Equity assets in B-15 cities almost doubled from March 2013 to December 2014, while the MF industry also saw an increase of 27 lakh folios from semi-urban and rural areas.

Investor awareness programmes, coupled with adoption of districts and steps to re-energise the MF industry by Sebi, have resulted in higher participation from beyond the top-15 (B-15) cities.

IFCI, an Indian state-run lender, might sign an agreement to sell part of its 5.5 per cent stake in the nation's biggest stock exchange in three days.

IFCI is in advanced talks with a foreign private equity fund to sell 1.1 per cent stake in the National Stock Exchange. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is helping the Delhi-based company with the sale, Chief Executive Officer Malay Mukherjee said, without disclosing details.

Tata Consultancy Services, the country’s largest provider of information technology, has been recognised as the fastest-growing brand globally in this sector over five years. The study is by London-based Brand Finance, a brand valuation entity.

In 2010-2015, TCS increased its brand value from $2.3 billion to $8.7 billion, while retaining the highest brand strength rating of AA+. It was also recognised as one of top-four global brands in IT services for a fourth year in row.

The Union government on Thursday cracked down on illegal information leaks from the petroleum and natural gas ministry. Delhi Police detained two employees of the ministry and three other persons for allegedly leaking confidential information. One of them is an employee of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), the country's largest private sector oil company.

A clerical staff and a peon in the ministry were apprehended by the police. "We have been looking into this case for a long time. One of the persons is a driver and the other is a former multi-tasking staff. They were leaking official documents to certain unofficial persons for money," Delhi Police chief B S Bassi told journalists.

MUMBAI: Continuing its rising streak for the seventh straight session, the BSE Sensex rose 114 points and the NSE Nifty regained the 8,900-level in early trade today as participants indulged in enlarging positions ahead of Budget.

The 30-share barometer spurted by 114.65 points, or 0.39 per cent, to trade at 29,434.91 with consumer durables, realty, auto, oil and gas and banking sector stocks, leading the rise.

Tata Motors is planning to launch new variants of its small commercial vehicle (SCV) Ace Zip incorporating more features aimed at providing additional power and load as also covering new application areas.

The company is undertaking some technological upgrades such as hub reduction, higher ground clearance as also new fuel options like CNG. It is also planning an electric version of its micro truck Tata Ace Zip, launched in May 2011. The company celebrated 100,000th roll-out of the small truck last week at its Dharwad plant.

In an effort to move closer to customers and to empower them, the State Bank of India, India’s largest bank, launched a massive, customer friendly initiative, Tech Learning Centres (TLCs) across the country.

“TLC is a unique initiative to empower its customers through technology and awareness,” said Anshula Kant, Deputy Managing Director, SBI.

Aditya Birla group firm Hindalco Industries has won the Gare Palma IV/5 mine in Chhattisgarh by outbidding companies like BALCO, Sesa Sterlite, Ambuja Cements, which were also vying for the same block.

Gare Palma IV/5 mine was won by Hindaco Industries at Rs 3,502 per tonne. The mine was put on offer yesterday and the bidding for the block lasted for over 12 hours, a senior Coal Ministry official said.

There is much that has gone wrong in recent weeks for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), lead partner of the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre. It isn’t only the massive defeat in Delhi or the coming protests against its land acquisition ordinance, as it braces for a potentially tough Budget session of Parliament.

The BJP’s decades-old allies in the NDA, the Shiv Sena and Shiromani Akali Dal, are upset at not being consulted on key issues. The BJP finds itself in a tangle in Bihar with breakaway Janata Dal (United) Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is considering keeping the stock markets open on Budget day. The Budget is set to be presented on February 28, Saturday, a market holiday.

Sebi will await a final cue from the finance ministry and an announcement is likely to be closer to the Budget day, said a person familiar with the developments.

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