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Print - 2004-04-19
The Weather

The Weather

The weather report on Sunday (April 18) and the forecast for Monday (April 19, 2004).
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Your rupee last week

Your rupee last week

Following currency fluctuations took place in foreign exchange rates during the last week. (April 12 to 17, 2004)
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Taiwan stocks face profit lift, but resistance looms

Taiwan stocks face profit lift, but resistance looms

Taiwan stocks are likely to stay range-bound near five-week highs this week, helped by expectations for better quarterly profits later this month, but price gains could be capped by stiff resistance at 7,000 points.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Egypt interbank rate up nine percent

Egypt interbank rate up nine percent

The median overnight interbank rate on Egypt's pound edged up to nine percent on Sunday from 8-3/4 percent the previous session as dealers said the central bank took some funds out of the market with a deposit auction.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Indian shares seen easing as elections open

Indian shares seen easing as elections open

Indian shares are seen slipping a touch in range-bound trading this week, despite positive triggers from strong quarterly earnings reports, as investors sit it out ahead of the outcome of the general election.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Hong Kong shares seen stuck around four-month lows

Hong Kong shares seen stuck around four-month lows

Hong Kong-listed shares are likely to remain mired around four-month lows this week, with China plays looking especially skittish as the country moves to rein in its breakneck pace of economic growth.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Asian currencies slide against US dollar

Asian currencies slide against US dollar

Asian currencies slid after the greenback strengthened last week on the release of strong economic data that suggested a hike in the historically low US interest rate was in the offing.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Indian bonds to rally as traders eye repo rate cut

Indian bonds to rally as traders eye repo rate cut

Indian bonds are poised to rally this week as some traders bet the central bank will cut a key short-term interest rate signal in a bid to discourage surging foreign investment inflows into the country.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Indian bonds to rally as traders eye repo rate cut

Indian bonds to rally as traders eye repo rate cut

Indian bonds are poised to rally this week as some traders bet the central bank will cut a key short-term interest rate signal in a bid to discourage surging foreign investment inflows into the country.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
China Construction Bank IPO on track

China Construction Bank IPO on track

China's Construction Bank, the country's top property lender, quashed talk of a delay in floating shares on global markets at the end of 2004 or early 2005, in what could be China's biggest IPO to date.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Tokyo stocks susceptible to profit-taking

Tokyo stocks susceptible to profit-taking

Japanese stocks are likely to take a breather this week after recent gains as investors focus on corporate earnings at home and in the United States.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Permira backs bid for UK retailer WH Smith

Permira backs bid for UK retailer WH Smith

British book and newspaper seller WH Smith has received a take-over approach backed by private equity firm Permira, the Sunday Telegraph said.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Eurostocks: juggling rates and results

Eurostocks: juggling rates and results

Europe's new earnings season kicks off in earnest this week, though stock market investors will also cast a wary eye on the Federal Reserve for clues on when US interest rates might rise.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Wavering FTSE-100 looks to Tesco, US rates

Wavering FTSE-100 looks to Tesco, US rates

Investors will cast an exacting eye over results from Britain's biggest grocer Tesco and bookseller WH Smith this week, while the broader UK market may be hamstrung by the prospect of rising US interest rates.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Wall Street week ahead: Tap opens on earnings

Wall Street week ahead: Tap opens on earnings

This week's flood of corporate earnings reports may help wash away some of the nagging worries about rising interest rates and geopolitical tensions that have battered stocks in recent weeks.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Khatami changes key economic officials

Khatami changes key economic officials

Iran's President Mohammad Khatami, criticised by opponents for his handling of the economy, on Sunday named new ministers to handle economic and labour policy, the official IRNA news agency said.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
EBRD ups East Europe, Russian growth forecast

EBRD ups East Europe, Russian growth forecast

The economies of eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union will grow by 4.9 percent this year, higher than original estimates, according to the EBRD, the development bank for the region.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
European, US firms awarded bids for Iraqi oil

European, US firms awarded bids for Iraqi oil

Four European firms and one from the United States were awarded bids for the purchase of six million barrels of oil from Iraq's northern fields, a spokesman for the Iraqi oil ministry said Sunday.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Hitachi profit to soar in 2004-05

Hitachi profit to soar in 2004-05

Japan's largest electronics group, Hitachi Ltd, is expected to post sharply higher profits in the year to next March, driven by improved earnings at its hard disk drive (HDD) unit, a Japanese newspaper said on Sunday.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Hitachi profit to soar in 2004-05

Hitachi profit to soar in 2004-05

Japan's largest electronics group, Hitachi Ltd, is expected to post sharply higher profits in the year to next March, driven by improved earnings at its hard disk drive (HDD) unit, a Japanese newspaper said on Sunday.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Southern Cyprus flourishes as northern economy languishes

Southern Cyprus flourishes as northern economy languishes

Despite a 30-year split of the island, southern Cyprus has flourished economically, with a thriving offshore financial sector, shipping and tourism giving Greek Cypriots a higher standard of living than EU citizens in Greece and Portugal.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Saudi Electricity first-quarter net loss narrows

Saudi Electricity first-quarter net loss narrows

Saudi Electricity Co (SEC) made a net loss of 321 million riyals ($85.6 million) in the first quarter of 2004, down from 338 million riyals in the same period last year, it said on Sunday.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Saudi Electricity first-quarter net loss narrows

Saudi Electricity first-quarter net loss narrows

Saudi Electricity Co (SEC) made a net loss of 321 million riyals ($85.6 million) in the first quarter of 2004, down from 338 million riyals in the same period last year, it said on Sunday.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Political battle starts over Bundesbank successor

Political battle starts over Bundesbank successor

The German government and opposition jostled on Sunday to promote their favourites to succeed Bundesbank president Ernst Welteke, who has resigned in an ethics scandal, with a decision due by Wednesday.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Indian Prime Minister's campaign manager offers to quit

Indian Prime Minister's campaign manager offers to quit

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's campaign manager offered Sunday to step down two days before the start of national elections after being charged over a stampede that killed 22 women and children.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
UN control in Iraq wouldn't stop insurgency: Rice

UN control in Iraq wouldn't stop insurgency: Rice

Putting the United Nations in charge of the Iraqi occupation would not stop the bloody insurgency that has claimed hundreds of lives this month, White House national security adviser Condoleezza Rice said Sunday.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Afghan province bans women singers on TV

Afghan province bans women singers on TV

Women singers have been banned from appearing on television in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar after their performances were branded un-Islamic, an official said Sunday.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Kim launches secret visit to China

Kim launches secret visit to China

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has begun a secret visit to China Sunday for talks with Chinese leaders with the communist state's nuclear drive high on the agenda, media reports said.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Israel has every right to respond to terror: Kerry

Israel has every right to respond to terror: Kerry

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry said Sunday "Israel has every right in the world to respond to any act of terror against it," when asked about Israel's assassination of Hamas chief Abdel Aziz Rantissi.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Kosovo shootout was 'attack' on officers: UN official

Kosovo shootout was 'attack' on officers: UN official

Two American police officers and a Jordanian were killed in a shootout in Kosovo, apparently during a row over Iraq, in what the UN Sunday called a reckless attack on its personnel in the Serbian province.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Riyadh arrests eight suspected militants

Riyadh arrests eight suspected militants

Saudi Arabia said on Sunday it had arrested eight suspects linked to recent clashes between militants and security forces and the booby-trapping of cars.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Blair planning referendum on EU constitution

Blair planning referendum on EU constitution

British Prime Minister Tony Blair is planning a major policy U-turn by agreeing to hold a referendum on whether the country signs up to a new EU constitution, reports said Sunday.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Iran says no clue over identity of diplomat's assassins

Iran says no clue over identity of diplomat's assassins

Iran's foreign ministry said Sunday it still had no clue as to who assassinated one of its diplomats in Baghdad, and that it had formally requested the US-appointed Iraqi Governing Council to see that security was reinforced around its embassy there.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Hamas vows to avenge Israel's killing of Rantissi

Hamas vows to avenge Israel's killing of Rantissi

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian mourners cried for vengeance on Sunday for Hamas leader Abdel-Aziz al-Rantissi, slain by Israeli missiles even as the Jewish state plans to quit the group's Gaza stronghold.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Three astronauts prepare to blast off for ISS

Three astronauts prepare to blast off for ISS

An American, Dutch and Russian astronaut were preparing for their lift-off on Monday toward the International Space Station from Moscow's launch pad in Kazakhstan.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Gasparovic wins as Slovaks reject one-time pariah

Gasparovic wins as Slovaks reject one-time pariah

Slovaks stopped a comeback by hard-line nationalist former prime minister Vladimir Meciar in a presidential runoff vote, choosing the more moderate Ivan Gasparovic as the country heads into the European Union.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
EU rebuffs China over arms ban

EU rebuffs China over arms ban

The European Union Sunday rebuffed China's demands for an end to an EU arms embargo in place since the Tiananmen Square massacre, but the communist nation said time was on its side.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Cancellation of bogus allotment of land ordered

Cancellation of bogus allotment of land ordered

Punjab Minister Manazar Ali Ranjha, chairing a meeting of district allotment committees here on Sunday, has asked chairmen of these committees to make sure that the process of allotment of land to the land-less tillers remained clean and transparent.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Nomination of QATB chief for Kot Lakhpat affairs slammed

Nomination of QATB chief for Kot Lakhpat affairs slammed

The representatives of Lahore Township Industries Association (LTIA) have voiced concern over the nomination of chairman of Quaid-e-Azam Town Board (QATB) to run the affairs of Kot Lakhpat Industrial Estate (KLIE) and demanded of the government for withdr
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Andamans find economic advance is no island holiday

Andamans find economic advance is no island holiday

The economy of the Andaman islands has withered since the forced closure of its massive logging industry two years ago, leaving it struggling to switch gears and find new ways to sustain itself.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Agriculture: pre-budget thinking

Agriculture: pre-budget thinking

Pakistan's annual budget for the fiscal 2004-05 is expected to be presented in the National Assembly some time in June 2004. Hardly about a couple of months remains before its presentation.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Dairy industry in Pakistan

Dairy industry in Pakistan

With the every passing day, dairy products are becoming costlier because live stock farming has not scientifically grown with the increase in population and also it did not match with the pace of urbanisation.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Pakistan Suzuki's returns to shareholders

Pakistan Suzuki's returns to shareholders

I am a small investor in the KSE. The recent speculative hype attracted me to the stock market but did not force me to opt for mere speculation. Before investing my lifetime fortunes, I carried out a detailed analysis of available investment options, incl
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Encouraging women entrepreneurs

Encouraging women entrepreneurs

As underprivileged as women are in this society, it is least surprising that there are only a few female entrepreneurs. Those who are in the field find it too difficult to pursue their business interests.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Accelerating foreign investment

Accelerating foreign investment

Policy makers in Pakistan never seem to tire of talking about the prospects of attracting foreign investment in a big way and utilising it to increase the growth rate to well over 6 percent, thus raising employment levels and alleviating poverty.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Martyrdom Day of Hazrat Imam Hasan (AS) on April 19

Martyrdom Day of Hazrat Imam Hasan (AS) on April 19

A meeting of central executive committee of the Markazi Imam Hussain Council was held here on Sunday to chalk out a countrywide programme of the Martyrdom Day of Hazrat Imam Hassan (AS).
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Wheat procurement drive in full swing

Wheat procurement drive in full swing

The wheat procurement drive is in full swing under the supervision of Food Department. A target to procure 500,000 tonnes of wheat has been fixed for Faisalabad region during this season and so far a total quantity of 25,688 tonnes of wheat has been procu
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Use of plastic drums for milk opposed

Use of plastic drums for milk opposed

Use of unhygienic plastic containers for carriage of milk is a dangerous trend, and the government should take appropriate and immediate steps to save the people from the hazards of horrible effects of Blue Drums.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
NUST inks MoU with EPRI

NUST inks MoU with EPRI

Maintaining its tradition of fostering research partnerships beneficial to both academic and national arenas, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Electric Power Research Institute (
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Civil court returns suit in Mecca Cola trademark case

Civil court returns suit in Mecca Cola trademark case

A civil court here has returned the suit filed by a local industry M/s Afridi Beverages (Pvt) Ltd relating to manufacturing and distribution of beverages by the name of Mecca Cola.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Ground-breaking of Maidani dam performed in Fata

Ground-breaking of Maidani dam performed in Fata

NWFP Governor Lieutenant General Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah (Retd) performed the ground-breaking of Maidani small dam in Kurram Agency as part of the government's plan to construct 12 small dams in different tribal agencies.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Tussle over inquiries against DSPs develops

Tussle over inquiries against DSPs develops

The Home Department, Punjab and Provincial Police Officer once again come face to face about the pending inquiries against Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), it is learnt reliably.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
361 get driving skill at traffic police school so far

361 get driving skill at traffic police school so far

The Driving School run by Traffic Police, Rawalpindi, has so far trained 361 male and female candidates besides imparting refresher course to more than 1,700 public transport drivers.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
APHC to stage rally against farce polls

APHC to stage rally against farce polls

All Parties Hurriyat Conference(APHC), AJK Chapter has decided to stage protest demonstration on Tuesday outside the Indian High Commission on the occasion of the first phase of elections drama in Indian occupied Kashmir scheduled to be held on April 20.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
121 Indian boy scouts arrive to attend jamboree

121 Indian boy scouts arrive to attend jamboree

A contingent of 121 boy scouts from India have arrived here to take part in the 13th National Scout Jamboree. India is participating in the jamboree after a decade.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
India urged to withdraw troops from occupied Kashmir

India urged to withdraw troops from occupied Kashmir

The president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Sardar Muhammad Anwar Khan, has urged India to withdraw its troops from occupied Kashmir for the peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Teleconferencing: several organisations seek PTC's offer

Teleconferencing: several organisations seek PTC's offer

The Pakistan Telecommunication Company's (PTC) offer for the Audio-Video teleconferencing is being sought for by more and more organisations that are holding international conferences and seminars in Pakistan.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Many accountability cases clubbed together for hearing

Many accountability cases clubbed together for hearing

A large number of cases that had originated from the National Accountability Bureau or its predecessor, the Ehtesab Commission, have now come up in appeal forms from convicts or the NAB and have been clubbed together for hearing by the Supreme Court from
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Jamali likely to visit Lakki Marwat in May

Jamali likely to visit Lakki Marwat in May

Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali is likely to visit Lakki Marwat, NWFP, in the first week of May. He has been extended an invitation to visit Lakki Marwat by District Nazim, Huamayun Saifullah Khan, his brothers and Pakistan Muslim League's centr
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Trading stride observed on cotton market

Trading stride observed on cotton market

Trading stride was observed towards the end of the week when buyers sensing world rate appeared in bullish mood turned to local markets to avoid as much loss as possible.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Anti-polio drive from April 20

Anti-polio drive from April 20

Three-day door-to-door anti-polio drive will begin in all 18 towns of the city from April 20.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Female commuters hail Varan bus service

Female commuters hail Varan bus service

A large number of female commuters especially government and semi-government employees of twin cities have expressed facilitation over the operation of private transport company Varan in different routes of twin-cites and said it has solved their travel p
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
First 'online' book on medicinal chemistry published

First 'online' book on medicinal chemistry published

Federal Ministry of Science and Technology Minister In-charge and Higher Education Commission Chairman Professor Dr Atta-ur-Rehman along with three other Pakistani and US scientists have edited the first "online" book on medicinal chemistry.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
120 couples tie into matrimonial bondage

120 couples tie into matrimonial bondage

A total number of 120 couples, 107 Muslims and 13 Christians belonging to poor strata of society, were tied into matrimonial bondage during a function held at the Fortress Stadium here on Sunday.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Moot on role of agriculture in poverty alleviation

Moot on role of agriculture in poverty alleviation

A three-day National Conference on 'Role of Agriculture in Poverty Alleviation' would begin here on April 21, whose recommendations would be presented to the government for incorporating these in the forthcoming national budget.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Rs 5 billion allocated for farmers

Rs 5 billion allocated for farmers

Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), in collaboration with the Revenue Department Punjab, will distribute Rs 5 billion to small farmers for buying fertiliser and medicines for the Kharif season this year.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Four held in drive against illegal check-posts

Four held in drive against illegal check-posts

The campaign launched on the directive of Provincial Food and Agriculture Minister Arif Mustufa Jatoi, against the illegal check-posts established by market contractors for collecting market fee, has started yielding positive results.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
30 years achievements of Niab - a review

30 years achievements of Niab - a review

At the conclusion of the celebrations marking the 30th birthday of Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB) at Faisalabad on Sunday, a review of its achievement claimed that it had developed and released a total of 22 varieties of crops by cha
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Singapore's trade team arrives

Singapore's trade team arrives

A 20-member ministerial trade and investment mission from Singapore led by Minister of State for Health and Transport, Dr Balaji Sadasivan, arrived here on a week-long visit on Sunday.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Hindrances in housing sector's promotion to be removed

Hindrances in housing sector's promotion to be removed

Punjab Senior Minister Muhammad Basharat Raja will chair a meeting of a committee for making recommendations for improvement and removal of hindrances in promotion of housing sector on Monday.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Importance of women education highlighted

Importance of women education highlighted

The women writers and intellectuals have urged upon the Sindh as well as Federal government to take stern action against those found involved in the Karo Kari cases in the upper Sindh and stressed the educated women to play their vital role in development
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am
Pakistan Navy to join US-led international exercise

Pakistan Navy to join US-led international exercise

Pakistan Navy will participate for the first time in a US-led international exercise next week aimed at deterring terrorists, arms and human smugglers at sea, an official said on Sunday.
Published 19 Apr, 2004 12:00am