NEWS THIS WEEK–September 22, 2012

Dear Students,

Greetings from Symbiosis Center for Distance Learning!

This week, the dossier contains Spotlight on FDI in Retail Sector. In addition, we take you through highlights of news which emphasis on nation and economy, sectoral news covering Finance and Banking, IT/ITES, Automobile, Healthcare, Retail, Energy, Media and Entertainment. Recommend you view the special feature about UPA’s Reforms.

Hope you make the best of the News every week!

Warm Regards, Editor

SPOTLIGHT: FDI IN RETAIL: THE ACTION BEGINS
/ Future Group buys convenience store chain Big Apple for Rs 62 crore The group is likely to re-brand Big Apple stores into its KB's Fair Price stores to consolidate its operations in NCR.
Hottest emerging markets for retail
No express lane for Wal-Mart, rivals in India
Premium brands will now 'go for the kill'
Supermarkets can't compete with kiranas: Mittal
SPECIAL FEATURE: UPA’s BIG BANG REFORMS
Reforms juggernaut: Govt lines up slew of reforms to rev up growth The steps raising the ceiling for foreign borrowings, easing curbs on portfolio investors, and liberalising norms for overseas borrowings.
FM to insure against gold fever
FM to monitor all spending above Rs 200 cr
PM's team behind recent reforms blitzkrieg
PM hints at changes in corporate laws /
Market Live - Click here for live prices
/ Market Today - Click here for BSE Sensex live
Nation and Economy:
PM for an image makeover; ready to take the bull by the horns on reforms

PM is widely being seen as attempting an image makeover, aimed at changing the global perception of a policy paralysis in the country.

Congress ministers to resign from WB govt

Congress today said it would pull out its ministers from the West Bengal government, days after TMC decided to withdraw support to the UPA government.

Banking, Finance and Insurance:
HDFC Bank uses technology-led marketing to keep costs low
While it's a challenge to get close enough to customers to garner key insights for new campaigns, marketers are increasingly under pressure to reduce spends in a slowing economy.
LeapFrog buys 15% in Mahindra Insurance Brokers for Rs 80 crore
Global investment firm LeapFrog picked up 15 per cent stake Mahindra Insurance Brokers Ltd (MIBL), a subsidiary of Mahindra Finance, for Rs 80 crore.
IT/ITES:
iPhone 5 sparks new craze for slimmer gadgets
ET lists some of the gadgets that sum up the history of the ‘thin’, and takes a peek at the near future — bendable cellphone screens and laptops that can be rolled up.
Infosys to treat its top 50 clients in a special way
The top 50 clients, who together account for half of Infosys' Rs 38,000 cr revenue, will be waited on hand and foot by two executives.
Telecom:
Reliance Communications hikes calling rates by 25%, rivals may follow suit
Reliance Communications will raise calling rates by 25% from Friday, possibly setting the stage for leading mobile phone companies for tariff hikes.
CBI likely to file charge sheet in spectrum case in mid October
CBI is likely to file next month its charge sheet in connection with alleged irregularities in spectrum allocation during the tenure of NDA government.
Automobile:
Tata Motors bags orders for 1,314 trucks worth Rs 225 crore
Auto major Tata Motors said it has bagged order for 1,314 trucks, its single largest ever, worth about Rs 225 crore from Siddhivinayak Logistics Ltd (SVLL).
Honda Motor aims to nearly double car sales in four years: CEO Takanobu Ito
Honda Motor Co aims to nearly double its global car sales to at least 6 million vehicles in four years, its chief executive officer said.
Healthcare, Biotech and Pharmaceutical:
Urgent need to step up capacities, improve efficiency in healthcare sector: Pranab Mukherjee
President Pranab Mukherjee today applauded the National Rural Health Mission which aims to bring decent and affordable medical care to the people living in rural areas, but felt that investment in medical facilities and education is not enough.
Biocon to focus on regional allies for commercialisation
Biotechnology major Biocon is altering its product commercialisation strategy by eyeing to partner with many regional players rather than joining hands with a single global pharma major.
Media and Entertainment:
Raj TV ties-up with Google, to begin dedicated content portal
Television broadcaster Raj TV plans to start a dedicated online portal for content sharing and has tied-up with Google for this purpose, a top company official said today.
Global media CEOs see digital boost to growth
Global media CEOs believe digital media, led by tablets, will increase their overall revenues and margins by at least 10% within the next three years.
Retail:
Walmart may open first store in India within 18 months: Report
Walmart, the world's biggest retailer, has not yet decided where or how many stores it would like to have in India, reports say.
FDI in retail: Big retailers barring Walmart, Tesco adopt a wait-and-watch attitude to govt’s decision to allow FDI in supermarkets sector
The government may have spread the red carpet out for overseas retailers last week, but the political heat its reforms burst has generated means that footfalls on this carpet will be few for now. And those who plan to tread it will only do so gingerly.