Market Roundup

• Tata-Star DTH proposal gets DoT clearance
• Satyam, Microsoft in enterprise readiness initiative
• HCL validated as 'Ready for IBM technology'
• GHCL acquires soda ash business in Romania
• Vietnamese banks deploy i-flex core banking suite
• Transgene Biotek develops oral delivery of insulin and Hepatitis B vaccine
• Mahindra Renault's Logan to share component vendors with Scorpio
• Maruti to raise prices in Jan.

GENERAL

• Goldman Sachs Foundation to support ISB's Centre for Analytical Finance
• India will have 100 million net users by 2006-07
• Supreme Court clears deck for Dabhol project
• PF interest rate fixed at 8.5 per cent
• Govt. to support country's bid to become an automotive hub

• Rupee sheds 5 paise — G-secs decline
• Lupin launches $100 million FCCB
• S. Kumar's to invest Rs.400 crore for expansion

MARKETS

• ICICI Bank fixes issue price at Rs.525 a share
• Geojit offers trading facilities on the Dubai Gold Exchange
• 50 per cent dividend from UTI GSF-Petro
• Ammana Bio Pharma files for IPO

INTERNATIONAL

• WTO amendment on generic drugs
• Virgin board rejects NTL's £817mn offer
• Dresdner to handle Gazprombank's share issue
• Microsoft fined US$31mn by Korean anti-trust regulator
• Coca-Cola to debut new soda

PEOPLE

• Indian elected to Abu Dhabi trade body board