Daily Economic News - 17 September 2014

Indian firms most positive in business sentiment, china slips: Survey
Business sentiment among Asia's top companies fell sharply in the third quarter, weighed down by worries about China's slowing economy, a possible end to the U.S. Federal Reserve's stimulus policy and a decline in the outlook for regional economic hubs like Singapore, a Thomson Reuters/INSEAD survey showed.
Companies in India were the most positive with a maximum score of 100 for the second consecutive quarter after pro-business leader Narendra Modi was elected prime minister. In contrast, Taiwanese businesses were the most negative, with a score of 33.
Thailand was the second-most positive, with a score of 90.
(Source: The Economic Times)

FDI more than doubles to $ 3.5 billion in July
Foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into India more than doubled to $ 3.5 billion in July, according to data released by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. Amongst the top 10 sectors, telecommunications received the maximum FDI at USD 2.33 billion followed by services ($ 1 billion), pharmaceuticals ($ 886 million) and construction ($ 430 million) during the first-four months of the fiscal.
During the period, India received maximum FDI from Mauritius at $ 3.38 billion, followed by Singapore ($ 1.66 billion), Netherlands ($ 1.49 billion), Japan ($ 834 million), UK ($ 824 million) and the US ($ 351 million).
In 2013-14, the FDI inflows in India were $ 24.29 billion against $ 22.42 billion in 2012-13.
(Source: The Economic Times)

Asian Development Bank to lend $63.3 million for urban services in North Karnataka
The government has signed an agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for $63.3 million loan to improve urban municipal services in 14 towns in north Karnataka. This is the fourth and the last tranche of loan under the North Karnataka Urban Sector Investment Programme to help upgrade infrastructure. The programme includes expansion of the potable water systems to provide continuous water supply with private sector participation in 12 towns, completion of sewerage networks in three towns and improvements to the road network in two towns.
The $270 million overall investment programme aims to improve basic urban services for at least 4.3 million people living in 25 North Karnataka towns by providing them with improved water supply, faster urban transportation, and other public facilities.
(Source: The Economic Times)

India's infrastructure mkt to reach USD 6.6 trn by 2025: Report
India's infrastructure market is expected to touch USD 6.6 trillion by 2025, which will be nearly 12.5 per cent of the Asia-Pacific, says a report.
According to consultancy firm PwC, the Asia Pacific infrastructure market is expected to grow by 7-8 per cent a year over the next decade to over USD 53.6 trillion by 2025 and representing nearly 60 per cent of the world total.
The huge growth in infrastructure spending will be driven by key factors such as Asia's economic growing prominence, trade competitiveness, and the current widely recognised infrastructure deficit across the emerging markets of this region.
(Source: The Financial Express)

Thaiindianet. Team

17 September 2014