Sinha likely to slash excise duty on cement
Finance minister Yashwant Sinha may decide to bring down the excise duty rate on cement by Rs 25-50 per tonne in this year's budget, feel analysts.

FIs' body urges Centre to keep Sidbi off its turf
The national federation of State-Level Financial Institutions, today called upon the centre and the RBI to rein in Sidbi which has come into direct competition with them.

Sinha will have to do balancing act
It will be a virtual tight-rope walk for finance minister Yashwant Sinha who presents his second Budget on Saturday.

  State-level FIs, Sidbi cross swords over banking turf
  "No proposal to procure potatoes to maintain price"
  Executive Briefing
  Expose farmers to international price fluctuations, says expert
  Double-taxation treaty to prevail over I-T Act
  Bankers' divided over easy interest rate regime
  New fisheries policy under consideration
  Silkworm hybrid variety evolved
  IIP plans nationwide edible oil seminars
  Readymade garments exports cross $5 bn
  Financial briefing
  Australian canola in bright spot despite world market collapse
  India's coffee exports witness slump of over 90%
  PIL admission hearing on Bhadravati power project postponed
  Konkan Rly turns to govt funding as freight earnings fall way behind target
  Executive Briefing
  Competition essential to bring down power tariff, feels IPPA
  In brief
  Investment board defers Rs 3,600cr fertiliser plans
  Double-taxation treaty to prevail over I-T Act
  China may buy oilseeds as Low world prices may spark buying
  Bankers divided over interest rate cut
  New fisheries policy under consideration
  Banking Briefs
  Sinha may cut excise duty on cement by Rs 25-50
  RBI examines variance between bank share transfer norms and Depositories Act
  Australian canola booms amid world market bust
  Crude, refinery cuts boost US spot residual again
  Hearing on Bhadravati power project postponed
  Planning Commission's differences with ministry defers proj worth Rs 3,600 cr
  Cotton mission finalises fund criteria for ailing units
  Bankers' divided over easy interest rate regime
  Konkan Rly turns to govt funding as freight earnings fall