India tops in retail rental growth in Asia-Pacific: study
New Delhi: According to a Cushman & Wakefield study, India has emerged as the biggest gainer in Asia Pacific in terms of rise in commercial rentals which have risen by almost 111.5 per cent over the past one year, giving it the world's 24th most expensive shopping locations.

India has moved up 17 positions from its 41th rank last year, while emerging as the highest gainer among all the cities worldwide, C&W's annual report on global retail rents — Main Streets Across the World 2006 - shows.

Khan Market, an upmarket shopping street in New Delhi, has become the costliest location within the country with a 75 per cent jump, while New Delhi's another elite shopping location, South Extension has recorded a jump of 111.5 per cent.
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Delhi traders call 24-hour bandh on Tuesday
New Delhi: Delhi traders have called for a 24-hour Delhi bandh on Tuesday against the resumption of the Delhi government's sealing drive.

The Supreme Court yesterday refused to provide any relief to traders of unathorised business establishments in residential areas in the capital, and asked the authorities to resume the sealing drive against them.

The trader's applications had sought relief on the ground of prevailing law and order situation in the aftermath of the three-day strike by the traders last week.

Over 40,000 traders who had given affidavits to shift their businesses out of residential areas face the prospects of sealing by the MCD under the September 29 order of the apex court.
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Prices of another 354 drugs may be cut
New Delhi: The 14-member committee constituted by Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers Ram Vilas Paswan to thrash out issues in the pharmaceutical policy has suggested up to 10 per cent voluntary cuts in the prices of 354 essential drugs, which constitute around 40 per cent of the turnover of the Rs33,000 crore market in reciprocation to the government moving towards price monitoring.

Price monitoring might include setting a price band in which prices could move on a yearly basis.

Officials said these drugs do not attract trade margins of 1,000 per cent so the price fall will not be as high as with the 886 generic-generic medicines. But it will cover 40 per cent of the market and all the essential medicines.
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LF wants petrol, diesel price cut
Kolkata: The Left parties are pressurising the central government to downwardly revise petrol and diesel prices. "The government will take a decision after careful consideration by the petroleum ministry," a senior government official said.

When contacted petroleum minister Murli Deora said the government was examining the impact of fall in crude prices and depending on the assessment, the government will take any decision. Sources in petroleum ministry said that while oil marketing companies are making profit on petrol, they are still losing on diesel, LPG and kerosene.

International oil prices have fallen after touching an all time high at $75 a barrel in August this year to around $56 per barrel.

OMCs are making a profit of Rs 4.50/ litre on petrol but are losing Rs1.55/ litre on diesel. They are losing Rs151 on sale of every 14.2 kg LPG cylinder and another Rs14 on every litre of kerosene.

Due to high international crude prices, the government in June had decided to, raised prices of petrol by Rs4/liter and diesel by Rs2/ litre.
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Prospects of India-Sweden trade upbeat
New Delhi: Trade between Sweden and India has doubled between 2002 and 2006 to about $1.7 billion per year. Swedish exports to India increased by 42.5 pc in 2006 the future of bilateral trade relations between the two countries is bright.

Harald Fälth of the Swedish embassy while launching the second edition of the Sweden-India Business Guide 2006-2007, said that trade had multiplied in both directions and India was the third largest export market for Sweden in Asia.

Indian exports to Sweden are also steadily rising. Sweden is also amongst the ten largest European investors in India.

Swedish companies have been investing heavily in India, primarily in manufacturing, automotive, pharmaceuticals, medical technology, and telecom and IT. Telecom and IT comprises almost 50 pc of Sweden's export to India.

A release from the embassy said India was a preferred trading partner for Sweden as it is the fourth largest economy in the world by purchasing power. And as incomes are growing fast, India is becoming a major emerging market for consumer goods, it added.
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