This column has often rued the lack of data and research supporting some of Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (Sebi’s) decisions. A recent case in point is its decision to increase the minimum contract size in the equity derivatives segment from Rs.2 lakh to Rs.5 lakh.

The decision was communicated through a sudden circular, with no data or research provided to justify the move. A little over three years ago, Sebi had, in similar fashion, changed the criteria for selecting stocks that can be part of the derivatives segment. As a result, 51 stocks were excluded from the list.

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd is planning to advance the introduction of its new-generation Swift Dzire sedan by almost a year as it seeks to protect its turf in the face of competition, said two people familiar with the company’s plans.

The company is also planning to launch a Dzire Tour model, aimed at taxi operators, with a petrol engine. Maruti currently has only the diesel version of the Dzire Tour running in the cab market. The petrol model can be retrofitted with a CNG kit to meet the new norms in Delhi.

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) chairman Mukesh Ambani on Sunday announced the company’s re-entry into the telecom business by unveiling a fourth generation (4G) service for its employees.

Ambani didn’t disclose when commercial operations will begin.

Government on Saturday said coal output by state-owned CIL crossed 9 per cent over last year’s production adding that there is “still a very long way to go” amid the PSU eyeing one billion tonnes production target.

“Coal production by Coal India crosses 9 per cent over last year’s record production. Well done. Keep it going. Still a very long way to go,” Coal Secretary Anil Swarup said in a tweet.

The earnings and orders miss in 1HFY16 might suggest that nothing is going right for L&T; however, we believe that after a weak FY16F, L&T is well placed for an earnings recovery and improving RoE on the back of:

Management’s decision to change the company’s focus to asset light businesses and unlocking value from its subsidiaries/JVs over the past two years and going forward (real-estate, Dhamra & Kattupalli ports, L&T Finance, L&T Infotech).

Oil prices fell on Monday after the long Christmas weekend, with US crudes defending a newly gained premium over internationally traded Brent contracts in quiet trading ahead of the end of the year.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures were trading at $37.87 per barrel at 0311 GMT, down 23 cents from their last settlement.

After three years, sale of branded petrol and diesel is getting back to normalcy for the three government-owned oil marketing companies - Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPC) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPC).

The government OMCs say the price differential between branded and non-branded fuel has come down, though the sales in branded petrol are better than for branded diesel. Branded fuels are regular fuels with additives supposed to enhance a vehicle's performance.

Markets have gained strength in the morning trades well supported by the buying in index heavyweights such as Reliance Industries, Tata Motors, and Infosys.

At 10:30 AM, 30 share Sensex was at 25,967 levels, up by 130 points while the Nifty50 was at 7,899 levels, up by 38 points.

Hindustan Unilever (HUL) and ITC, two of the biggest consumer goods companies in India, are set to square off in health care, a category that is rapidly gaining traction. Kolkata-based ITC, which acquired antiseptic liquid brand Savlon from Johnson & Johnson last year, is now launching what is possibly its biggest offensive against its Mumbai-based rival HUL.

Savlon Double Strength soap, launched in select geographies recently, will slowly but steadily be extended across markets, say officials in the know. Additionally, ITC will use its cigarette distribution network to push both Savlon soap and antiseptic liquid into rural areas.

NEW DELHI: Lanco Infratech Ltd today said the board will meet next week to consider the proposal for issuing compulsory convertible debentures (CCDs).

"A meeting of the board of directors of the company will be held on December 30, 2015, inter alia, to consider the proposal for issuance of Compulsory Convertible Debentures (CCDs) through preferential issue not exceeding 35 crore CCDs of Rs 10 each and seek shareholders' approval for the same," Lanco Infratech said in a regulatory filing.

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