New Delhi [India], Apr 7 : The Central Board of Direct Taxes on Friday signified the concerted and coordinated actions of Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) under the Department of Revenue who have achieved phenomenal success in fighting the menace of black money during the last three years.

New Delhi [India], Apr.7 : Surging ahead in its endeavor towards creating sustainable ecosystem, India's largest multinational flexible packaging materials and solution company Uflex Limited has extended its existing partnership with Fiinovation (a global CSR consulting company) for natural resource conservation and optimization initiatives in Bhind District of Madhya Pradesh.

New Delhi [India], Apr 6 : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday kept its repo rate unchanged at 6.25 percent, but made changes in the reverse repo rate at 6 percent after all the six members of the monetary policy committee (MPC), headed by Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel, voted in favour of the decision.

"For 2017-18, inflation is projected to average 4.5 percent in the first half of the year and 5 percent in the second half," said Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Urjit Patel.

He said that the MPC believes that the inflation developments have to be closely and continuously monitored, with food price pressures kept in check so that inflation expectations can be re-anchored.

Patel further added that there is scope for transmission of rates.

New Delhi [India], Apr 6 : India's largest online marketplace Snapdeal on Thursday announced a partnership with University of California, Berkeley for the Andhra Pradesh government's Smart Village Project.

With the objective of discovering economical and infrastructural barriers faced by artisans in these villages, UC Berkeley and Snapdeal are aiming to create viable solutions through digitization and new-age services.

Under the partnership, Snapdeal will provide local handloom weavers, direct market access to buyers across the country, through its platform.

Products crafted by these artisans and associations will be curated and listed on a special page on Snapdeal. The company has currently on-boarded the handloom association of Meri Podu village as a seller.

New Delhi [India], Apr 6 : Google India has announced the launch of Google Play Music subscription in India, offering music lovers a fresh take on streaming that is smarter, easier and uses little data.

Google Play Music is available across Android, iOS and the web in India. Sign up now and get a free trial on Android, iOS or the web.

As an introductory offer, it is available for a discounted subscription offer of Rs. 89 per month if you sign up within the first 45 days.

New Delhi [India], Apr.6 : Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Urjit Patel, along with the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), will announce their first bi-monthly monetary policy of the current financial year today.

In its last policy review of the previous fiscal in February, the RBI kept its key policy rate or the repo rate unchanged at 6.25 percent for the second time in a row with marginal standing facility rate, reverse repo rate and the bank rate unchanged.

In October, Urjit Patel's first policy review as the RBI Governor, which was also the maiden review of the MPC, the repo rate was reduced by 0.25 percent to 6.25 percent.

Since then, the repo rate has been retained at 6.25 percent. However, since January 2015 the RBI has cut repo by 1.75 percent.

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], Apr. 6 : Madhabi Puri Buch took charge as Whole Time Member of Securities and Exchange Board of India ( SEBI) in Mumbai on Wednesday for a tenure of three years or until further orders.

Buch will handle the Market Regulation Department, Market Intermediaries Regulation and Supervision Department, Integrated Surveillance Department, Department of Economic and Policy Analysis, Office of Investor Assistance and Education, National Institute of Securities Markets and Information Technology Department.

Prior to joining, Buch served as the Consultant to the New Development Bank in Shanghai and as the Head of the Singapore office of the Private Equity Firm, Greater Pacific Capital.

Cotton on MCX settled down -1.13% at 20960 on profit booking after prices gained on reports of higher local consumption and export demand amid lower output in southern Indian region. Domestic consumption of the fibre is expected to climb to 29.5 million bales compared to 29 million bales in the previous year, Cotton Association of India (CAI) said. China is expected to increase import of premium quality fibre from India for blending as quality of auctioned cotton is poor. China is expected to increase import of premium quality fibre from India for blending as quality of auctioned cotton is poor.

Rmseed on NCDEX settled up 0.73% at 3982 on speculation of crop damages in domestic market. India is expected to produce around 6.5-7 million tonnes (mt) of rape mustard seeds in 2016-17 as compared to 5.8 mt produced in 2015-16 due to higher acreage and improving productivity. The carry-forward stock from the previous season was around 0.15 mt. The Ministry of Agriculture expects 8.5 mt of mustard seeds to be produced in the current rabi season against 6.8 mt a year ago, as per its 4th advanced estimates. Higher price levels seen before sowing, favourable weather and a hike of over 10.4 per cent in MSP to Rs. 3,700/Q (including Rs. 100 bonus) explain the increase in acreage by over 9 per cent to 7.05 million hectares.

Turmeric prices ended with gains on rising exports demand at the spot market. Turmeric output is seen higher at 7 million bags thanks to higher sowing and favorable weather conditions. Prevailing high prices encouraged farmers to plant more turmeric this year. Expectations of increasing production in coming harvesting season and lowering export demand in recent months are putting pressure on turmeric prices at higher levels. Turmeric acreage in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh was higher this year as compared last year. The turmeric arrivals in the country is on higher side during second half of March to 79,534 tonnes compared to 63,965 tonnes during last month same period, as per the data.

Maize on NCDEX settled up 1.83% at 1443 tracking firmness in spot demand and overseas prices. Corn plantings were reduced by 4 percent to 90 million acres, slightly below market expectations. Corn stocks as of March 1 were a record 8.616 billion bushels, topping the 8.248 billion bushels reported in March 1987. The USDA said users burned through a record 3.770 billion bushels of corn from Dec. 1 to March 1. The USDA data showed weekly U.S. corn export sales of 716,000 tonnes for shipment during the current marketing season, below estimates for 900,000 to 1.2 million tonnes. Farmers may harvest at an estimated 14.32-million tonnes of maize in 2017‚ which represents the third-biggest maize crop on record.

Jeera prices gained backed by rising domestic and export demand at the spot market. Moreover, restricted supplies in the domestic spot market due to reports of lower production estimates in Gujarat too supported the uptrend. A recent assessment by the Federation of Indian Spices Stakeholders in Udaipur, Rajasthan, has forecast India’s cumin seed production at 5.83 million bags of 40 kg each (233,280 tonnes) this year against 4.20 million bags of 40 kg each (168,320 tonnes) last year. The latest spell of rainfall last week is estimated to have spoiled 30 per cent of the standing crop. Production estimates for 2016-17 are lower due to a decline in the jeera acreage in Gujarat.

Rmseed on NCDEX settled up 0.73% at 3982 on speculation of crop damages in domestic market. India is expected to produce around 6.5-7 million tonnes (mt) of rape mustard seeds in 2016-17 as compared to 5.8 mt produced in 2015-16 due to higher acreage and improving productivity. The carry-forward stock from the previous season was around 0.15 mt. The Ministry of Agriculture expects 8.5 mt of mustard seeds to be produced in the current rabi season against 6.8 mt a year ago, as per its 4th advanced estimates. Higher price levels seen before sowing, favourable weather and a hike of over 10.4 per cent in MSP to Rs. 3,700/Q (including Rs. 100 bonus) explain the increase in acreage by over 9 per cent to 7.05 million hectares.

CPO on MCX settled up 0.43% at 519.7 on increasing demand and speculation of lower supply from top producers. Palm oil refiners in Malaysia are boosting purchases of Indonesian crude palm oil to meet festive demand as there is tight local supply. Prices of palm oil will be up on increasing supply worries after the Malaysian Metrological Department hinted on returning of el-nino. Weather outlook report released by Malaysia Meteorological Department showed increasing odds for El-Nino toward second half of this year, with a 50-55% chance of it developing from about July-Dec. Further, prices will also be up after Malaysia palm oil exports during Mar 1-31 rose by around 7% compared to a month earlier on strong demand from European Union and India & Subcontinents.

Ref.Soya oil on NCDEX settled down -0.34% at 626.55 amid robust supply in local market along with lower tariff rates. International Grains Council in its report hiked soybean output forecast for 2016-17 by 5 million tons to 341 million tons and for 2017-18 output seen at 345 million tons. Moreover, according to market participants and traders soyoil port stock at various ports of the country totalled at 121,000 ton in the week ended on March 19 as compared to 94,000 tons a week ago, which is sufficient to meet the demand. For soyoil Indian importers, prices of oil in India are Rs 577 per 10 kilogram as compared to that cost from Argentina is Rs 570.61 per 10 kilogram.

Soyabean prices gained tracking firmness in spot demand on limited supply in local mandis. Prices also seen supported supported by lower arrivals as farmers are reluctant to sell crop below Rs 2,800 per quintal in the local mandis. The supplies have been decreased drastically this week compared to previous week. As per data, arrivals of soybean during 27-31 Mar were about 24,979 tonnes Vs 80,092 tonnes during previous week. The mills have procured large volumes of soybean earlier in the season lower levels which helps in more competitive prices of meals for record exports. The market may get support at lower levels from news of Govt to allow export of edible oils including soya oil.

Menthaoil prices dropped on fresh selling after the speculation that sowing activity had been increased in key production area of UP. The weather looked good and everything seemed fine as of now as farmers are still under stress, as they have already suffered a lot because of demonetization. As cash is the primary mode of transaction in agriculture sector which contributes 15% to India’s total output. Earlier it was estimated that total area under Mentha planting will drop by 20% to 1.75 lakh ha for this season resulting into a proportionate fall in Mentha oil production this year.

Aluminium on MCX settled down -0.36% at 125.85 on profit booking after prices gained on expectations of a tighter market , but rising prices are likely to mean producers restart capacity and fill any gap between supply and demand. China early last month ordered steel and aluminium producers in 28 cities to slash output during the winter months in a bid to curb noxious smog. Focus on falling stocks of aluminium in LME approved warehouses, which at nearly 1.9 million tonnes are down nearly 20 percent since mid-January. Cancelled warrants -- metal earmarked for delivery -- at 46 percent are also a concern for those wanting to trade on the LME. LME stocks fall 14,250 tonnes to fresh low since December 2008.

Nickel on MCX settled up 2% at 652.20 dragged up by gains in the steel sector after a cyclone in Australia damaged transport routes for coking coal. Indonesian Mining Ministry official said the ministry has issued export recommendation to allow Antam to export 2.7 million tonnes of nickel ore. There was news that 4 Indonesian nickel ore mining firms are applying for ore export quotas, and Antam got the initial clearance for Indonesian nickel ore exports. But, the export quota of 2.70 million WMT is much below its application amount of 6 million WMT, raising market doubts over 2017 nickel ore shipments from Indonesia, world’s number one nickel ore supplier before its 2014 export ore ban. The U.S.

Zinc on MCX settled up 1.8% at 178.55 tracking gains from LME Zinc prices which have bounced after touching a three-week low closed up 1 per cent at $US2,736, recovering from a low of $US2,702, the weakest since March 14, and after falling 2.2 per cent on Monday. London Metal Exchange zinc has risen 11 percent so far this year to $2,861 a tonne, having soared 60 pct last year, after prices touched seven year lows last January. Yesterday prices also seen support after the a cyclone in Australia damaged transport routes for coking coal, fuelling a jump in prices.