Union Budget 2013 14

• Shorter-end bonds a rare bright spot in tough Indian markets

  A lacklustre 2013/14 Union Budget and the Reserve Bank of India turning gun-shy on interest rates have erased most of the strong debt gains this year, denting hopes that 2013 would be stellar for government bonds.

• Budget 2013: Farm credit enhanced by Rs 1.25 lakh crore for FY'14

  Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday announced a sharp increase of Rs 1.25 lakh crore in agriculture credit target to Rs 7 lakh crore for next fiscal year and allocated additional Rs 10,000 crore in subsidy for implementing the Food Security Bill.

• Budget 2013: Bank shares fall on Budget disappointment

  Shares in public sector banks fell on concerns about liquidity in the banking system after the government set its target for gross market borrowing at Rs 6.29 trillion in 2013/14, above estimates of less than Rs 6 trillion.

• Budget 2013: Rs 14,000 crore to be infused in public banks next fiscal year

  The government today said it will infuse Rs 14,000 crore in public sector banks next fiscal year to ensure that they meet the global capital adequacy norms.

• Rupee hits two-week high; oil, defence buying hurts

  The rupee rose on Wednesday, touching an over two-week high at one point, on optimism the government will deliver a fiscally disciplined 2013/14 budget, attracting more foreign flows into the country.