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Corporate Economy Expressions Markets Leisure 05 January 1998   CII suggests 10 per cent duty on capital-goods imports by refiners The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has recommended a 10% duty on equipment imports by refineries which presently enjoy zero import duty status. The CII also added that this levy can go hand in hand with the existing 10% countervailing duty on these items.   Annual inflation rate shoots up to 4.5 per cent Annual inflation based on wholesale prices shot up to 4.47% for the week ended December 20 as primary food articles and manufactured food products became dearer. The inflation went up by 0.53 percentage points during the week to end at 4.47% (provisional) compared to 3.94% in the previous week. Chelliah flays Centre policies Well known economist Dr Raja J Chelliah has accused the Union government of acting as the biggest impediment for economic growth. Chelliah said the Centre had put the state budgets in a dissaray with the states trying to pass on the burden to the Centre and vice versa. NBFCs may get more time to comply with guidelines The Reserve Bank of India is likely to extend the deadline for regularisation of excess public deposits by non-banking finance companies. The notification issued on Friday clearly states that the central bank may extend the deadline of December 31, 1998, if it thinks it necessary.   Suharto faces budget balancing act Indonesia's ageing president Suharto faces a tough balancing act over some key political and financial challenges in presenting the 1998-99 budget this week to a country in economic turmoil. The focus is very much on the 76-year-old president, who is expected to go for a seventh five-year term in office in a presidential poll in March. Thapars, Singhanias return to Ficci fold The Thapars and Singhanias, who led a massive walkout of members from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) in the late eighties, appear to have sorted out their differences and returned to it. The two Delhi-based business houses have enrolled one group company each as associate members of Ficci.     Maharashtra govt. plans to set up auto park at Talegaon   "Sonia Gandhi's decision will give Congress edge over rivals"   Bahujan Samaj Party not to field upper caste candidates   Thapars, Singhanias return to Ficci fold   Annual inflation rate shoots up to 4.5 per cent   CII suggests 10 per cent duty on capital-goods imports by refiners   Economic promise lures world leaders to Delhi   Suharto faces budget balancing act   Success fee is payable by Indian companies to NRI consultants   Opportunities galore for bargain hunters in 1998   NBFCs may get more time to comply with guidelines   Financial Briefing   Chelliah flays Centre policies   Strong primary credit system may prop Centre's funding bodies   Poultry body chief allays fears on spread of Avian flu   Labs should be accountable, says Hoffman   New technology blocks will change construction industry face   China resents anti-dumping measures