Bangalore-based Strides Arcolab, a global pharmaceutical company, has announced that it has got tentative approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a combination drug containing Lamivudine and Stavudine, which is used in the treatment of AIDS.

In an announcement, the company said that the sanction for lamivudine and stavudine in 150-milligram/30-mg dosages in tablet form, was expedited under the provisions of the President`s Emergency Plant for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

According to a recent study by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), though there is a noticeable slump in demand for fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) in the urban markets, the rising demand in rural areas is attracting manufacturers of consumer products and automobiles, and even organised retail businesses.

The Assocham study titled ‘The Rise of Rural India’ reveals that the global financial meltdown notwithstanding, rural India is being seen as a potential for healthy revenue growth for companies, thanks to a robust demand for products of FMCG, two-wheelers, passenger cars as well as retail sectors.

After finalizing a $200 million buyout transaction with French bigwig Groupe Danone - for its equal stake in biscuit major Britannia – the Wadia group will get complete control over Britannia Industries. Danone will sell its complete 25.48 percent stake to Leila Lands, a Wadia group firm which indirectly holds a similar stake in the biscuit company.

The takeover of the biscuit joint venture company, Britannia Industries, by Wadia will bring to an end the rancorous three-year scuffle between Wadia group and Danone, as the deal will mark the complete exit of the French foods’ company.

Hyderabad based IVRCL Infrastructures & Projects has informed the market that it has bagged project orders worth Rs.359.52 crore from different agencies for construction related works.

In a disclosure to the Bombay Stock Exchange, the company has received the first order of Rs 164.64 crore from Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority. Under the project, the company will construct Vivekananda Road flyover on turnkey contract basis in Kolkata in a period of 18 months.

According to the recent IDC India survey, 66 percent of the Chief Information Officers (CIOs) of 467 mid-sized and large companies surveyed expressed the hope that the ongoing global economic crisis will come to an end by December 2009.

As per the CIOs surveyed, the key investment priorities in 2009 would include software-as-a-service; unified communications; business outsourcing and data warehousing; virtualization and open source.

Carrying forth its gains into the fifth week, the Bombay Stock Exchange's Sensex was up 186 points on Monday, and closed at 10,534, while the Nifty was up by 45 points to close at 3,256. With the Indian markets consolidating, the index traded between 10,654 and 10,411.

The figures marked the highest level of the benchmark index since 10 November, 2008; thanks to the rising sanguinity about the global economy, and metals and capital goods, and auto stocks showing robust gains.