Evening News Round-up 17-Jul:

*Rate-cut by end 2014 doable, core inflation key: Macquarie

*Brent crude to inch $2-3 higher this quarter: Citi

*Macro environment improving, markets set to do well: I-Pru

*Govt agrees for debate on Gaza, but says not now

*Rajnath rubbishes AAP charge on horse-trading

*Opposition parties stage walkout from TN assembly

*RBI, Monetary Authority of Hong Kong ink MoU for info exchange

*Telangana to float public limited firm for tourism promotion

*Bajaj Auto Q1 net at Rs 740cr, operating profit margin weak

*Adani Ports at life high; analysts upbeat on Mundra SEZ nod

*Crompton Greaves up 13%, to demerge consumer product biz

*M&M tanks 5% post block deal, stock goes ex-dividend

*City Union Bank hits record high after QIP oversubscribed

*27 special economic zone developers seek more time to execute projects from the government

*Microsoft expected to announce more than 6,000 job cuts

*Groupon India, Spice Safar to offer Rs 100 off on rail tickets

*Volkswagen goes local in India to cut costs, lift sales

*Kerala tourism to explore water adventure sports

*Bengal govt cancels PPAs for 1000 Mw

*Maxx to launch 9 smartphones; eyes Rs 3,600 cr revenue in FY15

*Capillary Tech raises $14 mn in funding as IT startup interest grows

*Polaris bags Best Green IT Award at  National IT Leadership and Excellence

*Tech M partners WSU for aerospace engineering, automotive testing

*Murphy Oil’s Malaysia assets draw interest from Mitsubishi, ONGC

*ONGC opposes stake sale before issues resolved

*NTPC sounds warning as coal stocks near depletion

*Sensex, Nifty end flat; Tata Power gains 4% on tariff hike; Coal India in demand, ONGC slips further

*RBI norms to lead better evolution of capital mkt: L&T Fin

*DERC approves 8.32% tariff hike across Delhi; 9.52% in areas under NDMC

*Nearly 50% power plants have less than 7 days coal stock: CEA