TOP HEADLINES
• Politicians stonewalling reforms: Shourie
• FIs may up exposure to DPC by $483 mn
• OERC admits case against Cesco
• Indian oil majors set up JV consultancy firm
• CMs agree on need for co-op reforms
• US groups jittery over India's WTO stance
• 6 PSUs axe 120,000 jobs in 3 years
• Row over basmati far from over
- - More

CORPORATE HEADLINES
• Ponni Sugars appoints new Chairman
• ITDC Board OKs proposal of demerger
• Trading in 2 scrips to commence on August 27
• Aban Lloyd to seek approval for merger
• Trigyn Tech fixes book closure for AGM
• BSE imposes AVM on 8 scrips
• Dr Reddy launches 1st breast cancer helpline
- - More

MARKET REPORT
Software stocks in limelight
Market ends flat amid mixed trends. Tech stocks stage a smart recovery. Grasim, L&T, ITC, Nestle, HLL lose. Satyam up 8%. NIIT, Infosys and Cipla gain.

DAILY TECHNICALS
Trading strategy for August 27, 2001
Sensex, Zee, Wipro, Reliance, Ashok Leyland... Check out what you can do on Monday.

STOCK TALK
'I am not optimistic on the market'
'The market is in a narrow trading range and it is hard to make money in futures,' says Ramesh Shrichand Damani.

COLUMNS
Wanted: Activists and supporters for abundant causes
'Another Independence Day has gone by generating the same frustrating debate about untapped potential and missed opportunities, along with rising public anger against rampant corruption and economic degeneration,' says Sucheta Dalal.

Where are the chowkidars?
'The Securities & Exchange Board of India was meant to be the watchdog of the Indian markets. Sadly, it has proved only a sniffer dog, a beast which appears only after the crime has been committed,' says T V R Shenoy.

INTERVIEWS
'Pakistan has deliberately kept trade with India restricted'
'The Kashmir issue looms large over Pakistan's policymakers and unless that is resolved trade ties cannot be improved,' says Zia Khaleli, secretary general, International Chamber of Commerce, Pakistan.

'A new WTO round will be useful'
'India can play a more effective role if it joins the negotiations soon,' says US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick.

'These are not crown jewels, these are bleeding ulcers'
'We must tell the people about the public sector's condition. People are confused because nobody is doing it. People think that family silver is being sold when we talk about divestment,' says Union Minister of State for Divestment Arun Shourie.
'Everything in India has become dysfunctional'

THE BUDGET & GOVT POLICIES
The Rediff Budget Special: Full coverage
Rail Budget 2001-2002: Full coverage
Credit Policy 2001-2002: Full coverage
Exim Policy 2001-2002: Full coverage
Economic Survey 2000-2001: Full coverage