News Snippets - Jan 4 2008

News Snippets:

Ford selects Tata Motors as the preferred bidder for its Jaguar and Land Rover brands. (ET)

Carrefour to tie-up with Mukesh Ambani led Reliance group for its retail foray in India. (ET)

Tata Motors plans to assemble its small car in Thailand with an investment of Rs8-9bn. (ET)

Mahindra’s Logan to be cheaper by Rs30,000. (ET)

United Spirits buys distribution rights of Dalmore Single Malt in the US for US$58mn. (ET)

Honda Motorcycles and Scooters (HMSI) sales up 20% yoy in December 2007 to 71,098 units. (ET)

Satyam is looking at expansion in South America and USA and smaller cities in India. (ET)

Ashok Leyland has developed India’s first CNG engine for buses, employing multipoint fuel injection. (ET)

Reliance Industries and HPCL were among those that submitted financial bids for reviving sugar mills in Bihar. (ET)

Poor transport links in Bihar are likely to delay NTPC’s plans to expand generating capacity by 1,000MW at Kahalgaon. (Mint)

Reliance Power is evaluating plans to start manufacturing power generation equipment. (Mint)

The Delhi High Court said that any decision by the government to allocate GSM spectrum to Reliance Communications will be subject to its final order. (BL)

Hindustan Organic Chemicals is looking for a JV partner to expand its chemical manufacturing facility in Maharashtra. (BL)

Oil India to invest Rs45.75bn in exploration by end of 2009-10. (BL)

Soaring crude oil prices may compel IOC to sell Rs20bn oil bonds. (BL)

Indo Asian Fusegear to double switchgear capacity; expects revenues to rise by 40% in current fiscal. (BL)

GVK may commission Jegurupadu phase II and Gauthami power plants by middle of 2008. (BL)

Grasim Industries to foray into FMCG segment to operate in three categories; skin care, home care and baby care. (FE)

Reliance Retail enters into Rs1.4bn land deal in Bandra, Mumbai to set up its first Reliance Trends premium apparel store. (FE)

IOC proposes to revise its current exploration and production strategy (E&P) before bidding for E&P blocks under NELP VII. (FE)

ONGC shuts its unit near Mumbai leading to cut in gas supplies to power and Fertilizer plants. (FE)

RCF diversifies in to Rapid wall production. Intends to manufacture 1.4mn sq. mt of wall panels annually. (FE)

SBI raises the deposit rates by 25-175 basis points. (BS)

GDL to raise Rs3bn for rail freight subsidiary. (BS)

Govt has scrapped import duty and reduced customs duty on over 4,800 items to improve trade in South Asia. (ET)

The meeting of the GoM looking into the aviation policy remains inconclusive. (BL)

SEBI proposes listed companies to make only minimal incremental disclosure to issue debt instrument either public offer or private placement. (FE)

Government is mulling options, including a marginal increase in fuel prices to reduce under recoveries by PSU Oil firms. (FE)

TRAI recommends auction of mobile television spectrum and also proposes allowing up to 71% FDI in Mobile TV services.
Iron, Cement, Power units to get 92mt coal to ensure much needed long tern linkages. (BS)