RBI okays five local area banks
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted an `in-principle' approval to five local area banks (LABs) to promote savings and enhance the institutional credit framework in rural and semi-urban areas.

Government may amend MRTP Act
The MRTP (Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices) Act is likely to be amended to empower the commission to recommend (for or against) mergers and amalgamations before the high court gives its verdict.

Automobile sector seeks rational tariffs, duties
Automobile makers are seeking lower excise duties and more rational import tariffs in the 1999/2000 (April-March) budget to boost sagging demand and lower costs, industry officials said on Wednesday.

  Iraq to buy 2.5 million kg of Sri Lankan tea
  Rising imports drive up domestic silk prices
  Depressed demand has hit steel firms hard
  Time overrun of central projects costs Rs 4.5 cr a day
  Silk prices crash as imports rise
  Agriculture policy to ensure inreased fund flow to farmers
  Depressed demand has hit steel industry
  Time overrun of central sector projects costs nation Rs 4.5 cr a day
  Japan has cooked up a recipe for disaster, warns Warburg analyst
  Centre must prod banks to offer cheap funds to realtors
  MRTP Act may be altered to bring mergers under ambit
  Asset-liability data management system unlikely by 2000 - Tarapore
  Japan on the road to ruin, say Warburg analysts
  Housing finance must come cheap, says Deepak Parekh
  Assocham chief calls for new development model
  Industry asked to tap export potential of farm items
  Robinson lauds Delhi's move to protect minorities
  Divided Congress lends Narayan Rane a helping hand to win legislators' trust
  Islamabad must sign CTBT before Delhi, says Tokyo
  Asset-liability data management system unlikely by 2000
  Assocham chief calls for new development model
  Cut in investment limit for small-industry status runs into rough weather
  Industry asked to tap export potential of farm items
  Divided Congress lets Rane walk away with confidence vote
  Cabinet reduces SSI investment ceiling to Rs 1 crore
  Japan urges Pakistan to sign CTBT before India
  Australian sugar output seen down 20%
  India in fresh US steel-makers' dumping suit
  Dubai to make world's longest gold chain
  Centre throws open mining sector to private firms
  Executive Briefing
  Pakistanis hopeful of positive outcome in bilateral talks
  Storm in the tea-cup - Darjeeling planters seek trademark
  Telecom licence tangle
  In brief
  In brief
  Ministry draws steps to reverse export trend
  Hopeful Federal Reserve president places wager on Brazil's recovery
  PFC sets up committee to decide on exposure limits in IPPs, state utilities
  New handloom policy to focus on tech, marketing
  Financial Briefing