LPG prices slated to rise in coming weeks
``I had never said that oil prices will go up on the 24th,'' said Union petroleum minister Ram Naik, after a noisy day in Parliament on Thursday and he had not.

Metal sector undisturbed by budget freight-rate hike
Railway minister Mamata Banerji has chosen to hike freight rates by around 5% for most commodities, while exempting certain essential commodities from the hike.

Domestic floriculture grows at 8% on Government support, quality
The country has a tremendous scope in the global floriculture sector which is growing at a rapid pace of about 8% per annum, said PK Sondhi, exclusive representative -- India, Meilland Star Rose, France.


  Cut-flower exports seen at Rs 200 cr in 2000-01
  Ayur-Neem' herbal tea with medicinal qualities launched
  Pollination by honeybees will boost fruit yield -- Study
  Marayoor jaggery sees sharp fall on dumping from TN
  Change in irrigation methods will boost output
  Freight rates hike would fuel inflation rates further
  Cashewnut production to cross 5-lakh tonne mark in 2000
  South Asian ryots campaign for eco-friendly farming
  Coriander, cumin traders in Rajasthan in a fix over prices
  Gujarat kicks off cotton technology mission
  Soya oil meal price shoots up on aggressive buying from Far East
  STC to export 3,300 tonnes of natural rubber to Singapore
  Proper post-harvest handling will limit horticulture losses
  Stiff margins to stem volatility in castor futures
  `Global coffee market discounts disturbing'
  Ipsta chief sees need for multi-commodity bourse
  Global flat steel inventories decline; demand to rise 8.3%, say experts
  Rains, thundershowers likely in Kerala
  Future of zinc market trends seen bleak
  Protest against Essential Commodities Act
  Freight rates likely to rise
  Alumina scales bigger heights in world market
  Diamond import licence premiums jump to 10%
  Diamond exports growth set to slide this year
  Woollen sector seeks sops to boost exports
  US takes tough stance to safeguard steel industry against imports
  Cotton yarn export quotas to Europe go abegging
  World Bank working price risk mechanism for jute growers
  US encouraged by Saudi opening doors to foreign investments gas industry
  High excise duty spells doom for power processors
  Silk units in Delhi call for lifting of 12% sales tax
  MRTPC bars float glass imports from Indonesian firms
  State to frame new textile policy to encourage value-addition
  Overseas market for goat uppers, lining leather dull, prices stay low
  Cotton farmers pay for undue optimism, suffer heavy losses
  Handloom sector for scrapping of Sathyam panel suggestions
  Major US investments in jute likely
  Sulphuric acid prices up 40% on supply shortage
  Cement firms in south to hike rates by Rs 7 per bag
  Foodgrains output may dip by over 1.5%
  Vietnam pepper output set to jump five times, to cross 1 lakh tonnes by 2010
  Kazakhstan hardens stand on Chinese move