A resolute Reserve Bank of India (RBI) refrained from reducing policy repo rate in its mid-quarter review of monetary policy on June 17, 2013 citing the persistently high food inflation even though general inflation has declined. Thus, the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) remains unchanged at 7.25 per cent and the reverse repo rate remains at 6.25 per cent, and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate at 8.25 per cent. The central bank also kept
Author: admin (Infratructure Today)
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Govt takes steps to unlock shale gas reserves
The government is taking steps to unlock the potential of shale gas reserves in India in order to bridge the ever rising demand for energy. The country is dependent on import to meet over 70 percent of crude oil and this is expected to change if we successfully explore shale gas reserves. Following are some of the steps taken by the government in this direc
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CRISIL assigns rating to Union Bank’s bond issue
The proposed Rs 5 billion Tier-II bond issue of United Bank of India received 'AA垿䫖鮕’ rating from Crisil. This is the first Tier-II capital instrument issued in the Indian market under the Basel III capital regulations. With effect from April 01, 2013, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) implemented Basel III capital regulations for Indian banks. This is based on the final guidelines issued in May
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World Bank expects Indian economy to grow 5.7% in FY14
World Bank expects India's GDP at factor cost to grow 5.7 per cent in 2013-14 and then accelerate to 6.5 per cent and 6.7 per cent in the two subsequent financial years, respectively. The multilateral lending agency said this in its Global Economic Prospects report released recently. In 2012-13, the economy expanded at a decade-low pace of 5 percent. The report notes that growth in South Asia would primarily be driven by an estimated pick-
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Rupee weakness to hit infra projects funded via ECBs
India Ratings & Research (Ind-Ra) said the ongoing depreciation of rupee against the dollar is eroding the cost advantage of external commercial borrowing (ECB) for domestic infrastructure projects. companies preferred to raise funds through ECB as interest rate charged on such loan is cheaper that credit in the local market
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Steel production capacity rises 36% to 90 mn t
Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma informed that capacity of steel production in the country has risen from 66 million tonne (mn t) in 2009 to about 90 mn t in 2012, which is a 36 per cent growth. He said this during a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his ministry. Steel output in the country expanded 4.3 per cent in 2012, he informed members of the committee
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Essar Oil to replace rupee debt with dollar loans
Essar Oil plans to to replace its rupee borrowings with dollar borrowings in order to reduce interest cost and extend the maturity period of its debt. The reduction in interest cost is expected to boost returns from the refinery business of the firm. The company increased borrowing to finance its refinery expansion project, which was completed in March 2012. It raised its refinery capacity to 20 million tonne per annum and complexity to
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Ennore port may allow bidder to decide on project
Media reports indicate that Ennore Port may give liberty to the the winning bidder for the proposed container terminal project to decide on whether to build the entire terminal in one go or in phases. Based on market condition, the winning bidder may decide how to implement the Rs 1,270 crore project and the port authority may not intervene in this, reports suggest
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Port acquires land for cargo storage
Port Taranaki, which is a port complex located in New Plymouth, New Zealand, has acquired a 21.5 hectare power station site from Contact Energy for $24 million. Methanex New Zealand has also participated in the acquisition of the land, which could be used to store more bulk dry and liquid cargo and logs. Of the $24 million deal, the Taranaki Regional Council-owned port paid $15.5 mn for the majority stake, while Methanex New
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Essar firms to reduce dependence on group companies
Essar group companies like Essar Shipping, Essar Ports, Essar Projects would diversify their operations and reduce their dependence on sister companies for business. These companies largely cater to the sister companies and thereby rely on these firms for revenue generation.
For example, currently, Essar Projects earns around 60 percent of its revenue from group firms, but wants to eventually take external orders to 90 percent, deriving half its re