Top UK stocks cruised to a higher finish on Friday, leaving the FTSE-100 index up on the week as investors cheered powerful US jobs data, snapping up mining stocks and airline British Airways.
The Hong Kong dollar was firm but off its morning highs on Friday afternoon as the yen edged down slightly against the greenback and players awaited key US payrolls data.
The Swiss franc eased against the dollar and euro on Friday amid continued unwinding of safe haven positions taken after last month's bomb attacks in Madrid and on expectations a global economic recovery is gaining pace.
The yen slipped from near a four-year peak against the dollar on Friday as Japanese investors bought fresh foreign assets at the start of the fiscal year in a market otherwise becalmed ahead of key US jobs data.
The dollar shed most of its losses against the euro on Thursday after a US manufacturing index showed stronger than expected growth in March, a hopeful sign for economic recovery.
Most Asian currencies rose against the US dollar on Friday but fear of intervention restricted gains and political worries weighed on the Philippine peso and Indonesian rupiah.
The Indian rupee ended Friday weaker, snapping a nine-day rally in which it rose 3.5 percent against the dollar, as the central bank stepped up intervention which it had recently scaled down.
Sterling fell more than one percent against the dollar on Friday as the greenback gained across the board on a much stronger than expected US jobs report.
The dollar rose broadly ahead of an eagerly-awaited US employment report on Friday, recovering almost a yen from four-year lows against the Japanese currency set earlier this week.
Fifteen more people have been transferred from a detention center for suspected al Qaeda and Taleban fighters at a US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and freed in their home countries, the Pentagon said Friday.
A bomb was found Friday on a high-speed line between Madrid and Seville just three weeks after 191 people were killed in attacks on four Spanish commuter trains, officials said.
The United States urged Nato on Friday to consider taking a wider role in stabilising Iraq after a sovereign Iraqi government takes office in July but Germany said the alliance had enough on its plate.
The United States said Friday that Israel should leave Yasser Arafat alone and not act to kill or expel him, following veiled threats against the Palestinian leader by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
The al Qaeda network has published a new military strategy urging supporters toward fresh attacks and listing Jews and Americans as prime targets, Germany's ZDF television reported Friday.
The UN atomic watchdog has found traces of bomb-grade uranium in Iran at sites other than the two already named, but diplomats said on Friday it was unclear if this boosted US claims that Tehran wants an atom bomb.
India's Supreme Court banned on Friday political commercials perceived as slanderous after the major parties accused each other of hitting below the belt ahead of national elections that begin April 20.
Maverick TV executive Michael Grade was named chairman of the BBC on Friday as Britain's public broadcaster recovers from an unprecedented judicial savaging of its pre-war Iraq coverage.
US officials knew months before September 11, 2001 that Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network was planning to use aircraft to carry out a terrorist attack, a former FBI translator has alleged.
A Turkish court ruled on Friday that four former lawmakers jailed in 1994 for links to Kurdish rebels must remain in prison during their retrial, rebuffing calls by the European Union and rights groups for their release.
Sri Lankans turned out in large numbers to vote Friday at an unusually peaceful election called to settle a power struggle that has cast a shadow over the island's already faltering peace process.
With reference to the various letters in the print media on the above subject, we wish to inform the consumers that we have raised this issue, which is a serious threat to the health of the consumers, especially school-going children, through debates and
In the most recent episode (Sunday, March 21) of Gai gee duniya geet maire of a TV channel, the compere, Annu Kapoor, distorted the musical history of the sub-continent, either by design or due to a lack of knowledge of sub-continental classical music.
The man who coined the slogan "Shining India" for the country's economic achievements never dreamt it would become a potent electoral weapon in the hands of the ruling Hindu nationalists.
The silence of the deserted streets of Nepal's normally bustling second city, nestled beneath the towering Himalayas, speaks volumes about the growing sense of fear and despair across this country.
In a report released on Tuesday, the State Bank of Pakistan has revealed some distressing details about the education scene, reminding the government that its aim of reducing poverty through sustainable growth accelerating strategy can succeed only if it
While addressing the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry the other day, Federal Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz said the government would take further steps to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI) to the country.
Restructuring of the Sindh Education Department is on the cards, Sindh Chief Secretary Dr Mutawakkal Kazi stated this while talking to a delegation of the Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association (SPLA) here on Friday.
Opening the 18th national orthopaedic congress here on Friday, Balochistan Chief Minister Mohammad Yousuf said that Japan had provided Rs 170 million for the installation of most modern medical equipment, apparatus and gadgets for better surgical and medi
Balochistan Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani has said there is no issue of sectarianism in the province as is evident from sectarian peace and harmony prevailing in the provincial capital and other parts of the province.
The District Officer (DO) Education, Secondary and Higher Secondary (Male), City District Government Karachi (CDGK), has notified school timings to be observed during the next academic session from April 1, 2004.
A concrete policy based on integrated approach having key focus on employment generation is necessary to ensure economic stability and rapid development of industrial sector of the country.
Chairman, Frontier Customs Agents Group NWFP and member SCCI standing committee on Railway Dryport, Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi has demanded the government to cut down import duties and merged all kind of tax on imports into a fixed limit of the customs duty.
Pakistan Ambassador to the US Ashraf Jehangir Qazi has said the conditional pardon to Dr A. Q. Khan is the appropriate thing to do, once he made unreserved confessions before the nation about his network having indulged in leakage of nuclear know-how.
Shedding beards, appointment of a sports psychologist, green-top wickets and bowling coach - these are some of the remedies being suggested to the hapless Pakistani team after its crushing defeat at the hands of India in the Multan Test.
India could complete a clean sweep in the ongoing three-Test series in Pakistan after their historic victory in the opening match, former Australian captain Ian Chappell has said in a column.
India's maiden Test victory on Pakistan soil ruined a carefully planned strategy to ensure the home side won the first Test at Multan, a top Pakistan official admitted on Friday.
Pakistan coach Javed Miandad has told his bowlers they need to get their act together if they are to level the series against India after losing the first test by an innings and 52 runs.
At least seven former Indian skippers would visit Pakistan to watch the last two Test matches between India and Pakistan at Lahore and Rawalpindi on invitation by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Pakistan cricket team's former captain and legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram was granted pre-arrest interim bail by the Sindh High Court (SHC) in criminal breach of trust case on Friday.
The injury suffered by Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly, was not serious and hopefully he should be fit for the third Test against Pakistan, a specialist doctor, who examined him said on Friday.
The LCCI Vice President Shahzad Ali Malik has demanded of the Federal Commerce Ministry and Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) to help exporters implement Container Security Initiative (CSI) and the Custom Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), the two
In response to Higher Education Commission's directive, the Punjab University (PU) has submitted a list of PhD lecturers so that their promotion cases could be decided.
Pakistan International Container Terminal (PICT) has started its operation with new port handling equipment after completion of $30 million Phase-1 of the container handling project in the proximity of Karachi Port.
Provincial Minister for Food and Agriculture Arif Mustafa Jatoi has taken serious notice of excess recovery of charges and setting up illegal roadside 'check-post' by the contractors of Agriculture Market Committees in various parts of the province.
Pakistan trade offices abroad may be given targets to increase exports by motivating importers in their assigned countries as well as focussing on enhancing exports of non-traditional items from Pakistan.
The Chief Justice (CJ) of Lahore High Court (LHC) while exercising his powers under Section 10 of the Punjab Civil Servants Act, 1974 terminated the services of Additional District & Sessions Judge Pakpattan, Syed Munir Hussain Shah with immediate effect.
The Chief Justice of Lahore High Court has made transfers and postings of eight senior civil judges after promoting them as additional district and session judge.
The Karachi Branch Council (KBC) of the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMAP) is organising a daylong book fair at the institute's head office here on Saturday (April 3).-PR
The Lahore High Court issued notice to federal government for April 8, in a petition filed by Hamza Shahbaz Sharif son of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) President and former Punjab Chief Minister, Mian Shahbaz Sharif, praying to the court to direct the re
An accountability court granted physical remand of former police officer Yousaf Sial for fortnight as special prosecutor contended that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials wanted to interrogate him further.
The Sindh Board of Revenue has proposed to increase the property survey fee by 100 percent in the province. It has been proposed that the fee should be increased from Rs 100 to Rs 200.
The final segment of bridge trials concluded last week at the Aslam Bridge Hall, National Stadium Karachi, to select the national bridge team to represent the country at the World Bridge Olympiad to be held in Istanbul, Turkey, on 23 October to 6 November
"Austria is considering to expand trade ties with Pakistan and in this context a trade delegation from Austria will be visiting Pakistan early in October this year," said Nikolaus Seiwald, Commercial Counsellor of Austria for Pakistan stationed in UAE.
Somewhat troubling and heavy the nagging thought about how much real freedom will Pakistan's growing number of channels have. That is to say, in the years to come, or even in the near future, how much freedom and latitude will the television channels be a
The Federal Tax Ombudsman has held that clearing agents cannot be penalised for import of substandard goods unless it is proved that they were co-partners with the importer.
The sporting fans must be enjoying two major events, the ninth SAF Games being held at the sprawling and majestic Islamabad Sports Complex built by the Chinese, and the Test matches under the programme being staged even nearer the multi-nation disciplines
A three-member Supreme Court bench, which partly heard arguments on the admissibility of APNS petition against the law governing the employees will take up the case again on Monday.
Sportsman spirit demands acceptance of defeat, of course in a well-contested match, with open hearts and grace, but if the match turns one-sided and the defeat is nothing but a total surrender, it gives rise to suspicion. The recently-concluded Pakistan-I
In order to facilitate processing of applications and issuance of visas to bona fide business travellers to India, the High Commission of India in Islamabad has laid down the following procedure.
Three exhibitions of paintings and one of jewelry, a dance performance, a classical music concert, Mehdi Hasan's press conference and Mela Chiraghaan were the highlights of the week under review.
Pakistan Sugar Mills Association, Sindh Zone (PSMA-SZ) has requested the Sindh Cane Commissioner to withdraw the advice to the sugar mills to deposit the surcharge at the rate of 0.15 paisa per 40 kilograms with effect from 1991-92 to date with the govern
Date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) belongs to the Family Palmaceae. It was under cultivation about 5,000 years ago and Saudi Arabia or India is considered as its real home. The date palm is a genus of about 10 species and phoenix dactylifera is the only date,
Reckitt Benckiser Pakistan said that sales grew by 15.5 percent while its profit before tax depicted a decline of 30 percent in the year ended December 31, 2003.
This week's first showing was the preview of Iqbal Hussain's exhibits at the World Bank office. It was an opportunity to brush shoulders with the people who work there and was not to be missed under any circumstances as the place has held an aura of intri
Reckitt Benckiser Pakistan said that sales grew by 15.5 percent while its profit before tax depicted a decline of 30 percent in the year ended December 31, 2003.
The 21st Annual Haiku Mushaira was held by the Japan Cultural Centre of the Consulate General of Japan, Karachi in collaboration with Pakistan Japan Cultural Association, Sindh and Danishgah (Association for Retarded Children). About 40 renowned poets and
The Collectorate of Customs, Port Qasim, collected a record revenue of Rs 33.2 billion from duty and taxes during the first nine months (July-March) of the current fiscal year. The collection is up by 16 percent of the revenue yielded during the same peri
In the present world scenario Middle East is the focal point stretching down to South Asia via Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine witnessing rather going through the most brutal war imposed by a super power and its protégé ie United States of America and ill
All Pakistan Gem Merchants and Jeweller's Association (APGMJA) has suggested that the import of raw platinum, raw palladium, cut diamonds, and gemstones may be allowed for jewellery manufacturers at one to two percent import duty and nil sales tax.
One will have to look beyond Amin Guljee to understand him. He is mercurial and impulsive. He is innovative and creative with an intense desire to be communicative with his audience. The language for all his purposes he uses, is the curve and contours of
Hamish St Clair Daniel, British Deputy High Commissioner, said here on Friday that British investment has not only helped in broadening manufacturing base in Pakistan but also in transferring technology.
I wonder if American history can identify a single individual known by name to the entire population and feared and hated by the people and the government. What is most annoying is that the ogre is their own creation. US is known to pick up individuals an
Export Promotion Bureau has received the following Trade Enquiries from abroad. Interested Pakistani parties dealing in the under mentioned items can obtain further details from the addresses given or from EPB Head Quarters and its Regional/Sub-Regional O
Karachi has once again begun to vibrate with cultural activities. Theatres are booked, cultural centres are crowded and abuzz with discussions on fine arts. Some of the new restaurants that have opened in the city are attracting guests who like to sit and
Punjab Minister for Population Welfare Ms Nasim Lodhi has directed the Population Welfare Department to accelerate the social mobilisation campaign regarding small-family benefits, and hold seminars and walks at district and tehsil levels.
Punjab Forest Department has formed a line of action for enhancing the acreage of forests in the province. Official sources told Business Recorder here on Friday that during the spring tree plantation drive 20 million plants would be planted in Pun