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Corporate Economy Expressions Markets Leisure 29 December, 1997   Banks told to network their branches, improve cheque-clearing operations The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has directed banks to network their branches in important centres and streamline their cheque clearing operations on a priority basis following the findings of Dunn & Bradstreet Marketing Research Pvt Ltd in its survey on the collection of outstation instruments by banks.   State to create new cell for mining The Shiv Sena-BJP government will create a separate department for mining from January 1 despite the adverse opinion given by the industry and finance departments. No rollback on reforms in power sector now: Alagh The fall of the United Front government has left behind many questions on power sector. Worried investors wonder whether there would be a U-turn in power reforms. Power minister Y K Alagh, however, is unfazed. No party can roll back the process of reforms, he says. Advantage Maharashtra may lure Rs 10,000 cr investments Over Rs 10,000 crore of investment is expected to come from the `Advantage Maharashtra Convention' organised by the state government, according to chief minister Manohar Joshi. Talking to non resident Indian's (NRIs) from the Sindhi community at a dinner meeting hosted by the Priyadarshani Academy chairman Nanikrupani, Joshi said NRIs have an important role to play in the nation building process and the convention was organised to achieve this.   Crises propel IMF to leadership role in 1997 What a year for the international monetary fund: responding to currency crises throughout east Asia beginning in July, IMF poured so much cash and so many policy prescriptions into the region that it arguably surpassed the united nations as the most powerful international organisation. Exchange-rate volatility portends crisis: Economist Noted economist PR Brahmananda on Sunday cautioned that the exchange-rate instability experienced by the east Asian economies portended turbulent times for world economies in general and developing countries in particular. Delivering the Special Amrit Jubilee Lecture on the Implications of the New Exchange Rate Paradigm at the 80th Annual Conference of the Indian Economic Association (IEA), Brahamananda said the lacunae in the global exchange-rate mechanism today could drive the world towards a crisis.     Banks told to network their branches, improve cheque-clearing operations   IDBI, ICICI seek $300 mn from Japan Exim Bank   Power majors call meet today to discuss fuel-supply pact deadline   Reserve Bank eases real-estate loan guidelines   Ficci toes BJP line, raises swadeshi flag   Politicians turn Chidambaram's dream budget a nightmare   PDS failed to keep out the affluent   RBI feigned helplessness as weak finance companies go under   AAI in talks with US consultant, Crisil on airport privatisation   Exchange-rate volatility portends crisis   Legislative council elections to be held today   State to create new cell for mining   No rollback on reforms in power sector now   Fund Update   Japan should not let large banks fail, says finance deputy   Crises propel IMF to leadership role in 1997   Cabinet secretary rules out distress sale of state crowns   Boost soyabean output to counter edible-oil import, say scientists   Advantage Maharashtra may lure Rs 10,000 cr investments   "No trade-off between inflation and growth"   30 foreign forms bid for 27 port projects in privatisation drive   China's central bank governor outlines reforms to streamline system