Banks have been doing a good job on the lending side in a prudential manner and India Inc should not really be complaining too much.

Madan Sabnavis: Don't blame banks for not lending

Business Standard

Till the current downturn in advertising, a common criticism about the Indian press used to be that it had become more of a money machine than a publishing industry. Another criticism still is that publishers are more willing to criticise governments than companies, because more and more see themselves as being more in the advertising business than the news business. There are two problems with these perceptions.

T N Ninan: Needed - Muckrakers

The unpredictability of earnings volatility due to MTM gains and losses is characteristic of any business that has a high derivatives exposure.

The derivatives game

We check out Diageo's debut liquor retail outlet in New Delhi.

Low class per glass

Two interesting surveys were published this week on the changing equations at the workplace. At first glance, the findings may look contradictory, but they are not. While the one done by TeamLease talks about how companies are cutting salaries and asking employees to do multi-tasking, the other done by Kelly Services says employees will rather contribute to something more important and meaningful than take home a fat pay package.

No knee-jerk reactions, please

The current hierarchical model is neither sacred nor eternal.

K C Sivaramakrishnan: Megacity governance

I will now take a few minutes to highlight some of the areas where I think counter financing of terrorism efforts will be focused, both in India and other nations. The challenges in this area go beyond the formal sector, to include a wide range of other activities that make use of the international financial system.

Combating terror finance shouldn't hamper charity

India is hardly known for its scientific innovations but new initiatives providing space and support for start-ups promised to change this.

Sreelatha Menon: Pink slips & innovators

The next down move will come about as India goes into campaign mode.

Prepare for election uncertainty

Expectation of an increase in revenues on the back of a weak rupee boosts prices of IT stocks.

Rupee gift for IT stocks

Gold futures rose for the second straight day on demand for the precious metal as an alternative to stocks and government bonds. Silver also gained. US unemployment in February surged to 8.1 percent, the highest in 25 years. Global equities headed for the fourth straight weekly decline. US Treasuries are down 2.5 percent this year through yesterday.

Demand for a safe haven

One of the fundamental features of a good investment destination is the rule of law. The rule of law entails effective dispute resolution and well-functioning courts, where contracts written by parties can be enforced effectively and within a meaningful timeframe.

Deficiencies in legal system will hamper India

A landmark Canadian federal court case has renewed debate on application of anti-tax avoidance provisions in the Indian context. The Lipson decision relates to circumstances that could lead to Revenue invoking General anti avoidance rules (popularly referred to as GAAR in international tax parlance) by the Revenue and the Prevost case relates to availability of Double Tax Treaty benefit to residents of state, who are beneficiaries and the literal interpretation of the term.

'Renewed debate on anti-tax avoidance'

In the tax treaties signed by India with other countries, the term &ldquo;tax&rdquo; is generally defined to mean the income tax, including any surcharge thereon. Certain tax treaties also cover in the definition of tax, any identical or substantially similar taxes.

Clarify 'Tax' in tax treaties

In politics, it has been said, a week is a long time. There should, therefore, be little surprise over the rapid pace at which the broad contours of pre-poll alliances have changed since the announcement last Monday of the schedule for the 15th general elections. Each of the changes in alliance partnerships has thrown up fresh possibilities and has added to the question marks over who will form the next government at the Centre.

Shifting alliances

The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has issued a controversial circular (no.11/2009-Cus. dated 25.02.2009)&nbsp; regarding the Duty Free Import Authorisation (DFIA) scheme that will lead to unnecessary litigations with exporters and also increase their financial burden.

CBEC circular on DFIA could up exporters financial burden

The Supreme Court last week dismissed the appeal of DCM Ltd and upheld the judgment of the Delhi high court in a case raising the question whether the delivery of chemicals to stockists and distributors made in Delhi was local or inter-state deal. The distributors/stockists of DCM had assigned territories outside Delhi. DCM maintained that they were local sales.

SC dismisses DCM&#39;s appeal on inter-state sales

The unemployment data for the US continues to provide unpleasant surprises. Although it is generally anticipated that things will get worse before they get better, the numbers are quite disconcerting. Over 600,000 jobs have been lost each month for three consecutive months, with the unemployment rate climbing to 8.1 per cent in February, a rate that the government had anticipated would be the average for the entire year.

No job, no spending

The deepening recession in the developed economies is rapidly worsening the prospects of India&rsquo;s export-oriented IT and services industry. Clients of Indian vendors are asking for and getting price cuts ranging between 5 and 20 per cent in their time and material contracts, and there is pressure on vendors to pass on some of the productivity gains they have made in recent years, indicating that even a fixed price is no longer fixed.

IT&#39;s long dark night

What opportunities does participating in the G-20 offer India.

Suman Bery: Toward a robust globalisation

Not many of the participants at the recently organised National Conference on Gender Issues were able to initially grasp just what Madhur Bajaj was trying to communicate. The vice-chairman of Bajaj Auto said he has two daughters and he is proud of them. His problem is how to pass on his wealth to his daughters since his wealth is locked up in equity shares which help him control his companies.

Vandana Gombar: All not in the family

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