Growth forecast

New Delhi, Aug. 3: Drought in parts of the country because of a weak monsoon showed signs of its impact on the economy with the Planning Commission lowering the growth forecast to 6 per cent, half a per cent lower than last fiscal. “If we factor in agriculture, which will not be strong ... (growth) will be closer to 6 per cent,” Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said.

Jet show

Mumbai, Aug. 3: After reporting a surprise profit of Rs 36.4 crore in April-June, Jet Airways Group today said it would retire around Rs 2,500 crore of its nearly Rs 14,000-crore debt this fiscal. The airline also said it would have to raise at least Rs 1,100 crore to improve the balance sheet.

ATM count

Hyderabad, Aug. 3: Penetration of ATMs in the country is still very low compared with other emerging markets even as the number of automated teller machines is increasing nearly 25 per cent every year, the RBI said today.

SBI award

Calcutta, Aug. 3: The State Bank of India has been conferred “Asia’s Best CSR Practice Award 2012” by CMO Asia.