Within months of charging the moon, Indian real estate firms are now offering buy-back of properties, free cars and even free apartments to tide over the current slump which has seen sales halve from the beginning of the year.

As I have got to know a wider world, I have often wondered how something as material as sweets can have such a strong, almost emotional, link with those who have grown up with it.

The Rs 3k-cr facility may come up in Pune. While plans are yet to be finalised, the lower cost of manufacturing in India has compelled the company to give a serious thought to the proposition, Harald Landmann, the bus business head for Mercedes-Benz said at the launch of the company's intercity luxury bus in Pune.

The E's nature is genteel, more upscale and assured. And that's what most people who gravitate towards the three-pointed star want. It's just that attaining that experience has become that much more accessible with these two new variants.

The move will help the utility to charge more from its 2.6 million users in Mumbai. Reliance Infrastructure (Rel Infra) had asked asked the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission for a 4.19 per cent rise in its annual revenue requirement. It was instead granted an increase of 10 per cent. Mumbai and its suburbs are serviced by Tata Power, Brihanmumbai Electricity & Suburban Transport and Reliance Energy.

Besides seeking vacation of the apex court's interim order, which stayed the electricity tribunal's judgement on May 14, Reliance also sought a direction to Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission to allocate TPC's generating capacity as was done for financial years 2006-07 and 2007-08.

A bench headed by Justice C K Thakker while seeking reply from Tata Power and Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission asked Tata Power Company not to take coercive measures against Reliance till the next date of hearing in July. Reliance has challenged the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity's order dated May 12, 2008 which ruled that TPC was entitled to recover charges for energy supplied to REL at the rate of Rs 2.09 per unit.

The new Hyundai halo car (for the international markets, if you consider the Equus as the Korean equivalent) is perhaps the most significant of Korean car launches. Especially when you look at the Genesis as a weapon for Hyundai's sustained - and increasingly successful - assault on the US market.

Markets are a bit weak with no clear direction and very low volumes from the FIIs. There could be a downward correction as the markets are very news sensitive and any negative news either globally or locally could bring the markets down. One has to be careful before investing afresh, says Pranav Sanghavi.

The model, considered as large van or a mini bus, has sliding doors and can comfortably seat around 15-18 people. It will be imported into India initially. The model is currently undergoing road tests in Pune, according to sources.

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking demanded on Thursday that the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission revoke the licence of Reliance Energy (REL) and give BEST the right to supply power to Mumbai suburbs. At present, REL caters to the suburban areas and BEST a major part of the city. In fact, MERC had asked both BEST and REL to sign power purchase agreements with TPC.

Jayant Deo, an expert in energy sector has been promoting the concept of power exchange, a common platform for buying and selling power under Electricity Act 2003. His efforts have been fruitful and India's first power exchange will go Live in the first quarter of 2008.

Indian Energy Exchange will start training in operations and online trading for its members soon.

For India, the S80 comes with three engine options a 2400cc turbocharged five-cylinder diesel, a 3200cc inline-6 petrol and the monstrous 4400cc petrol V8. The XC90 will have the same engine options as well.

Now, the National Consumer Commission has come to the rescue of the car owner and directed Daimlerchrysler India Pvt Ltd - the makers of Mercedez-Benz - to either replace the car, which suffered from over-heating, or refund its price.

The King of Romance has a sure-fire way of winning over women. And here's how.

A sense of calm prevails every time I get into a Mercedes. I'm hardly overawed by their presence (Rohin has a big fetish for Beemers -- Ed), but the sheer snug, cosseting feeling that a Merc presents snatches me from reality, writes Rohin Nagrani.

BMW began its innings earlier with this year with the 3 Series executive sedan and the 7 Series luxury sedan. Beginning this month, BMW will start assembly of its fabled 5 Series premium executive sedans and retail operations as well.

Industrialists in Nasik have strongly opposed the power regualtor's proposal to have 18-32 hours of load-shedding in the industrial areas and implement five-day week to save electricity in Maharashtra.

Professional CEOs are taking home fat cheques and humungous stock options the size of small company turnovers

The Maharashtra government's plans to tap sugar factories as an alternative source of power to overcome huge power deficit to the tune of 5,000-6,000 Mw, are proving to be a damp squib due to the rising prices of steel and coal.

The increasing preference for Mercedes Benz models by Indian customers may see the company roll out more models in the near future.

Siddharth Anand's film is an entertaining watch.

A war of words is likely to break out between the state-owned power utility Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd and Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission over the MERC's order on Monday.

Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission's order rejecting the state power utility Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd request to increase load-shedding is likely to affect industry in the state adversely.

The famed Harley Davidson's upper-end model will come for over Rs 20 lakh (Rs 2 million) in India, powered by a 1584 cc engine that will give around 16 km to a litre.

India's ace deal-maker explains what allowed him to represent both Dhirubhai Ambani and Nusli Wadia while being on Essar Shipping's board.

The all-new C-Class shows off its sporty colours in stormy Spain. We were there to do the driving.

Transcript of chat with Vishwanath Chaturvedi.

Eurocopter to emulate luxury car makers

Luxury car manufacturer DaimlerChrysler's Indian subsidiary Mercedes is all set to introduce the new C-Class in the domestic market by early 2008.

Since the bull run began in May 2003, the Sensex has gone up by 367%. The MoneyLIFE Index of lifestyle stocks has gone up by 507%. A major bull market for leisure, lifestyle and entertainment stocks has just begun.

Germany-based luxury coach manufacturer DaimlerChrysler's subsidiary Mercedes Benz is planning to launch its high-end premier bus Tourismo in India by 2008.

The ex-ace investment banker talks about his game plan for making Thomas Cook a one-stop shop for travellers.

DaimlerChrysler India has recorded a higher growth rate for its Mercedes-Benz in smaller cities than in the metros.