Economic Survey calls for new investment environment

September 9th, 2009 Fed survey: most of US in economic healing modeWASHINGTON — A new government survey finds the vast majority of the country reporting economic activity is stabilizing or improving, as the worst recession since the 1930s appears to be over. The Federal Reserve's snapshot of economic conditions backs predictions by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and most other analysts that the economy has started to grow again in the current quarter.

August 4th, 2009 Applied Industrial shares fall on downgradeWASHINGTON — Shares of Applied Industrial Technologies Inc. fell Tuesday after an analyst downgraded the industrial parts distributor's investment rating.

July 15th, 2009 Foreign direct investment in China falls 6.8 pctBEIJING — Foreign direct investment in China fell in June for the ninth straight month but the decline was less severe than in May, data showed Wednesday, adding to signs of an economic recovery. Investment in June totaled $9 billion, down 6.8 percent from a year earlier, said Commerce Ministry spokesman Yao Jian at a news conference.

July 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Economic Survey for 2008-09 tabled Thursday has called for banking and financial market reforms, including increasing foreign investment in banks in a phased manner and lifting of ban on commodity futures. It also called for expediting passage of the Banking Regulations (Amendment) Bill and allowing high net worth individuals to invest directly in capital markets rather than go through the controversial participatory notes route.

July 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee presented the Economic Survey 2008-09 to Parliament today. The highlights of the Economic Survey 2008-09 are as follows: 1.

July 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Indicating that an industrial recovery is underway, India's Economic Survey for 2008-09 said Thursday that the industry has weathered the most severe part of the shock. The survey, tabled by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in parliament on Thursday, the first day of the budget session, said the rise in offtake of bank credit and upturn in the power generation capacity were positive pointers towards an economic recovery.

July 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Economic Survey 2008-09 tabled in parliament Thursday has sought to end the controversy surrounding allocation of radio frequency by advocating an open and transparent auction process. "Spectrum should be auctioned and be freely tradeable among companies having a telecom licence, the survey said.

July 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - There should be a single regulatory body for the transport sector including highways, railways, ports and airports to ensure better cohesion, the Economic Survey for 2008-09 tabled Thursday has suggested. According to the survey, there should be at least one member from each of these sub-sectors and the authority could have specialized groups of professionals in each sector.

July 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Suggesting some sweeping reforms in areas like foreign direct investment, divestment, taxation and the subsidy regime, India's Economic Survey says the country can achieve 7.75 percent growth this year despite the difficult global circumstances. The economy can even expand much higher than last year's growth if the monsoon rains were normal, said the country's annual economic report card for 2008-09 tabled in parliament Thursday by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

July 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - India's Economic Survey for 2008-09 has suggested that the government amend laws related to land acquisition and land use in order to address land-related disputes. The survey, tabled in parliament by the finance minister, said the government "amend the land acquisition and rehabilitation law in order to ensure equity between the land owners including farmers, land users and the developers".

July 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Economic Survey for 2008-09 Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee tabled in parliament Thursday has advocated sweeping policy changes like foreign investment in multi-brand retailing and higher foreign stake in insurance companies. The survey report card suggested the cap on foreign equity in insurance sector be raised to 49 percent from 26 percent currently.

July 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Economic Survey tabled in parliament Thursday has sought the integration of diamond processing sector with jewellery manufacturing so as to boost exports. "Forward integration of the diamond processing sector to jewellery manufacturing, where the value addition achieved is the highest, will help in boosting the export performance once the existing economic downturn passes by, the survey said.

July 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - India's Economic Survey for 2008-09 released here Thursday has called for allowing private players - both domestic and foreign - to invest in the country's nuclear power sector. The survey, tabled in parliament by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, however, said the foreign direct investment (FDI) cap should be fixed at 49 percent.

July 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Owing to a shortage of long-term finance, it is difficult to achieve the investment target set for the infrastructure sector for the 11th Five-Year Plan period, India's Economic Survey for 2008-09 released here Thursday said. The government has estimated an investment requirement of $500 billion in the infrastructure sector for the plan period that ends in 2012 for achieving inclusive growth.

June 12th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's economy grew by a mere two percent in fiscal 2008-09 ending June 30 against 4.1 percent in the previous year, says the pre-budget economic survey. The agriculture sector, however, performed well, partly offsetting the slippages in other sectors, Dawn reported Friday.