COMPANIES

• IOC to lift RIL petro goods
• Baxter's introduces ALYX blood collection system
• Govt clears Tata Power's trading licence
• Voltas to exit joint venture with Sermo Montaigu
• HC approves Tata Chem and Hind Lever Chem merger
• SRF board approves Kashipur plant purchase
• Sundram Fasteners inaugurates Haiyan plant
• JP Mobile buys Asynchrony security product
• Zenith laptop for students
• New look Royal Challenge beer

GENERAL

• Poll India: 2004…Last day…
• $ 70 million WB loan for Uttaranchal
• $1 billion annual investments in oil and gas fields
• Inflation unchanged at 4.2 per cent

BANKING AND FINANCE

• Rupee firms up
• PFRDA to start with six pension fund managers
• SBI launches Trade Finance cells in Kerala
• Bengal may add Mediclaim to provident fund scheme
• BoI Q4 profit up 24 per cent
• Federal Bank to pay 70 per cent
• Karur Vysya Bank posts 10 per cent rise in profits

MARKETS

• Sensex up 30

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

• EU to endorse Russia's entry into WTO
• Baring India to raise $150 million