According to a new survey conducted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the small and medium enterprises (SME) sector in the country is in favor of allowing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in single band retail in the country.

The survey showed that most SMEs believe that the entry of foreign players would be beneficial to them in the long term. About two-thirds of small and medium companies from across India see the entry of foreign players as an opportunity. On the other hand, only about 21 per cent said that it would threaten their business.

Retail giant, Wal-Mart has started offering the new Nokia Lumia 710 for free with a two-year contract, raising doubts among technology enthusiasts over the ability of the new Windows Phone to attract customers without the attractive offer.

T-Mobile and Best Buy are offering the same device for $49.99 with two-year contract. It is believed that the attractive offer by Wal-Mart is not because phone is not attracting customers but because the retailer wants to have a competitive edge over others.

The Indian government has given its approval to the proposal to allow 100% foreign direct investment in single-brand retail in the country.

The move will allow foreign retail brands such as Marks & Spencer, Burberry and Louis Vuitton to operate independently in the country and the companies are likely to convert their 51 per cent stake in joint ventures to a 100 share in order to own the companies running their stores in the multi billion dollar Indian retail market.

Finance ministry Pranab Mukherjee has said that the government is trying to build consensus for implementing foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail in India.

He said that the government has not scrapped its plans to implement the decision to allow FDI in the retail sector. Mukherjee has said that the government is still committed to implementing its foreign investment policy in retail sector in the country, despite its decision to suspend the decision due to overwhelming opposition by opposition parties and traders.

India's union finance minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee has said that the government is still committed to implementing its foreign investment policy in retail sector in the country, despite its decision to suspend the decision due to overwhelming opposition by opposition parties and traders.

"We are working hard to build consensus. Consensus building takes time. Not implementing FDI policy in retail does not mean we have shelved it,'' he said. He was speaking at the 106th Annual Session of PHD Chamber of Commerce.

The authorities in the United States have said that they do not wish to comment on an internal matter of India, but only said that the allowing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the retail sector in the country would benefit farmers as well other citizens.

Robert D Hormats, the Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment said that, "I think they have to work through their domestic political process and I don't want to comment on their internal affairs at this point."

The Indian government might be planning to delay its plans to allow Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the retail sector in the country, according to opposition leaders.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced last month that the government would allow more FDI in retail sector allowing international retail players like Wal-Mart, Tesco and Carrefour to enter the Indian market.

India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has refused to budge to pressure from the opposition as well as political allies over the issue of allowing more Foreign direct Investment (FDI) in the retail sector in the country.

The move will allow global giants like Wal-Mart, Tesco and Carrefour to enter the Indian market.

The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has stood his ground on the issue of allowing more Foreign direct Investment (FDI) in the retail sector in the country, a move that will allow global giants like Wal-Mart, Tesco and Carrefour to enter the Indian market.

Global retail giant, Wal-Mart Stores is not likely to use its global brand name for its retail operations in India, according to a senior official from its local joint venture partner Bharti Enterprises.

Wal-Mart and other global retailers are planning to launch front-end entry into the India market after the Indian government announced its decision to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in the supermarket sector in the country.

The union government in India hap s opened up the multi billion dollar supermarket sector to international players.

The cabinet approved a plan o allow 51% foreign direct investment in the supermarket sector in the country. The move will allow global giants like Wal-Mart, Tesco and Carrefour to enter the Indian market.

Shares in the retail sectors rose today ahead of a key meeting of the Union Cabinet in which they members will arrive on a decision regarding allowing 51% foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail in the country.

The Indian government is most likely to relax norms in retailing and allow global supermarket chains such as Walmart, Tesco and Carrefour to set up retail chains in the country.

The department of industrial policy and promotion of the India government has put forward a proposal to allow 51% FDI in multi-brand retail and 100% in single-brand retail in the country. Most union ministries are believed to have given their consent to the proposal and a decision is expected next week on the matter.

US online retailer, Amazon has said that its profits plunged 73 per cent in its latest earning news. The company’s revenues were at 10.88 billion while the stock price, which were at $230 a share at the beginning of the week were at $217.20.

The company has a trailing price/earnings ratio of 115 and there is a possibility that it will suffer an operating loss in the fourth quarter. However, many believe that the company could be one of the exceptions and could turn around its prospects.

WHSmith has announced its decision to start selling two e-book readers in association with Canadian retailer Kobo from next week.

WHSmith will offer the Kobo e-book reader providing access to the Kobo online store that has a collection of more than 2.2 million e-books. WH Smith will start selling Wi-Fi enabled Kobo Wireless eReader priced at £89.99 and Kobo eReader Touch priced at £109.99.

Technical Analyst Husseini Wadharia of Techno Shares has maintained 'buy' rating on Bata India Limited (RIL) stock with a target of Rs 435.

Mr. Surekha said that the stock can be purchased with a stop loss of Rs 414.

The stock of the company, on April 18, closed at Rs 420.30 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

The share price has seen a 52-week high of Rs 437 and a low of Rs 235 on BSE.

Current EPS & P/E ratio stood at 14.83 and 28.39 respectively.

Technical analyst Sudarshan Sukhani has maintained 'buy' rating on Shoppers Stop Limited stock with a target of Rs 363.

According to analyst, the investors can buy the stock with a stop loss of Rs 337

The stock of the company, on April 19, closed at Rs 344.10 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

Current EPS & P/E ratio stood at 6.87 and 50.53 respectively.

The share price has seen a 52-week high of Rs 396 and a low of Rs 185.55 on BSE.

Technical analyst Anil Singhvi has maintained 'buy' rating on Brandhouse Retails Limited stock with an intraday target of Rs 26.

According to analyst, the stock of the company can be bought with a stop loss of Rs 23.50.

The shares of the company, on March 22, closed at Rs 23.90 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

The share price has seen a 52-week high of Rs 59.40 and a low of Rs 21 on BSE.

The Economic Survey for year 2010-11 has been tabled in the Parliament today. The Union Finance minister had presented the Economic Survey for the fiscal year 10-11. As per the survey report, the retail sector has been given more emphasis. In this report, foreign direct investment (FDI) in the retail sector has been recommended.

Mulberry, the famous handbag maker, is the latest luxury brand to have been freed from the clutches of gloom period. The retailer saw its sale go up by 66 per cent during the Christmas period.

Considering the fact that the latest official figures have shown retail performance to be one of the worst till now, the rise is really good. Data collected by the Office for National Statistics, UK said that the December sales were flat during the year. They have gone down by 0.8 per cent during the month.