Govt may offload Rs 31,000cr public sector loans after securitisation
The finance ministry is now getting on to the second stage of disinvestment. The ministry is drawing out plans to get out of loans advanced by the Centre to public-sector undertakings (PSUs) in a phased manner. The Government had extended a whopping Rs 31,146 crore to PSUs over the last 40 years.

Reliance Petroleum offers to build Central India Pipeline on its own
Reliance Petroleum (RPL) is believed to have told the Government that it is ready to construct the Rs 4,400-crore Central India Pipeline (CIPL) on its own as there has been no decision yet on the project's equity pattern. This is a fallout of the political crisis at the Centre as work has come to a standstill in all the ministries.

Sonia Gandhi gets more time to show numbers
The Congress suffered a serious setback on Friday with Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh refusing to back a minority government throwing the ball in the President's court. Meanwhile, President KR Narayanan told Sonia Gandhi to continue her efforts and complete the exercise "as early as possible".

CORPORATE
Sterlite Q3 net up 19.7%
Hyundai group unveils recast, to sell $836.8m assets

ECONOMY
China delays imports to prop up local edible oil
EU biotech storm plants few seeds of doubt

EXPRESSIONS
When markets panic, there will be opportunities to buy at bargain rates
With returns meagre at present, India needs a vibrant family of pension funds

MARKETS
Coimbatore cotton prices down on lower mill demand
Two launches and a bright future ahead of Colgate

LEISURE
Gujfun Water Park's counter not all that fun
Fields thin out as racing season draws to a close