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MCX Starts Options Trading in Crude Oil Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) on Tuesday commenced options trading in crude oil contract. The contract witnessed traded volume of 2,058 lots with value of ?101.67 crore, as of 05:30 pm on Tuesday. The exchange has currently launched June and July 2018 option contracts in crude oil, with one MCX crude oil futures contract (100 barrel) as the underlying. — Our Bureau The Economic Times, New Delhi, 16th May 2018

 ITR-2 forms for AY2018-19 launched The income tax department has launched return form ITR-2 for assessment year 2018-19 for individuals and Hindu Undivided Family having income from any sources except profits and gains of business and profession, including NRIs. The ITR-1 Sahaj was activated earlier by the department for resident Indians having income from salaries, house property and bank interest with total income of up to Rs 50 lakh. The department has activated three ITRs that includes ITR-1 and ITR-4 that was activated on May 10 on the e-filing website. Four more ITRs are left to be activated after the Central Board of Direct Taxes notified them on April 5. “Other ITRs wil be available shortly,” the department said. Seven ITR forms are available for individuals and companies to file their returns. The last date for filing the ITR is July 31. The Times of India, New Delhi, 16th May 2018

Rupee plunges below 68 for first time since Jan ’17 The rupee breached the 68 level against the US dollar for the first time since January 2017 due to the political uncertainty following the Karnataka state elections. The domestic currency, which had closed at 67.52 on Monday, weakened to 67.75 in early trade and gained to 67.56. However, news of a fractured poll verdict led to the currency weakening to 68.11 at close. According to Centrum Direct senior VP and treasury head M Hariprasad, the currency has weakened during the peak season for international travel. Also, those pursuing overseas education make their forex purchases in mid-June and would end up paying more for the same amount of dollars. While the RBI has been consistently intervening in the market by selling dollars, dealers said that the central bank did not appear to be trying to reverse the direction of the domestic currency and the intervention was more aimed at curbing volatility. The rupee has been the worst p

 Niti Governing Council to Discuss ‘New India 2022’ NITI Aayog, the government’s premier think tank, plans to hold the fourth meeting of its governing council next month to discuss the agenda for ‘New India 2022’ to expedite economic growth over the next four years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the chairman of the Aayog, is likely to chair the meeting, which is expected to be attended by key Union ministers and senior bureaucrats, people aware of the matter said. The Aayog has been working on the strategy document or development agenda for ‘New India 2022’ for a while. Earlier, it had planned to come out with three documents – a three-year action agenda, seven-year mediumterm strategy paper and a 15-year vision document. In a presentation last year, it had said that the foundation for freedom from six problems — poverty, dirt, corruption, terrorism, casteism and communalism — would be laid by 2022, when India celebrates 75 years of independence Chief ministers of all states and

Cabinet rejig: Piyush Goyal to run finance; Irani removed from I&B ministry Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore was promoted as Minister of State (independent charge) for the I&B ministry Railways Minister Piyush Goyal has emerged the chief troubleshooter for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the past couple of years. On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned to Goyal to take over the reins of the finance ministry while Arun Jaitley recovers from an operation. The communique from the President’s House said Goyal had been “temporarily assigned” the portfolios of finance and corporate affairs during “the period of indisposition” of Jaitley. He would continue to hold the railways and coal ministry portfolios. The PM took the opportunity to effect a minor reshuffle of his council of ministers, including ending Smriti Irani’s nearly nine-month controversy-ridden stint as information and broadcasting (I&B) minister. Irani will continue to be textiles minister. Irani was given t

Regulator Proposes Listed Cos Disclose Payment Delays Sebi on Monday proposed that listed companies have to disclose any delay or expected delay in payment related to their debt securities within 24 hours from occurrence of such an event.The proposal comes against the backdrop of various instances regarding non-compliance with listing norms by issuers of non-convertible debt securities (NCDs) or non-convertible redeemable preference shares (NCRPS). Besides, Sebi has received representations from various stakeholders flagging difficulties in complying with various provisions of Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirement. The new proposals regarding NCDs and NCRPs are aimed at ensuring ease of compliance on the part of the issuers who have listed their debt securities, according to Sebi. In a consultation paper, Sebi has suggested that any delay or expected delay in payment of interest or dividend or principal amount as per the due date for these instruments should be disclos

RBI may Go for 3 Rate Hikes from Dec Quarter: Report The RBI is expected to begin its rate hike cycle from December quarter, and may go for three rate hikes by 2019 taking the key policy rate to 6.75%, says a Morgan Stanley report. It said a significant overshoot of inflation relative to RBI’s target is not likely. Moreover, the economic recovery will be on a surer footing by the fourth quarter of 2018 and this might prompt RBI to go for a rate hike. “With end demand holding up well, private capex appears poised for a recovery later this year,” Morgan Stanley said. The Economic Times, New Delhi, 15th May 2018