Steve Waugh hails Indian team’s positive approach

Mumbai, May 5 (ANI): Former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh said that the present Indian cricket team’s aggressive approach towards the game has helped it to win several matches in the recent past.

He was interacting with media persons after spending some time with visually-abled enthusiasts of the game here last evening.

Applauding the Indian team’s positive attitude and teamwork, Waugh said that the squad has a bright future.

“India, I think is definitely more aggressive the way they play their game. They are more confident. They probably work together better as a team than they have in the past. That’s probably the three main differences that I see in the current Indian side. They are a very good team. I believe they can win under any conditions,” said Waugh.

Waugh also praised the Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, under whose captaincy the team has set a record for most back-to-back one day international (ODI) wins, numbering nine.

“Dhoni, I think gives a real balance and confidence. He is a captain that I think keeps his motions in shape, which I think is very important. But he is a very strong cricketer. He commands respect,” added Waugh.
India won its Test series on New Zealand soil after 41 years in April, 2009, the previous victory being in 1968 under the captaincy of the Nawab of Pataudi, Mansur Ali Khan.

India’s third successive test series victory since defeating top-rankedustralia in November has triggered a debate in the cricket-mad nation as tohether the team is the country’s best yet.

Meanwhile, the visually-abled cricket enthusiasts were overwhelmed after meeting one of the most popular and successful cricketers of all time.

“Waugh is a very kind human being. We felt like as if he is one among us. I was very happy to meet him,” said Devi Das, a visually-abled man.

Waugh, one of the most successful skippers of Australian cricket team, has been active in several charitable causes after retirement from the game.

He has been a sort of patron to Udayan, a Kolkata-based voluntary organisation engaged in running orphanages and tending children of ‘have-nots’. (ANI)

Allahabad Bank Launches Gold Coins; Eyes Over 20% Growth In 2009-10

On the eve of entering its 145th year of service, Kolkata-based Allahabad Bank, has made announcement about the retail selling of gold coins publicly.

The public sector lender said that it will shortly launch the scheme in other areas.

While speaking to media persons, Mr. KR Kamath, Allahabad Bank Chairman and Managing Director, stated that at first, the coins will be available in denominations of four (4), eight (8) and ten (10) grams in select core banking solutions branches of the bank.

Mr. Kamath also said that gold bars of 20 and 50 grams will also be available later.

Allahabad Bank gold coins come with an ‘ASSAY Certification’, showing the highest quality of gold at 99.99% purity.

The gold is packed in tamper – proof blister packs, which are see through at the manufacturing stage itself to prevent any damage/ theft during transit.

The coins will be competitively priced based on the everyday rates in the global bullion market and quoted daily exclusive of VAT/Sales Tax.

The bank posted 18% growth in deposits and advances during the last fiscal (2008-09), as against the same period of the last fiscal.

As on March 31, 2009, the bank has attained a total business of Rs 144,000 crore, out of which Rs 84,865 crore comes from deposits and Rs59,177 crore is from advances.

Moreover, the bank is projecting over 20 per cent growth in business during the financial year 2009-10.

The bank was aspiring to attain a total business of Rs 1.75 lakh crore by March 2010, as against Rs 1.44 lakh crore in March 2009.

India gold demand ebbs after pick-up

India’s gold demand turned quiet on Friday as most banks, the primary sellers of gold, were closed for a holiday, traders and dealers said.

“Since morning demand is absolutely calm…,” said Daman Prakash, director with MNC Bullion in Chennai.

Traders picked up bargains as gold fell about 2.5 percent in the previous session to replenish stocks in anticipation of wedding demand.

Gold futures traded 0.18 percent lower at 14,664 rupees per 10 grams at 1:51 p.m..

“Yesterday the business was brisk but without great enthusiam. I could sell 85 percent of all gold lying with me since December,” said Prakash. “I had to sell without charging any profit margin.”

“We sold around 200 kgs of gold yesterday evening at around $910 (an ounce levels),” said a dealer with a state-run bank in Mumbai.

Traders said a further correction in prices would boost wedding sales. The wedding season will start in mid-April.

“Most of the bulk orders are placed in $875-905 (an ounce) levels,” said Harshad Ajmera proprietor with Kolkata-based JJ Gold House.

“If prices come down to $880 levels then we could see further business activity,” said a dealer with a large private bank in Mumbai.

Following were prices in rupees on the Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd. at 1:52 p.m. :

Contract Current price Net change

======================================================

Jun gold 14,670 -21

May silver 21,437 -144

President presents Padma awards

New Delhi, Mar 31 (ANI): Bollywood actors Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Atomic Energy Commission of India (AECI) chief Anil Kakodkar were among the recipients of the Padma awards from President Pratibha Patil on Tuesday.

Aishwarya Rai, a former Miss World and now a member of the Bachchan family, received a Padma Shree award for her contribution to the field of entertainment.

Akshay Kumar, a globally acclaimed actor, also received a Padma Shree.

Kakodkar received the Padma Vibhushan award for 2008 for his contribution to the field of nuclear science and technology.

Sister Nirmala, who served for 12 years as the Superior-General of the Kolkata-based Missionaries of Charity, received the Padma Vibhushan.

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Director Ashok Ganguly was also awarded the Padma Vibhushan.

Sixteen people were awarded Padma Bhushan, including renowned classical singer Shamshad Begum and Tech Czar Sam Pitroda.

Forty-five people were given Padma Shree awards, for their contribution in various spheres of activity, including the arts, education, industry, literature, science, sports, social and public life.

Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and a host of other dignitaries attended the function. (ANI)

Allahabad Bank introduces Festival Bonanza for its customers

Allahabad Bank introduces Festival Bonanza for its customersAllahabad Bank, one of the oldest banks in India, has announced a Festival Bonanza for its customers in various buckets of Term Deposits.

The lender stated in a official release that the rate of interest on Term Deposits for Senior Citizens will be 11% per annum for a period of one year up to three years, however for others, it will be 10.50% per annum.

The bank has also hiked interest rates on Term Deposits ranging from 25 basis points to 75 basis points. As the latest scheme is special Diwali bonanza, so it will be valid for limited period starting from 28.10.2008.

Kolkata-based Allahabad Bank has recently reported nearly 83 per cent fall in net profit to Rs 41.68 crore for the second quarter ended September 2008 against Rs 239.78 crore in the corresponding period last year.