In signs of worsening power supply situation for consumers, the shortfall in electricity generation during peak hours stood at nearly 11,000 MW in April as fuel scarcity hurt performance o... more...

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's premier called for additional efforts to support growth on Sunday, signaling Beijing's willingness to take action after a recent series of economic indicators suggested that the world's second-biggest economy will slow further in the second quarter. more...

On Friday, rupee plunged to its new all-time low of 54.90 per US dollar before settling at 54.42. more...

The registers of police-business interests identify a of 8,669 second jobs. more...

Despite rising prices, homes most affordable in 30 yrs: HDFCmydigitalfc.comBy PTI May 20 2012 , New Delhi but data compiled by mortgage giant HDFC Ltd shows that home prices are near their most affordable level in over three decades. The home prices have indeed been rising for more than 10 years, except for a temporary slump ...and more » more...

Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL) has set an ambitious target of growing 10 times over the next 10 years from its current turnover of over Rs 4,850 crore through acquisitions as well as normal e... more...

Bear run pushes Gujarat stockbrokers on back footDaily News & AnalysisBy Bhavesh Shah | Place: Ahmedabad | Agency: DNA As the stock market continues to struggle, the survival of large number of stock brokers is at stake with low volume, increased operating cost, tax hike and declining brokerage charges. To put it simply, ...Bear run pushes Gujarat stock brokers on back footDaily Bhaskarall 2 news articles » more...

Godrej Consumer Products Ltd has set an ambitious target of growing 10 times over the next 10 years. more...

Tata Steel Ltd expects its European operations to underperform in 2012-13 in terms of production, as its output is affected by its modernisation plans. That would leave the heavy lifting for the year to be done by its operations in other markets, such as India and South East Asia. That may appear as a negative development at first, as Tata Steel Europe contributes 57.8% of total deliveries. But a slackening in output is visible across steel-makers in Europe, as they react to the deteriorating market conditions in the region. What it does is help them contain supply in the market.Photo: BloombergRising raw material prices too provided a floor under steel prices. This combination has helped create a more favourable environment for profitability.In the March quarter, Tata Steel’s consolidated revenue rose by 2.7% quarter-on-quarter to $6.7 billion, while deliveries rose by 6.5%. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) rose by 68% quarter-on-quarter (q-o-q), chiefly because Europe recovered from a massive $153 million loss (at the Ebitda level) in the previous quarter.India continues to shoulder primary responsibility for profitability, contributing 87% of Ebitda during the March quarter, aided by its cost advantage, better realisations in the domestic market, and the positive effect of a depreciating rupee on the cost of imported steel.The Indian operations will continue to play a key role during 2012-13 as well. The company expects to produce about 1 million tonnes more of steel as its new facilities come on stream. That should see its contribution to revenue and profit increase significantly during the year.Europe, however, will see production slacken during the first half, and then improve towards the end of the fiscal when its revamped facilities come back on stream.The key to a steel maker’s profitability are, of course, raw material costs and product prices. Tata Steel’s domestic operations are largely insulated from input cost fluctuations due to captive facilities (except to the extent it imports coal). But its overseas operations, especially in Europe, depend on purchased inputs. Now, raw material prices have been easing, especially that of iron ore—chiefly due to slack demand as steel-makers idle facilities. In the current situation, one can expect that Tata Steel’s profitability will improve in 2012-13, even if deliveries may not sparkle, especially at the consolidated level. Easing raw material cost pressures are positive too.But there is some uncertainty on which way steel prices will go, which depends on questions such as: Will global production cuts affect supply enough to ensure firm prices, and will China’s huge appetite for steel actually wane as its government steers its economy to a soft-landing? While the current market environment appears to favour Tata Steel’s ability to improve its profitability, a weakening of steel prices could change that. more...

GAAR pushed back, but new tax rule may still drive away FIIsA number of foreign funds, including an European association of the FIIs, may soon approach the Finance Ministry to seek clarifications. more...

FirstpostGAAR pushed, but new tax rule may still drive FIIs awayFirstpostNew Delhi: Foreign investors may be relieved over the controversial GAAR tax proposals being pushed back by a year but another new taxation framework could make their India investments riskier and expensive. The proposals that are a part of the Finance ...and more » more...

Labour's Ed Balls warns the world economy faces a "catastrophe" unless Germany abandons pressure on eurozone countries to cut public spending. more...

NTPC’s reservation in signing the Fuel Supply Agreement (FSA) with Coal India will not impact the country’s largest power producer as CIL will not restrict supply of fuel in the current financi... more...

Controversies sell, and the latest series of incidents involving IPL have only added more drama to the T20 league rather than denting its brand equity, according to industry experts and ad... more...

One of the strongest earthquakes to shake northern Italy rattled the region around Bologna, killing at least four people. more...

Leading domestic credit rating agency Icra, which has a tie-up with global player Moody’s, has warned of rising risks arising from double-leveraging by private sector entities in the infrastruc... more...

Leading domestic credit rating agency Icra has warned of rising risks arising from double-leveraging by private sector entities in the infrastructure space. more...

Homes most affordable in 30 yrs: HDFCIndian ExpressHousing may be perceived to have gotten very expensive at the current sky-high levels, but data compiled by mortgage giant HDFC Ltd shows that home prices are near their most affordable level in over three decades. The home prices have indeed been ...and more » more...

In addition to a sharper growth in income levels, the larger tax benefits have also helped make the home purchases more affordable for the buyers. more...

Seeking a “strong and cohesive” Eurozone, that includes debt-ridden Greece, leaders of the powerful G-8 countries have agreed to put their fiscal houses in order and accord priority to growth and... more...

The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) is considering to seek Cabinet approval for the revival of state-run Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd (IDPL), according to official sources. “... more...

Zee NewsCoal India board decides to exit ICVL consortiumZee NewsNew Delhi: Amid widening gap between demand and supply of coal in the country, CIL board has decided to exit from International Coal Ventures Ltd, a special purpose vehicle formed to acquire mines abroad, a move that may hit the country's efforts to ...M-cap of 7 cos down by Rs 27649 cr, CIL takes biggest hitBusiness Standardall 6 news articles » more...

The Income Tax department has created a special audit team to bring together the scattered assessment and investigation proceedings of the BCCI and the IPL spread across the country. Tax... more...

A delay in the arrival of Pak Prez Asif Ali Zardari's plane Saturday evening led to the postponement of a meeting between him and NATO Secretary General. more...

KEPR 19Avoid marriage's No. 1 pitfall: Money troublesGreen Bay Press GazetteCouples should do the tough thing and have a frank discussion about financial habits to head off any post-wedding money problems. / File/AP The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Newlyweds and couples moving toward marriage, take note.Marriage's No. 1 pitfall is money trouble. Avoid itThe Durango HeraldAvoiding marriage's No. 1 pitfall: money troublesBoston.comall 15 news articles » more...