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Corporate Economy Expressions Markets Leisure 18 January 1998   Reserve Bank lifts ban on fresh FII purchases in SBI, HDFC shares The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) yesterday removed the ban on fresh foreign institutional investors (FII) purchases in the shares of State Bank of India (SBI) and Housing Development and Finance Company (HDFC). With the lifting of the ban on FII purchase, foreign funds get a chance to buy SBI shares from the market.   Ministry mulls floating separate firms for ten major airports The Union civil aviation ministry is considering a proposal to float separate companies for the 10 big airports in the country. The airports to be transferred to separate companies include those at New Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Guwahati and Panaji. BJP economic agenda to introduce more teeth and accountability for Sebi The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s economic agenda will seek to introduce accountability for bodies like the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), even as it approves strengthening of the market regulator. It is keen that economic offenses are made cognisable so that innovative finance schemes donot dupe investors. Experts caution centre against banning "Voice over Internet" Information Technology (IT) experts cautioned the government over its decision to ban Voice Over Internet pointing out that there was a paradigm shift in the Internet itself with it becoming a new media. Already there are six companies that are marketing software for phone calls over the Net.   Clinton urges passage of tobacco bill The president of United States, Bill Clinton urged Congress to pass comprehensive, bipartis anti-tobacco legislation in 1998 and promised that his balanced budget proposal would make specific recommendations on how much the tobacco industry should pay and how those funds could best be used to protect the public health and children. Pakistan lauds govt's stand in MUL-Suzuki row The chaiman of Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM), Feroz Khan has lauded the Indian government's stance in the recent Maruti-Suzuki controversy and said that a similar line should have been toed by the Pakistani Government.     Civil aviation ministry seeks more time   Protectionist policy for insurance flayed   Banks in Kerala all set to hike prime lending rate   IMF chief ends tour of Asia with China stop-over