Business, Finance & Stock Market updates for December 18, 2007

Manmohan for sustained economic growth
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said that Indias policy would be to ensure nine percent growth even if world growth slows down and fuel prices continue to remain under pressure ANI

Sensex plunges by 181 points, closes at 19, 079
The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) today tumbled by 181 points before closing at 19, 079. ANI

ONGC becomes first Indian entrant in Fortunes list of Worlds Most Admired Companies
The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC) has achieved the unique distinction of becoming the first-ever Indian company in Fortune Magazines annual list of the Worlds Most Admired Companies. ANI

Kamal Nath wants entrepreneurs to focus on brand building
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath today called on the entrepreneurs in the sports goods export industry to focus on brand building, as this is an area which is an important ingredient in the value of the product. ANI

Deccan crosses 15 million passenger mark
Deccan Indias first and fastest growing low cost carrier, has crossed the 15 million mark in terms of passenger volume .It also recorded a 33 percent year on year increase compared to passenger volume in 2006. ANI

Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen to preside over Right to Education seminar
Nobel Laureate and noted economist Amartya Sen will preside over a day-long seminar titled The Right to Education: Actions Now in the Kamal Mahal hall of the Maurya Sheraton Hotel on Wednesday.The Aspen Institute (India), an international non-profit organisation dedicated to in-depth discussion of global issues, development of leadership based on values, and a high-level exchange of opinions, information and values, Shiksha (India), a major initiative to take education to all schools using open source technology tools, and the Institute of Quality, Bangalore, which has major nation-wide programmes for improving quality process within schools/colleges, are jointly organizing the seminar. ANI

Indimoto Carpool Survey: Well Educated, High Income, Middle Aged Men are Carpooling the Most, Primarily to Reduce Global Warming
Business Wire India

The Worst Computer Virus
Business Wire India

National Seed Association of India (NSAI) Conducts First Ever Annual General Meeting
Business Wire India

CVCI Buys Stake in JBF Global Pte Ltd for USD125 Million
Business Wire India

Schneider Electric Attracts Ideas on Energy Efficiency in Innovation Challenge 2007
Business Wire India

Sports Major Reebok Partners with Leading Glam Channel Zoom Presenting Reebok ZOOM Glam Awards 2007
Business Wire India

Toshiba Licenses Rambus XDR(TM) Memory Architecture for HDTV Chipset
Business Wire India

First Quality to Acquire Covidien's Retail Products Business
Business Wire India

Kraton Polymers Opens New Doors for TPE-S Compounds in High Temperature Applications
Business Wire India

MSCI Barra Announces Data Availability for Series of New MSCI Indices
Business Wire India

Intertek Opens New Petroleum Laboratory in Singapore
Business Wire India

Global Semiconductor Alliance Announces Beta Release of IPecosystem Tool Suite Version 4.0
Business Wire India

Abacus and Deccan sign first GDS partnership for a low cost carrier in India
Abacus International, Asia-Pacific's leading travel facilitator, announced today the first GDS partnership to take place in India's low cost carrier (LCC) market with the launch of its distribution of fares for Deccan, India's largest and fastest growing LCC. Effective today, passengers will be able to book their travel on Deccan through Abacus-connected travel agents ICPAR

Asian markets volatile after choppy yesterday
Almost all Asian markets are trading volatile this morning. Most markets are plus or minus 0.5%. Hang Seng, Seoul Composite and Taiwan Weighted are beginning to strengthen at mid day though. GetPaidIndia.com