Nifty futures on the Singapore Exchange rose 0.2  percent. The MSCI-Asia Pacific index, excluding Japan rose 0.3 percent.   Asian share markets edged lower ahead of a European Central Bank policy decision and remarks from ECB President Mario Draghi on prospects for the euro zone economy.

U.S. stocks ended mostly flat on Wednesday, taking another pause in the recent rally that has driven the S&P 500 to five-year highs, as transportation and technology shares lost ground.

Last day of two-day Reserve Bank of India board meeting  The Indian government to sell about $2.14 billion worth of shares in NTPC Ltd. The floor price has been set at 145 rupees, or a 4.5 percent discount to its Wednesday’s close.

ACC Ltd, Ambuja Cements Ltd quarterly earnings. For additional press items double click NOTE: Reuters has not verified third-party stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

Indian tax authorities are claiming the Indian arm of Vodafone Group PLC under-priced shares issued to a Mauritius-based group company in order to pay lower taxes, The Economic Times reported citing two persons familiar with the development as having told the newspaper’s TV station ET NOW.

India’s finance minister warned on Wednesday that cuts in the security budget could affect the country’s defence preparedness and said he will spend more money on security when the economy recovers.

The finance ministry is looking at taxing transactions on commodity exchanges to provide better regulation and monitoring of the market, said finance ministry officials.  The Supreme Court said Securities and Exchange Board of India was free to seize Sahara Group’s assets and freeze its bank accounts.

Godrej Industries Ltd’s October-December net profit more than doubled to 1.79 billion rupees from 847.3 million rupees a year earlier. JSW Steel Ltd and Jindal Power and Steel have secured a key green clearance to mine iron ore and manganese in the Saranda Forests located in a Naxal-affected area of Jharkhand.

The United States on Wednesday filed a challenge with the World Trade Organization over elements of India’s national solar program, which it said discriminates against foreign solar products in violation of a core global trade rule.

The home ministry has barred Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd, Gammon India Ltd, Lanco Infratech Ltd, Punj Lloyd Ltd and IVRCL  from participating in three domestic port projects due to security issues, a senior official in the shipping ministry said.

India could be “shut out” of the market for aircraft finance if carriers such as troubled Kingfisher Airlines Ltd  fail to return planes they cannot pay for, a senior banker told Reuters on Wednesday.   Tech Mahindra Ltd posted flat earnings for its third fiscal quarter, falling short of expectations, hurt by a one-off payment at unit Satyam Computer Services Ltd.

Cipla Ltd reported a 25.5 percent rise in quarterly profit on robust sales but slightly missed street estimates as taxes surged.   Private equity fund Fidelity India Capital Advisor will purchase around 15 percent stake in home furnisher and decorator Kurlon for 1.5-2 billion rupees, The Economic Times reported, citing two investment bankers with direct knowledge of the development.