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Research in Motion Ltd. will allow the Indian government to monitor certain information exchanged through its email and messaging services. The government lifted its ban on RIM's services in that country for two months while it decides whether it has all the access it needs.

Five years after launching its cellular services in India, Tata Teleservices Ltd. reached 70 million subscribers last month and expects to reach 100 million subscribers this year. Tata's subscriber base has doubled in the past year due to its new GSM service and pay-per-call system that charges by the second rather than by the minute.

In interview, Sri Lanka's central bank governor Nivard Cabraal discusses how the end of the war is boosting foreign investments and consumer optimism. The central bank may raise its GDP growth forecast this year from an earlier estimate of 6% to 7%.

Boosted by strong sales of its Figo model, Ford Motor Co.'s sales in India almost tripled in March and April. April sales reached 7,509 vehicles, while sales in March surged to 9,478 units from 3,127 vehicles a year earlier.

Marketing to India's wealthy, luxury car makers - such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Jaguar - introduced new luxury vehicle models at the India Auto Expo in New Delhi. In the next five years, the Indian luxury car market is expected to double from 9,000 high-end automobiles sold in 2009.

Boosted by a fast-growing rural market, Indian cellphone company Bharti Airtel Ltd.'s net profit rose 24% to 25 billion rupees for the quarter ended June 30. Revenue climbed 17% to 99.42 billion rupees, while the company added 8.55 million new customers. Average revenue per customer fell 21% to 278 rupees as the company increased its presence in rural areas.

To offset declining U.S. and international sales, Harley-Davidson Inc. plans to enter the Indian market by opening five dealerships across the country with a product line of 12 motorcycle models. Article also discusses market conditions in India for Harley-Davidson and other high-end motorcycle manufacturers.

Five years in development, Cairn India is scheduled to start production in oil fields in India's Rajasthan state. The $2-billion project is expected to produce initially around 30,000 barrels of oil per day, which will be gradually increased to 175,000 barrels a day, and reduce India's oil imports 7% at peak production.

McDonald's Corp. plans to accelerate growth in India by opening 40 new restaurants across the country, bringing the total number of locations to almost 200. Per-restaurant traffic has increased between 10% and 15% a month in 2009.

Byline: ERIC BELLMAN EXCHANGES MUMBAI -- When Madhu Kannan worked for the New York Stock Exchange, he passed on taking a strategic stake in the Bombay Stock Exchange Ltd. Today, [...]

After failed negotiations a year ago, Indian cell phone company Bharti Airtel Ltd. and South Africa's MTN Group Ltd. have restarted talks to merge into an entity that would have $20 billion in annual revenue, and 200 million subscribers in India, Africa, and the Middle East. The proposed $23-billion deal calls for Bharti Airtel to take a 49% stake in MTN, while MTN would get a 36% stake in Bharti Airtel.

Byline: ERIC BELLMAN FINANCIAL SERVICES State-owned bank helps India weather downturn MUMBAI -- State-owned State Bank of India is lending like the global credit crisis never happened as it looks [...]

Byline: ERIC BELLMAN AND NIRAJ SHETH; Timothy Martin in Chicago and Betsy McKay in Atlanta contributed to this article. HYDERABAD, INDIA; NEW DELHI -- The disgraced former chairman of Satyam [...]

In the wake of former chairman B. Ramalinga Raju's announcement he overstated Satyam Computer Systems Ltd.'s earnings, Indian authorities are beginning to look into the finances of other ventures associated to Mr. Raju and his family. Companies being examined include Maytas Properties Ltd. and construction company Maytas Infra Ltd., both directed by Mr. Raju's sons.

Byline: ERIC BELLMAN HYDERABAD, INDIA -- The investigation of fraud at India's Satyam Computer Services Ltd. is spreading to the property and infrastructure companies connected to Satyam's disgraced former chairman [...]

Byline: ERIC BELLMAN; With files from Tariq Engineer MUMBAI -- The consumerism that has helped drive India's surging economy in recent years is showing its dark side, as overextended Indian [...]

In move to prevent mass withdrawals, India's ICICI Bank Ltd. is taking extraordinary steps to reassure its depositors and investors of the bank's sound finances. Having lost 66% of their value so far this year, ICICI's shares rose 17% to close at $8.79 on Monday. In a press release, financial-analysis firm Standard & Poor reiterates that ICICI has more than enough assets to cover any future losses.

Byline: TARIQ ENGINEER; Eric Bellman in Mumbai and Santanu Choudhury in New Delhi contributed to this article. MUMBAI -- The impasse continued over the factory designed to make the world's [...]

Byline: ERIC BELLMAN; Tariq Engineer contributed to this article BANGALORE, INDIA -- Ritu Sureka shakes her head as a wave of moviegoers from the Grand Sigma Mall's new multiplex cinema [...]

U.K. retailer Tesco PLC has signed a 60-million-pounds-sterling deal with conglomerate Tata Group to build three warehouses within the next two years to supply Tata's retail stores in India. The warehouses will also operate as wholesale outlets for other retailers. Article discusses investments opportunities for foreign companies within the Indian retail sector, and Tata's efforts to expand its retail operations in the local Indian market.

Byline: JOHN MURPHY AND ERIC BELLMAN; WALL STREET JOURNAL STAFF Most of the world's global auto giants are rushing to supply low-cost cars to the masses in India. But Honda [...]

Byline: ERIC BELLMAN MUMBAI -- Anil Ambani and his older brother, Mukesh, have been vying to outdo each other since their father's death left them in control of one of [...]

After rejecting an acquisition bid by Bharti Airtel Ltd., South African telecommunications company MTN Group Ltd. is negotiating a merger with Reliance Communications Ltd. with prospects of expanding to developing telecommunications markets in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Article discusses MTN's and Reliance's financial standing, stock value, and planned expansion strategies.

UK publisher Pearson PLC has formed an alliance with India's Network 18 Media and Investments Ltd. to launch a daily business newspaper. Network 18 Media controls CNBC-TV18, the nation's biggest business information television channel.

Indian manufacturer Tata Motors Ltd. is holding negotiations with Ford Motor Co. for the purchase of automotive brands Jaguar and Land Rover. Article discusses Tata Motors' recent acquisitions, foreign operations, and management style in its foreign-operated subsidiaries.

Byline: GAURAV RAGHUVANSHI AND ERIC BELLMAN; WALL STREET JOURNAL STAFF NEW DELHI, MUMBAI -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. plans to open 10 to 15 large cash-and-carry stores in India in the [...]

Byline: ERIC BELLMAN; Dow Jones Newswires NEW DELHI -- While Tata Motors Ltd.'s handsome new mini-car could become a bestseller in India, auto industry analysts suggest the $2,500 (U.S.) 'Nano' [...]

India automaker Tata Motors Ltd. and Ford of Europe Inc. are negotiating details regarding Tata's purchase of Ford's Land Rover and Jaguar vehicle brands. The deal would enhance Tata's position in the global market. Details being negotiated include engine supply contracts.

Byline: ERIC BELLMAN AND STEPHEN POWER; Tariq Engineer in Mumbai contributed to this article Tata Group is set to place more multibillion-dollar bets in its bid to become one of [...]

Byline: STEPHEN POWER AND ERIC BELLMAN The head of a group that represents Jaguar car dealers in the U.S. is warning Ford Motor Co. against selling its premium Jaguar brand [...]

German food retailer Metro AG's incursion into the Indian market is chronicled. Article discusses common practices in the Indian food retail sector and Metro AG's efforts to modernize and optimize food supply chains.

India's Tata Motors Ltd. has expressed interest in purchasing the Land Rover and Jaguar units from Ford Motor Co. Tata is prepared to use the units' production facilities and technology to improve its own truck and car models, and to employ the units' global distribution networks to market its own vehicles overseas.

Byline: ERIC BELLMAN AND STEPHEN POWER; John D. Stoll in Detroit contributed to this article. MUMBAI and FRANKFURT -- India's Tata Group already owns former British stalwarts Tetley Tea and [...]

Indian beer magnate Vijay Mallya and UB Group are planning to purchase Scotland's Whyte and Mackay Distillers Ltd. for $1.2 bil, which would make it among the five largest international deals by an Indian firm.

Vodafone Group PLC of the United Kingdom is to acquire Hutchison Essar Ltd. of India for $11.1 billion. The cell phone operator acquisition values Hutchison Essar Ltd. at $18.8 billion. The mobile phone market in India is prime for market growth as only approximately 15 percent of the population use cell phones with 6 million new subscribers signing up every month.

Vodafone Group PLC and Reliance Communications Ltd. are both poised to bid to acquire Hutchison Essar Ltd., India's fourth-largest cellular service provider. If Reliance acquires Hutchison Essar, it will be the top cellular service provider in India. India's cell phone subscriber base is growing rapidly, due to a strong economy.

British steelmaker Corus Group PLC is involved in a bidding war, with both India's Tata Steel Ltd. and Brazil's CSN bidding to acquire the company. Developing countries are looking to acquire companies around the world, to fuel their economies.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is planning a joint venture with cell phone network company Bharti Enterprises Ltd. as a way to enter India's expanding retail market. Partnering with Bharti Enterprises will allow Wal-Mart to get around Indian regulations forbidding foreign retailers from direct investment in the local retail sector. Wal-Mart, whose U.S sales growth is weakening, plans to open many stores in India.

TATA Steel of India has offered to acquire Corus Gropu PLC of the United Kingdom for approximately 4.4 billion Pounds ($8 billion). The created steel company would produce approximately $345 million in savings on costs. The acquisition would be one of the largest foreign acquisitions for an Indian company.

Worldwide central banks and the European Central Bank raised interest rates with projections of further increases if rising inflation and slower economic growth continue. The interest rate for the European Union was raised from 2.5 percent to 2.75 percent. United States Federal Reserve raised its interest rate to five percent.

Vikram Akula, SKS Microfinance Pvt. Ltd. of India lends small business entrepreneurs micro loans in a trend that is contributing to the growing economy. The micro loans empower the poor and particulary women in rural communities. Only about three percent of the micro loans are forfeited and the small business loan company has seen healthy profits over the last three years.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of the United States is to open units in the largely virgin retail market of India. The discount store chain is laying groundwork with distributors and suppliers and performing public relations work with consumers and politicians. The government of India is moving to open up the country's retail markets to the West.

ICICI Banking Corporation Ltd. of India by aggressively developing retail banking services has become India's largest bank by market value. The bank has moved into the newly emerged middle class niche market offering credit card and car loan services. India's economy is growing but banking regulations on foreign banks are opening the market for national interests .

Increasingly, legal services from the United States and the United Kingdom are being outsourced to India. Great numbers of Indian lawyers who are experienced yet inexpensive perform a variety of services. 'Short of anything where you have to physically be there or sign on the dotted line, we can do' says Sanjay Kamlani executive at Pangea3.

Outsourcing technology services in India are growing with an increase in software company shares. Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. will earn approximately $240 million and Infosys Technologies Ltd. will earn approximately $140 million in a deal with ABN AMRO Bank N.V.