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Print - 2006-07-20
Brazil cocoa arrivals fall

Brazil cocoa arrivals fall

Brazilian 2006/07 (May/April) cocoa arrivals from Bahia and other states totalled 1.05 million 60-kg bags by July 16, down 18 percent from 1.29 million bags a year ago, the Bahia Commercial Association said on Wednesday.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Activity at Karachi and Qasim ports

Activity at Karachi and Qasim ports

The Karachi Port handled 138,187 tonnes of cargo including 133,709 tonnes import, 4,478 tonnes export cargo and 2,499 containers during last 24 hours ending at 0700 hours on Wednesday. The cargo comprised of 71,597 tonnes dry cargo including 37,330 tonnes
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Russia's grain sowings down

Russia's grain sowings down

Russia has sown 43.8 million hectares with grains for harvest in 2006, 0.6 million hectares, or 1.3 percent, down year-on-year, the Federal State Statistics Service said on Wednesday, quoting preliminary data.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Indonesian coffee exports to fall

Indonesian coffee exports to fall

Robusta coffee exports from Indonesia's key coffee-growing island of Sumatra are likely to fall between 40 and 50 percent in 2006 as heavy rains have cut output, an industry official said on Wednesday.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Russian Oils expanding vegetable oil plant

Russian Oils expanding vegetable oil plant

Russian Oils, a producer of vegetable oils, is investing 3.3 million euros ($4.1 million) in a new line to boost output by a third at one of its plants, the company said.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
FAO sees fall in 2006 world wheat output

FAO sees fall in 2006 world wheat output

World wheat output is expected to drop 1.5 percent to about 615 million tonnes this year, driven down by falling output in the United States, Russia and Ukraine, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Rising biofuel use to drive up crop prices

Rising biofuel use to drive up crop prices

Rising biofuels demand will probably drive up crop prices and is creating growth opportunities for food processing companies, Goldman Sachs said on Wednesday. The growth in biofuel demand presents a new competitor for food as commercially available biofue
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Cooler weekend seen for Midwest crops

Cooler weekend seen for Midwest crops

Cooler temperatures were expected for Friday through the weekend in much of the US Midwest, which will help relieve stress on the 2006 corn and soybean crops, a private forecaster said on Wednesday. "We don't expect any great amounts of rainfall, but the
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
FOB Gulf corn and soyabean steady to higher

FOB Gulf corn and soyabean steady to higher

US FOB Gulf corn and soyabean basis offers were steady to higher on Tuesday mainly due to slow country movement and higher freight to move the grain to export elevators, traders said.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
CBOT corn ends down

CBOT corn ends down

Corn futures at the Chicago Board of Trade fell to a two-week low on Tuesday amid fund long liquidation and technical selling, traders said. Some forecasts for cooler weather in the Midwest which would help relieve stress on this year's corn crop also may
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Cotton prices firm in modest business

Cotton prices firm in modest business

Firm trend was again witnessed on the cotton market on Wednesday as prices almost maintained the overnight level in modest trading, dealers said. The official spot rate was unchanged at Rs 2525, without upcountry expenses.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Grain market closed

Grain market closed

Grain and seeds merchants group did not issue rates as markets remained closed for observance of the death anniversary of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (R.A) on Wednesday.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
HRW wheat bids mostly steady

HRW wheat bids mostly steady

US hard red winter wheat spot basis bids were mostly steady on Wednesday, with the market reported lacklustre. Weak nearby demand was keeping Gulf track bids unposted for July, with August delivery set at 50 cents over for first-half and 55 cents over for
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
New York cocoa extends losses

New York cocoa extends losses

US cocoa futures settled sharply lower on Tuesday, losing 13 percent in two days, as funds continued to liquidate their huge long position following the market's spike to 16-month highs last week, sources said.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
New York coffee ends with modest loss

New York coffee ends with modest loss

New York arabica coffee futures closed lower on Tuesday after enjoying moderate gains for most of the session, but traders said locals, who accounted for much of the day's light volume, took profits at the end.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
New York cotton futures end at three-week highs

New York cotton futures end at three-week highs

Cotton futures settled at a three-week high on Tuesday on speculative buying as the market ignored a commodity sell-off, and follow-through buying is expected to boost values in the days ahead, analysts said.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
MGE wheat slip, shrugs off crop ratings

MGE wheat slip, shrugs off crop ratings

Spring wheat futures at the Minneapolis Grain Exchange closed mostly lower on Tuesday, shrugging off a decline in weekly crop ratings as speculators liquidated long positions, traders said. The market opened higher but nearby prices plunged within the ope
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Comex copper drifts lower

Comex copper drifts lower

copper futures settled lower in extremely volatile trading conditions on Tuesday following news that Chile's Escondida requested formal talks with its disgruntled workers to negotiate a new contract, sources said.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Gold sheds its shining in New York

Gold sheds its shining in New York

Gold in New York tumbled 3.4 percent to close at a one-week low on Tuesday, as speculative selling sparked mainly by a stronger dollar slammed the market below chart support at $640 an ounce, analysts said.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Tokyo gold drops by daily limit

Tokyo gold drops by daily limit

Tokyo gold futures plunged by their daily limit on Wednesday due to liquidation by Japanese investors as overall market sentiment was undermined by a stronger dollar and recent falls in oil prices. Heavy technical sales hammered down Tokyo Commodity Excha
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Gold hits one-week low

Gold hits one-week low

Gold fell to a one-week low on Wednesday ahead of congressional testimony from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, who is expected to offer clues on whether or not US interest rates will rise in August.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Wheat imports by private trade trickle into India

Wheat imports by private trade trickle into India

Wheat imports by the private trade have started trickling into India after a cut in import duty, but are expected to pick up in October or November when domestic supplies dry up, traders said on Wednesday.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Oil rebounds to $74, eyes on US fuel stocks

Oil rebounds to $74, eyes on US fuel stocks

Oil rebounded towards $74 a barrel on Wednesday, as buying stepped up in anticipation of a drop in US crude and gasoline supplies, halting a slide caused by hopes for a Middle East cease-fire.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Malaysian tin slips

Malaysian tin slips

Malaysian tin closed $280 lower on Wednesday, dragged down by a decline in prices on the London Metal Exchange, a dealer said.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Copper falls in Asian markets

Copper falls in Asian markets

Copper prices fell more than 3 percent on Wednesday, hit by a steep decline in Shanghai futures on easing supply concerns and speculation over more interest rate hikes in the United States and China.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Indian soyaoil and wheat fall

Indian soyaoil and wheat fall

Indian soyoil futures fell on Wednesday with monsoon rains picking up in the main soybean growing state of Madhya Pradesh, bringing stocks of unused seeds into the market. Wheat was down marginally despite tight supplies on rumours the government may scra
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Indian tea exports up

Indian tea exports up

Tea exports from India, the world's largest producer, rose 20.4 percent in May from a year earlier, state-run Tea Board said on Tuesday, helped in part by some delayed orders from the previous month.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
New York sugar softens

New York sugar softens

Raw sugar prices dipped on Tuesday, settling near a three-week low after a see-saw session as players struggled to find leads on the market's next move, brokers said.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Soybeans close mixed

Soybeans close mixed

The Chicago Board of Trade soybean market on Tuesday closed lower in the nearby months, firm in the deferreds and well above its lows as weather uncertainty gave support, traders said. "There seems to be a shift today with the focus changing from corn to
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
CBOT rice closes steady to firm

CBOT rice closes steady to firm

Rough rice futures at the Chicago Board of Trade closed mostly steady to firm on Tuesday after a lightly traded session, traders said. A void of news kept prices within a tight range. September was unchanged at $9.43 and new-crop November was up 4 cents a
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Tokyo rubber at two-month low

Tokyo rubber at two-month low

Tokyo rubber futures extended losses to a fresh two-month low on Wednesday, pressured by active technical sales by fund operators as sentiment deteriorated following recent price falls below important chart levels.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Malaysian palm oil futures decline

Malaysian palm oil futures decline

Malaysian crude palm oil futures ended sharply lower on Wednesday as profit-taking dragged down the market after two days of strong gains, traders said. The benchmark third-month October contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives ended 15 ringgit down at
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Bangladesh monthly exports cross record $1 billion

Bangladesh monthly exports cross record $1 billion

Bangladesh's monthly exports crossed the one-billion-dollar mark for the first time in May, according to government data released Wednesday. The latest export figures showed Bangladesh, one of the world's poorest nations, has fared well under the new text
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
EU cracks down on Luxembourg tax breaks

EU cracks down on Luxembourg tax breaks

The European Commission dealt Luxembourg's huge financial sector a bitter blow Wednesday by ordering the Grand Duchy to phase out nearly 80-year-old tax breaks for financial holding firms.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
BoE suggest interest rates to remain on hold

BoE suggest interest rates to remain on hold

British interest rates seem likely to remain at 4.5 percent for some time, minutes to the Bank of England's July policy meeting suggested on Wednesday, with all seven committee members voting for no change.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
US June core consumer prices up, housing slows

US June core consumer prices up, housing slows

US core consumer prices rose more than expected in June, but ground breaking for new homes slowed, according to reports on Wednesday that the inflation-wary Federal Reserve will weigh in a decision on whether to raise interest rates.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Thailand keeps interest rates steady

Thailand keeps interest rates steady

Thailand's central bank kept its key interest rate unchanged at 5.0 percent on Wednesday, concerned about a slowdown in economic growth which analysts said suggested rates may have peaked for this year.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Antigua wins WTO probe into US gambling rules

Antigua wins WTO probe into US gambling rules

The World Trade Organisation on Wednesday agreed to investigate accusations by Antigua and Barbuda that US Internet gambling laws violate trade rules. The tiny Caribbean state, population 67,000, says Washington has not complied with a 2005 WTO ruling tha
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Fed's Bernanke sees inflation risks, cooler growth

Fed's Bernanke sees inflation risks, cooler growth

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned on Wednesday the US economy still faced a risk of heightened inflation but said cooler growth should curb price pressures over time.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
EU sees Germany on track to cut deficit, no new steps

EU sees Germany on track to cut deficit, no new steps

The European Commission will not take further disciplinary steps against Germany over the country's excessive budget deficit as Berlin is on track to cut it below EU limits next year as promised, the EU executive said.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Eurozone trade gap widens on energy, economic recovery

Eurozone trade gap widens on energy, economic recovery

The eurozone's trade deficit widened further in May, data showed on Wednesday, a trend economists put down to expensive energy and internal demand from a recovering economy driving imports faster than exports.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
China, India, Singapore best Asia bets: JP Morgan

China, India, Singapore best Asia bets: JP Morgan

China, India, Singapore and Indonesia offer Asia's best stock investment opportunities outside of Japan, while South Korea, Malaysia and Thailand have the least appeal, J.P. Morgan Asset Management said on Wednesday.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
China, India, Singapore best Asia bets: JP Morgan

China, India, Singapore best Asia bets: JP Morgan

China, India, Singapore and Indonesia offer Asia's best stock investment opportunities outside of Japan, while South Korea, Malaysia and Thailand have the least appeal, J.P. Morgan Asset Management said on Wednesday.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Taiwan stocks plunge as tech shares dip

Taiwan stocks plunge as tech shares dip

Taiwan stocks closed down 0.13 percent on Wednesday, as investors took quick profits from early gains in high priced technology shares such as HTC and Catcher Technology.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Malaysian shares rally

Malaysian shares rally

Malaysian share prices closed 0.36 percent higher on Wednesday with the market supported by news of government development projects worth some four billion dollars, dealers said. The gains were pared by profit-taking but stocks held in positive territory
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Hong Kong shares led by China Mobile

Hong Kong shares led by China Mobile

Hong Kong stocks ended up 0.33 percent on Wednesday, ending a four-day losing streak, led by gains in market heavyweights China Mobile and HSBC Holdings Plc.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
US stocks gain as oil sags and earnings rise

US stocks gain as oil sags and earnings rise

US stocks rose on Tuesday after a sharp drop in crude oil prices helped spark a late afternoon rebound and let investors focus on strong earnings from companies such as United Technologies Corp and Coca-Cola Co.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Indian shares fall 2.15 percent

Indian shares fall 2.15 percent

Indian share prices closed 2.15 percent lower on Wednesday, extending losses to a fifth day, on selling by funds and retail investors as inflation worries mounted, dealers said.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
US Treasury prices finish lower

US Treasury prices finish lower

US Treasuries prices dropped on Tuesday, hurt by fears a steep rise in producer prices could cause the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates again next month and as a safe haven bid into US government bonds appeared to abate.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
US Treasury prices finish lower

US Treasury prices finish lower

US Treasuries prices dropped on Tuesday, hurt by fears a steep rise in producer prices could cause the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates again next month and as a safe haven bid into US government bonds appeared to abate.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Singapore shares slightly up

Singapore shares slightly up

Singapore share prices closed up 0.34 percent on Wednesday following Wall Street's moderate advance overnight but they were off their highs as a fresh rise in oil trimmed the gains, dealers said.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Philippines shares drop

Philippines shares drop

Philippines share prices closed 0.47 percent lower on Wednesday as high oil prices scared off investors with the prospect of lower corporate profits and slower economic growth, dealers said.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Thai share prices close flat

Thai share prices close flat

Thai share prices closed flat on Wednesday as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of the release of US inflation data and amid ongoing violence in the Middle East, dealers said.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Nikkei breaks five-day losing streak

Nikkei breaks five-day losing streak

The Nikkei average rose for the first time in six sessions on Wednesday, adding 0.44 percent as Toyota Motor Corp and some other exporters gained as a drop in crude oil prices helped allay concerns about decreased consumer spending in the key US market.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Jakarta shares decline

Jakarta shares decline

Indonesian share prices closed 0.43 percent lower on Wednesday as sentiment was hit by concerns this week's tsunami on Java may add to inflation pressures, dealers said. The Jakarta Stock Exchange composite index was down 5.554 points at 1,280.496 on volu
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Swiss franc weakens

Swiss franc weakens

The Swiss franc weakened early on Wednesday despite a strong performance of the economy in the previous session, as markets expected the Swiss National Bank to raise interest rates at a modest pace only.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Yuan weakens as dollar gains before Fed talk

Yuan weakens as dollar gains before Fed talk

The yuan weakened in late trade on Wednesday, as the dollar rose against major Asian currencies on the global market ahead of two key events - testimony by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to Congress and the release of US consumer price data for Jun
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Dollar near three-month highs

Dollar near three-month highs

The dollar hovered near three-month highs against the euro and the yen on Wednesday before comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke that may provide clues about whether US interest rates will keep rising.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Dollar posts broad gains as CPI

Dollar posts broad gains as CPI

The dollar rose to near three-month highs on Tuesday after a report showing higher US producer prices in June suggested the Federal Reserve may keep lifting interest rates to combat inflation.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Hong Kong dollar succumbs to arbitrage trade

Hong Kong dollar succumbs to arbitrage trade

The Hong Kong dollar fell against the US dollar on Wednesday as arbitrage traders exchanged the local currency for US dollars, taking advantage of an interest rate differential between the two countries.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Asian currencies renew descent against dollar

Asian currencies renew descent against dollar

Asian currencies renewed their move lower on Wednesday as the yen slipped back towards three-month lows against the dollar ahead of a testimony by the US Federal Reserve chairman later in the day.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Australian dollar ends lower

Australian dollar ends lower

The Australian dollar was stuck in tight ranges above its offshore lows on Wednesday, but was seen vulnerable should US inflation data or a testimony from the Federal Reserve chief point to another US rate rise in August.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Serena signals return with dominating win

Serena signals return with dominating win

Serena Williams got off to a strong start in her first tournament in six months, by dominating second seed Anastasia Myskina 6-2, 6-2 in the first round of the Cincinnati Open. In her first match in six months, the American Williams pounded her way past t
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
It's time to stop the Americans at British Open

It's time to stop the Americans at British Open

Each year the roll call of potential British winners of the Open is read out and each year it seems the Americans steal away with the glittering prize. It's a frustration for some, a source of national shame for others and a puzzle for all concerned.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Golf's big guns ready for Hoylake summit meeting

Golf's big guns ready for Hoylake summit meeting

Tiger Woods has got his competitive edge back, Phil Mickelson has done his homework and Ernie Els believes he is just a couple of putts away from a return to the glory days.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Bulgaria stops Iran-bound nuclear cargo

Bulgaria stops Iran-bound nuclear cargo

Bulgarian border authorities Wednesday halted a lorry carrying radioactive material to Iran at its frontier with Romania, the country's nuclear supervision agency said. The lorry was registered in Turkey and had been hired by a British company, the agency
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Post-poll Congo will need world help: rights groups

Post-poll Congo will need world help: rights groups

The international community must not "cut and run" from the Congo after this month's historic elections but should stay engaged there to tackle a humanitarian crisis that is killing 1,000 people a day, rights groups say.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Bhutan refugees draft parallel constitution

Bhutan refugees draft parallel constitution

Bhutanese refugees exiled in Nepal, who say their country's first-ever constitution gives too much power to the monarchy, have drafted a parallel one, hoping it will bring democracy and help them return home.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Somali government on alert at Islamist advance

Somali government on alert at Islamist advance

Heavily-armed Islamist militia advanced closer to the seat of Somalia's interim administration on Wednesday, prompting the government to put its troops on alert against "aggression".
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Rumsfeld and General Boxiong discuss North Korea issue

Rumsfeld and General Boxiong discuss North Korea issue

China's most senior military official exchanged information on North Korea on Tuesday in talks with Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld that marked a further warming in ties, the Pentagon said.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Taleban vow to intensify attacks

Taleban vow to intensify attacks

US-led coalition forces came under renewed fire across southern Afghanistan on Wednesday as Taleban militants vowed to intensify attacks before Nato expands its peacekeeping role in the country.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Arab governments have different reasons for truce

Arab governments have different reasons for truce

Arab governments disagree on who to blame for starting the Middle East violence of the past week but, unlike Israel and the United States, they agree at least that the bombings should end immediately and talks should begin.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Tremors spark fear as tsunami toll hits 550

Tremors spark fear as tsunami toll hits 550

An aftershock in Indonesia's tsunami-ravaged region and a new tremor off the south-western Java coast sowed fear on Wednesday as the toll from Monday's disaster climbed to 550.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
N Korea scraps North-South family reunions

N Korea scraps North-South family reunions

North Korea said Wednesday it would scrap cross-border family reunions on the divided peninsula, accusing South Korea of siding with its Western allies in the stand-off over Pyongyang's missile launches. The North's Red Cross chief, Jang Jae-On, slammed S
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Scramble to save lives as heatwave hits Europe

Scramble to save lives as heatwave hits Europe

Authorities scrambled to save lives in a heatwave in northern Europe on Wednesday, hoping to avoid a repeat of the hot weather in 2003 that killed 15,000 people in France and 2,000 in Britain.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Badawi breaks silence over Mahathir rift

Badawi breaks silence over Mahathir rift

Malaysia's prime minister said on Wednesday he harboured no ill-will over bitter criticism of his administration by predecessor Mahathir Mohamad, the Southeast Asian nation's longest-serving premier.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
US plans to evacuate 6,000 Americans to Cyprus

US plans to evacuate 6,000 Americans to Cyprus

The US military said Wednesday it was stepping up the evacuation of American citizens by bringing out more than 6,000 people from war-ravaged Lebanon to the safe haven of nearby Cyprus.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Israeli troops kill nine Palestinians

Israeli troops kill nine Palestinians

Israeli troops killed nine Palestinians in clashes in the Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank on Wednesday, including four gunmen and two civilians as tanks pushed into a central Gaza refugee camp. The Gaza raid was part of a three-week old offensive to rec
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
UN sounds alarm as killing threatens Iraq's government

UN sounds alarm as killing threatens Iraq's government

The United States told Iraq's leaders in stern language on Wednesday they must act swiftly to halt a surge in attacks by both Sunnis and Shias that the United Nations said risks pitching the nation into civil war.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Heavy rain in Japan leaves 12 dead

Heavy rain in Japan leaves 12 dead

Heavy rain in Japan triggered floods and mudslides Wednesday that swallowed houses and destroyed roads, with at least 12 people killed and 11 missing since the start of the rainy season.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
20 killed, 50 survivors in Nigerian building collapse

20 killed, 50 survivors in Nigerian building collapse

Nigerian rescue workers were racing against time Wednesday to pull survivors from the rubble of a residential tower which collapsed killing at least 20 people and burying dozens alive. Witnesses said the four-storey building collapsed with a "bang" just a
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Helicopter crashes into Turkish resort; five killed

Helicopter crashes into Turkish resort; five killed

A police helicopter crashed into the center of the resort city of Antalya on Turkey's Mediterranean coast Wednesday, killing all five officers on board but causing no casualties on the ground, officials said.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Indian rupee falls

Indian rupee falls

The Indian rupee fell to a fresh three-year low on Wednesday, beyond 47.00 per dollar, undermined by a weaker stock market and dollar strength against the Japanese yen and other major currencies.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Sterling hits four-week high versus euro

Sterling hits four-week high versus euro

Sterling hit a four-week high against the euro on Wednesday, as investors continued to bet on higher UK interest rates despite minutes from the latest Bank of England meeting that pointed to steady borrowing costs.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Dollar hits three-month peak against yen

Dollar hits three-month peak against yen

The dollar hit three-month peaks against the yen and Swiss franc on Wednesday as investors adjusted positions ahead of US inflation data and testimony by Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke later in the day.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Bond: Bernanke testimony boosts riskier credit

Bond: Bernanke testimony boosts riskier credit

Riskier parts of Europe's credit markets rallied on Wednesday afternoon, as comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke boosted hopes of a pause in US interest rate rises, lifting stocks and government bonds.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Bond: Bernanke testimony boosts riskier credit

Bond: Bernanke testimony boosts riskier credit

Riskier parts of Europe's credit markets rallied on Wednesday afternoon, as comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke boosted hopes of a pause in US interest rate rises, lifting stocks and government bonds.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Chinese shares tumble

Chinese shares tumble

Chinese shares closed down 2.32 percent on Wednesday, staging the second-biggest fall in six weeks after the country's banking regulator approved a plan by Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the country's largest bank, to go public.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
US Stocks: Wednesday's unofficial close

US Stocks: Wednesday's unofficial close

US stocks rallied on Wednesday, realising their biggest one-day percentage gain in three weeks, as the Federal Reserve chairman's comments on inflation suggested the central bank may be close to ending two years of interest-rate increases.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Seoul shares flat

Seoul shares flat

South Korean shares ended flat on Wednesday as gains among some exporters such as Hyundai Motor following a drop in oil prices were offset as retailer stocks fell sharply on data showing slower consumer demand.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
FTSE up after four down days

FTSE up after four down days

Britain's FTSE 100 index climbed on Wednesday, potentially on course for its first daily gain in 4 sessions, with renewed bid talk boosting steel company Corus. The Anglo-Dutch steelmaker rose 2.7 percent as talk resurfaced that Russian rival Severstal mi
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Mexico crude oil exports, output slip in June

Mexico crude oil exports, output slip in June

Mexican crude oil exports and production slipped in June from the previous month, state oil monopoly Pemex said on Wednesday. Pemex said crude oil exports fell to 1.776 million barrels per day from 1.831 million bpd in May, while production dropped to 3.2
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
NYMEX natural gas ends up

NYMEX natural gas ends up

NYMEX natural gas futures ended higher Wednesday, backed by still-strong cash premiums to the screen and technical buying after a sharp slide early this week despite softer crude and milder US weather forecasts, traders said.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
Heatwave threatens EU wheat crop

Heatwave threatens EU wheat crop

Scorching temperatures and violent storms threaten to damage northern Europe's wheat crop just days before the harvest, pushing London and Paris futures to new contract highs, traders and analysts said on Wednesday.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am
London sugar closes weaker

London sugar closes weaker

London white sugar futures closed down on Wednesday on fund selling against trade and speculative buying, traders said. Benchmark October settled down $8.80 at $450 per tonne in volume of 6,099 lots, after trading from $457.60 to $449.
Published 20 Jul, 2006 12:00am