The 2010 calendar year is being described as the best for private equity (PE) since 2007. As capital markets return to their former glory, things gave got better for PE investors.

Strong markets allow PEs to both exit and invest

Business Standard

Sequoia Capital, which started operations a decade ago, has invested $800 million in 60 companies since 2000. While the fund continues to look for investment opportunities, Managing Director Sumir Chadha tells Shilpy Sinha that this is not the right time to invest. Also, the firm is looking to exit from seven companies in the coming year.

Q&A: Sumir Chadha, MD, Sequoia Capital

The government and financial sector regulators buried their differences on the proposed Financial Stability &amp; Development Council (FSDC) after Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee offered the Reserve Bank of India governor a sweetener.

Govt, regulators call truce; agree on FSDC structure

Citigroup and US banks that hunkered down following 2008 bailouts are expanding into new businesses and markets, bringing higher expenses that may erode profit margins before they yield shareholder returns.

Pandit steps up recruitment

Transactions worth Rs 6,259.42 crore were carried out in the country by credit cards during the August-month, a growth of 28.89 per cent from the figure recorded in the same period last year.

Credit cards transaction up nearly 29% in Aug

Press Trust of India

Private sector insurer MetLife India Insurance today launched a term insurance product Met Protect, the first such life cover plan by the company to be available online.

MetLife launches new term insurance product online

The Finance Ministry today said it will provide equity support of about Rs 8,700 crore to the public sector banks, a move that will enable lenders to raise funds from the capital market without diluting the government holding to below 51 per cent.

Govt's Rs 8,700 cr equity support to PSU banks

Reflecting fragile recovery in world's major economies, foreign direct investment into India dipped for the third consecutive month, by about 60 per cent to $1.33 billion in August.

FDI inflows down by about 60% in Aug

State-owned Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) today said it has requested the government to provide Rs 1,000 crore as capital support to enhance its business.

Oriental Bank seeks Rs 1,000 cr capital from govt

Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) employees have had to settle for a 17.5 per cent wage increase, in line with what was offered to bank employees under the agreement signed with the Indian Banks&rsquo; Association.

LIC employees to get 17.5% wage hike

Credit-default swaps on bonds sold by Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) are closing in on those tied to the world&rsquo;s largest economies, which were piling on debt in an attempt to stoke growth.

Swaps show developing nations gaining on G7

Positive business sentiment will improve demand for credit offtake from Indian Inc in the second half (October 10-March 11) of the current financial year, said rating agency ICRA. The agency has retained the bank loan growth estimate of 18-20 per cent for FY 2011. &ldquo;We see no reason to be negative on prospects. Corporate credit pickup will be driven by the use of sanctioned lines and refinancing,&rdquo; said Naresh Takker, Icra managing director.

Bank growth picks up, likely to touch 18-20%: Icra

State Bank of India (SBI) is planning to raise more funds through retail bond issuances, depending on the success of its first issue that will be launched on October 18, said a source close to the development. &ldquo;We will look towards issuing bonds to retail investors in tranches. First, we want to see how successful this retail bond issue is,&rdquo; the source said. The country&rsquo;s largest lender aims to raise at least Rs 500 crore through its retail bond sale.

SBI may issue more retail bonds if first sale successful

Federal Bank has waived surcharge on petrol purchases for all its debit card holders. The offer is available on purchase of fuel from any petrol pump in any city across the country. At present, fuel purchases from the pumps using debit/credit cards attract 2.5 per cent surcharge.

Federal Bank waives surcharge on fuel purchase

Singapore Mercantile Exchange today said the Singapore branch of ICICI Bank Ltd has become its Special Clearing Member (SCM) for clearing and settling futures contracts at the bourse here.

ICICI Bank joins SMX as clearing member

Amid the debate over whether the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) should hold stake in lending institutions or only be a regulator, the central bank has sold almost all its holding in the apex agriculture and rural development bank, Nabard, to the government of India.

RBI sells stake in Nabard worth Rs 1,430 cr

Call it the SKS effect. Stung by the controversy over the sudden sacking of the Managing Director at India&rsquo;s largest microfinance institution, SKS Microfinance, lenders have decided to raise corporate governance issues at board meetings of other MFIs.

MFI governance issues under lenders' lens

Singapore unexpectedly signalled it will allow faster currency gains to curb inflation even as the economy shrank, with slowing global growth hurting demand for drugs and electronics. The local dollar rose to a record.

Singapore to allow stronger currency

Issue of capping interest rates left untouched by cabinet meeting.

AP Cabinet clears ordinance to regulate MFIs

Unlike SKS Microfinance, which recently went public, Ananya Finance for Inclusive Growth (AFIG), the Ahmedabad-based Self Employed Women&rsquo;s Association (SEWA)-promoted non-banking finance company (NBFC), is looking at raising around Rs 200 crore through private placement.

SEWA's NBFC arm to raise Rs 200 crore

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has divested its 71.5 per cent stake, aggregating to Rs 1,430 crore, in the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) to the government.

RBI divests stake in Nabard to government

Finance News: Latest investing news and finance headlines straight from Business Standard.

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