacturers and component suppliers.

* REGULATOR: RBI will look at several measures of inflation and cannot neglect any aspect of inflation, Governor Raghuram Rajan said.

* TAXATION: According to preliminary information with the finance ministry, construction and works contracts firms account for bulk of applications for availing of the government's service tax amnesty scheme.

* TELECOM: The telecom department has once again rubbished Comptroller and Auditor General's claims that the government's policy of allowing a 'set-off' to telecom operators was illegal and caused national loss to the exchequer.

- Vodafone India is likely to soon ask Finland 's Nokia Solutions and Networks to manage its countrywide enterprise or "corporate customer" business in a deal which could be worth over $150 mln. 

FREE SECTORS ALERT - 08.10.2013

* AVIATION: Tata Sons hopes to get timely approval from government for their joint venture with Singapore Airlines, a group official said. Government may soon decide on relaxing the norms of five years of domestic flying and a 20-aircraft fleet to allow Indian carriers to operate abroad.

* BANKING: Banking secretary has said the 50 basis point cut in marginal standing facility rate will have a positive impact on the economy. RBI will conduct term repos of 7-day and 14-day every Friday starting this week.

* ENERGY: Regulatory authorities are obstructing oil minister Veerappa Moily's measures to resolve the controversy around Reliance Industries' KG-D6 field
with the help of an international expert.

* EXCHANGES: The BSE decided to shift shares of 56 companies to the trade-for- trade segment with a circuit filter of 5%, effective Friday.

* FDI: The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion is learnt to have given its approval to Hennes & Mauritz AB's 7-bln-rupee investment proposal.

* HOSPITALITY: Leela Palaces , Hotels and Resorts said it has decided to discontinue its 25-year-old branding alliance with the German hotel group Kempinski.

* INSURANCE: Shriram Life Insurance is eyeing the 49% foreign direct investment norm for insurers for Sanlam Group to up stake in the company from 26% at present.

* METALS: Indian lenders to debt-laden Essar Steel have agreed to guarantee a $2-bln overseas loan for the steelmaker, which would allow it to repay a part of its 315-bln-rupee-denominated debt.

* REALTY: Tata Housing and Development Co has undertaken before the Supreme Court that it would maintain status quo at its 18-bln-rupee Camelot project, located in the Sukhna Lake 's catchment area in Chandigarh .

* REGULATORS: Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor Khan said India 's current account deficit is expected to be lower than last year's level. BSE and Deutsche Borse announced a pact under which the latter will act as an exclusive licensor of the former's market data and information products to all international clients.

* RETAIL: Commerce Minister Anand Sharma ruled out any further relaxation in the multi-brand retail policy, saying that the government cannot come up with 'company-specific' policies.

* TELECOM: The government is likely to issue detailed guidelines for sharing spectrum and announce "in principle" approval for trading in airwaves before it holds the next round of bandwidth auctions.

- LG India may consider manufacturing smartphones in the country when it captures 10% share of the 359-bln-rupee Indian handset market, Managing Director Kwon has said.

- Vodafone India has the money and intent to acquire smaller operators in the country to expand its business, but is awaiting clarity on mergers and acquisitions rules from the government, Chief Executive Officer Pieters said.

FREE SECTORS ALERT - 01.10.2013

* AGRICULTURE: Bank loans to the agriculture sector grew 12.1% in August, compared with 18.7% a year ago, while growth of loans to industry rose 17.3% in the same period, unchanged over a year ago.

* ECONOMY: India 's annual inflation rate based on the Consumer Price Index for industrial workers fell to 10.75% in August from 10.85% in July.  India and Mozambique have agreed to deepen their trade ties and enhance bilateral trade to $3 bln by 2016 from the current $1.3 bln.

- Minister of State for Commerce and Industry D. Purandeswari said tax-related challenges such as minimum alternate tax in special economic zones still need to be addressed.  India 's current account deficit for the quarter ended Sep 30 will narrow to $10 bln or below, Planning Commission member Saumitra Chaudhuri said.

* GOVERNMENT: The issues raised by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi regarding the ordinance seeking to negate the Jul 10 order of the Supreme Court, which struck down a legal provision that protected lawmakers from disqualification when convicted in a criminal case, will be discussed in the Cabinet meeting scheduled on Wednesday.

* PHARMACEUTICAL: Sanofi SA is keen on expanding its presence in the emerging markets, including India , through the inorganic route, despite the negative sentiment surrounding the industry following stricter price curbs, intellectual property issues, and delay in approval for foreign investment proposals.

- The Supreme Court has stayed approvals granted to 162 applications for clinical trials, and has asked the sector's regulator to provide evidence that norms for drug related research are being followed.

* REGULATORY: The Securities and Exchange Board of India has said stock brokers will require to register just once per exchange or clearing corporation, instead of multiple registrations required earlier, for operating in different segments of a stock exchange or clearing corporation.

- SEBI has asked stock exchanges to impose fines as a first resort in case of non-compliance of listing agreement and resort to suspension of trading only in case of subsequent cases of default. The Reserve Bank of India has asked all urban co-operative banks to submit auditors' certificates regarding re-verification of agricultural debt waiver and debt relief scheme by Oct 15.

* TELECOM: Nokia India has sufficient assets in the country to meet tax obligations and its details will be shared with the tax department.

* TOBACCO: The health and family welfare ministry will launch on Oct 2 two anti-tobacco advertisements--'Child' and 'Dhuan'--on the issue of passive smoking and implementation of smoke-free policies in India.

FREE STOCKS ALERT - 27.09.2013

* BALRAMPUR CHINI MILLS: Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction has sanctioned merger of Khalilabad Sugar Mills Pvt with the company.

* BHARTI AIRTEL: The telecom department is likely to impose an additional penalty of 2.04 bln rupees on the company for offering 3G services through
intra-circle roaming pacts.

* CHAMBAL FERTILISERS & CHEMICALS: Promoter has pledged 1.78 mln shares of the company on Monday and Tuesday.

* GREAVES COTTON: Is ready with a 265cc petrol engine to help automakers foray into quadricycles once the government gives its go-ahead.

* HERO MOTOCORP: Is stepping up product launches and plans to introduce over 15 offerings by March next year.

* HINDUSTAN MOTORS: Maker of Ambassador saloon is set to declare itself a sick unit and will soon report to the Board of Industrial and Financial Reconstruction that its net worth has been completely wiped out.

* IL&FS TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS: Committee of directors has approved allotment of 200 mln cumulative redeemable preference shares of 10 rupees each at a premium of 10 rupees.

* JET AIRWAYS: Has defaulted on lease rentals of its Boeing 737s, highlighting financial difficulties of the airline.

* MVL: SEBI has barred the company from raising any further funds from general public through its collective investment scheme.

* OBEROI REALTY: Promoter Vikas Oberoi's offer for sale of 11.4 mln shares of the company received bids for 18.5 mln shares at a clearing price of 167.50 rupees per share.

* OMAXE: Shareholders approved raising of additional long-term funds of up to 6 bln rupees through issue of securities at the annual general meeting.

* POLARIS FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY: Has secured an order from Nationwide Financial to implement its claims solution, Polaris Intellect.

* RELIANCE POWER: Has approached the power regulator seeking an increase in tariff for electricity generated from its ultra mega power project at Tilaiya in Jharkhand.

* SKS MICROFINANCE: Board has reappointed Ramachandra Rao as the managing director & chief executive officer for a period of five years.

* STATE BANK OF INDIA : Terminated the check-off facility to its officers' federation in its biggest clamp down on trade union activities.

* TATA POWER: The Maharashtra government may seek the Central Vigilance Commission's opinion on recommendations of compensatory tariff for Tata Power's Mundra plant. Will shut its 500 MW unit at its 1,580 MW Trombay power plant if it is not able to convert the gas/oil fuelled unit into a coal-fired one.

* VARUN INDUSTRIES: Shareholders have approved the company's plan to restructure its debt, and increase borrowing limit to 30 bln rupees from 20 bln rupees.

* WANBURY: The US Food and Drug Administration have classified the company's manufacturing facilities at Patalganga and Tanaku as acceptable.  

* ZENITH INFOTECH: Has assured the apex court of informing it about a debt repayment plant on Monday.

FREE SECTORS ALERT - 26.09.2013

* AVIATION: The government has decided to allow airlines to charge a transaction fee but has insisted the amount be part of the airfare and not outside it. The government's plans to hand over operations of Chennai and Lucknow airports have generated interest from Tata group and Essar group. The government has put on hold fund infusion of equity of over 35.74 bln rupees in Air India .

* BANKING: The Reserve Bank of India has asked banks to "strictly desist" from any practice that would distort the interest rate structure of a product as this impairs the transparency of the pricing mechanism which is important for customers to take informed decision.

-The Reserve Bank of India today lowered the minimum maturity period to one year from three years on foreign exchange borrowings by banks, beyond 50% of their unimpaired Tier-I capital, to avail the central bank's swap facility.

    - The Reserve Bank of India may be open to relaxing the initial equity capital requirement of 5 bln rupees for setting up a bank if it fails to find enough "fit and proper" candidates during the screening process. The Reserve Bank of India said banks must pass on benefits like discounts to consumers who take loans to buy products.

* CEMENT: Star Ferro and Cement would be listed on the National Stock Exchange and BSE in mid-October.

* COMPANIES: The government will rate non-profit organisations on their past performance, to help companies discharge their corporate social responsibility
under the Companies Act, 2013.

* CONSUMER GOODS: Reserve Bank of India has told banks to withdraw 0% interest rate schemes for purchase of consumer goods through credit cards.

* HOSPITALITY: A Blackstone group affiliate has agreed to buy 16 hotels from Hersha Hospitality Trust for $217 mln.

* INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: NASSCOM has signed a memorandum of understanding with Japan 's Fujitsu Research Institute to promote co-operation in the area of IT and business process management services between India and Japan .

* INSURANCE: Reliance Life Insurance Co has launched life insurance policies in electronic dematerialised form across all its products.

* METALS: Calcutta High Court has temporarily barred Stemcor Holdings from selling its Indian assets, on a petition by ICICI BANK alleging that the assets have been given as collateral.

- The Reserve Bank of India said it is "closely and continuously" monitoring liquidity conditions in the banking system, and that it will take appropriate actions, including open market operations, to ensure adequate credit flow to productive sectors.

* MINING: The government began its submissions in the Goa iron ore mining case before the Supreme Court and conceded that there were some irregularities in
granting of environmental clearances to miners.

- The Supreme Court observed that it would examine if the government decisions in coal block awards were in conformity with the statutes even as the government counsel argued that mining laws were complied with in all allocations.

* PHARMACEUTICALS: The roadmap in formulating a strategy for the sector to provide affordable medicines is likely to be prepared by mid-2014.

* RAILWAYS: Department of industrial policy and promotion has circulated a cabinet note proposing 100% FDI in railway projects involving infrastructure development. Delhi Metro Rail Corp has asked the urban development ministry that the amount equal to termination payment it has to pay for the airport express line be given to it as an interest-free subordinate debt. Delhi Metro's third phase may see cost escalation by over 100 bln rupees.

* RETAIL: Alibaba Group Holding will pursue initial public offering in the US after talks with Hong Kong regulators broke down.

* TELECOM: The Telecom Regulatory Authority has released recommendations on "full mobile number portability" in the country whereby telecom service providers would be given six months to implement it. Micromax and Aircel have tied up to offer cheaper voice and internet services to users. 

FREE STOCKS ALERT - 30.08.2013

* BHARAT FORGE: Will focus on becoming a net debt-free company and improving return ratio over the next five years. 

* BIRLA SHLOKA EDUTECH: Board has approved warrant issue to promoters on preferential basis. 

* BURNPUR CEMENT: Board has approved the issue of 4 mln convertible warrants. 

* COAL INDIA: The government appointed seven merchant bankers to advice on the 5% divestment in the company. 

* FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGIES: A firm controlled by the Jignesh Shah-led group of companies has been trading on the Financial Technologies-promoted Multi Commodity Exchange of India in violation of government guidelines. 

* GATEWAY DISTRIPARKS: Will buy Nicherei Logistics Group's 6% stake in its cold chain logistics solution arm Snowman Logistics for 259 mln rupees. 

* GODREJ INDUSTRIES: Has sought shareholder approval through postal ballot for a 1.5-bln-rupee investment in GODREJ CONSUMER PRODUCTS through shares, loans or inter-corporate deposits. 

* HDFC BANK: Launched 18 new rural branches in Haryana, taking its coverage in the state to 200 branches. 

* HERO MOTOCORP: Hero MotoCorp Ltd is planning several launches and product upgrades in next few months. 

* IDEA CELLULAR: Has applied for unified licences to provide voice and data services in seven circles and said it would comply with the telecom department's guidelines on roaming agreements. 

* ING VYSYA: Has raised interest rates on deposits maturing across different tenures by 25-50 basis points with effect from Aug 28. 

* JET AIRWAYS INDIA : To launch second Mumbai-Singapore daily flight from Nov 1. 

* MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA: The Competition Commission of India has given its approval to the M&M group's proposed multi-structured deal with Spain 's auto component maker CIE Group. 

* MPHASIS: Consolidated net profit of the company was 1.93 bln rupees May-Jul, up 9.1% quarter-on-quarter, and net sales were at 15.40 bln rupees, up 9.6% on quarter. 

* NITESH ESTATES: Has launched a 3-bln-rupee project, Nitesh British Columbia , in South Bengaluru . 

* SHRIRAM EPC: Has approved plans to issue optionally convertible debentures worth 1 bln rupees, and cumulative redeemable preference shares worth 2 bln rupees. 

* SPICEJET: The company is in talks with Airbus to acquire A320neo narrow body aircraft. 

* STATE BANK OF INDIA : Life Insurance Corp of India had raised its shareholding in the bank by acquiring 2.86% stake, through various open market transactions between Jan 21, 2010 and Aug 27, 2013. The bank will hike interest rates on bulk deposits with a maturity of between 7 days and 60 days to 9% effective Saturday. The bank will also raise interest rates on bulk deposits with maturity of between 61 days and one year to 8.25%.

FREE SECTORS ALERT - 30.08.2013

* AVIATION: The ministry of civil aviation is open to giving private companies 100% control to operate and manage six state-run airports. 

* BANKING: Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has asked banks to ensure smooth credit flow to various sectors.

* DEVELOPMENT CREDIT BANK: Has raised base rate by 35 basis points to 10.85% effective from Sunday. 

* ECONOMY: Notwithstanding the steep correction in Indian equities, Bank of America Merrill Lynch sees further downside risks and expects earnings downgrades. 

* ENERGY: All India coal stock of thermal power stations was 23.3 mln tn as on Aug 21, which was sufficient for 19 days, compared with 9.12 mln tn coal for nine days a year ago. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved petroleum ministry's plan to extend direct benefit transfer for liquefied petroleum gas scheme. 

    - The petroleum ministry has finalised a shale oil and gas exploration policy, which will be tabled before the Cabinet soon after the oil minister approves it, petroleum secretary Vivek Rae said. 

* FERTILISER: Parliamentary standing committee on chemicals and fertilizers has recommended an effective mechanism be put in place to examine and scrutinize reasonableness of maximum retail price fixed by fertiliser companies. 

* GOVERNMENT: After over two years of debate on the Land Acquisition Bill, the Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the legislation that seeks to provide a fair compensation to families whose land has been acquired for development and commercial purposes. The Commerce Ministry has asked the Finance Ministry to include export credit in priority sector lending of all banks to boost overseas sales. 
   
- Domestic jewelers may get more time for repayment under the metal gold loan scheme, a measure the government is discussing with the Reserve Bank of India in a bid to curb forex outflows and arrest rupee depreciation. 

    - The government on Thursday said it would extend direct benefit transfer programme for cooking gas connections to another 269 districts by January. 

* INFRASTRUCTURE: Planning Commission will meet officials from roads and railways ministries on Friday to discuss changes in concession agreement for public-private partnership projects. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved continuation of the Ground Water Management and Regulation scheme. 

* LEGAL: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Central Bureau of Investigation to complete its investigation in the coal field allocation case by December and gave the government four weeks to submit a report to the agency on missing files and documents related to the probe. 

* MARKETS: Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said it is wrong to argue that markets are spooked by food security bill and land acquisition bill. 

* METALS: The government is considering a plan to direct commercial banks to buy gold from ordinary citizens and divert it to precious metal refiners in an attempt to curb imports and take some heat off the plunging currency. 

* OIL AND GAS: The government has said it will import oil from Iran amid imminent strikes by the US on Syria . 

* REGULATORY: RBI Governor D. Subbarao said the US Federal Reserve's proposed tapering of its ultra-loose monetary policy cannot alone be blamed for the fall in rupee. 

* STEEL: A consortium of 15 banks led by STATE BANK OF INDIA will likely add to their exposure to the highly-leveraged Essar Steel, lending it an additional 60 bln rupees. 

* TELECOM: The department of telecom has proposed a swap formula whereby the defence forces have been asked to vacate the 15 MHz spectrum in the 3G band in exchange for the same amount of spectrum in another frequency band.

FREE DAILY STOCKS ALERT - 20.08.2013

* CANARA BANK: Will raise interest rate on domestic and non-resident ordinary term deposits of 10 mln rupees and above, of 31 days to 45 days maturity, by
175 basis points to 8.25%.

* DATAMATICS GLOBAL SERVICES: Has reached an agreement with PreMedia Global Group to merge the digital publishing and e-retail services of the two companies.

* DENA BANK: Has raised interest rates on foreign currency non-resident deposits of 3-5 years by 100 basis points.

* FORTIS HEALTHCARE: Has received preliminary bids for its Hong Kong arm Quality Healthcare Medical Services from Japanese firm Mitsui and US private equity firm Carlyle.

* FRESENIUS KABI ONCOLOGY: The Securities Appellate Tribunal has reserved its judgment on the company's plea challenging the conditional nod given by SEBI for its delisting plans.

* HINDUSTAN ZINC: Has raised price of special high grade zinc by 3,100 rupees a tn to 145,600 rupees at Chanderiya complex.

* ICICI BANK: Will continue to repatriate capital from its arms in Canada and UK with the aim of improving the return on equities of the two foreign subsidiaries.

* INDIAN HOTELS CO: Central Vigilance Commission has asked New Delhi Municipal Council to examine the delay in auction of Taj Mansingh Hotel,
which was being run by the company, and submit a report within three months.

* KARUR VYSYA BANK: Has increased Base Rate by 25 basis points to 11% with effect from today.

* KOTAK MAHINDRA BANK: IDBI Bank and the bank have locked horns over the sale of assets of Deccan Chronicle, with each contesting the other's claim to key trademarks of the media company.

* MULTI COMMODITY EXCHANGE: BNP Paribas Arbitrage has acquired 566,000 shares of the company for an estimated 145 mln rupees.

* OIL AND NATURAL GAS: Arm ONGC Videsh is mulling exercising its pre-emption right to block China 's Sinochem group from buying 35% stake in Brazilian oilfields for 1.54 bln rupees. Has fast-tracked development of its new offshore Daman fields by four years to boost production of gas and to reap the dividends earlier.

* PIONEER DISTILLERIES: SEBI has cleared UK-based Diageo Plc's open offer for acquiring shares worth 157.8 mln rupees of the Vijay Mallya group company.

* RAMKY INFRASTRUCURE: Posted a net loss of 408.9 mln rupees for Apr-Jun against the 251.7 mln rupees of net profit a year ago. Net sales for the
quarter were down by 7.65% on year to 6.17 bln rupees.

* RELIANCE COMMUNICATIONS: Aim to be "innovatively disruptive" in the post-paid segment and attract the post-paid "high end" customers which also
includes corporate customers.

* RELIANCE MEDIAWORKS: Has extended closing date of its rights issue to September 4.

* SPICEJET: Will pay 1,000-1,500 rupees to flyers if they are willing to surrender their seats on flights which have a huge demand.

* STATE BANK OF INDIA : Has proposed the finance ministry ban short selling of shares. It has also asked the RBI to raise the cap on credit refinancing for
exporters. Has set a timeframe of 10 years to merge arms.

* STERLITE INDUSTRIES: The 12 gram sabhas in Rayagada and Kalahandi districts of Odisha have voted against the bauxite-mining project of company in the
Niyamgiri hills.
* TATA MOTORS: The company is likely to earn more revenue from China than any other country or region in the current financial year.

* TATA POWER: The Parekh panel's recommendation on the compensation rate for the company's Mundra ultra mega power project has come with some riders.

* TATA TELESERVICES ( MAHARASHTRA ): Joint venture company, Tata DoCoMo, has announced broadband plan to give away free tablet personal computers along with annual subscription.

* TATA TELESERVICES ( MAHARASHTRA ): Joint venture company, Tata DoCoMo, plans to give away free tablets on an annual subscription of broadband services.

* TIDE WATER OIL CO ( INDIA ): Plans to relaunch brand Veedol in European markets.

FREE SECTORS ALERT - 30.07.2013

* AGRICULTURE: Bank loans to the sector grew 9.9% in June, compared with 15.5% a year ago, while growth of loans to industry fell to 14.1%.

* AUTOMOTIVE: Close on the heels of General Motors recalling its Tavera model, the company expelled its chief financial officer and other executives in the research and development departments for violating company policies.

* BRANDS: Tata is India 's top brand, valued at $10.9 bln, and followed by Reliance valued at $6.22 bln in Interbrand's 'Best Indian Brand' study.

* CURRENCY: Depreciation of six-currency real effective exchange rate index, as well as the 36-currency REER indicates the rupee's weakness in nominal terms, RBI said.

* DIVESTMENT: Government denied media reports stating that Life Insurance Corp and public sector banks "salvaged" divestment in state-owned companies in 2012-13 (Apr-Mar)

* ECONOMY: Finance Minister said the RBI squeezed liquidity recently to stabilise the rupee's exchange rate. After narrowing in Jan-Mar, current account deficit in Apr-Jun could rise due to an increasing trade deficit. RBI said controlling consumer price inflation, which is hovering around double digits, is key to a sustainable recovery in economic growth.

* MINING: The 7 of the 12 gram sabhas at Kalahandi on Monday have rejected the proposal to allow mining of bauxite in Odisha's Niyamgiri hills, in a move that would hurt Vedanta Aluminium, with the remaining five gram sabhas also expected to follow suit.

* PHARMACEUTICAL: Foreign Investment Promotion Board cleared six pharmaceutical investment proposals to increase stake in existing companies in India . Central Board of Excise and Customs has decided to exempt excise duty on relabelled essential drugs.

* REGULATORY: SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA revoked restrictions against ADANI PORTS & ECONOMIC ZONE and NAGARJUNA AGRICHEM and the companies' promoters and directors for not meeting minimum public shareholding norms. Government may allow foreign investment of less than 10% in a company to be treated as foreign direct investment, subject to a few conditions.

* TAXATION: Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance, in its final report on the Constitution Amendment Bill on Goods and Service Tax, has said the present bill has not been well drafted and requires changes.

* TELECOM: The Department of Telecommunications may bring in an Israeli cyber firm for providing solutions to intercept encryption services available on smart phones.

FREE SECTORS ALERT - 25.07.2013

* AUTO: General Motors India said it is "voluntarily" recalling 114,000 units of its Tavera multi-utility vehicles, manufactured between 2005 and 2013, on account of emission and model specification issues.
- The Central Board of Excise and Customs has notified that the Maruti SX4, Honda Civic, and Toyota Corolla Altis, despite meeting all the criteria as announced in the Budget for a sport utility vehicle, are sedans and thus would attract an excise duty of 27% and not 30%. Ford Motor Co to make India its global base for compact cars.

* AVIATION: Expanding the wingspan of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi , Air India and Singapore Airlines today announced flights to Birmingham and Singapore , respectively.
- Higher fares and economic slowdown have dampened demand for airlines in summer, with traffic increasing 1% in first quarter of 2014.

* BANKING: The central government will raise 10 bln rupees through the sale of 1.44%, 2023 inflation-indexed bonds on Monday.

* COSMETICS: Direct selling cosmetic company Mary Kay has wound up India operations citing regulatory concerns and poor sales.

* FOOD PRODUCTS: South Africa 's fast food brand, Famous Brands, has entered the Indian market with launch of popular pizza brand Debonairs Pizza. Cafe Coffee Day owner is in talks to raise funds to fuel growth.

* HEALTHCARE: Abu Dhabi 's hospital chain New Medical Centre will sell 25% stake to raise 1.5 bln rupees to expand healthcare units in India .

* INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: The Planning Commission has shot down the Department of Electronics and IT's 250-bln-rupee proposal to set up dedicated semiconductor wafer fabrication manufacturing units.

* INFRASTRUCTURE: The National Highways Authority of India has decided not to award any new highway projects till November.

* OIL & GAS: The government plans to give hydrocarbon exploration and production "infrastructure status", which would enable upstream oil companies get easier access to finance and better loan terms for projects.

* MUTUAL FUNDS: Industry body AMFI has written to the Securities and Exchange Board of India to consider raising the current borrowing limit of mutual funds to 40% of assets under management in individual schemes from the present 20%.

* POWER: The heavy industries ministry has sought additional levy of 5% on imported power equipment. Government plans measures to revive interest in the wind energy sector by reintroducing tax and fiscal incentives that were removed last year.

* REAL ESTATE: Shriram Properties plans to raise 4.5 bln rupees from private equity funds to buy residential projects in Chennai and Bengaluru.

* REGULATORY: The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority has asked the department of public enterprises to do away with the guidelines which make it mandatory for employees of central public sector undertakings to avail themselves of pension/superannuation benefits only after completion of 15 years of services. SEBI may help sick public sector undertakings to meet public shareholding norms.

* RETAIL: The government has decided to drop restriction in the foreign direct investment norms on opening multi-brand retail outlets in cities with population less than a million, in a bid to attract more investment.

* TELECOM: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has issued new mobile number porting regulations for corporate mobile number users who wish to change their service provider while retaining the same number.
- Vodafone has sought change in size in spectrum block auction to multiples of 200 kHz to cut down on wastage.

* TEXTILE: Textile ministry has proposed a dedicated cotton price stabilisation fund, to deal with farmer distress and mill owner woes when cotton crop fails.SECTORS ALERT - 25.07.2013

* AUTO: General Motors India said it is "voluntarily" recalling 114,000 units of its Tavera multi-utility vehicles, manufactured between 2005 and 2013, on account of emission and model specification issues.
- The Central Board of Excise and Customs has notified that the Maruti SX4, Honda Civic, and Toyota Corolla Altis, despite meeting all the criteria as announced in the Budget for a sport utility vehicle, are sedans and thus would attract an excise duty of 27% and not 30%. Ford Motor Co to make India its global base for compact cars.

* AVIATION: Expanding the wingspan of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi , Air India and Singapore Airlines today announced flights to Birmingham and Singapore , respectively.
- Higher fares and economic slowdown have dampened demand for airlines in summer, with traffic increasing 1% in first quarter of 2014.

* BANKING: The central government will raise 10 bln rupees through the sale of 1.44%, 2023 inflation-indexed bonds on Monday.

* COSMETICS: Direct selling cosmetic company Mary Kay has wound up India operations citing regulatory concerns and poor sales.

* FOOD PRODUCTS: South Africa 's fast food brand, Famous Brands, has entered the Indian market with launch of popular pizza brand Debonairs Pizza. Cafe Coffee Day owner is in talks to raise funds to fuel growth.

* HEALTHCARE: Abu Dhabi 's hospital chain New Medical Centre will sell 25% stake to raise 1.5 bln rupees to expand healthcare units in India .

* INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: The Planning Commission has shot down the Department of Electronics and IT's 250-bln-rupee proposal to set up dedicated semiconductor wafer fabrication manufacturing units.

* INFRASTRUCTURE: The National Highways Authority of India has decided not to award any new highway projects till November.

* OIL & GAS: The government plans to give hydrocarbon exploration and production "infrastructure status", which would enable upstream oil companies get easier access to finance and better loan terms for projects.

* MUTUAL FUNDS: Industry body AMFI has written to the Securities and Exchange Board of India to consider raising the current borrowing limit of mutual funds to 40% of assets under management in individual schemes from the present 20%.

* POWER: The heavy industries ministry has sought additional levy of 5% on imported power equipment. Government plans measures to revive interest in the wind energy sector by reintroducing tax and fiscal incentives that were removed last year.

* REAL ESTATE: Shriram Properties plans to raise 4.5 bln rupees from private equity funds to buy residential projects in Chennai and Bengaluru.

* REGULATORY: The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority has asked the department of public enterprises to do away with the guidelines which make it mandatory for employees of central public sector undertakings to avail themselves of pension/superannuation benefits only after completion of 15 years of services. SEBI may help sick public sector undertakings to meet public shareholding norms.

* RETAIL: The government has decided to drop restriction in the foreign direct investment norms on opening multi-brand retail outlets in cities with population less than a million, in a bid to attract more investment.

* TELECOM: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has issued new mobile number porting regulations for corporate mobile number users who wish to change their service provider while retaining the same number.
- Vodafone has sought change in size in spectrum block auction to multiples of 200 kHz to cut down on wastage.

* TEXTILE: Textile ministry has proposed a dedicated cotton price stabilisation fund, to deal with farmer distress and mill owner woes when cotton crop fails.

FREE STOCKS ALERT - 24.07.2013

* BAJAJ AUTO: The Pune labour court has slammed the company's Chakan unit trade union for using delaying tactics; will hear matter on Jul 29.

* BEST EASTERN HOTELS: Has set its offer for sale floor price at 50 rupees a share. 

* BHARAT PETROLEUM CORP: Company is fast tracking plans for establishing a terminal in Ennore, Tamil Nadu 

* CEREBRA INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGIES: Has cancelled plans to acquire Singapore - based Cimelia Resource Recovery. 

* COAL INDIA: Trade unions have turned down coal ministry's proposal to offer 5% of the company's shares to employees and sell an equal amount in the market. The ministry has sought another meeting on Jul 30. 

* COMMERCIAL ENGINEERS & BODY BUILDERS: Board has approved the sale of some of the company's non-core assets, including a 6.05-acre plot of land at Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh. 

* COROMANDEL INTERNATIONAL: Has posted Apr-Jun consolidated net profit of 214.2 mln rupees, down 81.4% on year. 

* DLF: Has sought shareholders' approval to modify the memorandum of association for providing specific retirement benefits to directors who have made outstanding contribution to the company's growth.

* EMKAY GLOBAL FINANCIAL SERVICES: Has requested the Securities Appellate Tribunal to direct the NSE to disclose the show-cause notice that Securities and Exchange Board of India issued to the stock exchange in the flash crash issue. 

* GHCL: Has posted net profit down 4.78% on year at 278.65 mln rupees for Apr-Jun. Net sales fell 8.30% on year to 5.04520 bln rupees. 

* GVK POWER & INFRASTRUCURE: Oil & gas field development project has hit a hurdle as defence ministry's clearance is awaited. 

* INDIAN OIL CORP: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs may consider share allocation to employees when taking up the issue of government divestment in the company.

* JET AIRWAYS INDIA : The company's commercial pact with Etihad Airways is under Foreign Investment Promotion Board's scanner to ensure control is not passed onto the latter. 

* JSW STEEL: May buy local assets of Stemcor Holdings to gain iron ore mines. 

* KALINDEE RAIL NIRMAN ENGINEERS: Jupiter Metal has raised it open offer price for additional stake in the company to 70 rupees a share, higher than TEXMACO RAIL & ENGINEERING's offer of 68 rupees per share. 

* KPIT CUMMINS: Board has approved merger of KPIT Global Solutions with the company. 

* LARSEN & TOUBRO: Has sought shareholders' nod to raise up to $600 mln through issue of securities. 

* LOK HOUSING & CONSTRUCTIONS: Board has approved one-for-two rights share issue. 

* MARUTI SUZUKI: Has threatened to shut its Manesar unit in Haryana if it has to pay 5 bln rupees in additional compensation to landowners for the land on which the plant is situated.

* NATCO PHARMA: Has dropped plan to launch biosimilar version of breast cancer drug Abraxane for commercial reasons despite having successfully challenged the innovator's patent. 

* OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORP: The company and its partners Tata Petrodyne and HINDUSTAN OIL EXPLORATION CO will invest 11 bln rupees in developing the Cambay block. 

* PETRONET LNG: May review price of gas imported from Exxon's Australia project as it may be the most expensive imported fuel today. 

* PRIME SECURITIES: Has told shareholders it has not received any show-cause notice from the bourse; will seek legal action against NSE for withholding payouts of certain shares sold by group companies on Feb 25. 

* RELIANCE INDUSTRIES: SAT has adjourned hearing of the company's appeal against SEBI in relation to the insider trading case; matter to be heard Aug 30. 

* RELIANCE POWER: Central Electricity Regulatory Commission has asked the company to submit a report on the financial impact on its 4,000 MW Sasan ultra mega power project due to a weak rupee and escalation in cost of construction. 

* SAMRUDDHI REALTY: Board has approved one-for-five bonus share issue. 
  
* SHRIRAM TRANSPORT FINANCE: Has decided to close its public issue of secured, redeemable non-convertible debentures today, as against Jul 29, as it received subscriptions for 6.97 bln rupees as on Monday. 

* SIGRUN HOLDINGS: Has decided to voluntarily surrender its non-banking financial company licence to the Reserve Bank of India . 

* SPICEJET: Chief Executive Officer Neil Mills resigns. 

* TATA POWER CO: Solar power plant in Gujarat has generated over 43 mln units of electricity in 2012-13. 

* THOMAS COOK: To sell office premises in Nariman Point, Mumbai.

* UNITECH: Reliance-Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group Chairman Anil Ambani has told the Central Bureau of Investigation that Tatas had "funded" Unitech's application and fee for grant of 2G spectrum licences during the tenure of former telecom minister A. Raja. 

* UNITED BREWERIES HOLDINGS: A Karnataka High Court division bench has imposed conditions on the company asking it not to transfer or part with any possessions on appeal filed by BNP Paribas, which had financed KINGFISHER AIRLINES. 

* WABCO INDIA: Has posted net profit of 353.9 mln rupees, up 15.42% on year and net sales of 2.49 bln rupees, up 4.72% on year. 

* WESTLIFE DEVELOPMENT: Arisaig Partners will buy 3.5% stake in the company for 1.8 bln rupees. 

* ZENSAR TECHNOLOGIES: Has secured orders worth over 1 bln rupees in the last few weeks and its order pipeline across all markets is over $300 mln.

FREE STOCKS ALERT - 17.07.2013

* ANDHRA BANK: Has decided to drop plan to cut its base rate as announced on Monday after the Reserve Bank of India announced steps to curb liquidity.

* BAJAJ AUTO: Maharashtra Labour Minister Hasan Mushrif will, within a week, meet the Bajaj Auto management and the workers' union to try and end the deadlock between the two sides.

* CAN FIN HOMES: The company is looking at branch expansion for market penetration. 

* CIPLA: Has completed acquisition of 100% stake in Cipla Medpro South Africa for an aggregate consideration of 27.1 bln rupees. 

* COAL INDIA: The company which plans to invest 60 bln rupees in foreign acquisitions in Apr-Mar (2013-14), is evaluating buying stakes in three coal assets in Australia . The company will enter into seven-eight more fuel supply pacts with NTPC for 4,000 MW generation capacities today. 

* HINDALCO IND: Workers at the company's Hirakud smelter called off their strike late Tuesday. 

* HOUSING DEVELOPMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE: Mumbai International Airport has sought 2.76 bln rupees as liquidated damages for non-adherence to timelines under contractual liability. 

* JET AIRWAYS: Etihad Airways, which had earlier agreed to buy 24% stake in the company, has sought a reduction in the premium it was willing to pay on the shares of the Indian carrier. The company will seek shareholders' nod to elevate promoter Naresh Goyal's daughter Namrata and son Nivaan early next month. 

* KARUR VYSYA BANK: Will cut its base rate and benchmark prime lending rate by 25 basis points each to 10.50% and 15.50% on Thursday. 

* NIIT TECHNOLOGIES: Posted consolidated net profit of 532.0 mln rupees for Apr-Jun, down 7.5% on year. The company plans to hire around 400 staff by March for executing a contract from the Airports Authority of India. 

* OBEROI REALTY: Said it is facing sluggish demand for its commercial projects. 

* OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORP: And MANGALORE REFINERY AND PETROCHEMICALS that jointly own 49% stake in ONGC Mangalore Petrochemicals seek bids to sell 26% in the latter. 

* PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK: Does not see any need to change lending rates presently in the wake of Reserve Bank of India 's steps to curb volatility. 

* PUNJ LLOYD: Is planning to refinance up to 14 bln rupees debt into dollar loans over the next six months to cut costs and soften the impact of a falling rupee. 

* RELIANCE INDUSTRIES: The Ministerial Panel on Commercial Utilization of Gas will meet today to re-priorities allocation of domestically produced gas to consumers such as power and fertiliser units from the company's KG-D6 block. Gujarat State Petroleum oration hopes to soon get green clearances for laying onshore installations at the KG basin block. 

* SANDUR MANGANESE & IRON ORES: Has denied a report that the promoters of the company are in talks to sell a substantial portion of their stake to JSW STEEL. 

* SAREGAMA INDIA: The company has partnered with Home Entertainment Services by Sony DADC, under which the latter will undertake sales, marketing and distribution of content on its behalf across all the physical formats such as CDs and DVDs. 

* STANDARD CHARTERED: The bank is selling its office building in the Goregaon area of Mumbai. 

* STATE BANK OF INDIA : Is not considering raising interest rates following measures taken by Reserve Bank of India to tighten liquidity. 

* TATA POWER: Has asked its creditors to extend the exemption in a bid to avoid penalties.

* TEXMACO RAIL: Chairman Saroj Poddar has said the company is eyeing a strategic alliance with KALINDEE RAIL NIRMAN. 

* V-GUARD INDUSTRIES: The company has increased capacity at its Kashipur cable unit in Uttarakhand.

FREE STOCKS ALERT - 16.07.2013

* ADVANTA INDIA: Apr-Jun consolidated net profit more than doubled to 317.1 mln rupees, from 142.7 mln rupees a year ago. 

* ANDHRA BANK: To cut base rate by 25 basis points to 10% effective from Jul 22. 

* ASHOK LEYLAND: Hinduja Automotive has pledged 237 mln shares in the company, representing 17.47% stake. 

* ATUL AUTO: Sold 2,802 units in June, compared with 2,502 units a year ago. 

* BAJAJ AUTO: The ongoing dispute between the management and its labour union Vishwa Kalyan Kamgar Sanghatana will be heard at the Pune Industrial and Labour Court today. 

* CIPLA: Appoints Subhanu Saxena as managing director and global chief executive officer. 

* CMC: Reported consolidated net profit of 531.25 mln rupees in Apr-Jun, down 13% from 613.38 mln rupees in the previous quarter. 

* CTIL: Plans to raise up to $300 mln through global depositary receipts or foreign currency convertible bonds. 

* EXIDE INDUSTRIES: Posted a 4.44% year-on-year rise in net profit at 1.58 bln rupees for Apr-Jun. 

* FEDERAL BANK: Lulu Group founder Yusuff Ali MA has raised stake in the bank to 5%. 

* HINDUSTAN PETROLEUM CORP: The company is teaming up with Shapoorji Pallonji to set up a 50-bln-rupee liquefied natural gas import terminal on Gujarat 's coast. 

* JET AIRWAYS: FIPB has raised concerns that some clauses of Jet-Etihad deal may not be in conformity with the foreign direct investment policy. Revenue department will look into the Jet Airways-Etihad Airways deal to ensure that it has not been structured to evade tax. Jet Airways will start flight from Bengaluru to Vijayawada and Trichy, and add two daily flights from Bengaluru to Mangalore from Jul 25. The company's deal with Etihad Airways is likely to miss its transaction closure deadline in the absence of various regulatory approvals. 

* JK LAKSHMI CEMENT: Despatched 344,000 tn cement in June, down 12.2% from 392,000 tn in May. 

* JSW STEEL: Is in talks to buy significant stake in Karnataka-based Sandur Manganese and Iron Ores to improve ore supply for its Vijaynagar unit. 

* MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA: The company has laid off 500 temporary workers at its Chakan plant and put a freeze on hiring for now. 

* MANGALORE CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS: Adventz group chairman Saroj Poddar's plan to acquire a sizeable chunk of shares in the company and KALINDEE RAIL NIRMAN ENGINEERS may hit legal hurdles. 

* MPHASIS: Hewlett Packard has stalled the plan to sell its 60% stake in the company. 

* NEYVELI LIGNITE: SEBI has given nod to the Tamil Nadu government to buy government's 3.56% stake in the company. 

* PVR: Has given a 10-bln-rupee contract to BookMyShow to sell its movie tickets across its web and mobile applications for the next five years. 

* RELIANCE INDUSTRIAL INFRASTRUCTURE: Apr-Jun net income at 54.5 mln rupees, against 53.2 mln rupees a year ago. 

* RELIANCE INDUSTRIES: Arm Reliance Gas Pipeline has won license to lay a 213-km pipeline to transport coal gas produced at the company's Sohagpur block in Madhya Pradesh. The company has decided to keep away from the business of city gas distribution. The company has indicated it would be willing to invest as much as $16 bln over the next five years to boost production of gas at its fields. 

* SASKEN COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES: Has entered Microsoft Corp's 'Windows Embedded Partner Programme'. 

* SUN TV: The Company is close to acquiring Associated Broadcasting Company under the brand TV9. 

* TATA MOTORS: June global wholesales fell 10.2% on year to 84,458 units. 

* UNITED SPIRITS: Promoters United Breweries (Holdings) and Kingfisher Finvest India revoked pledge on 15.9 mln shares of the company earlier this month.

FREE SECTORS ALERT - 16.07.2013

* AVIATION: Singapore Airlines and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Silk Air, announced special fares for a limited period from 11 Indian cities to the US . 

* BANKING: Export-Import Bank of India has increased the loan repayment period for export-oriented pharmaceutical companies. RBI has capped the amount it lends under its repo auctions to 1% of banks' net demand and time liabilities, or at about 750 bln rupees, effective from Wednesday. RBI has also raised its Marginal Standing Facility rate to a spread of 300 basis points above the repo rate from 100 bps with immediate effect. RBI has allowed companies in the manufacturing, infrastructure and hotel sectors to refinance rupee loans, availed for investing in overseas joint ventures and subsidiaries, through external commercial borrowing. 

* COMMODITY EXCHANGE: The consumer affairs department has sought an undertaking from the National Spot Exchange that no further contracts will be launched and all existing contracts would be settled on their due date.

* ENERGY: The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board has granted authorization to Reliance Gas Pipelines for a natural gas pipeline between Shadol in Madhya Pradesh and Phulpur in Uttar Pradesh. The Supreme Court on Thursday will resume final hearing on Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board's plea over city gas pricing for companies.

* INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Eka Software buys significant stake in Australia- based Matrix Group for 1.2 bln rupees. 

* INFRASTRUCTURE: A government panel headed by Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Pulok Chatterji will review Mumbai elevated Rail Corridor project on Friday. National Highways Authority of India is pulling up developers for not executing road projects. Developers who cannot get projects moving in four months face cancellation. A steering group anchored by the Prime Ministers' Office to accelerate infrastructure investment will hold its first meeting on July 19. 

* INSURANCE: Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority has permitted insurers to lend up to 10% of their holdings in a particular stock. Insurance companies are likely to push non-participating products as compared with participating ones after implementation of the new product guidelines from October.  IRDA may favour allowing insurance companies to use the network of bank branches to sell policies.

* PHARMACEUTICALS: Export Import Bank of India will provide long-term finance to Indian drug makers to help them set up manufacturing plants compliant with standards specified by the US Food and Drug Administration. 

* RETAIL: Bharti Walmart has asked departing senior executives to sign parting agreements giving their consent to appear before the US Department of Justice in the event of any probe into the company's operations. 

* STEEL: Posco has scrapped the 300-bln-rupee 6-mln-tn-a-year steel project as it struggles to get land for the same. 

* TELECOM: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India have pulled up the Department of Telecommunications for providing undue benefit of 1.87 bln rupees to Vodafone. The Department Of Telecommunications is likely to ask Vodafone India to pay an additional penalty of 5.49 bln rupees for using 3G spectrum in 11 service areas. Videocon Telecommunications is embarking on a three-prolonged game-plan to get a foothold into the mobile market.