PRESS DIGEST - Indian Business News - Nov 17

MUMBAI Nov 17 (Reuters) - Indian newspapers carried the following stories in their print or Web editions on Monday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

ECONOMIC TIMES (www.economictimes.com)

* India's central bank is in talks with some large banks to lower the tenure of derivative contract deals to minimise risks. * Kingfisher Airlines (KING.BO) is holding exploratory talks with international carriers for diluting up to 25 percent stake. The move comes on hopes the federal government may allow foreign airlines to invest in domestic carriers.

* Construction and engineering firm Larsen & Toubro Ltd (LART.BO) is in talks with Antwerp Port Authority to establish a greenfield port in the west coast of the country. The venture will initially invest 20 billion rupees into the port.

* India's Insurance Regulatory Development Authority is set to give state-run Life Insurance of India (LIC) more leeway to invest in debt instruments of a single company. This would help state-owned companies access funds from LIC, which has surpluses to invest in these turbulent times.

MINT (www.livemint.com)

* India's federal government is considering a proposal to subsidise loans for infrastructure projects, offered through public bids, by effectively, capping interest rates and absorbing the cost of higher rates in its own books.

* Mundra Port and Special Economic Zone MPSE.BO is expected to announce a partnership with Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics and NYK Line this week to set up a dedicated automobile terminal at the western coast port.

BUSINESS STANDARD (www.business-standard.com)

* Construction companies such as Larsen & Toubro (LART.BO), Nagarjuna Construction NGCN.BO and DLF (DLF.BO) have not put in bids or withdrawn from the 20 such projects planned under government's highway projects via public-private partnership in various parts of the country.

* Soda-ash maker Tata Chemicals Ltd (TTCH.BO) is planning to invest 7 billion to 10 billion rupees to ramp-up its soda ash and salt capacity.

FINANCIAL CHRONICLE (www.mydigitalfc.com)

* Fashion retailer Trent Ltd (TREN.BO) is considering sale of some of its prime properties to raise cash for expansion as the retail business needs physical space.

BUSINESS LINE (www.businessline.in)

* Technology services firm Mastek Ltd (MAST.BO) is in the process of closing down its business process outsourcing practice.

($1= 49.01 rupees)

Looking for more information from local sources? Factiva.com has 25 sources. For details about our products, please call your local help desk. To find out more about Reuters visit www.reuters.com. (Compiled by Swati Pandey)