Mahindra & Mahindra will launch an open offer on April 6 to buy an additional 20% stake in micro-irrigation firm EPC Industrie, a notice on Thursday showed.

Asit C. Mehta is bullish on Allcargo Global Logistics and has recommended buy rating on the stock with a target of Rs 175 in its February 9, 2011 research report.

Indian equity benchmarks continued their downtrend today as well at 10:45 hours and were trading at new seven-month lows amid a choppy trade.

State Bank of India (SBI) was among major losers on the Sensex. It touched an intraday high of Rs 2,585.00 and an intraday low of Rs 2,490. At 10:41 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 2,496.10, down Rs 94.80, or 3.66%.

According to government sources, TRAI has recommended new prices for 2G Spectrum. The excess 2G spectrum is going to cost 7 companies Rs 16,235 crore, reports CNBC-TV18.

Executives at microblogging company Twitter Inc. have held "low level" talks with executives at Facebook Inc and Google Inc in recent months, about a possible takeover of Twitter, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.

Sterlite Industries was the top loser on the Sensex. It touched an intraday high of Rs 159.40 and an intraday low of Rs 152.55. At 09:43 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 155.00, down Rs 5.10, or 3.19%.

Omkar Speciality Chemicals' shares started the first session at Rs 92, down 6% as compared to issue price of Rs 98 on National Stock Exchange. It was a disappointing session for the company.

A blast took place inside an army recruitment centre in northwest Pakistan on Thursday, causing several casualties, a police official said.

On February 09, 201 SLOANE ROBINSON LLP A/C SR GLOBAL (MAURITIUS) LTD CLASSBASIA sold 363,953 shares of Aban Offshore at Rs 566.45 on the NSE. Yesterday the share closed at Rs 524.55.

On February 09, 201 MERRILL LYNCH CAPITAL MARKET ESPANA S.A. bought 1,642,000 shares of at Rs 99.31 on the BSE. Yesterday the share closed at Rs 97.45.

On February 09, 2011 FIDELITY INVESTMENT TRUST FIDELITY EMERGING MARKETS FUND sold 96,729 shares of Everonn Education at Rs 504.25 on the NSE. Yesterday the share closed at Rs 500.30.

At 09:35 hrs Reliance Infrastructure was quoting at Rs 575.95, up Rs 41.25, or 7.71%. The company's board is going to consider share buyback on February 14, reports CNBC-TV18.

Personal care, media sectors will be receiving astrological support, says Satish Gupta of astrostocktips.

Idea Cellular touched an intraday high of Rs 66 and an intraday low of Rs 60.70. At 09:33 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 61.70, down Rs 4.60, or 6.94%.

And you thought you could get information from the State using the RTI Act? Take your place in the line behind thousands of frustrated citizens.

United Spirits Q3 net profit was up 34.1% at Rs 130 crore versus Rs 96.9 crore, YoY. Its net sales were up 45.2% at Rs 1,960 crore versus Rs 1,350 crore, YoY, reports CNBC-TV18. It touched a 52-week low of Rs 965.05. At 09:30 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 971.40, down Rs 88.45, or 8.35%.

DB Realty has continued to fall. It touched an intraday high of Rs 129.70 and an intraday low of Rs 111. At 09:26 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 119, down Rs 10.05, or 7.79%.

GMR Infrastructure Q3 net loss was at Rs 22.2 crore versus profit of Rs 9.2 crore, YoY. The company's net sales were up at Rs 1,358.7 crore versus Rs 1,067 crore, YoY, reports CNBC-TV18. It touched an intraday high of Rs 37 and an intraday low of Rs 30.25. At 09:26 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 33.30, up Rs 1.55, or 4.88% on the NSE.

Mahindra and Mahindra board has okayed acquiring 38% in EPC Industries. It makes an open offer to acquire up to 34 lakh shares in EPC at Rs 66.55 per share, reports CNBC-TV18. It touched an intraday high of Rs 660 and an intraday low of Rs 651.90. At 09:18 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 659.70, up Rs 4.50, or 0.69% on the NSE.

New York-based India Equity Partners (IEP) is holding talks to acquire controlling stakes in BJN Group, which operates a chain of fine-dining restaurants under multiple brands, and Sagar Ratna, another large chain serving South Indian delicacies and operating mainly in the national capital region (NCR).

The benchmark Nifty was quiet in opening trade and was hovering just around its previous closing value, especially after a deep cut seen on Wednesday.

The Indian rupee opened at 45.55 per dollar versus 45.47 yesterday.

Money Market Operations as on February 09, 2011

United Spirits Q3 net profit was up 34.1% at Rs 130 crore versus Rs 96.9 crore, YoY.