|
-: Advertisement :-
-: Advertisement :-
Headlines
|
News:
Jaswant to visit Washington on April 5
Vajpayee launches counter-offensive
BSP seeks immediate action against Tehelka accused
Guj estimates Rs 14.454 billion damage due to earthquake
Pak army gives green signal to Musharraf to sign CTBT: Reports
Parliamentary stalemate continues
Tata to float IT arm
First anti-dumping investigation initiated against Nepal
ITDC to Launch Five More Duty Free Shops in April
Rupee held steady against US dollar
Sensex loses further ground at midsession
India beat Pakistan 6-5 to win PM Gold Gold Cup hockey
India 480 for nine at close
Ukrain retain Rashid Volleyball title, India finish third
Anand beats Leko, Topalov upsets Kramnik
|
Markets:
Sensex: down 52.94 points to 3669.55
Sensex sheds another 50 points after a lacklustre session
|
Forex, Metals and
Weather below
|
News
|
Jaswant to visit Washington on April 5
New Delhi,Tuesday, March 20, 2001: External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh will visit Washington in the first week of April for a meeting with US Secretary of State Colin Powell and other top officials of the new Bush administration to ensure continuity and take forward the new momentum in Indo-US ties.
Singh, who will be in Washington from April five to seven, is undertaking the visit at the invitation of Powell, a move seen here as a reflection of keen desire of the U S administration to forge closer ties with India.
Singh, who now holds additional charge as Defence Minister, would be meeting, besides Powell, high officials of the new administration, a foreign office spokesman told reporters.
The entire gamut of regional, international and bilateral issues would be covered during the visit.
Though President George Bush spoke to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the aftermath of the Gujarat earthquake tragedy, this will be the first high-level interaction between the Vajpayee government and the Bush administration. Bush has underlined his support for a closer relationship and stronger partnership with India.
Vajpayee had conveyed to Bush he was looking forward to working with the U S leader to further strengthen bilateral relations and for international peace and stability.
Singh had developed a personal equation with former U S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott whom he met regularly on issues related to disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation.
Top
Vajpayee launches counter-offensive
New Delhi,Tuesday, March 20, 2001: Reeling under an Opposition attack in the wake of the expose by Tehelka.com, BJP led by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today launched a counter-offensive saying "those raising the bogey of corruption to come to power will not be allowed to succeed".
Addressing the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting here, he said "Opposition will not succeed in their attempts to defame us and that we do not need a certificate of patriotism from anyone. By stalling Parliamentary proceedings as a method to change the Government, as the world's largest democracy, what message is being conveyed by the Opposition".
Asserting that NDA Government enjoyed majority in the Lok Sabha, he said "our alliance is strong and efforts to divide us have proved futile. Therefore, they have come onto the streets despite our willingness to face a debate, inquiry or a vote of confidence", party spokesman V K Malhotra told reporters here.
Vajpayee specifically targeted Congress saying the party has "never allowed any non-Congress party including those supported by it to remain in office for a full term. It wants to prove that only Congress can run a Government for five years".
Top
BSP seeks immediate action against Tehelka accused
New Delhi,Tuesday, March 20, 2001: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) today sought immediate action against those who were directly involved in taking money in the fictitious defence deals mentioned in the Tehelka revelations.
"Its a serious issue. The News Portal had shown leaders taking money directly. FIR should be filed immediately against those who were involved in taking money directly and they should be prosecuted", BSP Vice-President Mayawati told reporters.
Wondering why the government was not filing FIR against these people, Mayawati said perhaps government was attempting to protect these people to save BJP-Led NDA government at the Centre.
She said there was no need for any discussion on the issue in Parliament or for a judicial inquiry as "everything has been shown on the television". "Judicial inquiry means putting the issue in the cold box. By emphasising on a judicial probe BJP was trying to hide its weaknesses in the matter", she said. On Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's challenge to opposition to move a no-confidence motion, she said "if the government was so confident of its majority why was it not moving such a motion". She said BSP would oppose any such motion moved by the government. She charged that BJP was trying to create communal tension all over the country to overcome the Tehelka Expose and go for mid-term polls.
Top
Guj estimates Rs 14.454 billion damage due to earthquake
Gandhinagar,Tuesday, March 20, 2001: Gujarat government has submitted a detailed memorandum to the centre on the damage to the tune of Rs 14.454 billion in the January 26 earthquake, Finance minister Vajubhai Vala said in the state assembly today.
Making a statement in the house, Vala said the representation had been made for Rs 2.075 billion for the current financial year and special central assistance of Rs 8.318 billion to meet the quake situation in the state.
The minister said following the representation a central team had visited the state which would submit its report to the central government and accordingly the centre would take the decision on the special assistance.
Vala narrated government's action to provide relief to the earthquake affcted persons in 7633 villages of 181 talukas in 21 districts of the total 25 districts of the state and highlighted restoration of electricity supply, water supply and telephone services in the affected areas.
He also expressed hope that in a short time the work of resettlement and rehabilitation of the qauke affected people would be completed.
The state Finance minister also pointed out that after the January 26 earthquake, the state experienced 545 aftershocks, suffering heavy losses of lives and properties.
Top
Pak army gives green signal to Musharraf to sign CTBT: Reports
Islamabad,Tuesday, March 20, 2001: A meeting of Pakistan Army corps commanders has agreed that the country should sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) as it has achieved a certain level of nuclear deterrence in a bid to enable the military regime lobby for lifting of economic sanctions, media reports said here today.
The decision to sign CTBT was taken yesterday on the opening day of the two-day Corps Commanders Conference at Rawalpindi, `Pakistan Observer' quoting well placed sources said.
"Except for very negligible dissent, senior commanders are reported to have agreed that Pakistan has achieved a certain level of nuclear deterrence and the country may go ahead with signing of CTBT", the newspaper said.
The decision to sign CTBT was taken based on grim economic situation faced by Pakistan due to pressing repayment schedules of dollar 38 billion of its foreign debt.
The newspaper said "senior commanders are also mindful of the political developments that are taking place in India".
Japan has already indicated its willingness to resume annual aid worth dollar 500 million to Pakistan provided it signed CTBT and restricted its nuclear programme.
"In view of the army's decision to go ahead with signing of CTBT, Gen Parvez Musharraf would in the coming weeks meet the political and religious leaders to evolve a broad political consensus in this regard," the daily said.
Top
Parliamentary stalemate continues
The opposition has stopped parliamentary business for the fifth day over a continuing bribery scandal.
The parliament managed to pass a crucial bill that will allow the government to continue routine spending, but later the session had to be suspended as opposition members continued to barrack the government.
The main opposition Congress Party has demanded that the government resign, saying it will stall any further business until the end of the current session later this week.
The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, has challenged the opposition to debate the issue rather than resorting to such tactics. The crisis erupted after video was released of senior officials apparently taking bribes from reporters posing as arms dealers.
Top
Tata to float IT arm
India's most venerable industrial group, Tata, is planning to defy the gloom which has enveloped technology stocks by floating its successful software wing, it emerged last night.
The company is considering making an initial public offering for Tata Consultancy Services, or TCS, Asia's largest software exporter.
The move would see Tata selling a 10% stake in TCS. The new firm's shares would be simultaneously listed in the local and US Nasdaq markets, said a source who asked not to be identified.
Tata is one of the subcontinent's largest industrial groups, with huge interests in steel, tea, watches, software and five-star hotels.
TCS has a much lower profile than its two main rivals in India's burgeoning software market - Infosys and Wipro - even though its sales are twice as big. Both rivals are growing at a much faster rate.
The issue is expected to hit the markets in the second half of this year. Before that, the Tata group will spin TCS into a separate company.
Analysts said the offering would enhance TCS's image abroad, improve growth prospects and provide another way of compensating key staff through stock options.
Top
First anti-dumping investigation initiated against Nepal
New Delhi,Tuesday, March 20, 2001: Government has for the first time initiated an anti-dumping investigation against Nepal concerning imports of Zinc Oxide, while initiating another on all imports of an animal feed - Vitamin AD3 500/100 from the European Union (EU) and Singapore.
The Directorate General of Anti-dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has initiated the investigations concerning imports of chemical - Zinc Oxide from Nepal on the basis of a petition filed by Gujarat-based Transpek Industries Ltd and Mumbai-based Demosha Chemicals Ltd.
DGAD had earlier this month recommended provisional anti-dumping duties against imports of Zinc Oxide from China.
Investigations against imports of the chemical from Nepal would be conducted from April 1999-September 2000.
The DGAD in its initiation notification said "there is sufficient prima-facie evidence that the normal value of the subject goods in the subject country is significantly higher than the price at which it has been exported to India indicating prima-facie that the subject goods are being dumped by the exporters from the subject country.
DGAD has also initiated anti-dumping investigations on imports of Vitamin AD3 500/100 from EU and Singapore on basis of petition filed by Mumbai-based Nicholas Piramal India Ltd.
The Vitamin AD3 500/100 is used in animal/poultry/prawn feed to provide the required vitamin level for better nutrition and the pharmaceutical companies having veterinary divisions use this product to manufacture animal health dry products.
Top
ITDC to Launch Five More Duty Free Shops in April
Driving on an expansion path, India Tourism Development Corporation [ITDC] will launch five more duty free shops and one retail outlet on April one, despite government's decision to disinvest its hotel properties.
The Duty Free Trade Division, expecting a turnover of Rs 87 crore during 2000-2001, is further planning to expand its network and add few more new shops to its existing 30 duty free shops by the end of this year, Vice-President of ITDC's Duty Free Trade Division, Chandni Luthra, told PTI today.
Top
Rupee held steady against US dollar
Mumbai,Tuesday, March 20, 2001: The rupee held steady against the US currency early today in tight range bound trade at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (FOREX) market.
The Indian unit was quoted at Rs.46.69/70 per dollar, in late morning deals, little changed from the overnight finish of Rs.46.6900/6950. The rupee opened at Rs.46.69/71.
The Forex spot trade was lacklustre and confined to tight band, as market operators were reluctant to take fresh positions due to the fluid politicial situation, a dealer said.
Meanwhile, in the cross currency trades, the Euro was quoted at Rs 42.02/04, Pound Sterling at Rs 66.58/60 and the Japnese Yen (100) at Rs 38.00/02.
Top
Sensex loses further ground at midsession
Mumbai,Tuesday, March 20, 2001: The sensex lost further ground at the midsession on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) today due to continuous selling pressure from speculators and domestic operators following slowdown in FII activity.
The BSE sensitive index which showed moderate losses in irregular movements at early stages, later dropped further to a low of 3644.51 before being quoted at 3657.82 at 1.00 p.m. as against yesterday's close of 3722.49.
Speculators and investors have turned cautious and even preferred to lighten their commitments in the light of rumours about the Calcutta Stock Exchange (CSE) mortagaging its building to raise funds following a payments crisis, dealers said.
Barring about nine to ten side stocks which were slightly up, all the specified counters suffered a setback on selling pressure.
Amara Raja Batteries continued to bear the brunt and even touched the 16 per cent lower circuit filter during the trading.
The scrip in which the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) had launched a probe for suspected price manipulation, was continuously stuck at the 16 per cent lower circuit for the past several days.
Top
India beat Pakistan 6-5 to win PM Gold Gold Cup hockey
Dhaka,Tuesday, March 20, 2001: India today clinched the nine-nation Prime Minister's Gold Cup hockey tournament with a 6-5 win against Pakistan in a hard-fought final here today.
The teams were locked 2-2 at half-time and 3-3 at regulation time and failed to score in extra-time. The reigning Asian Games Champions then edged out their arch-rivals 3-2 in the penalty shoot-out. Scorers: India: Radha Krishnan (23 and 25), Dilip Tirkey (68). Pakistan: Muhammad Sarwar (17 and 30), Muhammad Nadeem (60). Tie-break: India: Baljit Singh Dhillon, Arjun Hallapa and Daljit Singh. Pakistan: Haider Hussain, Waseem Ahmed.
Top
India 480 for nine at close
Chennai,Tuesday, March 20, 2001: Replying to Australia's 391, India were 480 for nine at close on the third day of the third and final cricket Test match here today, a lead of 89 runs.
Brief Scores: Australia: 391 (M Hayden 203, M Waugh 70, S Waugh 47; Harbhajan Singh 7-133). India: 480 for nine at close (S S Das 84, S Ramesh 61, V V S Laxman 65, S Tendulkar 126, R Dravid 81; McGrath 3-69, Gillespie 2-82, Miller 2-151, Warne 2-140).
Top
Ukrain retain Rashid Volleyball title, India finish third
Dubai,Tuesday, March 20, 2001: Fancied Ukraine cruised to their third straight Rashid International volleyball title with a fine win against Tunisia while three times champions India edged out hosts UAE to clinch the third spot at the Al Shabab Indoor Stadium here last night.
Ukraine defeated Tunisia 25-22 25-19 20-25 25-20 for the title while India had to sweat it out as they were stretched by UAE before snatching a 17-25 27-25 17-25 25-18 15-8 win to finish third for the second straight year.
India's Tom Joseph 'Tony' was adjudged the best attacker which was some consolation for the team.
The Indian setter Kapil Dev who stood in for captain Tulasi Reddy midway through the match and the young Abhijit Bhattacharjee who excelled with his effective blocking were instrumental in posting a win in the fourth and fifth sets.
The plucky UAE cashed in on too many errors made by Indians through attacker Mohammed Rashi, the winner of the most promising player award and libero Mohsin al Attas.
However the five setter gave the packed crowd value for their money as the two teams bitterly fought each point. The Indians got a scare as the hosts took the first set rather easily 17-25 but came back strongly into the game to edge out the hosts in the second 27-25.
Top
Anand beats Leko, Topalov upsets Kramnik
Monte Carlo,Tuesday, March 20, 2001: A brilliant victory by World Champion Viswanathan Anand over Peter Leko of Hungary and another superlative effort by Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria were the high points of the third round of the 10th Amber Blindfold and Rapid Chess tournament here.
Anand was unfazed by the reverses in the blindfold game in the previous round against L Ljubojovic of Yugoslavia and proved his superiority in the rapid game once again when he defeated Leko to go one-up. A draw in the blindfold game gave Anand a 1.5-0.5 win that took him to the joint second position with four points alongwith Leko who was in the joint lead till the previous round.
Topalov continued to lead the 12-man field with an upset 1.5-0.5 win against Braingames match winner Vladmir Kramnik of Russia.
Anand started the rapid game with a surprise on his first move with white pieces. The queen pawn opening was up against the Grunfeld Indian defence wherein Anand chose to play the Hungarian variation and got the upper hand with a positional pawn sacrifice in the middlegame.
Leko got a slightly worse endgame and his pieces were confined to the defence of his kingside whereas Anand made decisive forays with a pawn roller on the other flank.
Leko parted with a piece on his 36th move and Anand handled the technicalities in copybook fashion thereon.
Top
|
Markets
|
To get today's complete NIFTY (the NSE index) listing send an e-mail to
get-nse@mumbai-central.com
(updated multiple times a day)
|
To get today's BSE index listing send an e-mail to
get-bse@mumbai-central.com
(updated multiple times a day)
|
To get today's NAVs for mutual funds send an e-mail to
get-mf@mumbai-central.com
(updated once a day)
|
Sensex: down 52.94 points to 3669.55
The sensex closed at 3669.55, down 52.94
Top
Sensex sheds another 50 points after a lacklustre session
The mood on the market remained subdued on Tuesday amid fears of a deepening payment crisis on the Calcutta Stock Exchange and the ongoing political imbroglio. After an extremely lacklustre session, the BSE 30-share Sensitive Index (Sensex) settled with a loss of 50 points to 3672.
The ongoing political chaos and regulatory probes into stock market irregularities continued to influence the sentiment of the market, what with investors preferring to keep off the market till the dust settles.
Top
|
Forex
|
1 DMark = 21.49012 INR
1 FFranc = 6.407738 INR
1 U.K. Pound = 66.70453 INR
1 US $ = 46.64000 INR
1 Yen = 0.380673 INR
1 Canadian $ = 29.82 INR
1 Singapore $ = 26.29 INR
1 UAE Dirham = 12.70 INR
1 Saudi Arabian Riyal = 12.44 INR
1 Euro = 42.05 INR
|
Metals
|
19 March
Gold Std. (10g): Rs 4250
Silver (1 Kg) : Rs 7305
|
Weather
|
Temperature: 79 F / 26 C
HeatIndex: 82 F / 28 C
Humidity: 74%
Dewpoint: 70 F / 21 C
Wind
West at 6 mph / 9.7 km/h
Pressure: 29.77 in / 1008 hPa
Conditions
Smoke
Clouds
Clear (SKC)
Sunrise : 06:40 AM (IST)
Sunset : 06:46 PM (IST)
Moon Rise : 04:24 AM (IST)
Moon Set : 03:01 PM (IST)
Tonight : Low: 64 F / 18 C Scattered Clouds
Wednesday : High: 89 F / 32 C Scattered Clouds
Wednesday Night : Low: 60 F / 16 C Scattered Clouds
Thursday : High: 87 F / 31 C Scattered Clouds
Thursday Night : Low: 62 F / 17 C Scattered Clouds
|
-: Advertisement :-
-: Advertisement :-
|
Admin Message
Features
Do you own an Internet cafe or provide internet access for web surfing?
If so, please contact us.
new!
Recent interesting
events
March 14th was Pi day! - via
nukkad
Photo and description of a
'bonsai' orange tree
46th Annual Filmfare Awards
Earthquake - a poem by Rajababu (via nukkad)
new!
Events in March 2001.
Planning an event? Want to promote it? Let us know!
Mumbai Us Zamaney Ka
- a walk down memory lane (via nukkad)
Details
about
the Gujarat earthquake with important phone numbers and addresses
new!
Today in history
new!
Some history behinds the names of Mumbai's localities.
Let us know if you have any information.
This week's Bollywood news
Advertisement
Advertisement
Our interactive bus guide
Refuse, Reduce, Re-use, Re-cycle plastics
List of places to see in Mumbai (with pics). Any corrections/additions/suggestions? Send them in.
Have a suggestion for new features?. Let us know!.
25 things that prove you're a Bombayite...... - via nukkad
Make Mumbai Central your start page! Step-by-step instructions here.
Message boards
Community events: Events in March 2001
Bollywood: Re: Happy Birthday to Missing Actor SAJID KHAN on 28th
Travel: question about mumbai, please help
Bollywood: 46th Annual Filmfare Awards
Education: Re: Importance for SSC
Nightlife in Mumbai:
night life in bombay
Open forum (Archive): F2 Visa
nukkad
Letter to bapu - continued
Re: Brutus et tu? continued
RE: Roshan's grandfather was right-Rajababu
PRETENDING
Re: Cancer
FW: Roshan's grandfather was right-Rajababu
(More info on the 'nukkad' mailing list, including subscription info is at:
http://www.mumbai-central.com/nukkad/)
About the Mumbai Grapevine
The Mumbai Grapevine is a daily newsletter with news and info
from the city of Mumbai, formerly Bombay. The newsletter also
has weekly editions of international news.
To express your opinion about a particular story or news item,
write to:
news-editor@mumbai-central.com
These opinions may be published on the newsletter. If you do
not want your name/address to be published along with your
letter, please indicate clearly.
Instructions to unsubscribe are at the end of the newsletter.
Please feel free to forward this message to your friends and co-workers
who might be interested in it. The instructions to join the Mumbai
Grapevine are at the end of the message.
|