Daniel Dombey In Washington And Bernard Simon In Toronto, FT.Com

Stories by Daniel Dombey In Washington And Bernard Simon In Toronto, FT.Com

New pension scheme taps into India's vast market

New pension scheme taps into India's vast market

Rediff.com   27 May 2009

The potential market for pensions in India is enormous. Some 284m working age people in India lack formal pensions.

India's bouncing tycoons

India's bouncing tycoons

Rediff.com   27 May 2009

It is of course a coincidence, but the pace of corporate news in India is accelerating while the new government, whose election last week sparked a surge of corporate optimism and a stock market boom, dithers over which ministers to appoint to which jobs.

Little luxuries console consumers

Little luxuries console consumers

Rediff.com   27 May 2009

Consumers have traditionally sought solace in life's little low-cost treats during hard times. Lipstick, lingerie, sunglasses and watches are some of the usual "affordable luxuries" people have turned to in recessions. And each downturn throws up fresh examples.

Offshoring: Why India is not to blame

Offshoring: Why India is not to blame

Rediff.com   27 May 2009

Before blaming offshoring for every ill, there are three critical and often overlooked factors that will determine the success of the project. These factors -- visibility, risk mitigation, and governance and compliance -- are ultimately in the hands of the client and addressing them "at home" can dramatically alter the outcome of an outsourced software development project.

Generic flu drug threatens Tamiflu

Generic flu drug threatens Tamiflu

Rediff.com   14 May 2009

An Indian pharmaceutical company is gearing up to sell a cheap version of the leading patented antiviral flu drug Tamiflu to emerging economies, in a move that will pitch intellectual property rights against affordable access to medicines.

Citi directors face growing pressure to resign

Citi directors face growing pressure to resign

Rediff.com   14 May 2009

Citigroup came under growing pressure to overhaul its board on Tuesday after it revealed that two long-serving directors survived a shareholder vote largely thanks to a balloting rule that is due to be scrapped.

Mixed signals from Asia's animal spirits

Mixed signals from Asia's animal spirits

Rediff.com   14 May 2009

Is Asia a bouncy, bouncy Tigger? Or, like the proverbial dead cat, are Asian tigers on a merely temporary upward trajectory? Certainly, Asia's tigers and, if you will bear with the zoological references, its canaries, too, have done better recently.

Testing times for Geithner's plans

Testing times for Geithner's plans

Rediff.com   7 May 2009

So, Tim Geithner, the US Treasury secretary, is fighting chronic uncertainty with transparency. The results of the "stress tests", an exercise to identify undercapitalised banks so the government can make sure they have enough capital to recover, will be announced on Thursday.

Price of crude surges past $55 to 2009 peak

Price of crude surges past $55 to 2009 peak

Rediff.com   7 May 2009

Traders brushed aside rumours that the US government's stress tests would require the banking sector to raise significant new capital. Instead, further gains for equity markets and better-than-expected US employment data set a positive tone.

US anti-terror controls delayed swine flu response

US anti-terror controls delayed swine flu response

Rediff.com   7 May 2009

Tough US import controls on biological materials, introduced after the September 11 2001 attacks, hindered the rapid identification of the H1N1 virus because samples from infected Mexican patients had to be sent to Canada for analysis instead of the US.

Nano pre-orders boost Tata liquidity

Nano pre-orders boost Tata liquidity

Rediff.com   7 May 2009

India's largest automotive group said it had received 203,000 pre-paid orders worth Rs25bn ($507m) for the Nano, the world's cheapest car, which it put on sale for a 16-day booking period which ended on April 25.

IMF sees no recovery in Asia until 2010

IMF sees no recovery in Asia until 2010

Rediff.com   7 May 2009

Asian economies are unlikely to undergo a sustained recovery until mid-2010 and can not rely on China to pull the region out of its current slump, a senior International Monetary Fund official said on Wednesday, casting doubts on a "green shoots" theory that has helped bolster Asian stock markets recently.

If China loses faith the dollar will collapse

If China loses faith the dollar will collapse

Rediff.com   6 May 2009

If global stagflation takes hold, it will force China to accelerate its reforms to float its currency and create a single, independent and market-based financial system. When that happens, the dollar will collapse.

Bernanke sees early signs of stability

Bernanke sees early signs of stability

Rediff.com   6 May 2009

The Federal Reserve chairman highlighted the recent recovery in consumer spending and said there were "signs of bottoming" in the housing market.

Grim plot twist for Bollywood

Grim plot twist for Bollywood

Rediff.com   6 May 2009

Acting stars in the world's most prolific movie-making industry have seen their fees plunge by up to 80 per cent from the peaks they reached last year, leading producers say.

India and China data fuel rise in optimism

India and China data fuel rise in optimism

Rediff.com   6 May 2009

Signs of "green shoots" in India came in the form of an ABN-Amro Bank purchasing managers' index based on a survey of 500 companies.

Beauty lessons from past recessions

Beauty lessons from past recessions

Rediff.com   4 May 2009

Neither recessions nor world wars have deterred women from indulging in beauty products, writes Valentina Zannoni.

New concerns raised on EU hedge fund plans

New concerns raised on EU hedge fund plans

Rediff.com   4 May 2009

The European Union's attempt to regulate hedge funds will affect other classes of alternative investment such as real estate funds and investment trusts, lawyers studying the fine print of the new rules have warned.

Chan hits back at WHO critics

Chan hits back at WHO critics

Rediff.com   4 May 2009

The head of the World Health Organisation hit back at critics who have accused it of over-reaction to the swine flu crisis, warning it may return "with a vengeance" in the months ahead.

Obama to double scientific research funding

Obama to double scientific research funding

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2009

Barack Obama on Monday promised to double public funding of scientific research to exceed the level Washington spent during the "space race" unleashed by Dwight Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy 50 years ago.