COMPANIES

• Taking IT to the masses: Microsoft, RIL to announce plans on Dec 28
• Maharashtra seeks Gates’ support for e-governance architecture
• Child rebellion rocks Chhabria empire
• Honda sells 72,879 Activas in Apr-Oct '02
• Grasim joins Lafarge, Zuari in race to bag Raasi, Visaka
• Apollo to spend Rs 1,500 cr to double bed capacity
• MBT bets big on Europe to grow non-BT business
• Reliance Infocomm to buy 50,000 PCs from IBM
• Itochu's Chem plans greater India focus
• Stollberg to invest in steel sector here
• TCL plans Rs 100-cr re-entry splash
• ONGC to argue against heavy dividend payout
• Indo Rama hikes output with capacity expansion
• Auditors qualify H1 results of Hyderabad Industries
• MMA award for Hero chief
• BMW scientific award contest
• Coke seeks to uncork Rs 803 crore
• Baxter's Haryana unit goes on stream

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

• U.S. economy soft, not spiraling down - Greenspan
• It's final, William Webster quits
• 9/11's NYC hit pegged at $36 bn
• Interim chairman may replace Webster

GENERAL

• Pension reforms get mired in debate
• ICAR winds up Krishi Gyan Kendra at Gurgaon
• State secys to discuss livestock management
• PF, ESI schemes to be recast to aid unorganised sector: Sahib Singh

BANKING AND FINANCE

• HDFC slashes home loan rates by 25 Bps
• Purwar to focus on cost cuts, retail, tech upgradation at SBI
• Canara Bank hopes to keep higher other incomes
• NCR to set up ATM production unit in India
• Birla Home Fin may get $20 million credit line from IFC
• Bharat Overseas to link branches
• Birla Home Fin to expand in TN
• LIC scheme for IOB depositors
• New York Life keen to hike stake in Indian venture
• SBI Life in marketing talks with banks
• SBM offers life insurance to customers
• Union Bank lines up festival incentives
• PNB, Bank of India to share ATMs
• Vysya Bank opens another ATM
• SBT reduces lending rates
• SBI provides 10 pc for Dabhol exposure
• Canara Bank in pact with SBI for bank in Moscow
• Legislation for AP urban co-op banks opposed

CAPITAL MARKET

• Wipro scrip up on Gates' big BPO call
• Kennametal to make open offer for 23 pc Widia stake
• LIC Mutual launching Index fund today
• Initial gains not held
• Bajaj Auto in top gear on Kawasaki `interest'
• Disinvestment hopes fuel rally in HPCL
• Max India in limelight
• Gas talk pumps up interest in Reliance
• Formal SEBI probe soon into circular trading
• Reliance maintains momentum in narrow trading
• Holes in system may have led to stock scam: Jaswant
• Rupee stable; gilts rise