Exports up 8.5% in Jan Exports in January clocked a growth rate of 8.5 per cent, the highest so far during this financial year. However, for the April-January period, exports continued to fall with a negative growth rate of 1.98 per cent. According to data released by the commerce ministry here today, exports in January this year rose to $ 2.85 billion compared with $ 2.63 billion in January 1998. Exports during the first 10 months of this fiscal were down at $ 27.16 billion, against $ 27.7 billion during the same period of the previous fiscal. The trade deficit widened to $ 7.79 billion, compared with $ 5.58 billion in the same previous period. US-64 prices Unit Trust of India (UTI) has increased the sale and repurchase prices under Unit Scheme-64 (US-64) by 10 paise for April. UTI, in a statement, said the sale and repurchase prices would be Rs 15.20 and Rs 14.90 respectively. Meanwhile, a finance ministry release today said only the US 64 of UTI and open-ended equity funds have been exempted from the levy of 10 per cent tax for a period of three years beginning April 1, 1999. The exemption will not apply to close-ended schemes. Transport stir The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) today threatened to go on a strike if the Re 1 per litre cess on high speed diesel was not withdrawn immediately. AIMTC secretary general J.M. Saksena said the government should review its decision to help the motor transport industry as well as the agriculture sector. Indica bookings Over 63,000 applicants for Tata?s Indica, who were unsuccessful in the first round of 10,000 allotments, have opted to retain their bookings with Telco. Bulk drugs The government today clarified that bulk drug products using certain processes such as use of re-combinant DNA technology would continue to remain under compulsory licensing. HCL Insys HCL Infosystems Ltd (HCL Insys) has launched HCL Beanstalk Ultima, based on Intel?s Pentium-III 450 MHz microprocessor.