The USD firmed up overnight as follow-on selling found stops in the majors. Overnight news that Spain will offer its first bailout during the current financial crisis pushed EURO into stops under the 1.3200 area and below keeping the rate under pressure throughout the evening. Bids ahead of 1.3150 offered initial support but traders note more stops under the 1.3150 area are building. High prints in Asia at 1.3287 were offered by a US bank traders say. Adding weight are lower equities; markets reacting to news that the US government will not support the current plans by GM and Chrysler and may be looking for a bankruptcy.

According to the New York Times Monday reports, for the Auburn Hills, Michigan-based Chrysler to qualify for additional loans from the US government, it must strike a deal with Italian auto biggie Fiat SpA by April 30. As per the terms of the alliance, Fiat would receive a 35 per cent stake in Chrysler, but would provide no cash infusion.

In case Chrysler, the third largest automaker, fails to materialize the projected pact with Fiat by the set deadline, it would receive no more aid from the government, because the Obama administration would not consider it a viable stand-alone company.

Opening with a negative gap of 146 points at 9,902 on Monday, the Sensex nosedived more than 450 points, as traders cast off frontier banking, metals and realty space. A week back, the Sensex had leaped over 12 percent; and due to a rise in stock market rally - kicking off from the US affecting markets the world over - the Sensex rose more than 23 per cent in the past twelve trading sessions.

The lower-than-expected credit growth might just be enough reason for SBI - State Bank of India - to slash interest rates in the forthcoming new financial year.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the 53rd convocation ceremony of the Xavier's Labour Relations Institute in Jamshedpur, SBI Chairman O P Bhatt hinted at measures that India's largest lender intends taking for bringing down interest rates.

Come Tuesday and the free Skype for iPhone will actually be available for download from the iTunes App Store! While it was at the CES that Skype had announced its native VoIP client for the iPhone, it will be at CTIA annual mobile showcase in Las Vegas that Skype would launch its new service on Tuesday.

Skype has been endeavoring since long to make its service available on the most popular advanced phones, thereby expending its over 400 million users who lapped up the idea of economical, and sometimes free, calls via Skype's computer application.

British Airways authorities Sunday onwards suspended its direct services from Kolkata to London - practically applying its last year announcement - saying that the route was not making adequate profit! Coincidentally, the same day, Air India resumed its October 2008-suspended service on the Kolkata-London route, via Delhi.

With the last British Airways flight taking off at around 5 a. m. from the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, the carrier's thrice a week service, direct form Kolkata to Heathrow Airport in London, has been scrapped.