It is the right time to completely deregulate fuel prices and limit petroleum subsidies to targeted users of kerosene.

Bank of Amercia-Merrill Lynch (BofA-ML) says the recent partial diesel price hike will inflict a 1.20 per cent burden on the already sticky inflation and that the price index will remain elevated throughout the next fiscal.

A 14.2-kg LPG cylinder that consumers will have to buy after they exhaust their enhanced quota of 9 subsidised bottles in a year will cost Rs 942 from Friday, according to Indian Oil Corp (IOC).

The government move to allow hike in diesel prices is likely to add 120 basis points to inflation, which is expected to be in the 7-7.5 per cent range in the March quarter, a Bank of America Merrill Lynch report said.

Led by Indian Oil Corp, shares of oil companies shot up by as much as 19 per cent after the government virtually deregulated diesel, raising prices by 50 paise per litre and planned similar monthly hikes in future to cut record subsidies.

Deutsche Equities India said the recent government actions have completely changed their views on Asia's third largest economy and this is reflected in the bullish target.

Maruti Suzuki Alto has also been a runaway success, thanks to its unique price positioning and reliability coupled with cost of maintenance. Now, Maruti has raised the bar with its new model, the Alto 800.

With the launch of new version of Alto, Maruti is trying to thwart rivals attempts at eroding its market share in the entry-level segment in the run-up to the festive season.

Maruti Suzuki, India's top car manufacturer, is eyeing a 10 per cent sales growth in the second half of the current fiscal, backed by the refurbished design of its best-selling model Alto and festive season sales.

Maruti Suzuki India has launched its new Alto in petrol and CNG options, priced between Rs 2.44 lakh to Rs 3.56 lakh. The new variants promise an average of at least 22.74 kilometres per litre.

Petrol prices may be cut by about Rs 1.60 per litre later in October as appreciation of rupee against the US dollar has helped state firms make profit on the fuel.

The double whammy of rising input cost (crude oil prices) and fall in value of rupee, which has made imports costlier, would mean that oil PSUs would end the fiscal with a huge Rs 1.88 lakh crore revenue loss on selling fuel below cost.

The simplest way to save on petrol costs is to buy a fuel efficient car. So, Auto Bild give you the most miserly petrol cars in four price brackets.

Under the offer, customers have to make a down payment of Rs 1,62,220 and pay an EMI of Rs 9999 for 48 months on purchase of Rapid Active 1.6 MPI MT model.

Business Today Editor Chaitanya Kalbag takes a look at options that can turn around the deep pessimism hanging over us and give global investors the feeling that India is still a good place to do business.

The Reserve Bank of India's anti-inflationary stance, adopted a little over two years ago, is still in effect. For, the central bank has kept the policy rates unchanged despite concerns over falling growth of the economy.

Is the economy chugging along or nearly stalled? Depends on how you look at it.

Maruti Suzuki India (MSI), the country's largest car maker, has cut production of some petrol models, including the best selling Alto, as sales declined due to high fuel costs.

Petrol does not account for more than 10 per cent of the total fuel consumption in India. The big question is over how the government plans to deal with the prices of diesel, LPG and kerosene, which it controls.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor has introduced a limited edition Corolla Altis Aero at Rs 11,47,748 (ex-showroom Delhi) to mark the tenth anniversary of the luxury sedan in India.