Packaged tea market drops 8.3% in Dec'98
The domestic packaged tea industry has shrunk 8.3% during July-December 1998 following imposition of 8% excise duty during last budget.

NSCCL to kick off stock lending operations today
National Securities Clearing Corporation (NSCCL) will kick off its stock lending operations on NSE screens on Wednesday. This in effect would be the beginning of the first real stock lending operation in the country after Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) cleared introduction of the mechanism about two years ago.

Long-drawn share issue process irks Pond's investors
The process of issuing Hindustan Levers shares to Pond's India Ltd shareholders is being criticised as too long by sections of Pond's investors, the main grouse being that this will imply an enforced illiquid period of around 3 months.

  Shares on the move
  Russia could channel frozen bond money to stock market
  Antimony prices to go up as China tightens supply
  Market is still not out of the woods
  Slump in metal prices ravages Australian mining company
  Indian Hotels set for a rally
  Reliance hikes yarn price again; silver further down
  Chinaoil head may not see Japan envoy on Daqing
  VSNL global depository pricing may be hit by arbitrage, MTNL
  Market Round-Up