AREVA T&D India Limited, the In

Bharti Airtel, Asia's leading integrated telecom services provider on Friday said that it has hiked its stake in Bharti Hexacom to 70 per cent by acquiring 1.1 per cent from a Kuwait-based firm.

Under the deal, Bharti Airtel Ltd has acquired 1.11 per cent stake, or 2,780,306 equity shares, in Bharti Hexacom Ltd from Mobile Telecommunications Co, KSC, Kuwait.

With this latest acquisition, the company's shareholding in Bharti Hexacom stands higher at 70 per cent from 68.89 per cent.

Cinemax India, owners of multiplex properties, informed today that two of its promoters have pledged 41 per cent stake for an undisclosed amount.

According to official release, two of its promoters have pledged 1,14,80,000 shares representing 41 per cent stake.

Mr Rasesh Kanakia has pledged 53,17,000 shares representing 19 per cent, while Mr Himanshu B Kanakia has pledged 61,63,000 shares, or 22 per cent stake, the release added.

Public sector major National Aluminium Co Ltd seeks 15 per cent import duty on Aluminum coming from China in order to save the interest of domestic industry, facing tough situation under the impact of global slowdown and recession like conditions across the world. Government has also expressed concerns over increase in aluminium import in recent times from China.

NALCO's chairman, C. R. Pradhan, said, "They may fix it at 10 percent, 15 percent or they may fix it higher. A 10-15 percent duty at present scenario will protect the prices
(from falling)."

Chandigarh, Feb. 20: While several major companies across the world are today blaming the global financial slowdown for their all ills, the same reason has proved to be a boon for many small-scale units in Punjab.

Making best in the ''worst'' times, small-scale units in Punjab are not only surviving but they are doing impressively well, as many clients are approaching smaller firms to get products at lower prices.

Even as bigger units cut down production and costs, orders are being re-routed to the small-scale sector.

Over 1,200 small-scale units in Mohali alone, are mostly engineering goods and automobile manufacturing units that have grabbed low volume orders that have come their way.

India witnessed 84 per cent increase in gold demand for the fourth quarter of 2008, proving it as a safest heaven for investment after the plunge of share market and low interest rate regime following global financial crisis.

Gold demand surged to 147.2 tonnes in the fourth quarter in 2008 from 80 tonnes a year earlier, as per data collected by Gold Fields Mineral Services, an independent consultancy, for the World Gold Council (WGC).