Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee will kick start pre-budget consultations on Tuesday, with industry leaders getting the first opportunity to present him their wish list that includes continuation of stimulus. Mukherjee has called industry representatives, mainly the heads of the Confederation of Indian Industry, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Assocham.

Growth forecast

New Delhi, Jan. 1: Indian economy will expand 8 per cent during 2010-11 and return to the high growth trajectory of 9 per cent a year later, Prime Ministers economic adviser C. Rangarajan said today.

Tata Steel

Jamshedpur, Jan. 1: Tata Steel managing director H.M. Nerurkar today said the New Year would be as challenging as last year as global recession was not over. He said the global economy was slowly picking up but the steel sector was not booming.

Markets closed

Mumbai, Jan. 1: The Bombay Stock Exchange, the National Stock Exchange and bullion market were closed today on account of New Year.