|
|
|
|
Hero Honda to launch CBZ, Pleasure variant in Oct: SrcsHero Honda plans to launch three bikes by early next month, reports CNBCTV18, quoting sources. The new launches will include a new variant of the CBZ and Pleasure. The list of new launches may also contain a new 125cc bike. A preview of the new launches was held during an internal meet on September 29 and 30 in Goa.Source: Moneycontrol Top Headlines | 22 Sep 2008 | 5:51 pm Acceptance ratio for Ranbaxy yet to be decidedAcceptance ratio for Ranbaxy is yet to be decided; delays in making payment of consideration to the shareholders; interest on late payment will be done subject to SEBI approval.Source: Moneycontrol Top Headlines | 22 Sep 2008 | 5:01 pm Bartronics sees FY10 net profits at Rs 180 crSudhir Rao, MD and COO of Bartronics India said, \"Earnings growth would be inline with topline growth. We should probably be looking at 18% net during the current year. So, that would be slightly more than Rs 90 crore from a net profit level. For FY10, mathematically speaking, it should be approximately Rs 180 crore.\"Source: Moneycontrol Top Headlines | 22 Sep 2008 | 4:21 pm Era Infra Engineering eyes capex of Rs 1.2K cr in 23 yrsHS Bharana, CMD, Era Infra Engineering, said the companys order book stands at around Rs 5,900 crore. He sees capex at Rs 1,200 crore for the next two to three years.Source: Moneycontrol Top Headlines | 22 Sep 2008 | 3:44 pm State Bank of Saurashtra merges with SBIThe State Bank of Saurashtra has merged with the State Bank of India. And with it, a centuryold legacy of the erstwhile Bhavnagar Darbar bank ends. While the Kathiawadis miss their bank, they have happily adjusted to the realities of the new world.Source: Moneycontrol Top Headlines | 22 Sep 2008 | 3:40 pm Bhatinda refinery to be commissioned by Mar \'11: HPCLHPCL has said that Bhatinda Refinery will be commissioned by March 2011. The capex for FY0809 will be at Rs 3,000 crore.Source: Moneycontrol Top Headlines | 22 Sep 2008 | 3:00 pm Govt may ease export ban on few rice varieties by NovendCommerce Secretary, G K Pillai said the Government may ease the export ban on some special varieties of rice by Novemberend. The rupee may appreciate by December this year, he said. The Minimum Statutory Price (MSP) for paddy may be raised by Rs 50 per quintal, he added. The governments export target of USD200 billion is on track, he said.Source: Moneycontrol Top Headlines | 22 Sep 2008 | 2:48 pm No investments in FMPs having exposure to realty: WiproIT major Wipro has denied investments in fixed maturity plans, or FMPs, with an exposure to the realty sector. The company said it invests only in AAA rated fixed plans that do not have an exposure to the realty sector. Its June 30 investments in shortterm funds stood at Rs 45.64 billion.Source: Moneycontrol Top Headlines | 22 Sep 2008 | 1:59 pm Hindalco rights issue: What should one do?Hindalco\'s right issue opens for subscription on September 22 and closes on October 10. The rights priced at Rs 96 per share, is in the ratio of three shares for every seven shares held, or 3:7. The flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group plans to raise Rs 5, 048 crore via the issue.Source: Moneycontrol Top Headlines | 22 Sep 2008 | 1:48 pm Nomura bags deal to buy Lehman Asia biz: SourcesThere are reports that Nomura Holdings, Japan\'s largest brokerage, has clinched the deal to buy Lehman Brothers Asia operations.Source: Moneycontrol Top Headlines | 22 Sep 2008 | 1:34 pm SAIL to invest Rs 150 cr in steel plant in J&KUnion Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said SAIL would invest Rs 150 crore for setting up a steel processing unit in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir.Source: Daily News & Analysis: Money News | 22 Sep 2008 | 1:18 pm Battle for a bailout; goodbye, Wall Street - MSN Money
Source: Google News India - Business | 22 Sep 2008 | 1:04 pm '$2.5-bn bonus for Lehman's NY staff irks left-outs'A bonus of USD 2.5-billion, promised to bankrupt investment bank Lehman Brothers' New York staff by UK major Barclays Capital, has fuelled resentment among its employeesSource: Daily News & Analysis: Money News | 22 Sep 2008 | 1:02 pm Lanco Infra gets contract worth 3.09 bln rupeesMUMBAI (Reuters) - Infrastructure developer Lanco Infratech Ltd said it got a contract worth 3.09 billion rupees from an enterprise of the government of Andhra Pradesh for a construction project in Adilabad district.Source: Reuters: Money News | 22 Sep 2008 | 12:58 pm Rupee trims gains on oil buying, stocksMUMBAI (Reuters) - The rupee trimmed early gains as local stocks fell into negative territory, with dollar demand from oil companies also weighing.Source: Reuters: Money News | 22 Sep 2008 | 12:57 pm India will help out of crisis: British finance ministerThe British finance minister said India and other strong emerging economies will help bail out Britain from the current global economic downturn.Source: Daily News & Analysis: Money News | 22 Sep 2008 | 12:45 pm Market loses steam, ends lower on profit booking - Economic Times
Source: Google News India - Business | 22 Sep 2008 | 12:32 pm Bajaj Hindustan buys UP sugar co, capacity rises to 1.48 lakh tcd - Economic Times
Source: Google News India - Business | 22 Sep 2008 | 12:32 pm No roll-back of cotton MSP: VaghelaThe Government is unlikely to roll-back the minimum support price (MSP) for cotton, Union Textile Minister Shankersinh Vaghela has said.Source: Daily News & Analysis: Money News | 22 Sep 2008 | 12:26 pm India gold firmer, demand slows as dips eyedMUMBAI (Reuters) - India's gold remained firm on Monday in step with foreign markets and demand was slower as buyers expected there would be opportune dips in the volatile market, dealers said.Source: Reuters: Money News | 22 Sep 2008 | 12:25 pm Daiichi open offer in Ranbaxy over subscribedRanbaxy Laboratories said the Japanese drug maker Daiichi Sankyo's open offer for acquiring an additional 20 per cent stake in the domestic pharma firm has been fully subscribed.Source: Daily News & Analysis: Money News | 22 Sep 2008 | 12:24 pm EU reopens WTO complaint against India over drink duties - Economic Times
Source: Google News India - Business | 22 Sep 2008 | 12:06 pm BSE Sensex drops, unsure U.S. plan will end crisisBANGALORE (Reuters) - The BSE Sensex shed 0.3 percent on Monday after starting more than 1 percent higher, as investors grew wary of the U.S. government's planned $700 billion bailout to end the financial turmoil and lift global economic outlook.Source: Reuters: Money News | 22 Sep 2008 | 12:06 pm M&M launches Scorpio Automatic - Business Standard
Source: Google News India - Business | 22 Sep 2008 | 12:05 pm Markets close nearly flat with marginal lossesIndian equities markets closed nearly flat Monday with marginal losses as investors were still trying to evaluate global cues, analysts said.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Business News | 22 Sep 2008 | 12:03 pm Mutual fund sector to grow at 30-35 percent in 3-5 yearsThe mutual fund sector will see a compounded annual growth rate of 30-35 percent in the next three to five years, an official said Monday.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Business News | 22 Sep 2008 | 12:01 pm VGN Developers to build 37,700 residential units in 5 yearsCity-based VGN Developers Pvt Ltd will build 37,700 residential apartments under different segments during the next five years. The sale value of these projects will be to the tune of Rs.114 billion, a senior official said.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Business News | 22 Sep 2008 | 12:00 pm State Bank of Saurashtra merges with SBI - Moneycontrol.com
Source: Google News India - Business | 22 Sep 2008 | 11:56 am Rupee up 47 paise against $ in early trade!Mumbai, Sept 22: The Indian rupee on Monday rose by one percent to 45.36 against the US dollar in early trade owing to smart rise in Asian bourses.Source: Zee News : Business | 22 Sep 2008 | 11:54 am Oil rises above USD 105 on relief over US rescue plan!Oil extended last week`s massive gains and rose above USD 105 a barrel on Monday, on hopes that the US government`s USD 700 billion rescue plan would restore stability in the financial system and support global energy demand.Source: Zee News : Business | 22 Sep 2008 | 11:54 am Sensex up 179 pts in early trade!The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex gained 179 points in early trade today on emergence of buying by funds in heavy-weight stocks.Source: Zee News : Business | 22 Sep 2008 | 11:54 am Asian stock markets rise sharply in early trade !Sydney, Sept 22: Asian share prices soared in early trade on Monday as the US government`s massive rescue plan for the battered financial sector encouraged investors shaken by last week`s global turmoil.Source: Zee News : Business | 22 Sep 2008 | 11:54 am Goldman, Morgan Stanley to become bank holding firms!Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley got approval on Sunday to become bank holding companies regulated by the US Federal Reserve, a move that ends the traditional investment banking model.Source: Zee News : Business | 22 Sep 2008 | 11:54 am Proposed bank strike unnecessary: P Chidambaram!Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram has termed the proposed nationwide strike by bank employees on September 24 as `unnecesary` and said the Centre was ready to hold talks with bank unions.Source: Zee News : Business | 22 Sep 2008 | 11:54 am Bush admin urges quick action on $700 billion bailout !The Bush administration insisted on Sunday that Congress must move quickly to approve what one lawmaker called the "mother of all bailouts" — a USD 700 billion proposal to buy a mountain of bad mortgage debt in an effort to unfreeze the nation`s credit markets.Source: Zee News : Business | 22 Sep 2008 | 11:54 am OUTLOOK-India CER futures seen up on rising oil prices - Reuters India
Source: Google News India - Business | 22 Sep 2008 | 11:42 am INTERVIEW - Oil markets testing water around $100/barrel - IEABANGKOK (Reuters) - Oil markets are trying to find a level somewhere around $100 a barrel but prices may fall further later in the year if the U.S. financial crisis hurts the global economy, the deputy head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Monday.Source: Reuters: Money News | 22 Sep 2008 | 11:37 am Dolphin Offshore bags USD 16 mn contracts - Hindu
Source: Google News India - Business | 22 Sep 2008 | 11:34 am Mudra chief elected to chair Advertising Council of IndiaMumbai: At a board meeting on 18 September, Madhukar Kamath, managing director & CEO Mudra Communications Pvt. Ltd., was unanimously elected chairman of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI). Kamath in his nine years as a member of the Board of Governors has provided active support to Self-Regulation in the Advertising Movement. During the year 2007-08, the Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) deliberated on 122 complaints against Advertisements of which 69 were upheld. In 52 cases, the Ads have been withdrawn or modified appropriately. It is also noteworthy that 75% of advertisers have complied with norms, including 58% who are not members of the ASCI. Kamath said, “We aspire to taking ASCI forward through an annual workshop on current issues on self regulation. The focus in the year ahead will be stimulating interest in youth. This will be done through interactive presentations with case studies at various management and media institutes across the country.” Bhaskar Das, the outgoing chairman said, “Last year when I took over the reins of ASCI, I was extremely fortunate to get a Council which is both knowledgeable and passionate about self regulation in advertising. ASCI as a member of European Advertising Standards Alliance has launched the pre-copy advice facility, which will benefit the advertisers, Agencies and media to avoid receiving complaints against their advertisements.” Dhananjay Keskar, director of Indian Business School was elected vice-chairman, and Rajiv Dube, president (Passenger Car Business Unit), Tata Motors Ltd was re-appointed as the Honorary Treasurer. The other members among the new Board of Governors are: Advertisers: Narendra Ambwani (Johnson & Johnson), Gopal Vittal (Hindustan Unilever), Shantanu Khosla (Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care), Media: Bhaskar Das (Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd.), Vikram Kaushik (Tata Sky Ltd.), G Krishnan (TV Today), I Venkat (Eenadu), Advertising Agencies: Charles Cadell (Lintas India), Arvind Sharma (Leo Burnett), Srinivasan Swamy (R.K. Swamy BBDO). Allied Professions: Dilip Cherian (Perfect Relations), Pranesh Misra (Brandscapes Consultancy P. Ltd.), Partha Rakshit (AC Nielsen Research Services). Source: LatestNews-Home - Livemint.com | 22 Sep 2008 | 11:30 am Govt likely to provide Rs50 bonus over paddy/quintalNew Delhi: The government may provide a bonus of Rs50 to paddy farmers over and above the minimum support price of Rs850 per quintal this year. The hike in procurement price is likely to be announced next week, a top government official said on Monday. The Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council had earlier suggested that the MSP be fixed at Rs900 per quintal. The move is aimed at extending a helping hand to farmers, the official added. The Cabinet, in its meeting on 21 August, approved the support prices for various kharif crops, including paddy. The Cabinet had, on 12 June, announced an ad-hoc MSP for paddy at Rs850 a quintal. However, it referred the matter to the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council as southern states, major producers of rice, had been demanding a hike in the MSP to Rs1,000 a quintal, on a par with that of wheat. The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), which recommends MSP for various crops, had suggested the government to raise the paddy MSP to Rs1,000 a quintal for the 2008-09 season. Last year, the MSP of paddy, including bonus, was Rs745 per quintal and Rs775 for common and Grade A varieties. The MSPs for maize, jowar and bajra have now been fixed at Rs840 per quintal each, while cotton is Rs2,500 a quintal for medium staple and Rs3,000 for long staple. Meanwhile, areas under paddy cultivation in the ongoing kharif season rose to 373.51 lakh hectares till September 19, compared with 361.81 lakh hectares in the year-ago period. An official source said the acreage would surpass the five-year average of 389.66 lakh hectares (LH) this year, as there are some more days left in this season. Last year, farmers had sown paddy in 393.83 LH. Source: LatestNews-Home - Livemint.com | 22 Sep 2008 | 11:25 am Indian manufacturing unaffected by financial crisisMUMBAI (Reuters) - India's manufacturing sector is not too worried about the global financial crisis as yet, though consumer goods has been affected to some extent, officials said on Monday.Source: Reuters: Money News | 22 Sep 2008 | 11:16 am eClerx's major client files for bankruptcy - Business Standard
Source: Google News India - Business | 22 Sep 2008 | 11:15 am Amritraj seeks deal with Anil Ambani groupAshok Amritraj is looking at a five-year revolving co-production deal with Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (R-ADAG) in an attempt to blend the world of cinema.Source: Daily News & Analysis: Money News | 22 Sep 2008 | 11:13 am Markets fall sharply but begin recovery mid-afternoonIndian equities markets opened strong Monday, slipped into the red within 20 minutes into trading and fell further before beginning to recover mid-afternoon and should close flat or slightly higher, analysts said.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Business News | 22 Sep 2008 | 11:01 am US to join Asia-Pacific free trade agreementUnited Nations: The United States has agreed to join Singapore, New Zealand, Chile and Brunei in a free trade agreement which could set the pace for a broader Asia-Pacific free trade area, officials said. US Trade Representative Susan Schwab is expected to announce Washington’s decision to participate in the “Comprehensive Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement” at a meeting today with ministers from the four countries on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the officials said. “I can confirm that the US will join,” a US administration official said. The agreement, the first trade pact involving a group of Pacific Rim countries, was signed between Singapore, Chile and New Zealand in 2005 before Brunei joined it a year later. It was commonly known as the “P4” group with a broad objective to tear down trade barriers among participants within a decade, officials said. The US decision to join the agreement will give impetus to a long term initiative within the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to forge a Free Trade Agreement of the Asia Pacific, officials said. APEC, comprising such nations as the United States, China, Russia, Chile, Japan, Canada, Australia and key Southeast Asian economies, account for nearly half of world trade. Schwab will at the talks today announce the “launch of negotiations” for the United States to join the P4 agreement, one Asia-Pacific diplomat involved in the talks said. Washington in March decided to hold talks with the P4 on freeing up just investment and financial services. Source: LatestNews-Home - Livemint.com | 22 Sep 2008 | 11:01 am PGCIL gets board’s nod to invest in Mundra projectPTI New Delhi: Central transmission utility Power Grid Corporation (PGCIL) has got board approval for investing Rs4,824.12 crore to provide transmission system for the 4,000 MW power project at Mundra in Gujarat. “Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) has received investment approval of Rs4,824.12 crore from its board of directors for the 4,000 MW ultra mega power project at Mundra in Gujarat,” the company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange. The 4,000 MW project is being developed by the country’s largest private power producer Tata Power. The project is scheduled to be commissioned in four years. The PGCIL shares were trading at Rs92.30, down 2.17%, in the afternoon trade on the BSE. Source: LatestNews-Home - Livemint.com | 22 Sep 2008 | 10:53 am Kingfisher cuts 300 jobs; to return surplus aircraftsIn an effort to tide over rough weather that has gripped the aviation industry, Vijay Mallya-promoted Kingfisher Airlines is cutting 300 jobs, besides returning surplus aircrafts.Source: Daily News & Analysis: Money News | 22 Sep 2008 | 10:52 am Nomura clinches Lehmans Asian operationsJapanese financial services major Nomura is going to acquire the Asian operations of US bankrupt investment bank Lehman Brothers, a media report says.Source: Daily News & Analysis: Money News | 22 Sep 2008 | 10:51 am British Airways suspends operations to PakBritish Airways has halted all flights to Pakistan in the aftermath of the deadly suicide attack on the Marriott Hotel in the federal capital that killed 53 people.Source: Daily News & Analysis: Money News | 22 Sep 2008 | 10:51 am Goldman, Morgan become regulated banksGoldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley will now become bank holding companies, and come directly under the purview of the Federal Reserve.Source: Daily News & Analysis: Money News | 22 Sep 2008 | 10:50 am Govt may remove restrictions on export of non-basmati rice - Hindu
Source: Google News India - Business | 22 Sep 2008 | 10:48 am Apollo Hospitals to set up 250 small health centresThe Tamil Nadu-based Apollo Hospitals group will set up 250 small hospitals across the country including the north-east by 2013, a senior company official said here Monday.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Business News | 22 Sep 2008 | 10:32 am Pantaloon net profit rises to Rs.1.25 bnPantaloon Retail India Ltd has announced a consolidated net profit of Rs.1.25 billion during the fiscal 2008 compared to Rs.1.19 billion the previous year.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Business News | 22 Sep 2008 | 10:31 am Atlas Laboratories forays into OTC segmentPTI New Delhi: Atlas Laboratories and Pharmaceuticals Ltd is foraying into the over-the-counter (OTC) segment as it plans to expand its overall product portfolio up to 100 drugs by next fiscal. “From the beginning of the next fiscal, we would have around 80-100 products under our portfolio and out of which 10-15 would be in the category of OTC segments,” Atlas Laboratories and Pharmaceuticals (ALP) Executive Director Ashwin Kapur told PTI. The company is currently present in the prescription medicines segment with about 30 drugs across different therapeutical areas. He said the company’s plans to enter the estimated Rs 3,000 crore per annum OTC market has been mainly driven by the faster growth which the segment has been witnessing. “OTC is growing at much faster rate as compared to prescription-based drugs in India and there has been a global consumer trend towards it. This attracts us towards the OTC segment,” Kapur said. “In order to establish its OTC products in the domestic markets, ALP will spend around 5-10% of its sales on advertisements and brand building activities,” he added. The company had clocked an overall turnover of Rs15 crore last fiscal and is targeting Rs60 crore this year. “We are expecting around Rs100-120 crore turnover in the next fiscal out of which Rs30-50 crore would come from the OTC segment,” Kapur said. The company had entered into the pharmaceuticals segment one and half year ago with around 15 products and added another 15 this year thus taking the total to 30. Source: LatestNews-Home - Livemint.com | 22 Sep 2008 | 10:19 am CEOs good, but junior bosses better: SurveyNew Delhi: Top bosses inspire respect at workplace, but it’s the junior bosses who enjoy the confidence of employees, although nearly a third who participated in a survey feel they can do their bosses’ job better. Nearly three in four employees are satisfied with the performance of their immediate bosses, but they are divided in the middle while rating C-level executives (CEOs, COOs etc.) of their companies. At the same time, nearly one-third of the employees believe that they could do their bosses’ job better, says the survey conducted within the US by research firm Harris Interactive for the country’s leading job portal CareerBuilder.com. Experts feel that the trend should be somewhat similar in India and other countries also. Forty-five per cent of workers said they do not feel secure in the C-level leadership of their organisations and more than half said they do not feel motivated within their organisations and expressed a desire for more personal attention and development. “Workers tend to have less visibility with senior management, which may negatively affect their ratings. When workers rated their senior executives, they were split 50/50, as 50 per cent of workers rated their CEO, CFO and COO’s performance as good or great, while the other 50% rated their performance as fair or bad,” CareerBuilder.com said. Source: LatestNews-Home - Livemint.com | 22 Sep 2008 | 10:18 am Markets end marginally weakLivemint.com New Delhi: The markets erased early gains of more than 1% to end marginally weak, as concerns grew over the success of US government’s plans to rescue the ailing financial system. On the domestic front, the derivatives expiry also kept markets choppy. The BSE benchmark index settled 0.3% or 47 points lower at 13,995 levels. It had touched a high of 14,221 levels in intra-day deals. In other Asian markets, Nikkei 225 index climbed 1.4% to close at 12,090 levels, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 1.6% to 19,632. Back home, capital goods counters witnessed heavy sell-off with Suzlon Energy skidding 6.8%. Punj Lloyd, Siemens India, Kalpatru Power, Gammon India, Thermax Limited, AIA Engineering, Larsen and Toubro, ABB Limited and Elecon Engineering also lost ground. Satyam Computer that lost 4.7% or Rs17 by close was the top loser in the technology pack. NIIT Limited, Infosys Technologies, Mphasis, Tech Mahindra, Wipro, Patni Computer and Rolta India also closed in the red. However, Moser Baer vaulted 18.9% or Rs21 to settle at Rs133 levels. Select metal counters ended the day firm. Sesa Goa at Rs123 levels led the gainers pack, firming up 13% by close. Gujarat NRE Coke (up 7.2%), NMDC Limited (5%), Tata Steel (2.9%) and Jindal Steel (1.8%) were some of the other notable gainers. Source: Home - Livemint.com | 22 Sep 2008 | 10:13 am Website copy that builds brands Ron Rogowski, principal analyst, Forrester Research User goals and brand positioning Companies want their Websites to build their brands. But few sites both support user goals and reinforce brand attributes—the two key requirements for building brand online. When it comes to building brand with content, companies should focus on both what they say (providing value) and how they say it (staying “on brand”). The language on a website must therefore: • Be clear to target users. Sites must make it easy for consumers to understand key selling points by avoiding jargon and ”marketing speak.” Good online copy takes users’ subject matter knowledge into account, talking to them in familiar language. The best copy uses short sentences and paragraphs to ease comprehension. And where industry-specific words can’t be avoided, sites should provide contextual help in the form of child windows or callouts that give detailed explanations of terms. • Infuse key brand attributes to create the right tone. Site copy—whether delivered as text or via audio and video—should not only reinforce a company’s brand positioning but should also stay consistent with the overall tone and manner used in other media (such as print ads and brochures). Standout copy differentiates the site from competitors by virtue of its creative approach. Clear and engaging language Building brand with language is a difficult proposition that requires a balance between clarity and colour. Some examples of companies that strike the right balance include:  Instead of merely showing the status of its load progress, Mini USA displays phrases such as “No two Minis are exactly alike” as the configurator loads and “0% body fat” while loading the first image of the Mini Hard Top. Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg • Morgan Stanley backs its commitment to connecting ”people, ideas and capital to help clients achieve their financial aspirations” with copy that reads, ”You and your Morgan Stanley financial advisor, with access to the full scope of our services and resources, work closely towards achieving your financial success.” The site’s language relentlessly reinforces the firm’s focus on customers by emphasizing the pronoun ”you” — in sharp contrast to its competitors. And when it’s time to deliver on the promise of describing how the company works with customers, the site uses clear and direct language. For example, in its Statement Of Commitment To Investors, the firm promises that, among other things, it ”will provide timely account and transaction information that accurately reflects the investment positions you hold with our firm.” Clear and enticing copy Writing for the Web is a challenge unlike writing for other media. It requires language with the clarity of an instruction manual that can evoke the right feeling about a brand in users’ minds. To strike a balance: • Start with copy that’s clear and concise. Begin by drafting language that explains key features with vocabulary that users are sure to understand. To guide writers, constantly refer to design personas that detail the target users’ subject matter knowledge, making sure to avoid industry terminology — unless you’re talking to industry insiders. Strive for short sentences and paragraphs that will keep users focused on what they need to accomplish their goals. • Choose the right words to bring your brand to life. Once copy is drafted, refer to a list of the brand’s attributes and look for places to substitute more scintillating language while being careful not to cloud the message for readers. For example, when Lexus substitutes ”luxury appointments” for ”interior features,” it adds colour without sacrificing clarity. Additionally, look for opportunities to add interest to otherwise boring parts of the site. Instead of merely showing the status of its load progress, Mini USA displays phrases such as “No two Minis are exactly alike” as the configurator loads and “0% body fat” while loading the first image of the Mini Hard Top. • Review language for style before publishing. Before publishing any text or video online, user experience experts and brand managers should formally review it to make sure that the style is clear, on brand, and consistent with offline marketing campaigns. In order to get signoff, each new piece of copy should be judged by its importance to a site’s two major responsibilities: informing users and differentiating the brand. Don’t strive to make every page, audio, or video support every brand attribute, but do ensure that no content contradicts even a single brand attribute. Take Mini USA, for example: The site infuses fun into descriptions of high-level features, but vehicle specifications—where shoppers just want easy access to valuable content—are clear and concise. At Forrester, Ron is the lead analyst in Web globalization research, and helps customer experience professionals improve strategies for global Web design and organization, understand how rich Internet applications (RIAs) are transforming online customer experiences, and align their Web sites with their firms’ brand values. Source: LatestNews-Home - Livemint.com | 22 Sep 2008 | 10:10 am FM hopeful of removal of ban on rice exportGurgaon: Describing restrictions imposed on export of certain kinds of rice as temporary, Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Monday expressed hope that they will be removed as early as possible. “I know that we were forced to put temporary constraints on certain kinds of rice...hopefully these restrictions can be removed as early as possible,” he said after inaugurating the new facility of rice exporting firm Tilda Riceland here. “I am not giving you any date or I am not promising you any thing but things will ease and we will be able to remove these temporary restrictions,” the minister said. He further said for the first time three crisis in global economy - fuel, food and financial - caused certain strains in Indian economy and forced the government to put certain restrictions on export of non-basmati rice. The government banned export of non-basmati rice in April this year to fight inflationary pressure. India is the third largest exporter of rice after Thailand and Vietnam. “We know that these restrictions hurt farmers, traders, millers, exporters and consumers. But these restrictions are indeed temporary,“ Chidambaram said. He said the government already allowed export of Pusa 1121 variety of rice a couple of weeks ago. Pointing out that easing of the situation will enable the government to remove temporary restrictions, the Finance Minister said, what is important is to increase productivity. Source: Home - Livemint.com | 22 Sep 2008 | 9:54 am Alitalia may lose license in days, invites offersROME (Reuters) - Aviation authorities may withdraw Alitalia's license in 3-4 days if the administrator making a last-ditch attempt to sell it off does not present emergency cost-cutting measures at a meeting on Monday.Source: Reuters: Money News | 22 Sep 2008 | 9:40 am Goldman, Morgan Stanley to become Fed regulatedWashington: Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley gave up their cherished investment banking status in return for cover under the Fed’s wing to survive a financial storm that US authorities aim to tackle with a $700 billion bailout plan. The Federal Reserve approved the two bank’s transformation into bank holding companies regulated by the central bank, effectively ending Wall Street’s investment banking model and subjecting the two to much tighter regulation. In return it gives Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley greater access to central bank funds and makes it easier for them to buy retail banks. “It creates a perception of greater safety and supervision. It really rationalizes the regulatory system. It should be good for both Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley,” said Chip MacDonald, mergers partner at law firm Jones Day. The move is the latest effort by the US authorities to restore calm to chaotic financial markets follows frantic weekend talks between the Bush administration and the Congress on the bailout scheme to prevent further financial market turmoil from hurtling the economy into a severe recession. The largest-ever bank rescue would give sweeping powers to the US Treasury to buy up toxic mortgage-related debt from financial firms, including US subsidiaries of foreign banks. The bailout plan follows a wrenching week that transformed Wall Street with Lehman Brothers’ failure, the agreed sale of Merrill Lynch & Co and a government takeover of ailing insurer AIG It was also possible that within days, Morgan Stanley would accept a partner. Political scramble Democratic leaders in Congress promised swift action, but also want to throw a lifeline to homeowners, not just Wall Street. With the economy issue No. 1 in an election less than six weeks away, lawmakers are striving to get a plan in place by week’s end, fearing that delay could send markets reeling. Elsewhere, central banks in Japan and Australia pumped more cash into their money markets and Australia’s financial regulator slapped a ban on short selling to stabilise the stock market. Two key questions remained unanswered even after Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson appeared on four television talk shows to press his case for emergency action. What price will the United States pay for these bad debts, which have spawned the worst financial storm since the Great Depression? When will it start buying them? Paulson cast the proposed market intervention as a lesser evil, arguing the consequences of inaction would be so dire that the large burden on taxpayers would be worth it. Democrats, who control both chambers of Congress, began to swap proposals with the Treasury, including checks on the nearly unfettered power the administration sought for the Treasury secretary. “Democrats believe a responsible solution should include independent oversight, protections for homeowners and constraints on excessive executive compensation,” said California Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Source: Home - Livemint.com | 22 Sep 2008 | 9:36 am Morgan Stanley, Goldman love shorts...and hate themNEW YORK (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs blamed short sellers for their problems this week, an interesting twist for two investment banks known for making money from short sellers and even betting on weakening shares themselves.Source: Reuters: Money News | 22 Sep 2008 | 9:31 am India 3G: No easy path for foreign telecomsNEW DELHI (Reuters) - Foreign telecom firms could gain access to India's booming mobile market through a global auction of 3G licences this year, but low call rates and established players mean it could take years to turn a profit.Source: Reuters: Money News | 22 Sep 2008 | 9:05 am G7 countries likely to back US finance planParis: Governments of the G7 industrialised countries will discuss on Monday the US government’s plan to relieve banks of bad debt and will “very probably” support it, France’s finance minister said on Monday. Christine Lagarde said on the French radio station RMC that the finance ministers and central bank governors of the seven countries would hold a telephone conference on Monday on the US plan. “We will hold a telephone conference to examine and very probably affirm our support for the American plan,” she said. The US government announced the $700 billion plan late on Sunday in response to a crisis that has seen the collapse, takeover and rescue of several major US financial institutions. The Group of Seven (G7) brings together the United States, Japan, Canada, Britain, France, Germany and Italy. Source: LatestNews-Home - Livemint.com | 22 Sep 2008 | 9:00 am Taro Aso elected LDP chief, set to become Japan’s PMTokyo: Brash conservative Taro Aso easily won the presidency of Japan’s struggling ruling party on Monday, virtually ensuring his election as prime minister later this week amid political and economic turmoil. Aso, 68, a former foreign minister and grandson of a prominent prime minister, received 351 of the 525 votes cast in the Liberal Democratic Party ballot. His triumph over four rivals had been widely expected. The former Olympic skeetshooter immediately vowed to rejuvenate his troubled party and lead it to victory in as-yet-unscheduled elections in the powerful lower house of parliament. “Who else but our party can achieve policies in order to address the public’s concerns?” Aso said at LDP headquarters. “I am committed to winning the elections and take a further step to achieve economic recovery and pursue reforms.” Aso, a sharp-tongued conservative who favors the alliance with the US and a diplomatically assertive Japan, backs government spending to revive the flagging economy and has said he would not raise the consumption tax anytime soon. Aso is all but guaranteed to be elected prime minister in the LDP-dominated parliament on Wednesday, making him the third leader Japan has had since September 2006 and the first Roman Catholic to hold the job. Outgoing Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda threw the political world into disarray three weeks ago when he abruptly announced he would step down after only a year in office, weary of battling with a divided parliament. The LDP runs the lower house, but the opposition took control of the upper house in elections last year, and has repeatedly embarrassed his government by blocking or delaying high-profile legislation. The next prime minister will face mounting pressure to renew the LDP’s mandate by calling early lower house elections possibly as soon as next month. The opposition immediately renewed its attacks, arguing the LDP has no right to govern until it proves it has public support. The turmoil at the top is raising worries about how the country will handle its economic troubles. Inflation is up and growth has stalled, effectively ending a lengthy period of expansion. The financial meltdown in the United States, a leading market for Japanese autos, electronics and other vital exports, has intensified the fear. As prime minister, Aso would bring a colorful personality to a post that has suffered in the two years since Junichiro Koizumi a silver-maned leader who publicly imitated Elvis Presley during a trip to Graceland left office. Koizumi’s nationalist successor, Shinzo Abe, quit after only a year amid scandals and his own health troubles. The dour Fukuda, considered at first an experienced hand, failed to energize the party or draw voter interest. Source: LatestNews-Home - Livemint.com | 22 Sep 2008 | 8:57 am Kingfisher restructuring brings 300 jobs cutsNew Delhi: In an effort to tide over rough weather that has gripped the aviation industry, Vijay Mallya-promoted Kingfisher Airlines is cutting 300 jobs, besides returning surplus aircrafts. “As part of a concerted company-wide effort aimed at minimising the impact of the ongoing turbulence faced by the aviation industry, Kingfisher Airlines has, over the last six months, embarked on a series of restructuring measures designed to achieve cost savings and rationalisation and operational efficiencies,” a company spokesperson said. “As a result, a set of 300 employees have chosen to move on and have parted ways with the company and/or put in their resignations,” he added. The carrier is also returning surplus aircrafts to lessors, which are now redundant consequent upon route rationalisation, he added. “We have already returned two aircraft and are closely monitoring aircraft utilisation,” the spokesperson said. Elaborating the reasons behind downsizing of staff, he said as the process of integration of the two entities (Kingfisher and Simplifly Deccan) nears completion, the carrier examined the complete organisation structure of the airline and mapped the skill sets of the existing talent pool with the projected talent requirements of the company. “Many employees were counselled on their career path progression and best utilisation of their individual skill sets,” he said. As a token of goodwill, the carrier is offering all these employees a severance package equal to two months gross salary for every completed year of service (subject to a minimum of 3 months pay-out), the spokesperson said. Kingfisher Airlines currently operates 424 domestic flights and two international flights with a total of 86 aircrafts. Source: Home - Livemint.com | 22 Sep 2008 | 8:35 am Gold prices open lower on lack of supportNew Delhi: Gold opened lower in the national capital on Monday losing Rs50 per ten gram on lack of buying support due to off-season, against reports of fresh arrival. The yellow metal fell by Rs50 at Rs12,720 per ten gram in the opening session on restricted buying in view of ongoing ‘shraadh´ - an inauspicious period in Hindu mythology for fresh purchases. Marketmen said major market players refrained from enlarging their positions, following shraadh and fresh arrivals creating adequate stocks position, mainly pulled down gold prices. They said the market remained dull and even discounted on reports of a moderate rise in global markets. Meanwhile, the metal in futures trading on the Multi Commodity Exchange traded lower by 0.5% at Rs12,737 per ten gram for the most active December contract. Source: LatestNews-Home - Livemint.com | 22 Sep 2008 | 8:06 am Japan’s Nomura to buy Lehman’s Asia businessHong Kong: Nomura Holdings, Japan’s largest brokerage, has reached a deal to buy the Asian operations of Lehman Brothers, a source familiar with the matter said on Monday. British bank Barclays Plc and Standard Chartered were also said by sources to be vying for the unit. No price was given for the deal. Lehman Brothers last week filed for bankruptcy protection after collapsing from exposure to risky securities backed by subprime mortgages. Barclays last week struck a $1.75 billion deal to buy Lehman’s core US investment banking business. Source: Home - Livemint.com | 22 Sep 2008 | 7:43 am Couture misinterpreted in India: Designer Suneet VermaDesigner Sunnet Verma, who specialises in cocktail and bridal wear, feels that the term couture is broadly misinterpreted in India.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Business News | 22 Sep 2008 | 7:32 am India could ease overseas borrowing rulesNew Delhi: India may ease overseas borrowing rules for firms due to the global financial turmoil, a senior finance ministry official said on Monday. Policymakers were already keen to enable Indian companies to access funds at a cheaper rate from abroad as interest rates in India remain firm due to inflation fighting measures. “Going by the current scenario, we will look into it,” Ashok Chawla, secretary in the department of economic affairs, part of the finance ministry, told reporters. In May, India allowed manufacturers to bring in to the country up to $50 million of the $500 million that can be raised by a company in a year from overseas markets. The rest must be invested in units overseas. Source: Home - Livemint.com | 22 Sep 2008 | 7:23 am In future, even the car’s colour could determine the premiumWhat are the new changes being proposed in the insurance of motor vehicles? I understand even the colour of the car will determine the premium. Is this true?  In the future, rating factors could include age of the driver, number of persons driving the vehicle, owner’s occupation, gender, usage and mileage per month, the city where the vehicle is being driven, the place where the vehicle is parked, safety features, type of fuel and maybe even the colour could have a bearing on the premium. Gender could be a determining factor in the future since female drivers are presumed to be safer than male drivers whereas cities with a higher density of vehicles may have more damages such as scratches and dents. Colour may not be a factor in the near future but some colours like red reflect the aggressive attitude of the driver and visibility may also be a factor since some colours are less visible during dusk or at times of poor visibility. Other drivers may find it difficult to view light coloured vehicles, which may lead to accidents. Why are insurers averse to covering mobile phones? While most that I have approached say handsets aren’t included in the list of assets they cover, the few who are willing to insure the phones are very expensive. Mobile phones are movable assets and hence the frequency of getting lost or misplaced is much higher. Also, it would not be easy to prove that a mobile phone is stolen. The companies who provide insurance cover against mobile phones charge a higher premium because of the inherent risk involved in the cover. Readers are welcome to write in with their life and general insurance queries to insurancequeries@livemint.com. The questions will be answered by senior executives from leading insurance firms. Ajay Bimbhet is managing director, Royal Sundaram Alliance Insurance Company Ltd. Source: Home - Livemint.com | 22 Sep 2008 | 7:15 am Markets show early volatility but stay in greenIndian equities markets opened strong Monday but showed volatility by going into the red zone within about 20 minutes of trading before recovering again to be in the green mid-morning.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Business News | 22 Sep 2008 | 7:01 am Inaugural couture fiesta ends in Bollywood styleFlamboyant designer Rohit Bal aka Guddu brought the curtain down on the inaugural HDIL India Couture Week (HDIL ICW) here in true Bollywood style when he merrily danced on the ramp after his show got over.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Business News | 22 Sep 2008 | 7:00 am Oil steady in Asia as investors mull US bailoutSingapore: Oil prices were steady on 22 September in Asia as investors grappled with the possible impact on crude demand of a $700 billion US proposal to buy bad mortgage debt. Light, sweet crude for October delivery was up 35 cents to $104.90 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange midday in Singapore. On Friday, the contract rose US$6.67 to settle at $104.55 on initial hopes the rescue plan would stabilize the US financial system and help boost economic growth. “There are a lot of issues to be filled in. It’s an extraordinarily complex situation,” said David Moore, a commodity strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia in Sydney. “The market is digesting how the package will work and the implications for the US economy.” US congressional leaders endorsed the plan’s main thrust, saying passage might occur in a matter of days. But they also want independent oversight, protections for homeowners and constraints on excessive executive compensation, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson pushed lawmakers, who received the package on Saturday, to approve the proposal as soon as possible. The Federal Reserve also announced late Sunday that it granted a request by investment banks Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to change their status to bank holding companies, a move that will allow the two institutions to open commercial banking subsidiaries, greatly bolstering their resources. Traders were also watching news from Nigeria, where the country’s main militant group in the southern oil region Sunday declared a unilateral cease-fire, ending the worst spate of militant attacks in years. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta said it was ceasing hostilities immediately after appeals from elders and politicians in the region. Three years of attacks have cut Nigeria’s oil production from 2.5 million barrels per day to around 1.5 million barrels. The group warned it would launch another spate of attacks if military raided one of the group’s base camps. Moore said OPEC’s decision earlier this month to cut production by 520,000 barrels a day and output shutdowns and damage to oil installations caused by Hurricane Ike and Gustav would have influenced investors more if not for the US financial turmoil. “The cease-fire (in Nigeria) should be slightly bearish,” Moore said. “Recent supply-side news, which has been pushed to the background by other developments, has been poor.” In other Nymex trading, heating oil futures fell 0.18 cent to $2.896 a gallon, while gasoline prices dropped 1.7 cents to $2.583 a gallon. Natural gas for October delivery fell 13.1 cents to settle at $7.4 per 1,000 cubic feet. In London, November Brent crude rose 74 cents to $100.35 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange. Source: Home - Livemint.com | 22 Sep 2008 | 5:48 am Indian equities turn volatile after positive openingIndian equities opened on a positive note Monday, but trading became volatile immediately thereafter on fears over the global economy and the crisis in the US financial system.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Business News | 22 Sep 2008 | 5:30 am Posco to beat Q3 forecasts, sees no output cutsSeoul: South Korea’s Posco expects to report forecast-beating third-quarter results driven by robust sales and will keep output steady as its products are in short supply, a senior executive said on 22 September. “Third-quarter results will be better than market consensus due to strong sales and steady progress in our cost saving programme... we also expect 2008 profit to top previous guidance,” Lee Dong-hee, chief financial officer at the world’s No.4 steelmaker, told reporters. Posco reported record-breaking results in the previous two quarters and raised its 2008 forecast to reflect a series of price increases. It had been expected to post a 1.6 trillion won ($1.4 billion) operating profit for the current quarter on sales of 8.6 trillion won, according to 10 analysts polled by Reuters Estimates. In July, Posco, which trails Japan’s Nippon Steel and JFE in terms of output, raised its 2008 sales target by 11% to 31 trillion won and operating profit target by 19% to 5.7 trillion won. “We expect Posco to beat market consensus, thanks to raw material inventory, which it has built up at lower costs earlier this year, but fourth-quarter results may come under pressure if the won weakens further as it will inflate costs of raw material imports,” said Lee Jong-hyung, an analyst at Dongbu Securities. Global steel firms reported strong results in the first half but growth momentum is weakening as they complete annual contracts for iron ore and coking coal supplies at sharply higher prices and as the global economy slows. Lee said Posco was not considering cutting output to boost steel prices, a move its bigger rival ArcelorMittal plans to make as demand for long steel products, used mainly in the construction industry, weakens due to the credit crisis and troubled housing markets. “We are doubtful about the impact of a production cut as it will be offset by an output increase by a rival producer... and we are not considering reductions at all because our products are in short supply conditions,” Lee said. Signs of a softening price outlook have increased in recent months, with China’s Baosteel cutting prices for cold-rolled steel products for the fourth quarter due to weak demand from the auto and home appliance sectors. “Steel prices are weakening a little bit and it may have some impact on contract prices for the first half of next year, but for now we may raise prices of certain products,” Lee said. By 0415 GMT, shares in Posco, South Korea’s second-biggest company with a market value of about $34 billion, were up 3.3%, beating a 0.3% gain in the broader market. Source: Home - Livemint.com | 22 Sep 2008 | 4:49 am Indian rupee strengthens tracking Asian stocksReuters Mumbai: The Indian rupee strengthened on Monday tracking firm Asian share markets which renewed hopes of some foreign fund inflows into local stocks. At 9:25 a.m, the partially convertible rupee was at 45.38/40 per dollar, stronger than 45.80/82 at close on Friday. Asian equities traded higher on hopes for a $700 billion bailout proposed by the US government over the weekend to tackle the financial crisis. Source: Home - Livemint.com | 22 Sep 2008 | 4:10 am Dalal Street likely to see range-bound movementLocal market is unlikely to see a savage correction this week even if a few more Wall Street financial asset management institutions report trouble. But it may not witness a rally either, as investment flow is going to be tight. As a result,Source: Business Line - Home Page | 22 Sep 2008 | 12:00 am Semiconductor sector sees Rs 55,000-cr fresh investmentsNew Delhi, Sept. 21 In the last two months, the Government’s policy for semiconductor fabs and eco-system units has attracted three new solar photovoltaic (PV) proposals together worth nearly Rs 55,000 crore, thus taking the overallSource: Business Line - Home Page | 22 Sep 2008 | 12:00 am Slowdown in sugar exports likely in 2008-09New Delhi, Sept 21 India’s sugar exports are set to register a marked slowdown in the coming 2008-09 crushing season (October-September), notwithstanding the weakening rupee and a tight global supplySource: Business Line - Home Page | 22 Sep 2008 | 12:00 am Uncertainty, volatility mark metals marketMumbai, Sept 21 By any reckoning, last week was extraordinary for the global financial circles. Commodity markets were buffeted by broader financial market developments that sent everyone scurrying for risk reduction. A sharp decline in liquiditySource: Business Line - Home Page | 22 Sep 2008 | 12:00 am PepsiCo plans to pump in $500 m to triple India businessNew Delhi, Sept. 21 A visit of PepsiCo Chairman and CEO, Ms Indra Nooyi, and all its top executives, merits a announcement such as a $500-million investment over the next three years to triple business in the next five years in India.Source: Business Line - Home Page | 22 Sep 2008 | 12:00 am Day Trading GuideThe analysis and opinion expressed in these columns are based on the technical analysis of the past price behaviour. The stop-loss level provided with the recommendation is important. The original view would stand negated if the stop-loss level isSource: Business Line - Home Page | 22 Sep 2008 | 12:00 am RIL to start production of gas in KG basin from Jan-MarchMumbai, Sept. 21 Reliance Industries will be ready to sell gas from its Krishna Godavari offshore basin from the January-March quarter next year.Source: Business Line - Home Page | 22 Sep 2008 | 12:00 am Federal Bank (Rs 219.60): BUYWe recommend a buy in Federal Bank from a short-term horizon. It is apparent from the charts that the stock has been on a medium-term uptrend from its July trough of Rs 163. However, after encountering minor resistance at around Rs 230 recently, theSource: Business Line - Home Page | 22 Sep 2008 | 12:00 am South Indian Bank lets offspring inherit their parent’s jobCoimbatore, Sept. 21 Who says only those to the manor born inherit papa’s corner room? Even if you are the son or daughter of a humble bank clerk, you may well stand to inherit your dad or mom’s job. That is, if they happen to beSource: Business Line - Home Page | 22 Sep 2008 | 12:00 am Fastest exploration in deep water basin, says MukeshMumbai, Sept 21 Mr Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, does little in half measures.Source: Business Line - Home Page | 22 Sep 2008 | 12:00 am 3 broadcasters plan combine to improve air-time ratesAt least three major broadcasting companies have held discussions on forming a combine, the first of its kind, to counter the might of media buying houses in dictating commercial air-timeSource: Business Standard | Front Page Headlines | 21 Sep 2008 | 7:11 pm Kingfisher to cut 300 jobsBarely a fortnight after it launched international operations and integrated low-cost carrier Simplify Deccan with it, Vijay Mallya-promoted Kingfisher Airlines plans to lay off at least 300Source: Business Standard | Front Page Headlines | 21 Sep 2008 | 7:10 pm RIL to account for 40% of India's energy output: MukeshReliance Industries will account for about 40 per cent of the countrys energy production in the next 18 to 24 months, putting the company on track to earn a quarter of its profit from oil andSource: Business Standard | Front Page Headlines | 21 Sep 2008 | 7:08 pm Four banks to bail out Lehman's India businessesIn a move to soften the blow of Lehman Brothers bankruptcy in the Indian stock and asset markets, four banks are set to take over its structured products businesses in India.Source: Business Standard | Front Page Headlines | 21 Sep 2008 | 7:07 pm
|
