Daily News Roundup - Jan 28 2009

Infosys Technologies has placed 5% of its global workforce under the scanner. (BS)
Bajaj Auto plans to launch gearless scooter by next year. (BL)
L&T is in race to gain control of Satyam. (Mint)
ITC and Hindustan Unilever may be forced to cut their expansion plans in Uttarakhand due to scarcity of land. (BS)
Satyam Computer appointed Goldman Sachs and Avendus Capital as its investment bankers. (BL)
HCC’s Lavasa Corporation entered into an agreement with Space Investment Co to build and manage Space World, a hi-tech centre for space ‘edutainment’. (BL)
Telenor scraps rights issue plan for Unitech Wireless acquisition. (ET)
Maharashtra government has decided to cancel contracts worth Rs5bn awarded to Maytas Infra by three state power companies. (BL)
Southern Railways do not plan to cancel its Rs2.5bn contract awarded to Maytas Infra. (ET)
LIC, IDBI, Bank of Baroda agree to lend Rs9bn to Satyam. (ET)
Maruti hikes prices by upto Rs10,000. (ET)
Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting plans to expand its skincare portfolio over the next six months. (ET)
RNRL has pleaded the Bombay High Court to award it KG gas at US$2.34 per mmbtu. (FE)
United Breweries is in final stages of talks with Diageo for 14.9% stake sale in group company United Spirits. (FE)
Essar’s Aegis BPO may buy assets in South Africa. (FE)
NDTV curbs its capex plans to launch new channels, buy new equipment etc as the economy slows. (Mint)
GE Shipping’s offshore unit wins rig contract. (Mint)
MMTC and STC to import 22,000 tons of raw sugar. (ET)
Future Group is in advanced talks with Europe’s largest retailer, Carrefour, for a JV to set up outlets in India. (ET)
Coal India rejected Rio Tinto’s offer on coal mines. (ET)
BSNL plans to invest Rs9bn in Rajasthan. (FE)
IndBank Merchant Banking Services Limited, the merchant banking subsidiary of Indian Bank, plans to open 30 branches and 200 terminals over the next 15 to 24 months. (BS)

RBI keeps key rates unchanged, forecasts GDP growth at 7%. (ET)
Government has ruled out any major cut in retail fuel prices. (ET)
Tax collection from MNC’s and other foreign entities operating in India is likely to fall short by 20%. (ET)
Financial bids for 4,000MW Tilaiya Ultra Mega Power Project are expected to be opened today. (BS)
Government notified a reduction in minimum export price to US1,100/ton for Basmati rice. (ET)
NPPA revises prices for 174 durgs. (ET)
Fuel consumption is up by 4.4% in December. (FE)
Government plans to sell bonds worth Rs100bn. (FE)
Forward Market Commission said that the spot and future markets in power trading can have two regulators. (Mint)
Orissa government cleared projects worth Rs380bn in the power and steel sector. (BS)