Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They
AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German
Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who
By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Search
Search:
India announces new stimulus plan to boost economy
AP - 2 hours 4 minutes ago
NEW DELHI - The Indian government announced plans Friday to lower key interest rates by one percentage point and boost spending in an effort to stimulate the economy in the face of global economic turmoil.
It was the second stimulus package announced in the past month.
Montek Singh Ahluwalia, a top official in India's Planning Commission and a key financial architect, said he hoped the economy could grow by 7 percent this year.
"The measures that the government has taken will ensure that we still have good growth in the country," he told reporters in New Delhi as he announced the stimulus package. But he warned that "it is impossible to insulate yourself completely from a major downturn in the world economy."
To free up credit, the central bank cut its cash reserve ratio _ the amount of cash that banks must keep in reserve _ by half a percentage point to 5 percent.
The benchmark repo rate, at which the central bank makes short-term loans to commercial banks, was cut from 6.5 percent to 5.5 percent.
The reverse repurchase rate, the rate at which it borrows from commercial banks, was cut from 5 percent to 4 percent to encourage banks to lend more to consumers.
The plan will also allow state governments to borrow up to $6 billion to fund additional infrastructure projects, and eases limits on foreign investment in Indian companies.
Ahluwalia expressed confidence in the Indian economy, while acknowledging that the country would be unlikely to continue the galloping growth rates of recent years.
India's economic growth fell to 7.6 percent last quarter _ off from 9.3 percent in the third quarter of 2007.
"The average of 7 percent is something we hope to be able to achieve," Ahluwalia said.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: China's Economy
India unveils second economic stimulus planAFP - 38 minutes ago
India central bank cuts interest ratesAFP - 45 minutes ago
India's Tata Motors Dec sales almost halve on yearReuters - 1 hour 43 minutes ago
India announces new stimulus plan to boost economyAP - 2 hours 4 minutes ago
Related Articles: Business
Satyam founders' stake falls to 5.1 pct from 8.3Reuters - 20 minutes ago
SNAPSHOT - Financial Crisis - 1530 GMTReuters - 23 minutes ago
9 Muslim passengers kicked off flight after remarkAP - 25 minutes ago
Ukraine pleads gas case to EuropeAP - 26 minutes ago
Brazil: Foreign reserves hit highAP - 32 minutes ago
Related Full Coverage
China Economy
china economy
All Full Coverage
Most Popular – Business
Viewed
Rare Bugatti untouched for 50 years could fetch millions: report
NASA describes final moments of Columbia tragedy
Actress Jennifer Aniston appears naked in GQ magazine
Hamas defiant as Israel rejects Gaza truce
Japanese tourist spends 3 months in Mexico City airport
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular