COMPANIES

• Reliance hikes polymer prices
• Maruti car sales rise 46 per cent
• SRF net profit rises 17 per cent in ’02-03
• TVS Motor bike sales up 8 per cent
• Cement firms’ despatches go up in May
• Viceroy Hotels in talks to become Marriot franchisee
• ONGC asks Gail to cut off gas supplies to Iffco
• MTNL may get to certify digital signatures
• Bharti plans $185-mn US listing next fiscal
• Idea plans Rs 800-cr capex this fiscal
• M&M: Upbeat on future prospects
• Budget class hotels thriving in Kovai
• Hero Honda May sales up 12.25 pc
• RCI India to focus on China
• SAIL sets turnover target of Rs 20,000 cr
• MobileFirst inks pact with Rediff for infotainment
• Orchid signs marketing pact with US co Apotex
• Coke to raise investment in TN
• AstraZeneca developing TB drug — Opens $10-million research facility near Bangalore

GENERAL

• Capturing 1per cent of global export market seen earlier than 2007
• Talks on tariff cuts on industrial goods deadlocked

BANKING AND FINANCE

• SBP targets Rs 450-crore net profit in 2003-2004
• Maharashtra govt files writ petition against DRT move
• Jammu and Kashmir Bank net up 30 per cent
• IRDA directive on commission to boost brokerage industry
• HDFC Bank plans to add 100 branches
• ICICI Prudential Life to double agents force
• LIC beginning to feel the heat
• Royal Sundaram premium income jumps to Rs 184 cr
• State Bank of Indore net jumps 60 pc

CAPITAL MARKET

• Rupee tad weaker; gilts trading listless
• Motilal Oswal Securities targets top-end clients
• Sales figures drive up Hero Honda
• Sell off talk fuels Hindustan Oil
• Deutsche AMC plans floating rate fund
• SEBI clears decks for `Fund of funds'

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

• Dollar trouble barges into G-8 summit
• Air Canada signs pact with pilots, stays airborne

PEOPLE

• New CBEC chief
• R.C. Jain takes over as Eicher Group CE