Exports from Bangladesh's six export processing zones (EPZs) increased 12.5 percent to $1.35 billion in the 2003/04 fiscal year, a senior official said on Wednesday.
Corn futures at the Chicago Board of Trade were range-bound and mostly steady early Wednesday following the early moves in wheat and soyabeans, traders said.
NYBOT raw sugar futures closed quietly softer Wednesday on sales by small speculators, with the sweetener seen staying in its current range given the dearth of market-moving news, brokers said.
US cocoa futures firmed Wednesday on early speculative buying spawned by overnight political tension in top grower Ivory Coast, although prices failed to move above a lingering trading range, traders said.
US coffee futures sprinted more than 2 percent to a three-week high Wednesday, bolstered by speculative fund buying and a lack of strong producer selling from arabica-rich Brazil, traders said.
Gold nudged higher in Europe on Wednesday, in line with modest gains by the euro against the dollar, as the market consolidated this week's run to a six-month peak above $430 an ounce, dealers said.
London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium put in a strong performance on Wednesday, gaining on the prospect of output and exports from China falling if the country goes ahead with a new tax on the industry.
Hungary on Wednesday ordered retailers to remove from their shelves all product containing paprika, the fiery red spice that is an essential ingredient in the Hungarian national dish, goulash.
London white sugar futures settled lower on Wednesday on speculative and possibly trade sales in modest volumes, and the market seems stuck in a tight range, dealers said.
NYBOT cotton futures settled mixed Wednesday in activity featuring small speculators in dreary dealings, with the market seemingly pinned in a band while waiting for news to give it new leads, analysts said.
London's cocoa market closed up on Wednesday after more industry and speculative buying interest met origin sales, but the range traded was small, dealers said.
Oil prices fell sharply from near record peaks on Wednesday after a larger-than-expected build in US crude stocks spurred traders to take profits from a fierce rally. US light crude futures settled down $2.71 a barrel, or 4.9 percent, to $52.46 a barrel,
Oil prices fell sharply from near record peaks on Wednesday after a larger-than-expected build in US crude stocks spurred traders to take profits from a fierce rally. US light crude futures settled down $2.71 a barrel, or 4.9 percent, to $52.46 a barrel,
EU trade negotiators hope to conclude compensation packages by mid-2005 for former European colonies hit by the bloc's planned sugar reform, the EU's trade chief said on Wednesday.
Vietnam, the world's top producer and exporter of robustness, on Wednesday raised its production forecast for the new coffee crop by about 8 percent, to between 13 million and 13.5 million 60-kg bags.
The euro edged towards recent eight-month highs against the dollar on Wednesday but stopped short of setting a new peak after European policymakers warned of the impact of a soaring single currency on Europe's economy.
The Indian rupee shrugged off some early oil-fuelled pressure to post a new four-month closing peak on Wednesday helped by strong dollar inflows from foreign funds and a private construction firm, dealers said.
Britain's top shares saw their biggest gain in nearly a month on Wednesday as oil prices plummeted from near-record levels, sparking a stock market rally in the final minutes before London closed.
Seoul stocks ended lower on Wednesday, hit by concerns about slower growth in the US economy, a key market for South Korean goods, and as investors fretted over the impact of higher energy costs on firms' profits.
Widely-held euro bonds of US auto makers gave up their earlier gains as uncertainty over the industry's performance weighed on sentiment, while UK issuers were lining up to offer investors supply.
Widely-held euro bonds of US auto makers gave up their earlier gains as uncertainty over the industry's performance weighed on sentiment, while UK issuers were lining up to offer investors supply.
US stocks jumped Wednesday as oil prices, which have held investor enthusiasm for stocks in check for months, fell sharply after a higher-than-expected crude build last week.
US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has implicitly admitted the Pentagon had no specific plans for handling a widespread insurgency in the aftermath of the US-led invasion of Iraq, but still insisted US pre-war planning was "good."
Democratic senator John Kerry inched up Wednesday in two opinion polls but his White House race with President George W. Bush stayed tantalizingly unpredictable six days before the election.
Nasa's Cassini orbiter began transmitting data and images from Saturn's moon Titan on Tuesday, providing the closest look at the mysterious moon that humans have ever seen.
British troops rolled north from Basra on Wednesday to take over a deadly area near Baghdad and free up US troops for a widely expected attack on the rebel-held city of Falluja.
Police raided the offices of investigation and consulting firm Kroll Inc and private equity fund Opportunity, a partner of Citigroup, in two Brazilian cities on Wednesday, police said.
Four former British detainees of the US Guantanamo Bay detention camp for accused terrorists filed a law suit Wednesday seeking damages from Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other top officials for torture and abuse, their lawyers announced.
In a drama played out live on Japanese television, a two-year-old toddler was rescued on Wednesday, four days after a deadly quake triggered a landslide that buried the car carrying him and his family.
Israeli leader Ariel Sharon rejected calls from within his mutinous cabinet on Wednesday for a referendum on leaving Gaza after winning parliament's support to uproot settlements from land claimed by Palestinians.
France, Britain and Germany failed to reach a deal with Iran on Wednesday under which Tehran would scrap its uranium enrichment programme in exchange for nuclear power technology, but the two sides agreed to meet again.
Arabic satellite TV broadcaster Al Jazeera is to launch a global 24-hour English-language news service as an alternative to rival networks such as BBC and CNN, the company announced here Wednesday.
Indian opposition leader Lal Krishna Advani said Wednesday a controversial campaign to build a temple on the ruins of a destroyed Babri mosque would continue despite his party's rout in May elections.
Britain on Wednesday announced a raft of new measures to crack down on forced marriages, a problem some advocates claim has trapped one out of 10 women of South Asian origin in the country.
The defence lawyers imposed on former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic asked to be removed from his war crimes trial on Wednesday, a move observers said would inevitably lead to more delays in the mammoth case.
A key witness in India's controversial Best Bakery trial Wednesday identified seven of 21 Hindus accused of the arson deaths of 12 Muslims in 2002 religious riots that shook western Gujarat state.
US Postal Service investigators on Wednesday were trying to find thousands of absentee ballots which should have been delivered to voters in one of Florida's most populous counties, officials said.
British broadcasting giant the BBC is to begin beaming its renowned dramas, comedies and soap operas into Asia with the launch of its BBC Prime cable service, the corporation said in a statement Wednesday.
Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers have not abandoned their right to secede despite agreeing to explore a federal solution, the rebels said Wednesday amid fresh diplomatic moves to salvage a faltering peace bid.
In one of the most spectacular fossil finds in decades, anthropologists announce on Wednesday they have found the bones of a tiny human who is a twig in mankind's family tree.
Captain Stephen Fleming struck a fine double-century as New Zealand looked on way to notch up another win over Bangladesh in the second and final Test here on Wednesday.
Glenn McGrath celebrated his 100th Test by grabbing two key wickets and putting Australia on course for a rare series victory in India on the second day of the third Test on Wednesday.
Ailing Serena Williams suffered her earliest tournament defeat since April 2000 when she was beaten 7-6, 6-2 by Russian qualifier Alina Jidkova in the second round of the Linz Open on Wednesday.
The European Union plunged into crisis Wednesday as its new executive chief backed down in the face of imminent defeat by EU lawmakers furious at his backing for an outspoken conservative on his team.
Regulators and rating agencies are increasing their scrutiny of the booming hedge fund industry due to concerns that these free-wheeling asset pools pose risks to the stability of financial markets.
Regulators and rating agencies are increasing their scrutiny of the booming hedge fund industry due to concerns that these free-wheeling asset pools pose risks to the stability of financial markets.
The Bangladeshi taka eased for a third consecutive day on Wednesday on demand for dollars to pay for imported edible oil and food grains, dealers said.
The Australian dollar failed to regain the upside initiative on Wednesday as inflation data proved unexpectedly tame and the US dollar gained a reprieve from its recent steep sell-off.
The South Korean won rose to a fresh four-year high on Wednesday amid speculation Seoul would tolerate a stronger currency to ease inflationary pressures.
The Canadian dollar snapped a five-day winning streak on Tuesday as the US dollar recovered from its recent retreat, while markets digested late afternoon comments from Bank of Canada officials.
The dollar gained on Tuesday after a less-dismal-than-expected read on US consumer confidence and a downbeat outlook for European growth spurred traders to buy back dollars after aggressive recent selling.
The dollar edged higher against the euro on Wednesday, after a downbeat outlook for European growth prompted investors to buy back the US currency after heavy falls.
The Swiss franc trod water at a strong level against the dollar in early European trade on Wednesday as the greenback took a breather versus major currencies, but remained close to recent multi-year lows.
The Hong Kong dollar regained some ground against the greenback in Wednesday afternoon trade, amid another round of speculation on significant fund inflows to the territory.
Taiwan stocks dropped to a more than two-month low on Wednesday with the tech sector in a glum mood after semiconductor heavyweight TSMC offered unexpectedly weak forecasts for the fourth quarter.
Japanese stocks closed slightly higher on Wednesday as several exporters bounced back from recent losses, but high oil prices and uncertainty over the outcome of the US presidential election kept gains in check.
Philippines stocks ended higher for a second straight session on Wednesday as players bought stocks expected to announce strong third-quarter corporate results, led by top phone firm PLDT.
Jakarta stocks rose on Wednesday after some major banks and companies reported strong nine-month earnings results, but gains were capped by profit taking as investors saw limited upside potential in the near term.
Thai shares closed near a two-month low on Wednesday as investors cashed out of big cap stocks amid concerns over the latest unrest in the country's Muslim-dominated south.
Singapore shares edged up to a 4-session closing high on Wednesday on speculative buying of banks ahead of their quarterly results, but a slide in technology stocks pulled the market off its highs.
US stocks surged on Tuesday, as battered insurers rose on confidence a probe of the industry would end quickly, helping blue chips snap a 5-day streak of losses.
Hong Kong stocks fell slightly on Wednesday as investors looked ahead to next week's US elections and remained anxious over persistently high world oil prices.
Malaysia's key share index dipped by the close on Wednesday, with power utility Tenaga Nasional losing 2.7 percent ahead of its fourth-quarter financial results.
US Treasury prices fell on Tuesday as equity markets staged a rebound, but soaring oil costs and jitters surrounding next week's US presidential election kept the damage in check.
US Treasury prices fell on Tuesday as equity markets staged a rebound, but soaring oil costs and jitters surrounding next week's US presidential election kept the damage in check.
US orders for long-lasting durable goods rose by a smaller-than-expected 0.2 percent in September, held back by another sharp fall in commercial aircraft, government data showed on Wednesday.
Global tourism enjoyed a "spectacular rebound" for the year to August after the Iraq war and Sars pummelled the industry in 2003, World Tourism Organisation (WTO) said in its autumn barometer report published Wednesday.
More than 20,000 metal industry workers staged a one-day strike in the Netherlands on Wednesday despite signs that unions and the government could soon restart discussions on pension and welfare reform plans.
More than 30,000 workers at Volkswagen's Wolfsburg plant halted output for two hours on Wednesday in protest of the carmaker's cost cut plans, union officials said on the eve of crucial wage talks.
Eastman Kodak Co said Wednesday it will close three photo-finishing labs in Spain and Norway and downsize another in Switzerland, the latest steps in its plan to cut investment in traditional film products.
Japan's Honda Motor Co posted a better-than-expected 9.2 percent rise in second quarter operating profit thanks to brisk domestic and Asian sales and lifted its full-year forecast by 7 percent.
Japan's Honda Motor Co posted a better-than-expected 9.2 percent rise in second quarter operating profit thanks to brisk domestic and Asian sales and lifted its full-year forecast by 7 percent.
Booming world demand for natural gas could soon falter as gas prices rocket following a surge in world oil markets to record highs, industry executives and analysts said.
Boeing Co on Wednesday topped Wall Street expectations with a 78 percent jump in quarterly profit on strength in its defence operations, and raised its earnings forecast for 2004.
Boeing Co on Wednesday topped Wall Street expectations with a 78 percent jump in quarterly profit on strength in its defence operations, and raised its earnings forecast for 2004.
Procter & Gamble Co on Wednesday said quarterly profit rose 14 percent, boosted by demand for products like Head & Shoulders shampoo and Olay beauty products, and a gain from the recent sale of its juice business.
Procter & Gamble Co on Wednesday said quarterly profit rose 14 percent, boosted by demand for products like Head & Shoulders shampoo and Olay beauty products, and a gain from the recent sale of its juice business.
The European Union, preparing to revamp its banana import regime from 2006, on Wednesday signalled the start of what may be long and bitter negotiations by declaring a preferred entry tariff.
Internet search company Google Inc has acquired Keyhole Corp, a supplier of online satellite maps that allow users to zoom down to street level to specific locations, Google said on Wednesday.
A new Silk Road connecting China's hinterland with the industrial centres of western Europe is expected to be completed within 10 years, officials involved in the project were cited as saying Wednesday.
China, whose heavy coal demand has caused transport bottlenecks at home and price rises globally, has unveiled plans to build more railways to help alleviate supply shortages, state media said Wednesday.
Soaring freight rates are piling pressure on sugar buyers and may force Indian millers, who need to import after drought-hit cane harvests, to buy whites rather than raws, analysts said on Wednesday.
Fauji Fertiliser Ltd, Pakistan's largest fertiliser maker, said its fiscal third quarter profit rose 97 percent; Oil & Gas Development Co, and National Refinery by 59 percent and 79 percent, respectively. Fauji's profit in July-September rose to Rs 1.53 b
The tally of declines slowed down at Karachi Stock Exchange on Wednesday following healthy results from the corporate sector showing that companies have maintained growth levels and soon would attract buying from seasoned investors. The KSE-100 index fell
China will produce 10 percent more copper next year, but it must import more raw materials to maintain growth and fill around a third of its refined copper needs, a leading state-owned analyst said.
The tally of declines slowed down at Karachi Stock Exchange on Wednesday following healthy results from the corporate sector showing that companies have maintained growth levels and soon would attract buying from seasoned investors. The KSE-100 index fell
Activity remained slow on Lahore the Stock Exchange (LSE) on Wednesday. There was little change in the index following lack of buying support from key players, who stayed at a distance, perturbed by fresh killings in Wana and reports of growing prospects
Equities witnessed broad-based erosion at the Islamabad Stock Exchange (ISE) where bears continued to stay in the front seat amid he decrease in the ISE index. The ISE network index showed a decrease of 48.90 points as the price-based indicator moved from
Interior corn basis bids were steady to weak in the US Midwest early Wednesday as the harvest progressed, while soyabean bids were firm in the interior and weak at river locations, dealers said.
