Banks, FIs to plan joint bid for bad-loan recovery
Banks and financial Institutions have decided to go in for joint compromise settlements to recover non-performing assets.

Ministerial consultations on SAIL financial-recast proposal
Inter-ministerial consultations have begun on financial restructuring of the Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL), as a prelude to a Cabinet decision on converting nearly Rs 5,000 crore of the steel giant's outstanding loans from the government and the Steel Development Fund (SDF) into assets.

NHB tightens housing finance companies deposit-acceptance norms on RBI lines
The National Housing Bank (NHB) has tightened deposit acceptance norms for housing finance companies with immediate effect. The new norms are on the lines of norms announced by the Reserve Bank of India for non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) in January 1998.

CORPORATE
Lever's clocks 45% rise in Mumbai personal-care market
Walden-Nikko picks up 5% stake in Ciba-CKD

ECONOMY
Asean, EU clinch pact for economic co-operation
Centre effects large-scale excise, customs transfers

EXPRESSIONS
Post-RPG, Bayer turns hot favourite on bourses
What the planets hold in store for you in Q1

MARKETS
Mutual funds Q2 sales grow 50%, redemptions up to Rs 5,124 crore
Exchange risk cover for UTI millennium fund

LEISURE
"US software firms need skilled manpower"
Bhutan to introduce new personal tax system