News Capsules

• Maruti Suzuki, the country’s largest car manufacturer,indicated that it planned to launch a 660 cc car in the coming years.
• After Tata Motors and General Motors, now Ford India Pvt Ltd plans to launch a small car in India. The launch is expected by the first quarter of calendar year 2010.
• India’s largest mobile company Bharti Airtel’s over $2-billion network outsourcing contract will be up for grabs soon. With its current multi-billion dollar network outsourcing deals with equipment majors Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) coming up for renewal next year, the telco will start inviting bids from global equipment vendors in the next couple of months. The country's largest realty player, DLF on Saturday said it has bought back over 76.38 lakh equity shares worth Rs 140.69 crore and will close the offer with effect from May 6.
• Tata Motors has received over 2.03 lakh bookings for the Nano, garnering nearly Rs 2,500 crore. The company sold a total of 6.10 lakh forms which means that the conversion rate was a little under one-third.
• GMR Infrastructure, flagship company of the GMR Group, is planning to raise Rs 2,000-3,000 crore growth capital through the private equity route to bid for new projects in highways and energy, which are expected in the next 6-8 months after a new government takes charge at the Centre.
• JSW Steel Ltd plans to set up at least eight to nine exclusive branded retail showrooms in the Northeast. The company will also open two more retail showrooms in West Bengal. The company has set up its first retail showroom in the Northeast in Guwahati under the brand name "JSW Shoppe".