Link for 20/3/07

Eastern Europe competes for share of the IT outsourcing cake
Times Online
The rise and rise of Bangalore as the centre of outsourcing could be under threat from new challengers nearer to Europe’s commercial heart. Increasingly, companies are being attracted to workforces in countries such as Romania, which, a report suggests, have better language skills and a keener understanding of their clients than competitors further east.

India to ‘consult’ on zone policy
BBC Online
The Indian government has said it will "refine" its policy of buying up land for industrial development after recent violence over the controversial plan.

Indian stocks: Not cheap, but still attractive
Reuters
Indian stocks are anything by cheap after five years of gains, but they still look attractive thanks to healthy corporate earnings driven by robust economic growth second only to booming China in Asia.

India: Ricardo signs licensing agreement with Caepro Technologies
Automotive World
Ricardo Software has entered into a licensing agreement with Pune-based Caepro Technologies in order to provide advanced powertrain computer aided engineering (CAE) software products to OEMs in India.

India's Ranbaxy pulls out of bid for Merck's generic ops
ABC Money
India's Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd has pulled out of the race to buy Merck KGaAs generic operations unit due to what it considers irrational valuation, sources close to Ranbaxy told AFX News.

Rabobank unit buys half of India's Canara Bank mutual fund arm
ABC Money
Robeco Groep NV, part of Rabobank Groep, will buy a 49 pct stake in India's Canbank Investment Management Services (CIMS), an arm of state-owned Canara Bank, for 1.15 bln rupees, the Economic Times reported.

RPT Trinity Capital hikes stake in India's Fortis Healthcare to 4 pct
Hemscott
Trinity Capital has hiked its stake in India's Fortis Healthcare Ltd (FHL) to 4 pct from 1 pct with the acquisition of an additional 6 mln shares for 870 mln rupees in its second private placement agreement with the company, Business Standard reported, citing FHL.

India's Reliance, Italy's Eni in talks for ETimor oil block stake swap
ABC Money
Reliance Industries Ltd is in talks with Italy's Eni SpA for a stake swap in oil exploration blocks in East Timor, the Economic Times reported, citing a Reliance official.