Bajaj Tempo posts Rs 15 crore loss
There has been a 18.36 per cent shortfall in Bajaj Tempo's business plan for year 1999-2000. Against an estimated turnover of Rs 850 crore, the company achieved a turnover of Rs 693.9 crore. Bajaj Tempo posted a loss of Rs 14.93 crore during 1999-2000, which is a 50 per cent reduction in losses compared to previous year's loss of Rs 28.21 crore. The company attributed the 1999-2000 losses to high depreciation resulting from heaving investment in plant upgradation and product renewal.

Badla rates average 14% on BSE
Carryforward rates on Saturday's badla session on BSE averaged 14 per cent with some trades done at 16 per cent, market sources said. Outstanding positions are now around Rs 2600 crore and have shown a rising trend for the last couple of weeks. Backwardation charges were reported in a couple of counters like HDFC and EIH Ltd. Sellers appeared to be badly trapped in EIH, where they were forced to pay backwardation as high as Rs 35, according to sources.

Minister's request to IRDA
Union Minister of state in charge of insurance & banking Balasaheb Vikhe Patil has urged the Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority (IRDA) to be vigilant to ensure that private sector insurance companies provide enough social security to the underprivileged and rural sector of the economy.IA section bags RAB accreditation
The cargo marketing and handling activities of the Indian Airlines has received the Quality Accreditation for ISO 9002 from the Registrar of Accreditation Board of US. The airline's Quality Certification programme has been assessed and approved by the Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance Limited, the world's leading certificaion body which assesses quality management systems to the International Standard ISO 9000.

Consolidated Coffee renamed
Tata group company, Consolidated Coffee Ltd, has changed its name to Tata Coffee Ltd. The company has prominent brandslike Tata Cafe, Tata Kaapi, Tata Coorg Pure and Tata Coorg Double Roast under it, Tata Coffee Ltd said in a statement.

MPC request to Karnataka
Representatives of Mangalore Power Corporation and its Indian partner, Tata Electric Company, which have been pursuing the 1,000 MW project proposed at Nandikur near Mangalore, today requested Karnataka to consider giving some kind of guarantee in place of Escrow Cover. MPC managing director VP Sharma said after meeting Karnataka chief minister SM Krishna that the Centre had sent in some proposals on providing counter-guarantee and an alternative cover in place of Escrow to the project.

SAIL JV with Bansal Mechanical
Steel Authority of India on Saturday signed a joint venture agreement with Calcuta-based Bansal Mechanical Works to set up a steel service centre at Bokaro in Bihar. SAIL would have a minority shareholding of 40 per cent in the proposed JV - SAIL Bansal Service Centre Ltd.

Bajaj Auto motorcycle sales up 128%
Bajaj Auto Ltd has posted a 128 per cent growth in its motorcycle sales for the month of August, 2000 as compared to last year. The company sold 40,121 units of Kawasaki Bajaj, registering a 27.2 per cent increase, in August as compared to 17,628 units in the corresponding period last year, Bal said in a release.

ICICI Home Fin hikes rates
ICICI Home Finance has revised upwards its interest rates on home loans by 50 to 75 basis points. The new rates, which came into effect since Friday, are in line with the prevailing interest rates in the economy, ICICI said.

CP Jain to be NTPC CMD
The government has appointed Mr CP Jain as the new chairman and managing director of the public sector power navaratna, the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). Mr Jain has been handling charge of director, finance, NTPC since 1992. Earlier, he had held senior positions in finance in Hindustan Copper Limited, IFFCO and KRIBHCO.

A house full of positive energy
Feng Shui practitioners believe that an invisible breath of life called `chi' runs through all things, and that by maximising this energy, we can improve our lives. This involves arranging our surroundings in harmony with Feng Shui principles so that the energy works for you and not against you.