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November 29-30, 1998
• NSE: 810.85, Nifty down 1.6 points • BSE Weekly Review: Majors avoid long-term positions due to political uncertainty, negative outlook for FIs; Sensex dips 158 points. • GDR Weekly Review: Auto sector takes a U-turn downhill; Skindia Index down 61 points, 529.85 November 28, 1998 THE REDIFF BUSINESS SPECIAL It takes competensity for corporates to succeed Sport has five essential elements -- players, tools, grounds, scoring systems and umpires. So has business. The players are the competitors, their factories and distribution systems are the tools, markets are the grounds on which they play, share prices and market shares are the scoring systems and regulators are the umpires. When we talk of competensity, we need to understand that all these five elements are necessary to get the same drive for excellence as we see in sports, writes R Gopalakrishnan. PIQUE OVER PRICE-RISE States lambaste PMO for ignoring early signals Officials from state have disclosed that they had cautioned the Centre about the price rise well in advance. But the Prime Minister's Office was so busy explaining to the world the nuclear rationale that it sat on the files for months. PM blames it on middlemen; new panel to revamp Essential Commodities Act Vajpayee said there was immediate need to review the Essential Commodities Act. This will lead to effective action against those causing artificial shortages. CMs' meet evolves multi-point strategy to check sharp price movements National Crop Forecasting Centre will be set up immediately under the ministry of agriculture to assess the production. Chief Ministers stress Centre-state coordination for commodities management Rationalisation of the exim policy, augmentation of storage capacity, strenghtening of the market intelligence network, increase in food subsidies to improve PDS, free inter-state transport of food stuffs are some of the measures mooted by the CMs conference. BUSINESS FEATURE As toothless tiger SEBI watches, fraudulent companies vanish with billions About 80 companies, which raised more than Rs 7 billion from the capital market during 1992-95, have disappeared. Seven companies, which mobilised Rs 232.5 million during 1997-98, are untraceable. OTHER REPORTS Kerala government espouses FACT cause, to seek Centre's help The company has not had a CMD for one year. It has lost Rs 800 million in the first half this fiscal. Workers blame ad-hoc management for the plight. Ananth Kumar rules out merger of IA and A-I, hints at management recast Efforts would be made to ensure synergy between the two organisations, which together have 73 aircraft, to run operations more effectively, the aviation minister said. Nayanar demands NDC meeting to discuss patent laws The Kerala chief minister is opposed to any IPR system for life forms, including seeds. The framework of the legislation on this subject should be circulated to the states before any bill is introduced in Parliament, he said. Petroleum, finance ministries clash over tax code for oil exploration companies Oil companies may not invest money in further exploration if they are not allowed to set off losses due to unsuccessful ventures for tax purposes, says the petroleum ministry. Watch out: Omega to blend business, culture and regional expertise for consolidation Omega has forged tie-ups with the Mother Teresa missionary in Calcutta, the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad and the Fashion Design Institute in Delhi to bring together different concepts along with its branded watches. Amrita Patel is new chairperson of National Dairy Board Dr Patel has been appointed chairperson for a period of five years, following the acceptance of request for retirement made by Dr Kurien, the outgoing chairman. S&P's revises ratings of IDBI, ICICI and BoB The outlook change reflects S&P's concern that continued weakness in a number of key sectors of the Indian economy was having an adverse effect on the asset quality and profitability of India's financial intermediaries. 
• BSE : 2783.10; Sensex down 42 points • NSE: 812.45, Nifty down 12 points • Forex: Rs 42.55/56 vs US dollar Rs 70.47 vs pound sterling Rs 25.02 vs deutsche mark Rs 34.75 vs Japanese yen (100) November 27, 1998 Power deal talks with Pak meander, to continue in New Delhi Pakistan has agreed to sell 2000 MW to India upto the year 2010 or beyond. A study will seek to assess setting up facilities to transmit 400 MW in the short term. Export of bulk power in the long term was also discussed. Pro- and anti-airport lobbies work overtime, cast doubts over Kannur project While the pro-Kannur lobbyists see designs of the BJP government to somehow effect a review of the project so that it can be scuttled, others say a tiny state like Kerala does not require a fourth airport. WAR ON PRICE-RISE CMs meet likely to call for resurrection of Essential Commodities Act Being held on the eve of winter session of Parliament, the meeting has acquired significance. It is expected to focus on evolving guidelines for states to check prices. PM admits shortage of oil, pulses, assures imports On hoarding and unfair trade, Vajpayee said, 'There is a limit to profiteering and beyond that the government would adopt harsh measures.' Import of edible oil worth Rs 27 billion and pulses worth Rs 8 billion will normalise the situation, he added. SUGAR SCENE Futures, high import duty vital, higher output certain this season, says trade body The New Bombay market has the potential to emerge as a major sugar trade centre like London and New York provided the government allows forward contracts or futures trading and streamlines the duty structure, says the Bombay Sugar Merchants' Association. CRISIL projects not-so-sweet time for small units The premier rating agency says protection to the industry arising out of the import duty levied in April 1998 has been largely eroded due to increased export subsidies being provided by the exporting countries including Pakistan, the European Union, Brazil and Mexico. OTHER REPORTS Monsanto to develop and market high-yielding, worm-resistant cotton gene Company officials said the bollgard gene would benefit cotton growers by cutting the need for insecticides and boosting yields by 25 per cent. It has already proved successful in some countries and was not being dumped unnecessarily in India.
• BSE : 2825.08; Sensex down 57 points • NSE: 824.45, Nifty down 17 points • Forex: Rs 42.50/52 vs US dollar Rs 70.38 vs pound sterling Rs 24.92 vs deutsche mark Rs 34.80 vs Japanese yen (100) November 26, 1998 Centre, Kerala clash over Kannur airport project While the aviation secretary says Centre is still mulling the project, the state government has exhumed a letter written by former aviation minister C M Ibrahim okaying the airport. Monsanto claims it is clean, eyes plant gene protection process The US company has clarified that it had never used the gene protection technology or the terminator gene process in any of its products. It would not provide any technology that would have adverse impact on the environment. Pakistan likely to get $ 5.5b IMF bailout package The IMF deal still requires final approval from the IMF board of directors at a meeting in Washington next month. EXCITEMENT OVER EXPORTS Fresh stocks make export of old rice imperative, but govt dithers Food ministry officials say there are surplus rice stocks, more than the normal buffer of six million tonnes, and 50-odd export offers from firms eager to clear off last year's damaged stock. Quick exports would earn precious foreign exchange for the country, they say. Indonesia is keen on a palmolien-for-rice barter deal. India as entertainment superpower: export forum projects big scene The Indian entertainment industry has a huge untapped export potential and could become the highest foreign exchange earner for the country if properly developed, according to the Export Promotion Forum for Films. OTHER REPORTS Govt seeks to amend SIDBI Act: delink from IDBI, capital recast mooted SIDBI's authorised capital currently at Rs 5 billion is sought to be raised to Rs 10 billion. There will also be enabling provision to eventually raise it upto Rs 20 billion. TN to act on Sterlite closure after HC final order The opposition has been demanding permanent closure of the controversial Sterlite copper smelting plant at Tuticorin. Chief Minister Karunanidhi's stance is that it was the AIADMK that granted permission to the plant in 1994. Munde rules out power tariff hike in Maharashtra, hints at new energy audit panel The state would become the first in the country to introduce energy audit by setting up the Power Tariff Commission. It would also invest Rs 5 billion on modernisation of the transmission system.
• BSE : 2881.69; Sensex down 22 points • NSE: Market closed, to work on Saturday • Forex: Rs 42.43 vs US dollar Rs 70.50 vs pound sterling Rs 24.94 vs deutsche mark Rs 35.08 vs Japanese yen (100) November 25, 1998 Insurance move ignites unions, excites industry Global insurance major ING says foreign equity will eventually benefit the Indian consumer. Workers' representatives say 'extraordinary favours' are being made by a tottering government in the hope that foreing companies would help with funds in the event of elections. 'We will smash the government's pernicious move,' they assure. Manohar Joshi sews up multi-point plan for Marathwada development Bajaj and Videocon ventures figure among the seven new projects worth Rs 32.80 billion that would come up in the region.The Godavari Irrigation Development Corporation will float a bond for Rs 3 billion in first week of December. Cut in cement excise likely; go global, become no 1, Bakht urges industry The industry minister said the cement sector was expected to grow around nine to ten per cent in the Ninth Plan period. The expected spurt in industrial growth and increase in demand from infrastructure sectors including mass housing schemes would help the Indian cement industry to play a major role in global cement production. Banking major KBC opens shop in Bombay; Belgium keen on taking up BOT projects There are 55 Belgium companies and banks operating in India. Trade between India and Belgium had doubled up in the past six years. The latter exported goods and services worth $ 3 billion during the period. BUSINESS FEATURE Hill women embrace entrepreneurial spirit, finance management and economic planning Mushroom cultivation, fruit preservation, vegetable production and floriculture are among the economic activities being eyed by the women of the Garlwal-Dehradun region. OTHER REPORTS Sterlite complies with court order, halts operations Although the plant had endeavoured to adopt the highest standards of safety by inducting two top-notch American experts to work full time in the 100,000 tonnes per annum plant, industrial accidents had taken place sometimes as in the case of any large industrial complex of this magnitude, company officials said. Power-surplus northeast finds selling electricity an uphill task Owing to North Eastern Electric Power Corporation's acute problem of evacuating power generated by it, the Kathalguri Power Project has not been able to go full steam. Plans are afoot to transmit electricity from the northeast to other parts of India. Gopalakrishnan, Ishaat Hussian on Tata Sons board The move is designed to bring all the group companies to accept and adopt the Tata way of life.
• BSE : 2903.56; Sensex down 16 points • NSE: 841.75; Nifty down six points • Forex: Rs 42.41/42 vs US dollar Rs 70.20 vs pound sterling Rs 24.85 vs deutsche mark Rs 34.91 vs Japanese yen (100) November 24, 1998 Govt to amend Patent Act, allow 40 pc foreign equity in insurance The Cabinet has also decided to grant the statutory status to the Insurance Regulatory Authority and a bill to this effect would be introduced in the coming session of Parliament. Belgium eyes infrastructure sector to forge ties with India The quest for closer economic and commercial ties will result in Belgium contributing to the development to transport, faster communications, reliable urban transport and increased power generation. Madras HC green bench orders closure of Sterlite's Tuticorin plant With the recent blasts that proved fatal for workers as the backdrop, the court said it would not be in public interest to permit the functioning of the plant. Further hearing in the case has been posted for December 1. IOC to buy Reliance, Essar petro products; minister downplays oil MNCs' pull-out The plan envisages IOC buying 50 per cent of petroleum products at import parity prices. Ramamurthy said there is no rethink on dismantling the administered price mechanism. THE REDIFF BUSINESS COLUMNISTS Auction PSUs, invest in children and education Finance for elementary education is always a constraint because huge resources are locked up in chronically loss-making public sector enterprises which require continuous budgetary support, writes Dilip Thakore. OTHER REPORTS Saffron growers in J&K to oppose ban on pan masala The availability of low-cost saffron of Spain and Iran has affected the export of the Valley's saffron. And the proposed ban on pan masala will sound the death-knell, bemoan growers. Dr Farooq Abdullah and Saifuddin Soz are being asked to espouse the saffron cause. White paper to be released on patent row over Vechoor cow The controversy over the alleged transfer of the Vechoor cow germ plasm outside the country is forcing research organisations to tighten their loose ends. Delhi court to decide on attachment of STAR property on Dec 19 Can it be done because Rupert Murdoch did not appear in court in spite of summons and arrest warrants in connection with telecast of 'obscene' visuals on STAR Movies channel? The broadcast industry is waiting and watching. PM to inaugurate expressway project work on Nov 30 The ambitious Kashmir-Kanyakumari expressway project would be implementerd on a build, operate and transfer basis. Foreign firms are keen on participation in the proposed project. ICL to hive off shipping arm, absorb Raasi's cement division Company officials said the H1 net declined to Rs 256.7 million from Rs 470.8 million last year due to high interest and depreciation arising out of heavy investment in capacity additions during 1997-98. Export park near Delhi to open in December Allotment has already been made to 36 industrial units. The park will house about 450 industrial units with a capital outlay of Rs 600 million, and provide employment for about 25,000 persons.
• BSE : 2919.57; Sensex down 21 points • NSE: 847.55; Nifty down ten points • Forex: Rs 42.41/43 vs US dollar Rs 69.90 vs pound sterling Rs 24.88 vs deutsche mark Rs 34.99 vs Japanese yen (100) November 22-23, 1998 'PRESCRIPTIONS' FOR PROGRESS Shun protectionism, reform faster, lift import barriers, advise Swiss India must keep the door open to free trade in spite of the present slowdown in global trade, Swiss Confederation president Flavio Cotti said. Limited role for foreign insurance cos, it'll improve efficiency, says Sinha The Finance Minister said there is scope to insure 300 million people in India. 'Ethical business key to economic turnaround' Financial disclosures should focus more on quality rather than quantity of information. Timely disclosures of information would attract more capital to the companies concerned leading to lower cost of capital and improved performance, speakers said at a seminar in Bombay. THE REDIFF BUSINESS COLUMNISTS The bear-eat-bull world Not very long ago, votaries of pristine capitalism argued there must be no tinkering with the purity of the free market, that the government must disappear, pronto, from all spheres of economic activity. And now, the selfsame worthies say the government's number one task has to be the revival of the share market, the rest of the agenda can be dispatched to the wastepaper bin, observes Ashok Mitra. OTHER REPORTS Pallone decries blacklist, says US loss will be EU's gain 'The sanctions only served to set back our growing commercial ties with South Asia, while limiting the ability of the US to play a constructive role in the ongoing process of fostering economic progress in this important region,' Democratic Congressman Frank Pallone said in a letter to President Clinton. India Festival expected to intensify demand for gold The market is now running into what is traditionally the strongest period of the year for gold demand. All over the world, investors are looking for ways to preserve their wealth, and increasingly they are choosing gold. GeoLogistics opens in 15 cities, to popularise supply science in India 'The Indian user is still not familiar with the advantages of outsourcing a comprehensive supply chain management function.' The company professes to change that. Patel, Mehta draw up plans to promote mega projects in Gujarat While the chief minister is eyeing spare fiscal resources of the cooperative sector, the industries minister is trying to rope in NRI investments for infrastructure ventures. Delhi cops re-arrest JVG group chief in Delhi V K Sharma was earlier released on a personal bond of Rs 100,000, after being arrested in Bombay yesterday for allegedly defrauding investors.
• GDR Review: Auto sector gains 10 pc on news of 60 pc depreciation on new sales • BSE and NSE Review: FIIs, domestic FIs cool; pivotals dip a little, Sensex down 34 points, 2941.39.
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