ASIA
Prices of new homes in China rose in 49 of the 70 cities in July over the previous month’s data. The cutting of interest rates, improved sentiment and incentives for new home buyers weighed in on the data. Prices declined in nine cities and were unchanged in twelve. (Bloomberg)
INDIA
FII’s have infused a total of USD 11 b in Indian equities in 2012 on a YTD basis. USD 1 b alone came in the month of August as the government could put in a fresh round of initiatives and reforms to stimulate the slowing economy. (Economic Times)
The combined market capitalization (m-cap) of top ten co.’s rose by INR 17,658 cr for the week ended 17 August. Reliance Industries contributed the most with gains of INR 10,696 cr followed by ONGC, Coal India, Infosys while TCS, HDFC Bank, ITC and NTPC saw their m-caps decline over the week. (Economic Times)
ONGC Videsh Ltd – OVL, the overseas arm of ONGC, is planning to invest in oil fields in Russia, mostly in the Arctic Ocean with joint-ventures. The co. is to form JVs with ExxonMobil and ENI. (Business Standard)
Tata Steel – Co.’s Ferro Alloys and Mineral Division to add 1.1 lac tons of ferro chrome and silico manages production capacity by 2012 at its Odisha plants. (Financial Express)
Reliance Power – Co. refuted allegations made by India’s Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) that the firm benefitted from the auctions of the coal mines. The co. is alleged to have made benefits of INR 29,000 cr by diverting its surplus coal output for its operations in Sasan, MP, India. The co, has stated that the allegations are erroneous and the co. did not receive any undue benefits. (Economic Times)
Lanco Infratech Limited – Co.’s management plans to increase the coal out to 5.5m tons per annum but March 2014 at its Griffin coal mines located in Western Australia. The Griffin coal mines are expected to hold total reserves over 1.1b tons and co. is expected to secure various clearances by the end of the current financial year. (The Hindu Business Line)
United Bank of India – Co. expects to recover INR 400-500cr in cash in this financial year, as gears up to fasten its recovery process, according to co.’s Executive Director Deepak Narang. (Business Standard/ PTI)
EUROPE
According to a German weekly magazine report, ECB is considering setting interest rate thresholds for any purchases of struggling euro zone country’s bonds so that it would buy such bonds if their interest rates exceeded a certain premium over German bonds. In other news the weekly magazine also reported that, Greece will likely need to cut additional EUR 2.5b in spending over the next two years to meet the requirement for financial aid. Der Spiegel cites an interim report by the troika. (Economic Times/Reuters)
Spain’s Economy Minister Luis de Guindos stated that the bank bailout fund would take care of restructuring and recapitalizing the banks. The funds received from the EU will be put up for approval by the Cabinet by 24 August. The non-performing assets of the bad banks will be transferred into the FROB fund to access loans. (Bloomberg)
Germany’s Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble dismissed talks of providing a fresh round of funding to Greece even though the state of country remains in a difficult situation. The nation has received two rounds of funding worth EUR 240 b since the onset of the crisis. With GDP expected to contract at a slower pace in the next two years on the funding, Germany is aware of the additional constraints on the EU and other nations if the funding were to continue. (Bloomberg)
The U.S Justice Department have started investigating Deutsche Bank to understand its possible role in the transactions linked with Iran, Sudan and other nations currently facing international sanctions. (Reuters)
NORTH AMERICA
Rating agencies Moody’s and S&P are to face lawsuits filed by investors for falsely assigning inflated ratings to debt backed by subprime mortgages. Morgan Stanley sold the notes during the 2008 crisis incl. The Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank. (Bloomberg)
Caterpillar – Heavy equipment manufacturer stated that the uncertain outlook of the global economy was worse than the state during the 2008 crisis. Lower demand in the construction and infra sector on account of the slowdown has affected the co in terms of lower orders. (Financial Times)
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