Unit Trust to dematerialise 80% holding in 50 scrips
The Unit Trust of India (UTI) has decided to dematerialise 80 per cent of its holdings in all the 50 securities where Sebi has asked institutions to trade only in demat shares. This list is to be shortly expanded by another 50 securities. In all other securities which have been admitted for dematerialisation, the trust has decided to dematerialise up to 60 per cent of its holdings.

GIC puts off Singapore arm divestment plan
The state-run General Insurance Corporation has decided to put off its planned $12.5-million divestment of India International, its Singapore subsidiary. The issue was planned in a bid to raise the capital base of the S$25-million subsidiary.

Cotton futures trading to be put off
The cotton futures trading scheduled for commencement on July 17, 1998 does not seem to be taking off on the auspicious date fixed by pundits for East India Cotton Association (EICA). EICA has been rushing against time to get back to this forward system after three decades but with suitable modifications based on systems prevailing abroad and at home.

  Pepper remains depressed
  Lack of aid for food processing units irks WB mango growers
  Thai rubber prices up on weaker baht
  Cultivation method makes Kashmiri mongra costly
  Groundnut oil prices up on speculation
  Diamond export target raised to $ 4,700 million
  Lack of processing units takes away the flavour from West Bengal chillies
  Granite exports decline in 1997-98
  Prices in Maharashtra attract Gujarat groundnuts
  Coffee futures contract a far cry for growers
  "Orthodox tea output needs to be increased"
  Ahmedabad bullion market in doldrums
  Synthetic rope exporters shy away from EU markets
  New process may revolutionise fishing sector
  Unctad guidelines for hessian exchange
  Commodity Briefing
  Cotton yarn exporters slash prices
  Raw cotton estimates revised upward
  Malda mangoes dearer despite bumper yield