Inflation rate up to 5.94%

New Delhi, March 5: A sharp rise in prices of fruits, vegetables and other primary items, notably poultry chicken, and costlier manufactured products pushed up the rate of inflation by 0.10 per cent to 5.94 per cent for the week ended February 21. The point-to-point price change, as measured by the wholesale price index, rose from the previous week’s level of 5.84 per cent.

UTI bond

New Delhi, March 5: The government will soon come up with Rs 5,000 crore bonds, offering a tax-free return of 6.6 per cent for investors in seven assured return schemes of UTI, which are being foreclosed from April 2004, official sources said today.

CSFB licence

Mumbai, March 5: The Securities and Exchange Board of India has suspended the certificate of registration of NSE member Credit Suisse First Boston India for one month for its involvement in the manipulation of Ranbaxy scrip in 1999.

L&T plan

Mumbai, March 5: Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is planning to acquire an engineering firm in the US or Europe in the hydrocarbons sector. It has set aside Rs 500 crore for this.

VSNL move

Mumbai, March 5: VSNL board has approved a plan to utilise Rs 956.41 crore from securities premium account for a downward revision in carrying value of certain fixed assets.