Evening News Round-up 1-Sep:

*Earnings growth, mkt returns to double in 4 years: BoAML

*Midcap index to top 20,000 in next two-and-half years: Udayan

*Nifty to hit 10,000 by next Budget, says Raamdeo Agrawal

*Interest in defensives still exist; like Maruti: Altamount

*Lot of opportunity for Japan in Indian FDI: ICICI’s Kochhar

*Sri Lankan president Rajapaksa likely to meet PM Modi in New York

*Japanese industry sees better ties with India under Modi as PM

*AP govt to execute two metro rail projects

*Ashok Leyland sales up 17% in August

*M&M auto sales down 7.2% in August

*Ssangyong may set up China manufacturing JV if sales rise

*Hyundai sales down 8% to 48,111 units in August

*Maruti at new high; Aug sales ride 27% on Celerio, Dzire, Ritz

*Natco Pharma at record high; partner Mylan files ANDA

*Debt private placements fall by 55%

*HDFC Life launches modified Health Assure Plan

*Airtel gains on acquiring Kenyan mobile brand yuMobile

*United Bank of India declares Kingfisher Airlines wilful defaulter

*Neyveli Lignite to invest over Rs 500 cr in renewable energy projects

*Brigade Enterprises soars 8% on realty pact with Singapore firm

*FDI in railways will usher modernization, generate jobs

*HCL Infosystems ties up with Hamilton Beach

*HSBC mfg PMI slows marginally in Aug, but remains ‘solid’

*Buoyed by demand, Wipro plans to double headcount in Muscat

*Security and land purchase issues ground NTPC’s Jharkhand mines

*AG asks apex court to exempt 46 mines from de-allocation

*Oil stocks up; Sept diesel under-recovery seen at Rs 0.08/L

*See FY15 GDP growth in 5.5-6% range: Rangarajan

*CBI court rejects bail plea of Registrar of Companies, Chennai

*Govt urges Supreme Court to not cancel some ‘illegal’ coal mines

*Nifty ends above 8000 for first time, Sensex at new high; banks rally

*Reliance Group to apply for new banking licence with Nippon

*Nippon, Reliance Group launch India funds for Japan investors