Major World Indices with their locations: United States: S&P 100 INDEX:Standard and poor , loc-new york

NASDAQ composite:newyork Dow Jones industrial average, Dow Jones Composite Average:new york. AMERICAS:(not imp) MerVal:Argentina Bovespa:Brazil S&P TSX Composite: Toronto IPC: Mexico ASIA:

All Ordinaries: Australia Shanghai Composite:china Hang Seng: hong kong BSE 30: mumbai Jakarta Composite :indonesia KLSE Composite: kuala lumpur Nikkei 225: tokyo NZSE 50: new zealand Straits Times: singapore KOSPI: south korea Taiwan Weighted : taiwan

Europe:

ATX: Austrian Traded Index CAC 40: France DAX: Germany AEX General :Euronext amsterdam FTSE 100:imp london IGBM: Madrid S MICEX Index:moscow Athex Composite Share Price Index:Athens

Mergers and Accquistions:

Tata Chemicals buys British salt Reliance Power and Reliance Natural Resources merger Airtels acquisition of Zain in Africa Abbotts acquisition of Piramal healthcare solutions GTL Infrastructure acquisition of Aircel towers ICICI Bank buys Bank of Rajasthan JSW and Ispat Ki Kahani Reckitt Benckiser goes shopping Mahindra goes international Mahindra acquired a 70% controlling stake in troubled South Korea auto major Ssang Yong

The overseas investors came in the form of BP's $7.2 billion deal with Reliance Industries. It announced the acquisition of a 30 per cent stake in 23 Reliance oil and gas exploration blocks in February this year.

Vodafone Group Plc's purchase of a 33 per cent stake in Vodafone Essar Ltd, a deal valued at $5 billion, was soon followed by Siemens AG acquisition of a 19.82 per cent stake in Siemens Ltd for $1.35 billion.

iGateCorp's acquisition of a majority stake in Patni Computer Systems for $1.21 billion and Aditya Birla Group acquired US-based Columbian Chemicals Company for $875 million were some of the other big deals of the year.

Maharatna status

In 2009, the government established the Maharatna status, which raises a company's investment ceiling from Rs. 1,000 crore to Rs. 5,000 crore.[3] The Maharatna firms can now decide on investments of up to 15 per cent of their net worth in a project; the Navaratna companies could invest up to Rs 1,000 crore without explicit government approval. [edit] Criteria

The six criteria for eligibility as Maharatna are:

Having Navratna status. Listed on Indian stock exchange with minimum prescribed public shareholding under SEBI regulations. An average annual turnover of more than Rs. 20,000. [4]crore during the last 3 years. Earlier it was Rs 25,000 Crore. [5] An average annual net worth of more than Rs. 10,000[6] crore during the last 3 years. Earlier it was Rs. 15,000 crore. [7] An average annual net profit after tax of more than Rs. 2500 crore during the last 3 years. Earlier it was Rs. 5000 crore. [8] Should have significant global presence/international operations.[9]

List of Maharatna

Coal India Limited [10] Indian Oil Corporation Limited [11] NTPC Limited [12] Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited [13] Steel Authority of India Limited

Navratna status

Navratna was the title given originally to nine Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs), identified by the Government of India in 1997 as having comparative advantages, which allowed them greater autonomy to compete in the global market.[14] The number of PSEs having Navratna status has been raised to 16,[15] The government is likely to accord the coveted status to Engineers India Limited, which is under consideration.

List of Navratnas

Bharat Electronics Limited Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited GAIL (India) Limited Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited

National Aluminium Company Limited National Mineral Development Corporation Limited Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited Oil India Limited Power Finance Corporation Limited Power Grid Corporation of India Limited Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited Rural Electrification Corporation Limited Shipping Corporation of India Limited

Miniratna Status

In addition, the government created another category called Miniratna. Miniratnas can also enter into joint ventures, set subsidiary companies and overseas offices but with certain conditions. In 2002, there were 61 government enterprises that were awarded Miniratna status. However, at present, there are 66 government enterprises that were awarded Miniratna status. [edit] Category I

This designation applies to PSEs that have made profits continuously for the last three years or earned a net profit of Rs. 30 crore or more in one of the three years. These miniratnas granted certain autonomy like incurring capital expenditure without government approval up to Rs. 500 crore or equal to their net worth, whichever is lower.

1. Airports Authority of India 2. Antrix Corporation Limited 3. Balmer Lawrie & Co. Limited 4. Bharat Dynamics Limited 5. BEML Limited 6. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited 7. Bridge & Roof Company (India) Limited 8. Central Warehousing Corporation 9. Central Coalfields Limited 10. Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited 11. Cochin Shipyard Limited 12. Container Corporation of India Limited 13. Dredging Corporation of India Limited 14. Engineers India

Limited 15. Ennore Port Limited 16. Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited 17. Goa Shipyard Limited 18. Hindustan Copper Limited 19. HLL Lifecare Limited 20. Hindustan Newsprint Limited 21. Hindustan Paper Corporation Limited 22. Housing and Urban Development Corporation 23. India Tourism Development Corporation 24. Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation 25. IRCON International Limited 26. Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited. 27. Mazagaon Dock Limited 28. Mahanadi Coalfields Limited 29. Manganese Ore (India) Limited 30. Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited 31. Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited 32. Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation of India 33. MSTC Limited 34. National Fertilizers Limited 35. National Seeds Corporation Limited 36. NHPC Limited 37. Northern Coalfields Limited 38. Numaligarh Refinery Limited 39. ONGC Videsh Limited 40. Pawan Hans Helicopters 41. Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Limited 42. RITES Limited 43. Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam 44. Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited 45. South Eastern Coalfields Limited 46. State Trading Corporation of India Limited 47. Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited 48. Telecommunications Consultants (India) Limited 49. Western Coalfields Limited 50. Water & Power Consultancy (India) Limited [edit] Category II

This category include those PSEs which have made profits for the last three years continuously and should have a positive net worth. Category II miniratnas have autonomy to incurring the capital expenditure without government approval up to Rs. 250 crore or up to 50% of their net worth whichever is lower.

51. Bharat Pumps & Compressors Limited 52. Broadcast Engineering Consultants (I) Limited 53. Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited 54. Ed.CIL (India) Limited 5. Engineering Projects (India) Limited 56. FCI Aravali Gypsum & Minerals India Limited 57. Ferro Scrap Nigam Limited 58. HMT (International) Limited 59. HSCC (India) Limited

60. India Trade Promotion Organisation 61. Indian Medicines & Pharmaceuticals Corporation Limited 62. M E C O N Limited 63. National Film Development Corporation Limited 64. National Small Industries Corporation Limited 65. P E C Limited 66. Rajasthan Electronics & Instruments Limited

SEZs in India

Introduction India was one of the first in Asia to recognize the effectiveness of the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) model in promoting exports, with Asia's first EPZ set up in Kandla in 1965. In order to overcome the shortcomings experienced on account of the multiplicity of controls and clearances; absence of world-class infrastructure, and an unstable fiscal regime and with a view to attract larger foreign investments in India, the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Policy was announced in April 2000.

The SEZ Act, 2005, was an important bill to be passed by the Government of India in order to instill confidence in investors and signal the Government's commitment to a stable SEZ policy regime and with a view to impart stability to the SEZ regime thereby generating greater economic activity and employment through their establishment, a comprehensive draft SEZ Bill prepared after extensive discussions with the stakeholders. A number of meetings were held in various parts of the country both by the Minister for Commerce and Industry as well as senior officials for this purpose. The Special Economic Zones Act, 2005, was passed by Parliament in May, 2005 which received Presidential assent on the 23rd of June, 2005. The draft SEZ Rules were widely discussed and put on the website of the Department of Commerce offering suggestions/comments. Around 800 suggestions were received on the draft rules. After extensive consultations, the SEZ Act, 2005, supported by SEZ Rules, came into effect on 10 February 2006, providing for drastic simplification of procedures and for single window clearance on matters relating to central as well as state governments.

The objectives of SEZs can be clearly explained as the following: (a) generation of additional economic activity (b) promotion of exports of goods and services; (c) promotion of investment from domestic and foreign sources; (d) creation of employment opportunities; (e) development of infrastructure facilities.

The major incentives and facilities available to SEZ developers include:-

Exemption from customs/excise duties for development of SEZs for authorized operations approved by the BOA. Income Tax exemption on income derived from the business of development of the SEZ in a block of 10 years in 15 years under Section 80IAB of the Income Tax Act. Exemption from minimum alternate tax under Section 115 JB of the Income Tax Act. Exemption from dividend distribution tax under Section 115O of the Income Tax Act. Exemption from Central Sales Tax (CST). Exemption from Service Tax (Section 7, 26 and Second Schedule of the SEZ Act). List of Special Economic Zones in India

Currently there are 114 SEZs (as of October 2010) operating throughout India in the following states[8]: Karnataka - 18; Kerala - 6; Chandigarh - 1; Gujarat 8; Haryana - 3; Maharashtra - 14; Rajasthan - 1; Tamil Nadu - 20; Uttar Pradesh - 4; West Bengal - 2: Orissa - 1.

Additionally, more than 500 SEZs are formally approved (as on October 2010) by the Government of India in the following states[9]: Andhra Pradesh - 109; Chandigarh - 2; Chattisgarh - 2; Dadra and Nagar Haveli - 4; Delhi - 3; Goa 7; Gujarat - 45; Haryana - 45; Jharkhand - 1; Karnataka - 56; Kerala - 28; Madhya Pradesh - 14; Maharashtra - 105; Nagaland - 1; Orissa - 11; Pondicherry - 1; Punjab - 8; Rajasthan - 8; Tamil Nadu - 70; Uttarkhand - 3; Uttar Pradesh - 33; West Bengal - 22. [10]