India Inc. disappointed with Mukherjee’s budget for 2009-10

New Delhi/Mumbai, July 6 (ANI): India Incorporated on Monday reacted with disappointment to the proposals for Budget 2009-10 introduced by Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

It said that Mukherjee had remained silent on key points like the revamp of fuel policy, corporate tax, and the disinvestment roadmap.

The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) benchmark Sensex suffered the biggest fall on any Budget day and in the year too by plunging over 869 points on the BSE on concerns at the high fiscal deficit (6.8 percent) set by the Union Budget.

The Sensex, which started coming down soon after the announcement of budgetary proposals, dipped below the 14,000-point level before closing 869.65 points down at 14,043.40, surpassing the hefty fall of 749 points on January 7.

The key index had touched the day’s low of 13,959.44 as all the heavyweight stocks led by Reliance Industries suffered a heavy loss 6.53 per cent. Besides the fiscal deficit, trading sentiment also affected as European stocks dipped to a seven-week low on worries that economic recovery might still be far way off. The 50-share National Stock Exchange index Nifty also tumbled by 258.55 points to 4,135.70, after hitting the day’s low of 4,133.70.

Banking sector stocks suffered the most, losing 8.17 per cent to 7,768.63, as ICICI Bank tumbled by 10 per cent and HDFC Bank by 5.88 per cent among lenders as the Budget did not have measures to open up the industry and on concerns that the borrowing plan will reduce the value of bond holdings, brokers said.

Apart from the fiscal deficit, the other worry for captains of industry was the hike in Minimum Alternate Tax from ten to fifteen percent.

The Nifty also gave a thumbs down to the budget announcements.

Mukherjee left the corporate tax, customs and excise duty structure unchanged. He abolished the Fringe Benefit Tax which was the bugbear of the industry. Also, the deadline for Corporate India’s demand for a rollout of Goods and Services Tax has been set as April 2010.

He left the Securities Tax unchanged but scrapped the Commodities Transaction Tax. (ANI)

New instrument may detect groundwater deep inside Mars

Washington, June 25 (ANI): A team of Boulder (US) scientists and engineers has tested a new instrument prototype that might be used to detect groundwater deep inside Mars.

Known as the Mars Time Domain Electromagnetic Sounder (MTDEM), the instrument uses induction to generate electrical currents in the ground, whose secondary magnetic fields are in turn detected at the planetary surface.

In this way, the electrical conductivity of the subsurface can be reconstructed.

“Groundwater that has been out of atmospheric circulation for eons will be very salty,” said the project’s principal investigator Dr. Robert Grimm, a director in the Space Science and Engineering Division at Southwest Research Institute. “It is a near-ideal exploration target for inductive systems,” he added.

The inductive principle of the MTDEM is distinct from the wavelike, surface-penetrating radars MARSIS and SHARAD presently orbiting Mars.

“The radars have been very useful in imaging through ice and through very dry, low-density rock, but they have not lived up to expectations to look through solid rock and find water,” said Grimm.

The time-domain inductive method uses a large, flat-lying loop of wire on the ground to generate and receive electromagnetic signals.

In order to do this robotically, the team developed a launch system that shoots two projectiles, each paying out spooled wire as they fly.

Data taken during the test launches allowed Warden and Grimm to scale the system for a flight mission. The MTDEM prototype deployed to a distance of more than 70 meters.

For Mars, a system deploying a 200-meter loop would be less than 6 kilograms mass and could detect groundwater at depths up to 5 kilometers (3 miles). Most of the instrument’s mass would be in the loop and deployment system.

According to Barry Berdanier, the Ball electrical engineer who built the MTDEM electronics, the flight electronics would comprise just a few hundred grams.

“Electromagnetic induction methods are widely used in groundwater exploration,” said James Pfieffer of Zapata Incorporated, a geophysical firm that provided field support.

“Subsurface, liquid water on Mars could be a habitable zone for microbes. We know that huge volumes of discharged groundwater have shaped Mars’ ancient surface,” said Grimm. (ANI)

Mesa Garage Doors Announces Partnership With Top SEO Company in California, Collective Clicks

LOS ANGELES, CA, Apr 14 (MARKET WIRE) —
Mesa Garage Doors is proud to announce that it has signed Collective
Clicks to be the exclusive Internet marketing consultant for Mesa Garage
Doors Incorporated. They will be handling all of Mesa’s search engine
optimization, pay per click services, and social media functions.

“We are simply ecstatic to be working with Mesa Garage Doors,” said
Collective Clicks President Mark Stern. “Mesa is the exact sort of client
that we look for. When you have a company that already has a stellar
reputation and a superior product, it allows us to focus on what we do
best which is getting the word out and the sales pouring in.”

Mesa Garage Doors, founded by Dwight Esnard, in Irvine, California in
1989, is the largest installer of garage doors and garage door openers in
the nation with over 200,000 successful installations.

Their service area ranges from San Diego to Santa Barbara, essentially
covering the entirety of Southern California. Mesa has the largest garage
door installation, service, and repair crews in the state and also boasts
a lowest price service guarantee.

Mr. Stern believes that while Mesa is already doing a great job getting
its message out through traditional media, his goal is to make its
Internet presence equally as strong.

Collective Clicks, also based out of Southern California, is one of the
most successful Internet marketing firms in the new media arena,
specializing in increasing the quality and quantity of website traffic and
in raising search engine rankings for midsized to multinational companies.

Mr. Stern says that his primary mission for Mesa is to get them greater
visibility, better click-through and conversion rates while keeping their
total cost per conversion low.

“What we’ve been seeing, especially in this down economy,” Stern offered,
“is that more and more brick and mortar companies are coming to the
realization that even though billboards and local ads can be helpful, they
just don’t compare to Internet marketing with regard to ROI. It’s not even
close. In three months, we can get a level of market penetration that
would take years for traditional media to achieve. And at a fraction of
the cost. Old media venues don’t give businesses, particularly small to
mid-sized operations, actionable information. And this is why Collective
Clicks is growing so fast. The results we provide are specific and
trackable. There is nothing ‘general’ about the analytics we provide.
We’re just a lot more targeted in our approach, especially in Garage
Doors.”

In recent weeks, Collective Clicks has signed and significantly raised the
general web and search engine rankings for new clients in industries
ranging from financial services to fashion. Stern has promised that it
will do the same or better for Mesa Garage Doors.

Mesa President Esnard said: “We have learned never to be complacent as
just a few short months ago we were selling all the garage doors we could
build. This down economy has helped galvanize the direction we want to
take our brand. And we are enthusiastic and confident that Collective
Clicks will play a major role in getting us there.”

Said Stern: “Mesa is an extraordinary company and we are going to do
whatever it takes to make sure the web community knows about Mesa Garage
Doors.”

If you would like more information on Garage Doors and SEO Services, or to
schedule an appointment please call Jon Mozzino at (310) 388-9050 or email
Jon.m@collectiveclicks.com.

Copyright 2009, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

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Instinet Named “Best Electronic Brokerage House” by The Asset Magazine

HONG KONG–(Business Wire)–
Instinet Incorporated, a global leader in electronic trading and agency-only
brokerage services, today announced that its three Asian brokerage units have
collectively been named “Best Electronic Brokerage House” by The Asset magazine
in its Triple A Transaction Banking Awards for 2009
(www.theasset.com/storage/File/2009/Award/TB09.pdf).

“We are extremely pleased that Instinet`s unwavering commitment to helping
clients achieve best execution through our agency-only model and advanced
technologies has been recognised,” said Fumiki Kondo, Co-CEO of Instinet
Incorporated.

The annual awards recognize institutions and individuals that have made a
significant contribution to the development of the financial services sector in
Asia, and are considered to be among the most prestigious in the industry due to
their rigorous assessment process.

In addition to today`s award, Instinet was recognized in March 2009 for
providing the “Best Execution Management System for 2009″ by World Finance
magazine and “Best Broker-Supplied Product/Service” for its SmartRouter™ in the
2008 Buy-side Technology Awards.

One of the largest agency-only brokers operating in Asia, Instinet employs over
50 sales and trading personnel in the region. Instinet offers a comprehensive
suite of high-touch to high-frequency electronic trading services in Asia,
including agency-only sales trading, global portfolio trading, global
algorithmic trading/DMA, the Newport® 3 EMS, a comprehensive trade analytics
platform and commission management services. In addition, the firm operates
three ATS (alternative trading system) platforms in Asia – CBX™ ASIA,
JapanCrossing™ and KoreaCross™.

NOTE: CBX ASIA is the brand name for Instinet`s CBX platform in Asia and is not
licensed or regulated in any market as a pan-Asian platform. Instinet`s CBX
offerings in each market are regulated under the relevant rules and regulations
governing each jurisdiction.

About Instinet

Instinet is an electronic trading pioneer, having established the world`s first
significant electronic trading venue in 1969, one of the first recognized U.S.
ECNs in 1997 and the first pan-European MTF in 2007. Through its subsidiaries
and affiliates, Instinet operates two distinct business lines: a global network
of agency-only brokers that seek to help institutions lower overall trading
costs and improve investment performance through the use of innovative
electronic trading products, including smart-routing, algorithms, DMA, dark
pools and EMS platforms, and also provide sales trading, commission management
services and independent research; and the Chi-X® trading systems, which aim to
improve the efficiency of capital markets globally by providing
high-performance, low-cost alternative execution venues. Instinet is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Nomura Holdings, Inc. For more information, please
visit www.instinet.com.

©2009 Instinet Incorporated and its subsidiaries. All rights reserved. INSTINET
is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries throughout
the world.

Instinet
Mark Dowd, +1-212-310-5331
First Vice President, Global Corporate Communications and Public Relations
mark.dowd@instinet.com
or
Elina Lim, +65-6854-3420
Head of Asia Marketing and Public Relations
elina.lim@instinet.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009

6 Brit books with the ‘strangest’ titles ever shortlisted for Diagram award

London, Feb 21 (ANI): The bookseller magazine has picked up six British books with ‘strangest’ titles, which will be awarded this year.

The book with the ‘strongest’ title will be given the Diagram Prize for Oddest Book Title of the Year.

The Diagram Prize for Oddest Book Title was devised in 1978 by Bruce Robertson from The Diagram Group, when he got bored at the Frankfurt Book Fair.

“In this, the 31st year of the prestigious award, never have I found it so problematic to pick a shortlist of just 6.

At a time when the economic climate is forbidding and cost-cutting companies are ten-a-penny, I’m proud to report that the British publishing industry has remained as stubborn in the face of change as ever,” the Telegraph quoted Horace Bent, from the Bookseller magazine, as saying.

“Given the economic gloom, I would not have blamed publishers if they’d decided to slash their lists. But it gives me great pleasure to report that diversity lives!” he added.

The books with the ‘Strangest’ titles shortlisted this year arte as follows:.Baboon Metaphysics by Dorothy Dorothy L Cheney and Robert M Seyfarth (University of Chicago Press)

2.Curbside Consultation of the Colon by Brooks D Cash (SLACK Incorporated)

3.The Large Sieve and its Applications by Emmanuel Kowalski (Cambridge University Press)

4.Strips and Knit with Style by Mark Hordyszynski (C and T)

5.Techniques for Corrosion Monitoring by Lietai Yang (Woodhead)

6.The 2009-2014 World Outlook for 60-milligram Containers of Fromage Frais by Professor Phi. (ANI)

WAPCOS should become more competitive: Professor Soz

New Delhi, Feb 19 (ANI): Professor Saifuddin Soz, the Union Minister for Water Resources has said that the Water and Power Consultancy Services (WAPCOS) Ltd. should become more competitive. It balances its commercial and social obligations in an appreciable manner.

Addressing the Consultative Committee meeting of the Ministry of Water Resources on the subject “Activities of WAPCOS’ here today, he said that it keeps consultancy rate at reasonable levels to allow various organizations and departments access to outstanding consultancy services within their limited budgets.

“It has maintained strong financial performance and consistent profitability and have been conferred the status of ‘Mini Ratna’ by the Government in view of its exemplary performance,” he added.

Lauding the achievements of WAPCOS, Prof. Soz said that during the last five years, the company made sustained progress in turnover and business development.

“Turnover of the company has increased from Rs.41.22 crore in 2002-03 to Rs.160.05 crore in 2007-08 showing an increase of 288 per cent, while business secured has increased from Rs.63.10 crore to Rs.251 crore in the same period showing an increase of 298 per cent,” he said.

“Performance of the company has been rated excellent continuously for the last five years based on the MoU signed with the Ministry. Based on this excellent performance, the company has been upgraded from Scheduled ‘C’ to Scheduled ‘B’,” he added.

The Minister further said the members that over the years it has been providing excellent consultancy services for prestigious hydropower projects in Bhutan like Tala Hydro electric Project, and Chukha Hydro electric Project.

It is implementing the Salma Dam Project in Afghanistan, on turn key basis, from the concept to its completion. It has recently secured prestigious projects in Cambodia in the fields of Water Resources and Transmission Lines. Its status, as an internationally recognized consultancy organization is beneficial to its prosperous future in the years to come.

Attention was focused on the construction of water resources and power projects in India immediately after independence.

The Government of India established Water and Power Consultancy Services (India) Ltd., which was subsequently renamed as WAPCOS Ltd.

Origin of WAPCOS dates back to 1968. Incorporated on June 26, 1969 under the Companies Act 1956, under the Administrative Control of Ministry of Water Resources, WAPCOS have been providing Consultancy Services in all facets of Water Resources, Power and Infrastructure Sectors in India and abroad. (ANI)