Litigation services do not come under the purview of ‘legal consultancy services’

Here are some queries on taxation and foreign trade regulations, addressed by Ernst & Young. Readers may mail their queries to fesmes@gmail.com

You need to execute to justify valuations

How much will my stocks be worth in five years?” was the question the senior corporate executive asked the CEO of a start-up. “I don’t think my stocks are worth anything now, so I want a big salary raise considering the fact that I’ll be spending...

Move over GPS, here’s smartphone

The smartphone is already the Swiss Army knife of the digital age—a quick flick of the finger can transform it into a camcorder, Web browser, gaming device or music player. For many consumers, the Apple iPhone and its competitors are versatile enough that they can get by without separate cameras and laptops.

Pushing past paper

The need to lower costs and improve business processes is driving insurance organisations to demand more from their technology investments. Earlier, companies spent billions on technology without ever considering the implementation implications.

Virtualisation grabs the baton

Virtualisation started out decades ago as a way to make better use of large, expensive, mainframe computers. While the IT landscape has changed dramatically since then, virtualisation continues to be adopted by businesses looking to optimise the use of their existing server resources and, in turn, lower IT costs.

Budget for low-carbon economy

The Budget of any government makes a powerful statement of its priorities and signals the political will for reform. World over, fiscal policy is addressing itself to environmental concerns through the introduction of eco-taxes.

Wind takes root in the Chinese desert

As the US takes its first steps toward mandating that power companies generate more electricity from renewable sources, China already has a similar requirement and is investing billions to remake itself into a green energy superpower.

A guide to get the most out of green stimulus packages

There is need for an integrated response to the current economic and environmental crises, says a recently released report. It calls for greening of national economies, creating green jobs, and hiking public spending on R&D for energy-efficiency and clean energy.

Taking the Internet for granted

Ask Internet users what they want from their service and 99 times out of 100, the answer will be the same: ‘more’—more speed, more bandwidth and more flexibility of use.

Video game firms see a gold mine

The iPhone has sent rivals scrambling, first to duplicate its glassy touch screen, then its successful mobile application storefront.

Seamless enterprise mobility

Workplaces today are undergoing a historic shift. Time zones and locations have increasingly become irrelevant as executives spend days outside office—meeting customers, visiting sites or for making a sales pitch.

Extend capacities, not subsidies

Stop-gap measures such as subsidies and exchange rate management to enhance the marketability of exports, without addressing core issues of efficiency and competitiveness cannot be used repeatedly—medicine that suppresses the symptoms of the disease, without targeting its root cause can ruin the health of the system in the long run.

Think of India as a transit hub

The aviation industry is going through turbulent times due to the global economic slowdown. Faced with high operating costs, low passenger traffic and mounting losses, airlines in India are struggling to keep their heads above water.

Perennial constraints, usual suspects

In the midst of the current economic downturn, infrastructure is increasingly being projected as the future driver of growth and employment in the country. However, a lot needs to be done for this to turn into a reality.

Modern food system is too oil-intensive to maintain

Today we are an oil-based civilisation, one that is totally dependent on a resource whose production will soon be falling. Since 1981, the quantity of oil extracted has exceeded new discoveries by an ever-widening margin.

Analyse and adopt best global practices in India

Globally, including in developed economies of Europe and US, renewable energy has thrived on the back of policy stimulus. In India too we need a comprehensive and overarching renewable energy policy framework and corresponding legislative provisions need to be evolved in line with it.

Alternative energy needs a renewed push

India generates 13,878.58 MW grid-interactive power from renewable sources like from wind, small hydro, solar, biogas co-generation and biomass. It amounts to 9% of the total installed generation capacity.

‘The resilience of MSMEs, their record of debt servicing are exemplary’

The current economy slow down has hit the medium, small and micro enterprises sector most. Various authorities have taken a number of measures to support the productivity of micro, small and medium enterprises RM Malla, chairman & managing director.

Surging US savings reduces dependence on China

Saks Fifth Avenue is cutting orders 20% after posting losses in the last four quarters. Kia Harris said that some customers at the Washington shoe store where she worked were buying one pair rather than three.

‘We are not disinclined to take the M&A route’

With a premium income amounting to 17.7 billion euros in 2008, the ERGO Group is one of the major insurance groups in Europe. Worldwide, ERGO, which expanded its size by steady acquisitions of other companies is represented in more than 30 countries, majorly in Europe.

It’s time to discover your blind spots

The CEO was a highly-qualified and experienced person. He had returned to India over three years ago to start a company with his own funds. For family reasons, he had set up his company in a town about 100 miles from Bangalore.

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