Stock Picking - Art Or Science: News You Can Use

Stock Picking - Art Or Science

If there is one Legal way to Become Rich early, it is by Investing in Stocks and Real Estate. In this Blog you will not see general news which are available at numerous sites, instead u will get filtered news and opinions which matter. Many a times some small but important news were overlooked because of simultaneous big event, I try to put all those news in my Blog. The Home Page shows posts of only last 10 days. To see all the posts click on the month in the Archive section.

Monday, April 17, 2006

News You Can Use

Gateway Distriparks - To Invest Rs 500 cr In Rail Logistics

Port-based logistics provider Gateway Distriparks is planning to invest Rs 500 crore in container rail logistics infrastructure in three years. The company will initially invest Rs 150 crore in acquiring rolling stock including axles, wheels and wagons. “We are expecting a final go-ahead from the Indian Railways to run container trains on routes such as Gurgaon-Pipavav and Gurgaon-Mundra. We will be initially running trains with Container Corporation of India (Concor),” said Capt C S Verma, chief executive officer, Gateway. Verma said the company is looking at running three trains a week on key routes in Gujarat. It is also looking at profitable and busy routes including Delhi-Nhava Sheva. Asked about the time frame for flagging off the first train, Verma said the final approval from the Indian Railways is expected soon and the company would be able to run container train along with Concor by early next month.

Gateway Distriparks is currently operating container freight stations (CFS) at Navi Mumbai, New Manali, Chennai and Visakhapatnam. It also operates an inland container depot (ICD) at Garhi Harsaru and had signed an agreement with Concor to work jointly for providing ICD and rail connectivity to various ports. On inorganic expansion plans, Verma said though the company has plans to grow via acquisitions, it is currently looking at growing organically. “Gateway Distriparks is keeping its option open towards inorganic growth too. When it comes to acquisition, we are looking at several CFS facilities in places such as Kochi and Navi Mumbai. We are looking at opportunities for cold chain storage facilities,” Verma said. The company is talking to various parties for acquiring land to construct CFS at Nhava Sheva near Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT). Verma said the company plans to become an end-to-end logistics solution company in the next five years which offers all transport solutions under one roof.

Ramco Systems - Signs Pacts With Foreign Airlines

Ramco Systems has announced signing of contracts with Jeju Air Co of South Korea and Air Methods Corporation of US for Ramco's aviation and MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) software suite. The signing of contracts was through the US-based Sabre Airline Solutions, Ramco's global partner. The company sees strong growth potential for its aviation solution software in India as the domestic carriers, which have placed orders for new aircraft, have to take care of basic maintenance works such as line maintenance, hangar maintenance and technical documents management though the new aircraft would be under warranty for some time. Targeted at start-up and low cost airlines and MRO service providers, Ramco’s aviation and MRO software has been designed to reduce overhead costs, manage inventory, increase airplane availability and improve overall business processes.

Addressing a press conference, Jim Fitzgerald, vice president - global aviation solutions, Ramco Systems Corporation, said that Ramco's end-to-end online MRO solutions would help enhance carriers enhance reliability, control and reduce operating costs and meet regulatory requirements. He added that the software would help create, incorporate and maintain an new business processes that help airlines change and adapt and run more efficiently The commercial aircraft MRO industry is expected to grow by 48 per cent in India and the annual MRO spending for IT is likely to be $700 million (Rs 3100 crore) in India, said M M T Nambi, general manager - aviation solutions, Ramco Systems.

The company is also planning to add over 50 professionals every year in its aviation solutions centre in Chennai, which currently employs about 230. The company has been offering solutions to aviation segment over the last seven years and has about 15 customers that include Virgin Atlantic, Indian Airlines, SpiceJet, Air New Zealand's Safe Air and ConAir aviation group among others. Aviation solution contributes 25 per cent to the total revenue of enterprise solutions segment of the company.