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Corporate Economy Expressions Markets Leisure Wednesday, March 25, 1998   BSE plans to infuse Rs 30 crore into depository, offers stake to members The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has decided to pump in a minimum equity of Rs 30 crore in Central Depository Services (India) Ltd. The BSE is currently targeting its member-brokers to pick up an equity stake in the venture. The exchange has reportedly received commitments to raise 75% of the capital from eligible promoters.   Rupee will slip below 39.50, says Stanchart report India's balance-of-payments outlook suggests that the rupee will depreciate from the current level of 39.50, according to a Standard Chartered Bank Economic Research report. The report further adds that the RBI will not be averse to a gradual depreciation in the rupee, claiming that a 7 to 8% depreciation through 1998 will help maintain a constant real effective exchange rate (REER) for the rupee. Birla Mutual Fund plans to unveil two offshore funds by year-end Birla Mutual Fund is planning to launch two offshore equity funds by the end of this calendar year. The two funds are slated for launch after the completion of its new scheme, Birla Taxplan '98. The two offshore funds will focus on raising money primarily from investors in the US and Canada. Market expects Rs 40cr net from Bata; scrip vaults to 4-year high Expectations of an excellent performance have propelled the Bata (India) scrip to over Rs 188 ahead of its board meeting on March 27. The volumes, too, have picked up substantially with the average daily volume shooting up from around 10,000 shares to over one lakh shares on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on Tuesday.   Rally loses steam, Sensex drops 36 points The National Stock Exchange witnessed a record number of trades on Tuesday, with operators squaring up outstanding positions taken at the truncated session on Monday. The Sensex, which came close to breaching the 4,000-barrier on Monday, failed to sustain the bull charge to lose 36.14 points over Monday's close. Low interest rates force TFCI to recall high-cost bonds Tourism Finance Corporation of India (TFCI) has decided to exercise the call option on the 16.5 per cent MB Series X bonds. TFCI, a premier financial institution catering to the financial requirements of tourism-related projects, will have to cough up approximately Rs 14.62 crore to redeem these high-cost bonds.     Russia not to cut oil output   Increase in gold prices likely to be short-lived, feel traders   Six-month forward premiums dip in overseas NDF market   Growth schemes see drop in collections   Patheja Forging sees spurt in volumes, price   Tata Mutual Fund unveils open-end fund   Jakarta shares lose 2.8% on interest rate hike   Nagarjuna Agrochem issues CCPs at Rs 10; scrip doubles on BSE   Market may see technical correction   Japan steps may not ensure recovery at the grassroots   Malaysia panel wants banks' reserve cut   MSCI indices bloom as investment firms go global   S Korea to issue bonds   Crisil assigns P1+ rating to Novartis, Cipla debt plans   Thermax   Market Round-Up   Oil prices post biggest gain in 7 years   Australian bureau sees bleak outlook for base metals   Saudi Arabia ready to attend Opec meet