India Business Insight articles from April 2006

India Business Insight archives from April 2006

EXECUTIVE CAR OF THE YEAR 2006 (Hyundai Sonata Embera adjudged The Business Standard Motoring Executive Car of the year 2006).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Hyundai Sonata Embera is The Business Standard Motoring Executive Car of the Year 2006. The car comes with a 2,359cc engine, which puts out 165ps at 4,250 revolutions per minute (rpm). Max torque is...

MANGALORE CHEM NET UP 13 PERCENT (sales income has gone up to Rs1,080.60 crore).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd has announced a growth of 13 percent in net profit at Rs25.22 crore for 2005-2006 (Rs22.31 crore for 2004-2005). Sales income has gone up to Rs1,080.60 crore...

GOVT OKAYS 43.5 MT ADDITIONAL COAL CAPACITY IN APRIL (India produces a little over 400 million tonnes of coal per year).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) The Government of India has decided to create additional production capacity of 43.5 million tonnes (mt) of coal. The country produces a little over 400 mt of coal per year. The Cabinet Committee on Economic...

TATAS COMPLETE MILLENNIUM STEEL ACQUISITION (acquires 24.99 percent stake through preferential allotment and 42.12 percent through open tender).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Tata Steel Ltd has completed acquisition of 67.11 percent stake in Millennium Steel Public Company Ltd of Thailand. The company acquired 24.99 percent equity shares through preferential allotment and 42.12...

SKM EGG PRODUCTS NET TREBLES (the company has announced a net profit of Rs5.99 crore for Jan-Mar 2006).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) SKM Egg Products Export (India) Ltd has announced a growth of over 300 percent in net profit at Rs5.99 crore for Jan-Mar 2006 (Rs1.46 crore for Jan-Mar 2005). Net sales income has declined to Rs15.53...

TVS MOTOR TO SET UP ASSEMBLY PLANT IN COLOMBIA (the company expects to capture 10-12 percent of the market in three years).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) TVS Motor Company Ltd is planning to set up a joint venture in Colombia to assemble motorcycles. The company expects to capture 10-12 percent of the market in three years. TVS will initially export...

ENNORE FOUNDRIES Q4 NET FLAT (the company has announced a net profit of Rs4.6 crore for Jan-Mar 2006).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Ennore Foundries Ltd has announced a net profit of Rs4.6 crore for Jan-Mar 2006 (Rs4 crore in Jan-Mar 2005). The company has announced a net profit of Rs13.9 crore for 2005-2006 (Rs13 crore in 2004-2005)....

PTC INDIA Q4 NET ZOOMS 85 PERCENT (the company has announced a net profit of Rs6.98 crore for Jan-Mar 2006).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) PTC India Ltd has announced a growth of 85 percent in net profit at Rs6.98 crore for Jan-Mar 2006 (Rs3.78 crore for Jan-Mar 2005). Income has gone up by 122 percent to Rs754.68 crore. The company has...

JINDAL STAINLESS NET DOWN 65 PERCENT (the company has announced a net profit of Rs32.69 crore for Jan-Mar 2006).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Jindal Stainless Ltd has announced a decline of 65 percent in net profit at Rs32.69 crore for Jan-Mar 2006 (Rs92.89 crore for Jan- Mar 2005). The company has announced total sales of Rs827.04 crore for...

FINOLEX TO SET UP CAPTIVE POWER PLANT AT PVC UNIT (the company is also planning to set up an SEZ at its pipes plant).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Finolex Industries Ltd is planning to set up a coal-based captive power plant of 22 megawatt at its PVC unit. The company is also planning to set up a special economic zone (SEZ) at its pipes plant. Finolex...

SUVEN LIFE NET DOUBLES (the company has announced a net profit of Rs7.64 crore for Jan-Mar 2006).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Suven Life Sciences Ltd has announced a net profit of Rs7.64 crore for Jan-Mar 2006 (Rs3.8 crore in Jan-Mar 2005). Turnover has gone up to Rs82.93 crore (Rs60.77 crore). Suven Life has filed 32 product...

KPIT COMMINS TOTAL REVENUES AT Rs318.21 CRORE (the board has recommended a dividend of 35 percent for 2005- 2006).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) KPIT Cummins Infosystems Ltd has announced a net profit of Rs32.56 crore for 2005-2006 (Rs28.39 crore for 2004-2005). Total revenues have gone up to Rs318.21 crore (Rs252.45 crore). The company has...

OBC FULL-YEAR NET DECLINES 23 PERCENT (the bank has announced a net profit of Rs557.16 crore for 2005-2006).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) has announced a decline of 23.26 percent in net profit at Rs557.16 crore for 2005-2006 (Rs726.07 crore in 2004-2005). Total income has gone up to Rs4,671.69 crore...

SBT POSTS IMPROVED NET, DECLARES 100% DIVIDEND (the bank has announced a net profit of Rs258.68 crore for 2005-2006).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) State Bank of Travancore (SBT) has announced a net profit of Rs258.68 crore for 2005-2006 (Rs247.13 crore for 2004-2005). Total income has gone up to Rs2,649.69 crore (Rs2,416.84 crore). The board has...

FOREX RESERVES RISE $2 BILLION ON RBI MOP-UP (foreign currency assets of India have gone up by $2.056 billion).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Foreign exchange (forex) reserves of India have gone up nearly $2 billion for the week ended 21 Apr 2006. Forex reserves of the country have gone up to $157.262 billion due to the buying of dollars by the...

VAIBHAV GEMS: RETAIN THE GLITTER (the company is focusing on retail strategy in the US and Asian markets).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Institutional investors are making an open offer in Vaibhav Gems Ltd to meet the regulatory norms. The investors have taken a stake in the company through the preferential route. Vaibhav Gems has...

INDO RAMA TEXTILES: SPIN IT OFF (Spentex Industries is making an open offer for 6.2 lakh shares at Rs84.15 per share).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Spentex Industries is making an open offer for 6.2 lakh shares of Indo Rama Textiles Ltd (IRTL) at Rs84.15 per share. Spentex has acquired nearly 15 percent stake in IRTL. The Indo Rama Group has decided to...

MOHIT INDUSTRIES: WEAVE MORE (the company is offering three shares for every two shares held).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Mohit Industries Ltd is making a right offer at a price of Rs20 per share. The company is offering three shares for every two shares held. Mohit Industries is engaged in the manufacture of texturised...

MRF: RIDING THE AUTO STORY (the company is expected to announce steady growth due to the demand from auto sector).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) MRF Ltd is expected to announce a steady growth due to the demand from the replacement market of the automobile sector. The company has announced a net profit of Rs5.8 crore for Jan-Mar 2006 (Rs0.8 crore...

MURUDESHWAR CERAMICS: PASTE ON THE BOOM (the company is setting up new production facility in Pondicherry).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Murudeshwar Ceramics Ltd (MCL) is in the process of increasing its capacity of vitrified tiles by 40 percent to 21,000 square metres per day. The company is setting up a new production facility in...

AVENTIS PHARMA: TAKE STRENGTH FROM THE FORMULA (the company has announced good results for Jan-Mar 2006).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Aventis Pharma Ltd has announced good results for Jan-Mar 2006. The company has performed brilliantly over the last three years. Aventis has presence in key therapy areas like cardiovascular, ant-cancer and...

FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGIES: GET ON TO THIS PLATFORM (the company is expected to play an important role in the commodities sector).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Financial Technologies Ltd (FTL) is expected to play an important role in the development of commodities sector in India. The company has a majority stake in Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), National Spot...

BANKS BITE THE INTEREST RATE BULLET (public sector banks hike prime lending rates and term deposit interest rates effective from 1 May 2006).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Bank of Baroda and a few other public sector banks have increased their prime lending rates (PLR) by 50 basis points (bps) and interest rates on term deposits, effective from 1 May 2006. State Bank of India...

IDFC BUYS A THIRD OF SSKI (acquiring 33 percent equity stake in S S Kantilal Ishwarlal Securities Pvt Ltd by Jul 2006).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation Ltd (IDFC) is acquiring 33 percent equity stake in SS Kantilal Ishwarlal Securities Pvt Ltd (SSKI) by Jul 2006. SSKI is a domestic corporate finance and...

INDIA RETAINED ON US 'SPECIAL 301' WATCH LIST (on grounds of inadequate protection to intellectual property rights).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) The USA has retained India in its 2006 'Special 301' watch list of 48 countries on grounds of inadequate protection to intellectual property rights (IPR). The Office of US Trade Representative has...

JET AIRWAYS NET RISES ON AIRCRAFT SALE-LEASE (gains Rs270 crore from aircraft sale and leaseback to post Rs452.04 crore net profit in 2005-2006).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Jet Airways (I) Pvt Ltd posted an increase of 15 percent in its net profit at Rs452.04 crore in 2005-2006 against Rs391.99 crore in 2004-2005. The Company gained Rs270 crore from sale and leaseback of...

HINDALCO NET UP 25% ON METAL PRICES BOOM (profit from aluminium sales up 61% and copper sales, up 46%).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Hindalco Industries Ltd (HIL) has posted 25 percent growth in its net profit at Rs1,655.5 crore in 2005-2006 against Rs1,329.4 crore in 2004-2005. Its net sales grew by 20 percent to Rs11,396.5 crore...

FEE INCOME BOOSTS ICICI BANK NET 27% (to Rs2,540 crore in 2005-2006).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) ICICI Bank Ltd has posted 27 percent growth in its net profit at Rs2,540 crore in 2005-2006 against Rs2,005 crore in 2004-2005. Its fee income grew by 80 percent to Rs1,050 crore from Rs585 crore and net...

ASHOK LEYLAND POSTS Rs327 CRORE NET (income from operations up at Rs6,053.1 crore in 2005-2006 against Rs4,810.8 crore in 2004-2005).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Ashok Leyland Ltd (ALL) has posted a net profit of Rs327.32 crore in 2005-2006 against Rs271.41 crore in 2004-2005. Its income from operations was at Rs6,053.1 crore (Rs4,810.8 crore). Its financial...

SBT TO PAY 100% DIVIDEND (posts net profit of Rs258.68 crore in 2005-2006 against Rs247.13 crore in 2004-2005).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) State Bank of Travancore (SBT) has posted a net profit of Rs258.68 crore in 2005-2006 against Rs247.13 crore in 2004-2005. Its total business grew by Rs4,989 crore to exceed Rs45,000 crore. Non-interest...

RIDING HIGH ON AUTO DEMAND (NRB Bearings Ltd derives 90% of its annual turnover from automobile sector).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) NRB Bearings Ltd (NRB) manufactures 600 types of bearings and has a share of 70 percent in the domestic needle roller bearing market. It derives 90 percent of its turnover from the automobile sector. The...

RETAIL SECTOR GIVES A BOOST TO INCOME (UTI Bank Ltd increased its retail advances by 55.1% and total income by 54.63% in 2005-2006 over 2004-2005).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) UTI Bank Ltd has posted total income of Rs1,061 crore and net profit of Rs152 crore in Jan-Mar 2006. It has reduced its net non- performing assets (NPAs) to 0.75 percent of its total advances from 1.07...

BETTING BIG ON CORE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT (Patel Engineering Ltd gets 80 percent of revenue from hydroelectric and irrigation project).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Patel Engineering Ltd (PEL) is raising Rs403.75 crore through its follow-on public offering of equity shares. It will utilise the proceeds to fund its investments in capital equipment, infrastructure...

BUOYANT ECONOMY SPELLS FORTUNES (D S Kulkarni Developers Ltd has residential and commercial projects worth Rs555 crore on its order book).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) D S Kulkarni Developers Ltd (DSKL) has made a rights-cum-public offer of equity shares to raise funds for its residential and commercial real estate development projects. The Company has completed 23...

CANARA BANK TO FORAY INTO LIFE INSURANCE (plans to position itself as a global bank by 2010).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Canara Bank intends to foray into the life insurance business as part of its plans to position itself as a global bank by 2010. The bank is at present in negotiation with a few overseas life insurance...

DIC GETS CITY SMART (is in the process of finalising a few more sites in India).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Dubai Internet City (DIC) plans to build smart cities in various States across India. The company is in the process of finalising a few more sites in India even as it expressed its unhappiness over the...

CANBANK TO RAISE Rs3,000 CRORE WITH A MIX OF TIER 1 and 2 CAP (will be mainly used for funding the bank's advance growth).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Canara Bank plans to raise about Rs3,000 crore in 2006-2007 through a combination of Tier I and Tier II capital. The money will be mainly used for funding the bank's advance growth as well as augment its...

ASHOK LEYLAND NET UP 20% AT Rs327 CRORE (achieves 17.6% growth in domestic sales volume).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Ashok Leyland Ltd (ALL) has reported a 20.6 percent increase in net profit at Rs327.32 crore for 2005-2006 (Rs271.41 crore in 2004-2005). The company's gross sales, including excise increased by 25.8...

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TATA INDICA XETA GLS (Tata launches petrol version of Indica, Xeta GLS).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Tata Motors has launched the petrol version of Tata Indica and named it Tata Indica Xeta GLS. Xeta, which is the biggest in the small car segment, shares its price tag with Maruti Suzuki Alto. The car...

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HYUNDAI SANTRO XING XL (comes at a price of Rs3.93 lakh making it one of the costliest cars in its segment).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Hyundai Santro Xing XL comes at a price of Rs3.93 lakh making it one of the costliest cars in its segment. The car is fitted with a 4-cylinder-in-line eRLX engine that has a displacement capacity of...

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MARUTI ALTO LXi (is priced at Rs3.33 lakh).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Maruti Lxi Alto is priced at Rs3.33 lakh. The 3-cylinder-in-line engine has a displacement capacity of 796 cubic centimetres, which throws out a maximum power of 47 brake horsepower at 6,200 revolutions per...

IDBI TO INCREASE LENDING TOWARDS SMEs (in accordance with the directive of the Reserve Bank of India to increase priority sector lending).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) The Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) is to raise its lending capacity to the priority sector and the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) over the next 5 years up to 2011. The decision follows the...

EXPORT TARGET FOR 06-07 IS $104 BN (exports between Apr 2005 and Jan 2006 were at $74.98 billion).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) The Commerce and Industry Ministry, Government of India, has fixed the export target for 2006-2007 at $104 billion tentatively. The target for 2005-2006 was $92 billion. The target is in line with the export...

RUBBER EXPORTS WILL CROSS 60,000 TONNES (the domestic prices are lower than the overseas prices by Rs10 a kilogram).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Exports of natural rubber are slated to touch 65,000 tonnes during 2005-2006 as per the latest estimates of the Rubber Board. As on 20 Feb 2006, 57,1666 tonnes of rubber were exported. The Rubber Board had...

RUBBER MARK TO EXPORT 50,000 TONNES (it is setting up 15 more rubber purchasing branches during 2006-2007).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) The Kerala State Co-operative Rubber Marketing Federation (Rubber Mark) will procure one lakh tonnes of natural rubber during 2006-2007 and will export half of it. It is setting up 15 more rubber-purchasing...

CORE SECTOR GROWTH SLOWS (due to a fall in the output of crude petroleum and steel).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) The growth in the six infrastructure sectors declined to 3.3 percent during Jan 2006 (4.2 percent in Jan 2005) due to a fall in the output of crude petroleum and steel and a drop in the production rate of...

RUBBER PRODUCTION TO EXCEED TARGETS (weather conditions have facilitated more tapping and yield).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) India's natural rubber production, during 2005-2006, will exceed the projections of the Rubber Board as the weather conditions facilitated more tapping and yield. Rubber production is expected to touch 7.86...

EXPANSION PLAN BY RUBBER MARK (to set up a special rubber zone).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) The Kerala State Co-operative Rubber Marketing Federation (Rubber Mark) is setting up a special rubber zone at Vazhakkulam in Ernakulam district. The zone will have 12 rubber- based manufacturing and...

DUNLOP ZIMBABWE DOWNS SHUTTERS (due to a foreign exchange crisis).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Dunlop Zimbabwe is a subsidiary of Dunlop International. It has closed down operations due to a foreign exchange crisis and shortage of raw materials. Dunlop International holds 75 percent stake in the...

TIME FOR EXPANSION, WATCH MAJORS FEEL (Rado is increasing its retail outlets to 145 by Dec 2006).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) The Swatch group of Sweden will put up kiosks in Delhi, Bangalore, Pune, Noida and Gurgaon, among other cities, during 2006. Its brands include Omega, Longines, Rado and Tissot. Luxury watch brand Rado is...

KWALITY ADDS FAST FOOD TO ITS MENU (it will focus on Bread and More and Chopstiks Express).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Restaurant group Kwality has 36 outlets across India and abroad under the brands The Village Restaurant Complex, Kwality Express Food Courts, Chopstiks Express, Bread and More, Gaylord Restaurant (London)...

RELIANCE PRIVATE EQUITY BAGS 44% STAKE IN DTDC (for Rs70 crore).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Reliance Private Equity is a division of Reliance Capital, a group company of Reliance-Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group. It has picked up a 44 percent stake in the DTDC group for Rs70 crore. DTDC is a leading...

AFL TOUCHWORLD TOUCHES INDIA (the outlet will provide services such as foreign exchange, money transfer and global telephony).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) AFL is the leading provider of integrated supply chain services in India. It has set up AFL TouchWorld, India's first 'convenience services' retail chain in Mumbai. The outlet will provide services...

THE UPS STORE'S GRAND DEBUT IN MUMBAI (it is the first outlet outside North America).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. (MBE) is the 100 percent subsidiary of UPS, the largest package delivery company globally. It has set up its first 'The UPS Store' at Nariman Point in Mumbai and this is the first...

HIQ TO BE NEW FEATHER IN ONGC'S RETAIL CAP (it will set up 2 outlets in Karnataka).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Ltd is the largest oil exploration and production company in India. It is putting up branded retail outlets called 'HiQ' under its subsidiary, Mangalore Refinery...

FORBES GOKAK DOUBLES PRODUCTION, OPENS STORE IN CHENNAI (it is putting up its own sourcing centre at Tirupur).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) The Rs1,500-crore Forbes Gokak Ltd (FGL) is part of the Shapoorji Pallonji group. It will invest about Rs20 crore to increase its production by 100 percent from 2.5 million garments per annum. It is...

PEPE JEANS STEPPING UP RETAIL DRIVE (to add 50 standalone stores in India by 2008).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Pepe Jeans (India)-PJI-is an arm of Pepe Jeans London. It will launch its innerwear, time-wear and fragrance range in India through a licensing arrangement. The company has a 25 percent market share in the...

DIXY PANBAN APPOINTS FRANCHISEES (Five Star Hospitality Development Pvt Ltd has been appointed the master franchisee for Mumbai, Maharashtra and Goa).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Dixy Panban Restaurants India (DPRI) has appointed 2 master franchisees to set up 20 restaurants each by 2009. Five Star Hospitality Development Pvt Ltd has been appointed as the master franchisee for...

TIMEX CORPORATION DECLARES NEW RETAIL STRATEGY (to have larger exclusive outlets called 'Time Factory' in major cities).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Timex Watches has formulated a new retail strategy for 2006 and will have larger exclusive outlets called 'Time Factory' in major cities. It will have smaller outlets for Tier-II cities. The company will set...

NITCO UNVEILS WOODEN TILE COLLECTION (the collection is available in 6 colours).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Nitco Tiles has introduced its latest wooden tiles collection in Mumbai. The tiles radiate the 'real-wood' look and have distinctive shades and patterns due to the 'roto' technology used in their...

LEVI'S RED LOOP LAUNCHES ITS SUMMER COLLECTION (it is a mix of stylish denims in various finishes with high fashion designs).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Levis' Red Loop is the hi-fashion face of Levi's. It has introduced its summer 2006 collection in India and the new range is a mix of stylish denims in various finishes with high fashion designs. The...

TITAN FOR NEWER RETAIL FORMATS (it has introduced a premium watch brand Xylys).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Titan Industries Ltd (TIL) has introduced a premium watch brand Xylys that is priced between Rs10,000 and Rs33,000. The watches are available in 3 collections-Contemporary, Classic and Sport-and provide more...

MCDONALD'S TO PICK UP SPEED ON NATIONAL HIGHWAYS (it is in an advanced stage of negotiation with the National Highways Authority of India).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Fast food chain McDonald's is focusing on retail development along the national highway and is in an advanced stage of negotiation with the National Highways Authority of India, real estate developers and...

UK FIRM TO CONSTRUCT 2 INDIAN MALLS (Benoy UK will design and construct a shopping mall for Kshitij).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Benoy UK of London will design and construct a shopping mall for Kshitij, the retail development arm of Pantaloon, in Mumbai. The mall, with an area of 20 lakh square feet, will have 350 shops, multiplex...

KWALITY FAST FOOD EXPANSION TO FOCUS ON 2 BRANDS ACROSS INDIA (it will focus on Bread and More and Chopstiks Express).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Restaurant group Kwality has 36 outlets across India and abroad under the brands The Village Restaurant Complex, Kwality Express Food Courts, Chopstiks Express, Bread and More, Gaylord Restaurant (London)...

THE ATHLETE'S FOOT ENTERS INDIA (it has put up its first athletic footwear store in Bangalore).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) International footwear specialty store 'The Athlete's Foot' (TAF) has put up its first athletic footwear store in Bangalore. The store spreads across more than 1,000 square feet and it provides a complete...

FERNS 'N' PETALS TO FORAY INTO HEALTH, BEAUTY AND FOOD (it is investing Rs5 crore in its food venture).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Ferns 'N' Petals (FNP), a Rs60-crore flower retail chain, is venturing into the health, beauty, lifestyle and food business. It is setting up a couture lifestyle brand, La'mour, to mark the group's entry...

FAST FOOD ON FAST TRAX (the Hind group plans to put up 12 more outlets by Mar 2007).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Fast Trax is a new fast food restaurant promoted by the Hind group, a Rs650-crore food processing company. It has set up its first outlet in Delhi's New Friends Colony. The 5,000 square feet outlet has an...

VICTORIA'S SECRET FOR INDIAN MARKET (to be launched in India by Genesis Colours).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Genesis Colours is launching Victoria's Secret, the international women's intimate apparel brand, in India. The launch is in line with the company's extensive expansion plans that also include signing on...

ATCOMARRT TO REFORM INDUSTRIAL BUYING THROUGH SUPPLY CHAIN (to set up a supply chain of 3,078 franchisee outlets).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Atcomarrt Ltd is an ATCO group company. It is putting up a supply chain of 3,078 franchisee outlets that will supply exclusive industrial and business products. The stores will stock over 50,000 products of...

INDIAN TYRE MANUFACTURERS TO IMPORT NR (between Apr 2006 and Sep 2006).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Indian tyre manufacturers will import at least 25,000 tonnes of natural rubber between Apr 2006 and Sep 2006 as they are expecting a short supply. Foreign rubber is costlier by Rs6 to Rs10 a kilogram....

DIZZYING PEAKS BUT INDIAN NR STILL LIMPS BEHIND GLOBAL MARKETS (the RSS-4 rubber touched a record high of Rs82.50 a kilogram on 7 Feb 2006).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) The RSS-4 rubber price in India touched a record high of Rs82.50 a kilogram on 7 Feb 2006. Rubber supply declined during the second half of 2005-2006 despite higher production and a record high output of more...

NIKE MAKES EFFORTS TO INCREASE SALES (to accelerate its online marketing efforts and double sales).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Nike, the shoe and clothing company, is to accelerate its online marketing efforts and double sales. The initiative will be carried out in its existing markets in China, Brazil, Mexico and India. The...

ARCHIES NEW RETAIL CHAIN ON THE CARDS (to launch a new chain of retail stores named 'Stupid Cupid' to market premium gifts and fashion accessories).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Archies Ltd proposes to launch a new chain of retail stores named 'Stupid Cupid' that will market premium gifts and fashion accessories. The plan is to open 5 stores in Delhi and the National Capital Region...

DUKE TO REPOSITION RETAIL BRAND (to reposition its thermal wear and inner wear as 'comfort wear' retail brand).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Duke, a popular T-shirt brand, is repositioning its thermal wear and inner wear as 'comfort wear' retail brand. The company is to have 10 retail stores across the country, which will stock knitted bed...

HOT WITH ONLINE SHOPPERS (retailers have expanded their reach through e-retailing).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) The spread of the Internet has resulted in increased online shopping. Retailers have expanded their reach through e-retailing. A recent survey indicates that Wal-Mart, Apple and Amazon have successfully...

KAYA ON AN EXPANSION DRIVE (to invest Rs70 crore to open 32 clinics and 70 Kaya Skin Zones in national and international markets).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Kaya Skin Clinic of Marico Industries proposes to invest Rs70 crore by 2009 to expand its skin clinics. It would also be launching a new skin initiative named 'Kaya Skin Zones' in the domestic and...

BLAUPUNKT FORAYS INTO TRUCK AND COACH ENTERTAINMENT SEGMENT (Blaupunkt's products in this segment are divided into 3 categories).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Blaupunkt of Germany, a leading operator in the car entertainment segment, is to foray into the truck and coach entertainment segment in India. Blaupunkt's products are divided into 3 categories and are...

FDI AND RETAIL IN INDIA (permitting foreign direct investment in retail will integrate Indian economy with the global economy).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) The retail sector in India is largely unorganised accounting for just 2 percent of the total trade in India. There are only 11 million retail outlets in the country and the sector is in its infancy....

SPREADING WINGS (the Kapson group is to operate more exclusive stores for women and children in all major North Indian cities).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) The Kapson group established its first store in 1989 in Chandigarh with focus on readymade garments. It has today expanded to Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana. The group has branched into specialised...

APACHE TO OPEN FOOTWEAR PLANT IN ANDHRA PRADESH (it has been allotted 314.7 acres of land).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) The construction of the Rs500-crore footwear manufacturing plant of Apache Investment Holdings (AIH) was inaugurated in Apr 2006 at the Mambattu village in the Nellore District of Andhra Pradesh. AIH is a...

SRI BIOTECH MAKES PLANS FOR Rs2 CRORE FACILITY (the new facility will have a capacity of 3,000 tonnes per annum).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Sri Biotech of Hyderabad manufactures bio-pesticides and bio- fertilisers. It is undertaking a project to increase its production capacity by more than 100 percent. The company is putting up a facility...

KERALA TO SET UP 3 'NEERA' UNITS (in line with the State Government's 'Kerala Vision 2010' initiative).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) The State Government of Kerala is backing a proposal to put up 3 units to manufacture a coconut water-based soft drink called 'Neera'. The 3 units will be put up on an experimental basis in line with the...

'OPERA' DEVELOPMENT CENTRE IN CHANDIGARH (it will house quality assurance testers).
April 30, 2006... (From India Business Insight) Opera Software of Norway is putting up a development centre in Chandigarh. The office will initially house quality assurance testers. It will support the company's complete range of products.