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Corporate Economy Expressions Markets Leisure 16 February 1998   Swollen LIC funds corpus may boost market Life Insurance Corporation's (LIC) total investible fund has crossed the Rs 1,00,000-crore mark. The corpus zoomed to Rs 1,07,000 crore in April-January 1997-98, up from Rs 91,448.4 crore in March 1997. The increase in LIC's investible fund is set to give a shot in the arm of the sagging capital market.   Should NBFCs be allowed to borrow from banks? Should banks, which are presently saddled with surplus funds, be encouraged to lend to non-banking finance companies (NBFCs)? While opinion is divided over this matter, sources believe NBFCs should be allowed to borrow from banks, who are well-equipped to monitor the borrowers' business and ensure safe end use of funds. Trade trouble starts at Reserve Bank building's rear window The dramatic fall in the exports can be attributed to the propping-up of rupee by the apex bank coupled with considerable fall in the values of south-east Asian currencies. The evidence is there at the empty Bombay docks and ships sailing with no cargo and empty containers. The price for carrying a cubic metre of cargo from Bombay to Singapore has sunk to $15. Fiscal deficit set to overshoot target on back of small-savings liability The fiscal deficit of India for the year 1997-98 is likely to overshoot the budgeted estimate of Rs 65,464 crore by about Rs 6,000 crore. The Union finance ministry has projected its re-revised fiscal deficit at 4.9% of the gross domestic product (GDP).   Court asks liquidator to lease out sick unit in bid to salve workers The Mumbai high court has paved the way for the production units of a liquidated company to continue its operations uninterrupted. The judgment, seen as a precedent, will help workers keep their jobs should the company they are working for go into liquidation. Chawlas ask Catholic Syrian Bank not to return shares The four-year-old Catholic Syrian Bank Ltd's share transfer row has taken a new turn with the Thailand-based Siam Vidya Group (SVG) asking the bank not to return the shares to the NRI group. The bank has communicated the decision duly to the apex bank and the Company Law Board.     Financial Briefing   Malaysia bank merger plan suffers setback   Korean workers vow life-and-death fight for jobs   Transporters plan stir over anomalies in service tax   Cotton supply position in comfort zone   Japan to drop preferential duties on Asian goods   Steel prices set to crash further as CIS countries dump metal   3-member panel set to look into oilseeds imports   Sri Lanka estate workers return after strike   Centre's policy stretches rubber crisis   Tea industry seeks tax relief on donations   Move to get trademark for Darjeeling tea   Domestic caustic soda prices bottom out   Gulf war crisis unlikely to strengthen oil prices   Cypermethrin prices fall 36% on undercutting   Pampering gas sector at the cost of fertilisers   Country gains edge in food-grade jute bags   Tex-Styles India fair sees Rs 424 cr business deals   Uncertainty grips cotton yarn exports   Congress may gain from TDP's mistakes; no BJP wave seen   SAD-BJP has an edge in "waveless" Punjab   For Muzaffar Ali, Vajpayee will be a tough nut to crack   Nothing left to chance for Gujral victory   Undercurrent of anger against ruling HVP-BJP in Haryana   Excise staff resort to pre-appeal detention