Team sets out on tea mission

New Delhi, Dec. 22: Addressing a parliamentary committee, finance minister Jaswant Singh today said a joint team of finance and commerce ministries will visit Guwahati, Jalpaiguri and Silchar in the first half of January to study the problems faced by the tea industry in the northeastern region.

Idcol Cement

Mumbai, Dec. 22: Associated Cement Companies Ltd today signed an agreement with Industrial Development Corporation of Orissa Ltd (Idcol) to acquire its 86.79 per cent stake in Idcol Cement Ltd.

CMC stock split

Mumbai, Dec. 22: The board of CMC Ltd has decided not to sub-divide the face value of its equity shares. The face value would remain at Rs 10 per share.

NBFC cover

New Delhi, Dec. 22: The Reserve Bank has expressed its reservations in providing insurance cover to deposits of non-banking finance companies (NBFCs), the Centre said in its action taken report on the suggestions of the joint parliamentary committee that probed the stock scam of 2001.

Patent bill

New Delhi, Dec. 22: The government today introduced the Patent (Amendment) Bill, 2003 in the Lok Sabha to pave the way for product patent for drugs, chemicals and food.

Jute deadlock

Calcutta, Dec. 22: The negotiations to avert a strike in the jute industry from December 29 have ended in a deadlock.