IA not to increase fares despite ATF price increase
Indian Airlines has decided to "hold on to its current fare level as long as possible" despite a 19 per cent increase in the price of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) announced by the government. Due to the hike announced on Friday night, IA would face an additional burden of Rs 220 crore and the rest because of a rise in sales tax imposed by some states, route navigation and landing charges and the fluctuation of the rupee, the official added.

Foreign currency assets up by $101 million
After two weeks fall, the country's foreign currency assets showed a rise of $101 million to $32,530 million for the week ended September 22. The total foreign exchange reserves also rose to $35,362 million following the accretion of $101 million in foreign currency assets, according to Reserve Bank of India's weekly statistical supplement released here on Saturday.The special drawing rights (SDR) and gold reserves were static at $2 million and $2,830 million resepctively.

Tata Steel's H1 sales up 5%
Tata Iron & Steel on Saturday reported 5 per cent higher sales in volume terms for the first half of the current fiscal (April-September) against the first half of 1999-2000. Its total steel sales increased from 1.366 million tonnes (mt) to 1.430 mt during the period, while production of saleable steel went up from 1.5799 mt to 1.757 mt, a growth of 11%.

RBI to retain modified EEFC scheme
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Saturday said that it will not scrap the Exchange Earners' Foreign Currency (EEFC) scheme, but it is reviewing part of it. In a statement issued in Mumbai on Saturday, the central bank said that that there has been no proposal of scrapping the scheme, but "the various features of the scheme were currently under review".

United Breweries to acquire 2 new breweries
United Breweries Ltd is acquiring two breweries of Aurangabad-based Inertia Industries located in Aurangabad and in Haryana, according to UB Group chairman Vijay Mallya. The company recently entered into an agreement with a Nepal-based mineral water company, to introduce a premier mineral water brand in India.

Maruti postpones price hike announcement
Maruti has postponed its announcement regarding price hike of various models including Maruti-800 and Omni vans for a few days due to consecutive holidays. The company is likely to announce the new prices on October 3 or four.

Badla rates at 11.5%
Badla rates at today's session averaged around 11.5%. A dealer said that the badla rate for the scrip infosys closed at 11.6%. The rates for Reliance, Satyam, and Zee were 11%, 11.58 %, and 11.09% respectively.Total outstanding position for the week ended Sept 30 stands at Rs. 2575 crore. Net outstanding for the above scrips stand at Rs 58.04 crore, 153.02 crore and 137.9 crore respectively

RIL H! results
Reliance industries Limnited will announce its half yearly unaudited financial results for the financial year 2000-2001 on October 31.

Sunday.A notice to this effect has been sent to the stock exchanges on Saturday.In the first half (April-September) of 1999-2000, Reliance had sales of Rs. 8,673 crore - an increase of 18 per cent over the corresponding period of the previous year - and net profit of Rs. 1122 crore - an increase of 22 per cent over the corresponding period of the previous year.