COMPANIES

• Hindustan Lever takes on Barons with modern biscuit
• Eveready Inds to source flashlights from SSIs to head off competition
• BEL targets Rs 5,000-cr turnover in tenth plan
• SC not to intervene in Parke Davis & Pfizer merger issue
• Shaw Wallace plans Rs 500 cr investment
• Glaxo may mop up Rs 160 crore by sale of non-core assets
• Gail’s DVPL project readies for LNG transfer from PLL
• IOC plans launch of Sri Lanka petrol station network in May
• Maruti Udyog’s domain name freed from cyber squatter
• Microsoft India scripts mega expansion plan
• DD gets exclusive rights to telecast French Open
• Post CAS, Sony expects 40 per cent drop in revenue
• Thumbs up: Coke posts first net profit
• BSNL, MTNL roll back phone tariffs partially
• Reliance Info eyes US market for data services
• Tata Chem to pay 55 pc
• Calcutta HC sets aside notice against Mallya
• KRL to resume supply to FACT as standoff ends
• Penal provisions in Companies Bill irks ICAI
• i-manager to open operations in Muscat, Lanka
• M&M opens second assembly plant in US

GENERAL

• Export competitiveness: India worried over mechanism
• TFCI takes over Arasa Hotel under Securitisation Act
• Metro rail being introduced in seven states

BANKING AND FINANCE

• IndusInd gold trading from July
• Canara Bank plans 3 more branches in Chennai
• HSBC to open global software centre in Pune
• Bank of Rajasthan submits case details to RBI
• OM Kotak launches new insurance plan
• Andhra Bank unveils slew of tech services
• Brokers to meet IRDA chief to discuss notification
• South Indian Bank to launch global debit card soon
• RBI shortlists 8 banks for RBS
• Pricing of IDBI Bank rights issue expected to be low
• Canara Bank to cut PLR by 25 bps
• Pandyan Grama Bank net profit up 16 per cent to Rs 13.75 crore

CAPITAL MARKET

• Hopes on numbers trigger interest in Thermax
• Deccan Gold becomes first listed gold exploration co
• Mid-caps buoyant
• Ceat gains on outsourcing move
• Rupee higher; gilts up
• Strong buying in heavyweights raises Sensex
• SBI near-month calls active
• Auto ancillary scrips hit accelerator

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

• Hyundai Motor profit falls as costs rise
• Murdoch's News Corp. shows profits in Jan-March, 2003
• Oman reduces stake in $1.3 bn Indian refinery
• SARS-hit Cathay's April passengers down 66 pct
• Viren Rastogi accused of shredding papers
• I have quit AOL Time in disgust: Ted Turner