26.07.2007

• Private labels and retail trade
• What is a ‘private label’ in retail trade
• These are brands owned by the retailer and made in-house to compete with mainstream brands. They are available only in the respective retailer chain. Almost all large global retailers like Tesco, Sainsbury, Wal-Mart etc., have their own private labels as they give better margins than if they sell it for other manufacturers.
• Business confidence index in India
• The ET compiled business confidence index has fallen 9% in the June quarter to its lowest level in the past 11 quarters. Soaring interest rates and an appreciating rupee seem to have played spoil sport.
• Our country’s oil owes
• Our oil marketing companies are currently making under-recovery of about Rs .195 crore every day.
• The Indian basket of crude oil has averaged $72.31 per barrel this month. While this so, ONGC sells domestic crude at only $50.21 per barrel to refining companies.
• ONGC bills its customers in dollar terms. Therefore, a stronger rupee helps in softening crude prices in rupee terms for the refiners. This helps the upstream company in easing some of the subsidy pressure.
• Are we a high-tax country?
• The general feeling among many is that we are a high-tax economy. How do we arrive at this conclusion?
• While the world average rate of corporate tax is 33.2%, in India it is 35%. In contrast, in Asia Pacific it is 30.1%, Latin America 28%, OECD countries 28% and EU 24.2%.
• But certain still higher corporate tax levying countries include:
• Japan 51%
• Italy 53.2%
• Germany 57.5%
• US 40%
• Rubbery metal; can there be a thing like that?
• Yes. Researchers at the University of Blacksburg in US have come with an exotic material which is a composite consisting of ceramic particles embedded in a metal matrix. The metal provides strength and stiffness, while the ceramics have a curious property known as ferroelasticity. This means that vibrations are converted into tiny rotations of crystals within material.
• Compare and contrast ECBs and FCCBs?
• If you are asked such a traditional question, what could your answer be? Many of you have asked me this question. I did my best to answer it. But I came across an excellent piece on this. I couldn’t resist giving you the link to it. I could find it only in the e-paper. Follow this link. Then navigate to page 19. You will find it in the “Simply Speaking” column on that page. You should be registered to read it; but registration is free.
• Simpsons
• Simpsons; who? You ask me? The Simpsons is an animated American sitcom (a humorous drama based on situations that might arise in day-to-day life) created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. It is a satirical parody of the "Middle American" lifestyle epitomized by its title family, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie.
• Why is it news now? It is heading for the big screen i.e., it is being made into a movie for the big screen.
• An estimate of India’s borewells
• An estimate by the New Scientist says that there are about 21 mn borewells drilled in our country.
• They are depleting the water tables in most parts of the country.
• Who is a speleologist?
• A person who studies caves in any of their scientific aspects.