The benchmark BSE Sensex rose over 70 points in early trade today on the back of gains in stocks of metal, IT, healthcare, technology and FMCG sectors amid a mixed trend in other Asian markets ahead of the outcome of the US Federal Reserve’s policy meet.

The 30-share barometer, which rose 298.67 points in the previous session, gained 70.59 points, or 0.24 per cent, to 28,806.97 in early trade.

Tata Motors shares may fall on lower-than-expected sales at key unit Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) in February.

JLR’s Feb 15 wholesales came in at 38,541 units, down 1.2 pct yoy; below estimates of about 42,200 units – Analysts.

Domestic natural gas prices are likely to be slashed by over 10% to $5.02 per unit from April 1, hitting revenues of companies like ONGC and Reliance Industries.

The prices of natural gas are due to be revised from April 1, based on average rates at key international hubs. The new rate will be around $5.02 per million British thermal unit (mmBtu) as compared to the current price of $5.61, sources privy to the development said.

ICICI Bank has under-performed both Axis Bank and the S&P BSE Sensex in 2015 so far. As compared to gains of 13.3 per cent in Axis scrip and 3.4 per cent in Sensex, the ICICI scrip has corrected about six per cent this year. Consequently, ICICI Bank now trades at a 16 per cent discount to Axis on a price/book value basis, higher than its historical valuation discount of about 10-11 per cent vis-à-vis Axis. ICICI Bank trades at 2.2 times FY16 estimated book value versus Axis' 2.6 times. Analysts, however, believe this valuation discount is unjustified and should reduce over time.

H-1B workers replacing Americans have minimal skills and little or no business knowledge, a whistleblower from Indian IT giant Infosys has said and asked lawmakers not to increase the number of much sought-after visas and plug in the loopholes in the immigration system.

Jay B Palmer, whose visa fraud case against Infosys had led to a $34 million visa fraud settlement -- the largest in US history -- alleged that no matter who is chosen, no matter what their skill set is, H-1B workers are coming to the US and they have to learn the needed skills once they get here.

The government has firmed up a list of PSUs to be divested next fiscal, starting with BHEL in April, in a bid to meet the Rs 41,000 crore stake sale target for 2015-16.

Official sources said the Disinvestment Department has completed overseas roadshows for BHEL stake sale in London, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Following a request made by West Godavari district administration, the Rajahmundry Asset of ONGC lifted water from the Godavari River and released it into the canal to save the standing paddy crop suffering due to acute water shortage, a senior official said.

"District Collector K Bhaskar called upon the ONGC for saving the standing paddy crops in the mandals under the ayacut of bank canal of Godavari west delta through by lifting water from river Godavari. We responded swiftly to the request," Debasis Sanyal, Executive Director, ONGC Rajahmundry Assets said in a release here today.

Market regulator Sebi has slapped a total fine of around Rs 40 lakh on six companies for allegedly failing to obtain registration with its online complaint system as well as not resolving pending investor grievances.

Besides, Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) disposed of cases against seven firms in investor complaint cases.

HDFC Bank, India’s second largest private lender, on Tuesday launched Chillr, a mobile application that allows users to transfer money instantly to any contact on their phonebook who have the app.

The app has been developed by Kochi-based technology firm MobME and allows users to send money in three steps. Receivers don’t necessarily need to have accounts with HDFC Bank.

The country’s largest lender, State Bank of India’s e-auction for properties worth Rs 1,200 crore failed to enthused investors. However, the public sector bank intends to conduct a repeat on a similar scale in each quarter, improving the bidding process and information disclosures.

SBI sold 124 of the 450 properties put through auction on an electronic platform, for about Rs 90 crore, said P K Malhotra, its deputy managing director (stressed assets management). He said the response for industrial and commercial properties was not up to expectation.

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