RIL gains in value and volume

Key benchmark indices surged to scale their highest closing level in nearly four weeks, with investor sentiment boosted by data showing that foreign funds remained net buyers of Indian stocks on Friday, 3 August 2012. Comments from Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram that he intends to shortly unveil a path of fiscal consolidation aided gains on the domestic bourses. Strong US economic data released on Friday, 3 August 2012, and expectations that the European Central Bank will step in to buy euro-zone government bonds in time to address the long-running euro-zone debt crisis, also aided gains on the domestic bourses. US is the world's biggest economy. The barometer index, BSE Sensex, jumped 215.03 points or 1.25%, off close to 40 points from the day's high and up over 100 points from the day's low. The market breadth was positive. The market snapped a two-day losing streak. The Sensex had declined 59.45 points or 0.34% in two trading sessions to settle at 17,197.93 on Friday, 3 August 2012, from a recent high of 17,257.38 on 1 August 2012. The Sensex has gained 176.68 points or 1.02% in this month so far (till 6 August 2012). The Sensex has jumped 1958.04 points or 12.66% in calendar 2012 so far (till 6 August 2012). From a 52-week low of 15,135.86 on 20 December 2011, the Sensex has risen 2,277.10 points or 15.04%. From a 52-week high of 18,523.78 on 22 February 2012, the Sensex has lost 1,110.82 points or 5.99%. Coming back to today's trade, index heavyweight Reliance Industries (RIL) surged on reports benchmark Singapore gross refining margins (GRM) have strengthened from the 2nd week of July 2012 to average at $8 a barrel from $6.7 a barrel in the quarter ended June 2012. Index heavyweight and cigarette maker ITC edged lower. Ambuja Cements hit record high. Capital goods stocks gained. Steel Authority of India (Sail) rose as the company's core operating profit margin (OPM) surged to 14.05% in Q1 June 2012 from 12.16% in Q1 June 2011. Power Grid Corporation of India hit a 52-week high. Auto stocks gained across the board. Shares of public sector oil marketing companies fell as US crude-oil futures for September delivery vaulted almost 5% to settle above $91 a barrel on Friday, 3 August 2012. The market surged in early trade on firm Asian stocks. The Sensex and the 50-unit S&P CNX Nifty both hit their highest level in nearly four weeks. The market extended initial gains to hit fresh intraday high in morning trade. The market hovered near intraday high in mid-morning trade. Firmness continued in early afternoon trade. Key benchmark indices pared gains in afternoon trade after European market opened lower. The market regained strength in mid-afternoon trade. The market held firm in late trade as European stocks edged higher. Data showing that foreign institutional investors (FIIs) remained net buyers of Indian stocks on Friday, 3 August 2012, boosted sentiment on the domestic bourses. FIIs bought shares worth Rs 209 crore from the secondary equity markets on Friday, 3 August 2012, as per data from Securities & Exchange Board of India (Sebi). FIIs bought shares worth a net Rs 799.80 crore from the secondary equity markets in three trading sessions from 1 to 3 August 2012. FIIs made substantial purchases of Indian stocks last month. FIIs bought shares worth net Rs 9691 crore from the secondary equity markets in July 2012. The BSE Sensex jumped 215.03 points or 1.25% to settle at 17,412.96, its highest closing level since 11 July 2012. The index surged 253.60 points at the day's high of 17,451.53 in late trade. The index rose 115.12 points at the day's low of 17,313.05 in early trade. The S&P CNX Nifty jumped 66.85 points or 1.28% to settle at 5,282.55, its highest closing level since 11 July 2012. The Nifty hit high of 5,293.20 and a low of 5,260.85 in intraday trade. The BSE Mid-Cap index rose 0.5% and the BSE Small-Cap index gained 0.79%. Both these indices underperformed the Sensex. BSE clocked turnover of Rs 1675 crore, lower than Rs 1898 crore on Friday, 3 August 2012. The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was positive. On BSE, 1,676 shares rose and 1,162 shares fell. A total of 121 shares were unchanged. From the 30-share Sensex pack, 21 stocks rose and only 9 of them fell. Auto stocks gained across the board. Tata Motors jumped 3.51%. Tata Motors' total sales (including exports) of Tata commercial and passenger vehicles rose 15% to 73,491 vehicles in July 2012 over July 2011. The company's domestic sales of Tata commercial and passenger vehicles rose 18% to 68,627 units in July 2012 over July 2011. Cumulative sales (including exports) during April-July 2012 rose 2% to 2.62 lakh units from the year ago period. Ashok Leyland gained 0.44%. The company's total sales jumped 25% to 9,785 units in July 2012 over July 2011. The company's light commercial vehicle (LCV) Dost which was launches last year clocked sales of 2,803 units in July 2012. Ashok Leyland's commercial vehicles sales, excluding LCV Dost, declined 11% to 6,982 units in July 2012 over July 2011. Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) rose 1.12%. The company on 1 August 2012, announced 19% growth in total auto sales to 47,059 units in July 2012 over July 2011. Domestic auto sales jumped 15% to 42,799 units in July 2012 over July 2011. The Passenger Vehicles segment (which includes the UVs and Verito) has registered a growth of 27%, having sold 22,011 units in July 2012, as against 17,312 units during July 2011, M&M said in a statement. The company on 1 August 2012 said its total tractors sales declined 1.02% to 16,521 units in July 2012 over July 2011. Domestic tractor sales declined 1.29% to 15,495 units in July 2012 over July 2011. Exports rose 3.32% 1,026 units in July 2012 over July 2011. M&M and Telephonics Corporation (Telephonics) on 1 August 2012 announced the formation of a joint venture (JV). The JV to be called Mahindra Telephonics Integrated Systems will provide the Indian Ministry of Defence and the Indian civil sector with radar and surveillance systems, identification friend or foe (IFF) devices and communication systems. In addition, the JV intends to provide systems for air traffic management services, homeland security and other emerging surveillance requirements. Car major Maruti Suzuki gained 1.25%. Maruti on 1 August 2012 said it total sales rose 9.2% to 82,234 units in July 2012 over July 2011. Domestic sales rose 6.8% to 71,024 units and exports jumped 27.4% to 11,210 units in July 2012 over July 2011. Maruti on 31 July 2012 said the management remains concerned about the safety and security of its employees and hence it is not in a position to take a decision on restarting operations as the Manesar plant in Haryana. The management will announce its decision to this effect only when it is assured of employee safety, Maruti said in a statement. The labour violence which rocked the plant on 18 July 2012 led to nearly 100 injured and one fatality. Maruti on 21 July 2012 declared lock-out at unit. Bajaj Auto rose 1.22%. The company on 2 August 2012 said its total sales declined 5% to 3.44 lakh units in July 2012 over July 2011. Motorcycle sales declined 3% to 3.08 lakh units in July 2012 over July 2011. The company sold 5,600 units of Pulsar 200 NS and 14,400 units of Discover 125 ST in July 2012. Bajaj Auto's commercial vehicles sales dropped 23% to 35,292 units in July 2012 over July 2011. Bajaj Auto's exports declined 13% to 1.25 lakh units in July 2012 over July 2011. The company said there has been partial recovery in exports to Sri Lanka and Egypt and it expects further recovery in exports this month. The company at the time of Q1 June 2012 results last month said that it has undertaken proactive measures like rationalizing the end-user cost of vehicles in Sri Lanka and with these measures the company expects normalcy in exports to resume by end of Q2 September 2012. Bajaj Auto lost exports of about 20,000 units in Sri Lanka in Q1 June 2012 due to introduction of import barriers by that country. The company also lost export of about 25,000 commercial vehicles in Q1 June 2012 due to restrictions by importing countries and due to political unrest in Egypt, Bajaj Auto said in a statement. Hero MotoCorp (HMCL) gained 1.06%. The company's total sales declined 1.38% to 4.84 lakh units in July 2012 over July 2011. HMCL said new scooter, the recently-launched 110cc Maestro has already been contributing handsome volumes. Maestro, along with the Pleasure, has further strengthened the company's strong presence in the scooter segment, company said. The company announced at the time of Q1 June 2012 results last month that consumers in rural and upcountry markets could postpone buying of motorcycles if the monsoon remains weak. Hero MotoCorp also said that currency volatility is a point of concern and the rupee depreciation is likely to impact the company's margins. Shares of public sector oil marketing companies fell as US crude-oil futures for September delivery vaulted almost 5% to settle above $91 a barrel on Friday, 3 August 2012. BPCL (down 2.41%), HPCL (down 2.12%) and Indian Oil Corporation (down 1.79%), edged lower. Higher crude oil prices could increase under-recoveries of state-run oil marketing companies (PSU OMCs) on domestic sale of diesel, LPG and kerosene at controlled prices. The government has already freed pricing of petrol. The Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC), under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, announced 1 August 2012 that the under-recovery on HSD (High Speed Diesel) applicable for 1st fortnight of August effective 1 August 2012 increased substantially to Rs 12.13 per litre. This is higher than Rs 9.95/litre prevailing during previous fortnight. In case of PDS Kerosene also the under-recovery is higher at Rs 28.54/litre for the month of August 2012 than Rs 27.20/litre for July 2012. Under-recovery on Domestic LPG for August 2012 at Rs 231/cylinder continues to rule at high. OMCs are currently (effective 1 August 2012) incurring daily under-recovery of about Rs 402 crore on the sale of Diesel, PDS Kerosene and Domestic LPG. Index heavyweight and cigarette maker ITC fell 0.54% to Rs 257.95, off the day's high of Rs 261.75. The stock had hit a record high of Rs 262.05 in intraday trade on 2 August 2012. The company reported 20.21% growth in net profit to Rs 1602.14 crore on 15.34% growth in net sales to Rs 6652.21 crore in Q1 June 2012 over Q1 June 2011. Despite series of tax hikes, ITC's performance in cigarettes business remains robust and displays pricing power for the company. Index heavyweight Reliance Industries (RIL) surged 5.71% to Rs 785.30 on reports benchmark Singapore gross refining margins (GRM) have strengthened from the 2nd week of July 2012 to average at $8 a barrel from $6.7 a barrel in the quarter ended June 2012. The stock rose on high volumes. On BSE, 14.47 lakh shares changed hands in the counter compared with average daily volume of 3.96 lakh shares in the past one quarter. RIL bought back 3.66 crore shares for about of Rs 2617.57 crore till 24 July 2012 under its ongoing share buyback program. RIL has set maximum buyback price of Rs 870 per share. The company has set aside Rs 10440 crore for share buyback. The buyback program opened on 1 February 2012 and closes on 19 January 2013. RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani said at the company's Annual General Meeting in June 2012 that the company's buyback program represents a highly accretive use of cash by the company and it will supplement earnings growth from operations, for higher EPS (earnings per share), in the near future. Shares of power finance companies rose. Power Finance Corporation and Rural Electrification Corporation gained 3.21% to 5.25%. Power Minister Veerappa Moily last week said reforms in the power sector will continue. Mr. Moily has been assigned the additional charge of the power ministry after Sushilkumar Shinde was appointed as new home minister last week. Capital goods stocks gained. L&T rose 1.77%. The company's recurring profit after tax rose 19% to Rs 890 crore on 26% growth in gross revenue to Rs 12078 crore in Q1 June 2012 over Q1 June 2011. The company announced the first quarter results last month. L&T said the healthy revenue growth in Q1 June 2012 was on the back of a strong order book and good progress in execution of various jobs. International sales constituted 17% of the total revenue in Q1 June 2012, L&T said in a statement. L&T's order inflow jumped 21% to Rs 19594 crore in Q1 June 2012 over Q1 June 2011 despite weak investment sentiment and prevailing global uncertainties, the company said. The major orders came from infrastructure, buildings & factories and power transmission & distribution sectors, L&T said in a statement. L&T's order book stood at Rs 153095 crore as on 30 June 2012. With regard to future business outlook, L&T said that with its enhanced capacities and presence in the diverse sectors, the company is in a good position to harness the opportunities as they emerge. The superior execution capabilities and growing order book provide visibility to sustained revenue growth in the medium term, L&T said in a statement. On the international front, select markets in the Middle East, South East Asia and CIS countries hold promising prospects where the company is strengthening its presence, L&T said in a statement. State-run power equipment maker Bhel rose 1.83%. Bhel's net profit rose 12.92% to Rs 920.90 crore on 16.46% growth in total income to Rs 8805.28 crore in Q1 June 2012 over Q1 June 2011. The company announced the results on 26 July 2012. The company's order book position declined to Rs 132900 crore as on 30 June 2012 from Rs 134681 crore as on 31 March 2012. Power Grid Corporation of India rose 1.56% to Rs 120.25. The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 120.95 in intraday trade today, 6 August 2012. Ambuja Cements rose 1.07% to Rs 184.50. The stock hit a record high of Rs 186 in intraday trade today, 6 August 2012. Ambuja Cements' net profit rose 34.9% to Rs 468.90 crore on 17.9% growth in net sales to Rs 2565.95 crore in Q2 June 2012 over Q2 June 2011. Sugar stocks advanced as sugar prices rallied. Bajaj Hindusthan, Balrampur Chini Mills and Shree Renuka Sugars rose 3.14% to 6.65%. Sugar prices have rallied in the Vashi wholesale market over the past few weeks on expectation of tight supply scenario during coming festival period. Castrol India jumped 3.55% to Rs 625.55. The stock hit a record high of Rs 634 in intraday trade today, 6 August 2012. The company's board last month announced a liberal 1:1 bonus. Interest rate sensitive banking stocks rose on bargain hunting after recent losses triggered by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) keeping repo rate unchanged at its first quarter review of the Monetary Policy 2012-13 on 31 July 2012. India's second biggest private sector bank in terms of branch network HDFC Bank rose 1.95% to Rs 599.75. The stock hit a record high of Rs 601.90 in intraday trade today. State Bank of India (SBI) rose 0.63%. SBI last week cut interest rates on home and car loans even as it left its base rate unchanged. SBI said today, 6 August 2012, said it has decided to revise downwards the interest rates on NRE/NRO deposits for tenors of 5 years and above to 8.50% per annum with effect from August 07, 2012. SBI said on 2 August 2012, said it has decided to revise downwards the interest rate on domestic term deposits for tenors of 5 years and above to 8.5% from 7 August 2012. Punjab National Bank (PNB) gained 0.3%. The bank has decided to increase rate of interest on single domestic term deposit of less than Rs 1 crore from 8.75% to 9% for maturity of one year from August 02, 2012. The same shall also be applicable to NRE term deposits. Similarly, the interest rate of 9% will also be applicable to NRE term deposits of 1,111 days as applicable to domestic term deposits, PNB said. India's largest private sector bank by net profit ICICI Bank gained 1.52%. The bank's profit after tax jumped 36% to Rs 1815 crore on 32% growth in net interest income to Rs 3193 crore in Q1 June 2012 over Q1 June 2011. ICICI Bank's net interest margin (NIM) improved to 3.01% for Q1 June 2012, from 2.61% for Q1 June 2011. The bank announced the results on 27 July 2012. Cadila Healthcare rose 1.15% to Rs 907.20 after the firm's consolidated profit before tax, excluding one-time income, rose 22% to Rs 266 crore on 30% jump in sales to Rs 1547 crore in Q1 June 2012 over Q1 June 2011. The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 913.95 in intraday trade today, 6 August 2012. Cadila Healthcare said in release that in the domestic formulations market, it posted sales of Rs 582 crore, up 27% in Q1 June 2012 over Q1 June 2011. The company launched 30 new products, including line extensions, of which 10 products were the first to be launched in India. During the quarter, the company's revenues were driven by 50% year-on-year growth in the US business and a 37% growth in Brazil. Exports to the emerging markets grew by 84% in Q1 June 2012 over Q1 June 2011. With the recent approval from the U S Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for its facility at Maraiya, the company expects to start getting new product approvals, which will further strengthen its US business. During the quarter, the company launched 3 products in Japan, including one Day-1 launch. All three products have been developed and manufactured in India. Further strengthening its regulatory pipeline, the company filed 9 Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) including 2 for injectible products, taking the cumulative number of US ANDA filings to 157. The company also filed 5 Drug Master File (DMFs), taking the cumulative filings to 112 DMFs. Wockhardt jumped 4.27% to Rs 1,053.75 after consolidated net profit jumped 94.87% to Rs 377.97 crore on 35.37% growth in income from operations to Rs 1425.82 crore in Q1 June 2012 over Q1 June 2011. The stock hit a record high of Rs 1,084.60 in intraday trade today, 6 August 2012. Wockhardt said it a press release that it delivered 95% increase in Profit After Tax at Rs.378 crores in 1st Quarter of financial year 2012-13. The EBITDA at Rs.502 crores grew by 61% and represented 10th consecutive quarter of sequential growth. This sustained EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation and Amortization) and PAT performance, both in terms of value and margins, now ushers Wockhardt amongst the top 3 best performing Indian pharma companies. Consolidated revenues grew by 35% to Rs 1426 crore over the corresponding quarter of Financial Year 2011-12. This represented 5th consecutive quarter of sequential growth in consolidated revenues. Wockhardt's US and EU operations have been the major contributor in its growth and the momentum continued in this quarter as they contributed to 71% of consolidated revenues. US business recorded a spectacular growth of 78% (45% on $ basis) compared to the corresponding quarter of Financial Year 2011-12. The US business launched the authorised generic version of StalevoR for which it had received FTF status earlier and 2 OTC products during the quarter. The UK business recorded a growth of 31% (11% on £ basis) compared to the corresponding quarter of Financial Year 2011-12 in an otherwise stagnant market. In the quarter the UK and Irish markets launched the generic Atorvastatin which is expected to be a key product for both UK and Irish businesses. Wockhardt's R&D continued its multidisciplinary research and patent filings across its 3 R&D centers worldwide employing 578 scientists. The company now has a total of 164 Patents granted and has filed for a total of 1585 Patents Globally. It has received the Government of India and Pharmexcil award for maximum patents filing for 3 years in a row. The company markets 475 products in the regulated markets manufactured in its India, USA, UK and Ireland facilities. Wockhardt recently concluded the divestment of its Nutrition business to Danone for Rs 1280 crore. This has significantly improved the balance sheet position for the company and its Net Debt to Equity ratio now stands below 1, the company said in a release. Divi's Laboratories gained 0.44% to Rs 1122 after net profit jumped 63.15% to Rs 167.38 crore on 36.12% growth in total income to Rs 510.17 crore in Q1 June 2012 over Q1 June 2011. The stock hit a record high of Rs 1,135 in intraday trade today, 6 August 2012. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals fell 0.29% to Rs 407.50. The stock reversed direction after hitting a 52-week high of Rs 426.85 in intraday trade today, 6 August 2012. Glenmark Generies Inc., USA -- a subsidiary of Glenmark Generics -- has been granted final abbreviated new drug approval (ANDA) from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for Montelukast Sodium Tablets, 10mg. Glenmark Generics (GGL) is a subsidiary of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals. Glenmark will commence distribution of the product immediately. Montelukast Sodium tabtets are Glenmark's generic version of Singulair by Merck & Co., Inc., indicated for the treatment of prophylaxis and chronic treatment of asthma. For the 12 month period ended March 2012, Singulair garnered annual sales of $3.5 billion in the United States, according to IMS Health data. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries rose 1.67% to Rs 671.05. The stock hit a record high of Rs 674.55 in intraday trade today, 6 August 2012. The company today, 6 August 2012, said its board will consider a proposal for internal restructuring of the company's business with effect from 31 March 2012 along with Q1 June 2012 results on 10 August 2012. The announcement was made during trading hours today, 6 August 2012. Telecom stocks reversed initial gains after the Union Cabinet on Friday, 3 August 2012, approved reserve price of Rs 14000 crore for 5 MHz pan India in 1800 MHz band. MTNL, Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra), Idea Celluar and Bharti Airtel fell by between 0.1% to 0.92%. But, Reliance Communications rose 2.33%. The Cabinet also approved the recommendation of EGoM on telecom for reserve price for 800 MHz band at 1.3 times that of 1800 MHz band. Existing slab rate system for Spectrum Usage Charges (SUC), as recommended by EGoM, as the preferred option has also been approved by the cabinet. The reserve price and SUC are essential for the 2G spectrum auction bid process, which is being implemented expeditiously by the Department of Telecommunications, a government statement said. As recommended by the EGoM, the Cabinet decided to defer the issues related to pricing of spectrum pending ascertainment of the developments/ outcome of the ongoing proceedings before the Supreme Court in the Presidential Reference and that all questions relating to the pricing of Spectrum currently held by Telecom Service Providers and related issues including pricing of contracted spectrum, excess spectrum, prospective/ retrospective pricing be considered thereafter. Realty major, DLF gained 2% ahead of its Q1 results today, 6 August 2012. Among other realty stocks, D B Realty, Unitech and HDIL rose by between 0.85% to 1.97%. NTPC fell 0.54% on profit booking after 2-day 5.68% rally triggered by announcement from the company's management that the company has targeted capacity addition of 14,038 megawatts during the 12th five-year plan. NTPC's management last week said that out of 4,160 MW capacity addition planned for FY 2013, 2,160 MW has been achieved. Commercial capacity of NTPC is expected to increase by 20% to 37,118 MW by FY 2014, the management added. NTPC said that a capital expenditure of Rs 3978 crore was spent in Q1 June 2012 and Rs 20995 crore has been allocated for FY 2013. Metal stocks gained as LMEX, a gauge of six metals traded on the London Metal Exchange, rose 1.64% on Friday, 3 August 2012. Sterlite Industries, Bhushan Steel, JSW Steel, Hindalco Industries, Jindal Steel & Power, and Hindustan Zinc rose by between 0.17% to 1.81%. Sail rose 0.65% as the company's core operating profit margin surged to 14.05% in Q1 June 2012 from 12.16% in Q1 June 2011. Net profit declined 17.9% to Rs 696.41 crore on 3.08% fall in total income to Rs 11055.95 crore in Q1 June 2012 over Q1 June 2011. The fall in net profit was mainly due sharply higher foreign exchange loss of Rs 256.94 crore in Q1 June 2012 compared with foreign exchange loss of Rs 11.66 crore in Q1 June 2011. Tata Steel 1.85% as euro zone worries eased. European operations constitute almost 65% of Tata Steel's sales. Cals Refineries clocked highest volume of 1.6 crore shares on BSE. Kingfisher Airlines (36.48 lakh shares), SpiceJet (34.05 lakh shares), SKS Microfinance (29.16 lakh shares) and Acil Cotton Industries (27.94 lakh shares) were the other volume toppers in that order. RIL clocked highest turnover of Rs 114.03 crore on BSE. Wockhardt (Rs 73.70 crore), SBI (Rs 63.73 crore), Reliance Industrial Infrastructure (Rs 44.23 crore) and United Spirits (Rs 43.40 crore) were the other turnover toppers in that order. Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram today, 6 August 2012, said that a path of financial consolidation will be unveiled shortly. He made it clear that the burden of fiscal correction must be shared, fairly and equitably, by different classes of stakeholders. The Finance Minister said that the poor must be protected and others must bear their fair share of the burden. Obviously, adjustments must be made both on the revenue side and on the expenditure side, he said. The Finance Minister said the government has asked Dr. Vijay Kelkar, Dr. Indira Rajaraman and Dr. Sanjiv Misra to assist the government in formulating the path of fiscal consolidation and said he expects the work will be completed in a few weeks. Government finances are under pressure as expenses exceed revenue, mainly because of subsidies doled out for cheaper supplies of food, fuel and fertilizer. The subsidy expense was 2.4% of GDP in the last fiscal year. The government aims to bring it down to 2% of GDP this year, and reduce fiscal deficit to 5.1% from 5.75%. The oil ministry has already sought Rs 32800 crore in cash subsidy from the finance ministry to compensate retailers who sell diesel and cooking fuel at government-set discounted rates. Mr. Chidambaram said that price stability is an important objective and that the government will work with the Reserve Bank of India to ensure that inflation is moderated in the medium term. Sometimes it is necessary to take carefully calibrated risks in order to stimulate investment and to ease the burden on consumers, Mr. Chidambaram said adding that the government will take appropriate steps in this regard. The key to restart the growth engine is to attract more investment, both from domestic investors and foreign investors, Mr. Chidambaram said. "Since investment is an act of faith, we must remove any apprehension or distrust in the minds of investors. We will improve communication of our policies to potential investors", Mr. Chidambaram said. The aim will be to remove the perceived difficulties in doing business in India, including fears about undue regulatory burden or regulatory over-reach. Public sector enterprises which have large cash balances will be encouraged to restart investment. Proposals pending with the Foreign Investment Promotion Board will be processed and decisions taken expeditiously, Mr. Chidambaram said. The government intends to work with manufacturers and exporters and implement appropriate short term and medium term measures to reverse the trend of sluggish growth in manufacturing and exports which are two key drivers of the economy, Mr. Chidambaram said. The government intends to find practical solutions to the problems that impede higher production or output in the coal, mining, petroleum, power, road transport, railway and port sectors. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs will examine the issues affecting each sector and take decisions that will lead to quantitative growth in these sectors, Mr. Chidambaram said. The government aims to raise the level of investment to 38% of the GDP that was achieved in 2007-08, Mr. Chidambaram said. The Finance Minister said that Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and other schemes will be converged to meet the challenge of drought. The government intends to fine tune policies and procedures that will facilitate capital flows into India, Mr. Chidambaram said. Clarity in tax laws, a stable tax regime, a non-adversarial tax administration, a fair mechanism for dispute resolution, and an independent judiciary will provide great assurance to investors, Mr. Chidambaram said. The government has recently appointed two committees -- one to examine anti-avoidance tax proposal viz. the General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR) legal provisions and guidelines and the other to review taxation of the IT sector and Development Centres. Mr. Chidambaram said he has also directed a review of tax provisions that have a retrospective effect in order to find fair and reasonable solutions to pending as well as likely disputes between the Tax Departments and the Assessees concerned. In the next few weeks, the government will announce a number of decisions to attract more people to invest in mutual funds, insurance policies and other well-designed instruments, Mr. Chidambaram said. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh last month decided to refer the issue of implications on FIIs and portfolio investors of the amendment made to the Income Tax Act relating to the taxation of non-resident transfer of assets where the underlying asset is in India to the Expert Committee on anti-avoidance tax proposal viz. the General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR). "It is necessary to have clarity on the tax liability of portfolio investors and foreign institutional investors as a result of this amendment particularly when the investment is made through a registered stock exchange in accordance with SEBI guidelines and purely in the form of portfolio investment", the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement issued on 30 July 2012. Any clarification needs to be harmonised with the GAAR guidelines and will have to address any residual concerns outside of GAAR, the PMO said. Dr. Singh last month constituted an expert committee on anti-avoidance tax proposal viz. the General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR) to undertake stakeholder consultations and finalise the guidelines for GAAR by 30 September 2012. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) last week said the El Nino weather pattern is likely to reduce rains again in the second half of the June to September monsoon season. The IMD said rains over the entire June to September season are now expected to be less than 90% of long-term average. This is lower than IMD's previous forecast of 96%. Monsoon rains are considered deficient -- a drought in layman's terms -- if they fall below 90% of a 50-year average. Between June 1 and August 1, rainfall was about 19% below normal. The IMD expects normal rains in August -- a critical month for summer crops. It expects rainfall to be 5-6% below average in September due to the possibility of El Nino. The weather office said rainfall during August-September is expected to be 91% of the long-term average. The rainfall distribution has been erratic this year as major crop- growing regions such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana have received scanty showers threatening the prospects of summer crops. With the monsoon season halfway through, India is staring at the possibility of a full-blown drought in some regions. A panel of Indian ministers last week approved steps to contain the impact of a near-drought situation. The steps include providing a diesel-price subsidy to farmers, increasing the subsidy on seed supplies and removal of the import tax on oilmeals. Insufficient rainfall could lead to higher food inflation. There will be an impact on foodgrain output, but it is too early to give any estimate, Farm Minister Sharad Pawar last week. Mr. Pawar said the government will raise subsidies for the supply of various seeds for alternate crops in affected areas. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs last week approved the Minimum Support Prices (MSPS) for Arhar (Tur) and Moong for 2012-13 season. The MSP for Arhar (Tur) has been fixed at Rs 3850 per quintal and of Moong at Rs 4400 per quintal marking an increase of Rs 650 per quintal and Rs 900 per quintal, respectively. Rice sowing has picked up according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Agriculture. Rice was sown in 233.68 lakh hectares (lh) till Friday, 3 August 2012, compared with 191.06 lh a week back. Rice sowing so far has been below the normal area of 240.89 lh for the summer sown crop by this time of the year. Cumulative sowing of coarse cereals totaled 135.75 lh till 3 August 2012, compared with 117.48 lh a week back. It, however, remains much lower than 169.30 lh of normal area for the crop this time of the year. Sowing of pulses totaled 72.79 lh till 3 August 2012, compared with 62.99 lh a week back. It, however, remains lower than 84.15 lh of normal area for this time of the year. Sowing of oilseeds totaled 145.17 lh till 3 August 2012, compared with 138.33 lh a week back. It is almost equal to the normal area of 145.49 lh for oilseeds by this time of the year. Sowing of cotton totaled 100.14 lh till 3 August 2012, compared with 97.24 lh as on 27 July 2012. The normal cotton sowing area of 99.89 lh by this time of the year has already been surpassed. Sowing of jute and mesta totaled 8.40 lh as on 3 August 2012, exceeding the normal area of 8.22 lk for the crop by this time of the year. The monsoon rains--which make up around 70% of India's annual rainfall--are crucial to the nation's agriculture sector and broader economy. More than 60% of the country's farmland is rain-fed. The timing, distribution and quantity of rainfall are all important for crops. The four-month southwest monsoon season that starts from June accounts for almost 70% of total annual moisture that Indian soil receives in a year. A bad monsoon will have a larger impact on inflation than on growth as agriculture output constitutes a relatively small portion of India's economy, Indian central bank officials said on 1 August 2012, in a conference call following the release of its monetary policy review on 31 July 2012. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept its key policy rate viz. the repo rate unchanged at 8% after first quarter review of Monetary Policy 2012-13 in an effort to keep a lid on inflation and inflation expectations. The RBI, however, lowered banks' statutory liquidity ratio, or the part of deposits that must be invested mainly in government bonds, by a percentage point to 23% to ensure that liquidity pressures do not constrain the flow of credit to productive sectors of the economy. Principal adviser to the Planning Commission Pronab Sen last month said slowing investment due to weak confidence in the economy is hurting growth. Mr. Sen said Indian companies aren't facing any shortage of funds. Many of them are sitting on piles of cash and aren't even repatriating overseas borrowings, he added. The government should take steps to meet the fiscal deficit target set out in the budget and that would improve sentiment and revive investments, Mr. Sen said. He said the government should scale back its spending and slash subsidies on fuels, food and fertilizers to help check its budget deficit. Slowing growth in investment remains a cause for concern for India. Investment makes up 35% of India's economic activity. A comprehensive Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill is among the 31 Bills the government has lined up for consideration and passing during the monsoon session of Parliament, which begins on Wednesday, 8 August 2012. Among the other bills include those on Forward Contracts, Banking laws, whistle-blowers and women's reservation as also the Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials bill. The monsoon session of Parliament will conclude on September 7. Voting for the country's new vice president takes places tomorrow, 7 August 2012. An India-Mauritius joint panel will discuss a series of proposals to review the double taxation avoidance treaty between the two nations on 22-24 August in Mauritius. India has been looking to negotiate the double taxation avoidance agreement with Mauritius for the past few years to check so-called round tripping and other potential abuses. Round tripping entails moving money out of one country to another, and getting it back under the garb of foreign capital. Capital gains tax is close to zero in Mauritius and almost 40% of investments into India come through the island nation. Under the bilateral agreement, capital gains from sale of securities can be taxed only in Mauritius. The India-Mauritius joint working group will also discuss the inclusion of a so-called limitation of benefit clause, similar to the Singapore tax treaty with India, to ensure only genuine Mauritius-based companies are benefited. India's tax agreement with Singapore says that only those companies that spend a minimum of $200,000 (about Rs 1 crore) in Singapore can avail the benefits of the treaty. Sanctity of tax residency certificates issued by a country to companies operating in its jurisdiction to enable the firms to claim tax benefits under various treaties is another issue between India and Mauritius. While India in this year's national budget said the certificates are a necessary but not sufficient condition, Mauritius wants those issued by it honoured. Draft guidelines issued by Indian government for implementing the controversial anti-avoidance tax proposal viz. the GAAR state that GAAR provisions should be invoked on a foreign institutional investor (FII), if it chooses to take a treaty benefit, but would not in any case be invoked in the case of the non-resident investors of the FII. The draft guidelines suggested that the onus of proving wrongdoing should be on the authorities. Investors' focus is currently on Q1 June 2012 earnings. Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Power and Bharti Airtel unveil Q1 results on Wednesday, 8 August 2012. Tata Motors and Ranbaxy Laboratories unveil quarterly results on Thursday, 9 August 2012. State Bank of India, Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries, Siemens and BPCL announce quarterly results on Friday, 10 August 2012. ONGC announces Q1 results on Saturday, 11 August 2012. Tata Steel and Coal India unveil Q1 results on 13 August 2012. Hindalco Industries and IDFC will unveil Q1 results on 14 August 2012. European equities edged higher on Monday, 6 August 2012, as investors digested a larger-than-expected rise in US nonfarm payrolls in July 2012 and reweighed expectations that the European Central Bank will step in to buy euro-zone government bonds in time to address long-running euro-zone debt crisis. US is the world's biggest economy. Key benchmark indices in UK, France and Germany were up 0.18% to 0.94%. European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi last week said the ECB may soon step in to buy government bonds in the open market, possibly in unlimited quantities, and it will also consider other unconventional measures to lower exceptionally high borrowing costs of financially stressed euro-zone economies. Draghi indicated that the ECB may buy government bonds in the open market under strict conditions and after stressed states submitted a request for aid Germany's Federal Constitutional Court will announce a decision on lawsuits challenging the country's participation in the permanent euro-zone rescue fund, the European Stability Mechanism, and the fiscal pact on 12 September 2012. The court held a public hearing earlier this month to examine complaints that participation in the fund and the fiscal pact violated German law by taking some authority over the national budget away from parliament. Asian shares climbed on Monday, 6 August 2012, joining in a global stock rally triggered by stronger US economic data and optimism for progress in Europe. Key benchmark indices in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan rose by between 0.14% to 2.01%. China's central bank on Sunday pledged to intensify monetary policy fine-tuning and improve credit policy to bolster the world's second largest economy. Indonesia's economy expanded more than analysts estimated as rising investments helped the nation withstand declining exports and Europe's sovereign-debt crisis. Gross domestic product rose 6.4% in the three months ended June 30 from a year earlier, the Central Bureau of Statistics said in Jakarta today. That compares with a 6.31% gain reported previously for the first quarter. Australian inflation reached 0.2% in July from the previous month, according to the TD Securities – Melbourne Institute monthly survey. In June, the survey showed a 0.2% monthly drop. On an annual basis, the gauge rose 1.5%, compared to a 1.6% increase in June. Trading in US index futures indicated that the Dow could gain 12 points at the opening bell on Monday, 6 August 2012. US stocks surged on Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumping to a three-month high, after US nonfarm payrolls rose more than expected in July. US employers in July hired the most workers in five months, but an increase in the jobless rate to 8.3% kept prospects of further monetary stimulus from the Federal Reserve on the table. Nonfarm payrolls rose 163,000 last month, the Labor Department said on Friday, breaking three straight months of job gains below 100,000 and offering hope for the ailing economy. The unemployment rate rose from 8.2% in June, even as more people gave up the search for work and a survey of households showed a drop in employment. The Federal Reserve last week sent a stronger signal that a new round of major support could be on the way if the recovery did not pick up. Service-sector activity expanded at a slightly faster pace in July than a month earlier, according to the Institute for Supply Management, bucking economists' expectations for the group's nonmanufacturing index to show slowing expansion. Election for a new president in the United States, the world's biggest economy, is scheduled on 6 November 2012.