COMPANIES

• Biocon developing anti-cancer vaccine
• Ispat Nigam into expansion plans of Rs.18, 000 crore
• Saudi changes mobile access code
• Cognizant Q2 revenues up 59 per cent
• Sonata Software Q1 net up
• Plumtree opts for Satyam
• NDTV 24x7 ties up for Africa
  

GENERAL

• Cabinet gives the go ahead for ASTROSAT
• Cabinet clears India-Nepal rail agreement
• CCEA okays taxation pact with Armenia
• Direct tax collections up by 52 per cent
  

BANKING AND FINANCE

• Rupee firms up five paise
• Nabard cuts rates and accepts prepayment of loans
• GTB and Oriental bank merger: No share swap
• Federal Bank Q1 net up
  

MARKETS

• Markets: Rally continues
• Oriental Bank to gain from merger with GTB
• No impact of exposure not covered by collaterals in GTB
• ESOPs of listed companies to be under SEBI norms

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

• Multi dimensional analytics from NICE Perform
• Toshiba and NEC confirm 2005 launch of HD DVD hardware