Morning News Call - India, March 11

To access the newsletter, click on the link: http://share.thomsonreuters.com/assets/newsletters/Indiamorning/MNC_IN_03112016.pdf FACTORS TO WATCH 9:30 am: State Bank of India Chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya at CIBIL conference.

11:00 am: Budget session of parliament continues.

12:30 pm: Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia at an event.

5:00 pm: RBI to release weekly foreign exchange data.

5:30 pm: Government to release January industrial output data.

7:00 pm: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde at Advancing Asia conference.

Join Sreedhar G V, Chairman - All India Gems & Jewellery Trade Federation (GJF) at 10:00 am (IST) as he talks about the Jewellers Strike. Unhappy with the announcements with the budget, the Indian jewellers strike enters its 10th day with GIF attributing losses of almost 600 BN INR to the sector. We speak to the Chairman, Mr. Sreedhar on the reasons for the strike, possible solutions and an approximate timeline on if and when the strike will be called off. The strike is one of the largest in recent memory with over 300 associations, which consist of over 3 lakh manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers and artisans, among others, participating in the nationwide stir spearheaded by GIF.

Correction and clarification In a brief item in the March 10 edition of India Morning Newsletter HP Ranina was referred to inadvertently as having "dictatorships" at Parke Davis (India) Ltd., Zenith Computers Ltd., Pennwalt India Limited, and International Travel House Ltd, when it should have read "directorships".

INDIA TOP NEWS  Rajya Sabha passes bill to regulate real estate sector The Rajya Sabha passed a bill on Thursday to regulate the real estate sector, protect home buyers and ensure the timely execution of projects with an aim to boost investor confidence and stamp out illegal practices.

 Indian reforms aim to unlock $40 billion of oil and gas output India said on Thursday it hoped to unlock gas and oil resources worth almost $40 billion by simplifying licensing rules and offering price incentives to recover gas from difficult offshore fields.

 IMF official says global growth forecasts could be cut again The International Monetary Fund may cut 2016 global growth forecasts again in the coming weeks, according to a senior IMF official who on Thursday called on policymakers to take comprehensive measures to strengthen their economies.

 Indian firms plan to sign oil deals with Rosneft next week - sources India plans to sign energy deals with Russian oil major Rosneft next week to buy stakes in Siberian fields, two sources privy to the deal said, as New Delhi accelerates a push to secure overseas energy assets.