For Tata's small car Nano, loan can be availed at an interest rate of 14 to 14.75 per cent from the State Bank of India (SBI), India's largest bank, as per some unofficial reports.

The bank would cover 70 per cent of the price of the car for five year tenure. Recently, general managers of all branches of SBI discussed the finance matters with company's officials in a bid to provide car finance in easy and hassle free manner, targeting common man in the rural segment of country.

Low demand from corporate and household sector led to decline in PC sales in the third quarter of current financial year.

The Manufacturers' Association of Information Technology (MAIT), in its quarterly industrial performance review, shows 19 per cent decline in computers and notebooks sales under the impact of global slowdown and appreciation of dollar as compared to other currencies.

Lucknow, Mar 17 : In an attempt to make light of the controversy surrounding the seat-sharing issue between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress party in Uttar Pradesh, SP chief Mulayam Singh said on Tuesday that he is willing to talk to the Congress to maintain an alliance with them.

Talking to the reporters here, Yadav said, "I am ready for the talks (on seat-sharing) if Congress wants. Sonia Gandhi should take a decision in the interest of her party."

Khaira (Bihar), Mar 17 : Armed Maoists attacked Khaira village in Bihar''s Lakhisarai District and killed three persons on Monday night to avenge the murder of one of their men last week.

"They targeted three houses and were on a look out for people who had helped the administration ,"Anoop Yadav, a relative of the victim, said.

The attackers have taken a group of women from the village hostage, threatening to kill them if their enemies are not brought to them.

New Delhi, Mar 17 : The investiture ceremony for conferring the Kirti Chakra on train driver N. N. Bora posthumously will be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on March 19.

Bora, a train driver of the Lumding division in Northeast Frontier Railway, was awarded the second most important gallantry award posthumously for saving the lives of 34 railway men on board a special train, which after leaving Mupa station in Lumding - Badarpur MG hill section of Northeast Frontier Railway was under heavy fire by militants.

New Delhi, Mar. 17 : Japanese companies should look at more trade opportunities in India and its tertiary industries as India has opened up sectors like finance, retail and applied research industries , said Dr. Masanori Kondo, Senior Associate Professor of Economics, International Christian University, Tokyo. He was addressing a seminar on “Japanese Business in India: Strengthening Ties”; organised here today by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

As Japan is seen making gains only in capital intensive markets in India , this is an opportune time for Japanese companies to improve their business image in India, he said .