Noted

Mobilised: By India Inc., $22.3 billion in loans so far this year, 18 per cent more than what it had raised over the same period last year. Led by Tata Motors’ $3-billion loan for the Jaguar-Land Rover acquisition, the third-largest Indian loan on record, India Inc. raised $22.3 billion against $18.9 billion in the year ago period, says global consultancy firm Dealogic.

Emerged: Facebook, the most popular social networking site in the world, with 132 million visitors in June, overtaking MySpace. Facebook’s visitor growth has outpaced MySpace’s by 153 per cent on an annualised basis. Other social networks showing strong global growth include Hi5 (100 per cent), Friendster (50 per cent), Orkut (41 per cent), and Bebo (32 per cent).

Projected: To remain in double digits, inflation, currently ruling at more than 12 per cent, till the end of this year. The fiscal measures initiated by the government are expected to yield results only by December, says a report by Dun & Bradstreet.

Rejected: By the Indian government, French banking major Societe Generale’s (SocGen) proposal for a 35:65 joint venture with SBI for custodial and depository services after RBI raised concerns over the securities scam in Europe that cost SocGen $7 billion early this year.

Cleared: By the Public-Private Partnership Appraisal Committee, 10 National Highway projects worth an estimated Rs 10,507 crore. These projects are located in eight states: Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Kerala, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, UP and Uttarakhand.

Lapsed: The regulatory approvals for the Anil Ambaniowned Reliance Infratel’s planned Rs 6,000-crore IPO. The buzz is that the company has shelved its plans for now in the wake of the weak secondary market conditions. The issue may be revived if market conditions improve, although there is no clarity on any timeframe yet.