NEWS

News - Politics & Economics:

• Indian companies raised a record US$17.14 bn through private equity deals in 2007, according to data from Grant Thornton. (BS)
• Within a week of the Tamil Nadu goverment’s threat of nationalisation, private cement manufacturers have offered to make available 20 lakh bags of blended cement every month in all districts of Tamil Nadu at a subsidised price of Rs200 per 50 kg bag. (BS)
• BSP chief Mayawati has threatened to withdraw support to the central government while alleging that some Congress leaders are planning to kill her. (FE)
• Liquor might cost the same across country as the States have agreed on uniform duty structure. (ET)
• Supreme court has ruled that ESOPs cannot be considered taxable income and the company is not obliged to deduct tax at source on the same. (BS)
• Government has denied that it has any plans to sell the Dabhol power plant. (BS)
• Government has accorded low priority to natural gas utilization by new power plants. (FE)
• Beer consumption has grown just 14% in the first nine months of FY08 as against 28% in the last financial year. (ET)
• Cement sales for the December quarter were up 2.1% YTD. (BS)