French pharmaceutical group Sanofi-Aventis issued a profit warning on Friday owing to competition in the US for its blockbuster blood-thinner Plavix from a generic drug.
South Korea's economy in April-June grew at its slowest quarter-on-quarter rate for over a year, hindered by weakness in the construction sector and reduced farm output, the central bank said Friday.
Russia's Transport Ministry is to recommend easing import tarrifs on foreign airliners in an effort to improve aviation safety, daily business newspaper Vedomosti said on Friday.
Deutsche Bank AG said it is on the acquisition trail after recently buying two banks in Germany, but ruled out buying domestic rivals Commerzbank or Deutsche Postbank.
India's economy is likely to have grown more than 7 percent year-on-year in the April-June quarter and should expand by the same pace in the July-September quarter, its finance minister said on Thursday.
French new car registrations were stable in August, with a first rise in sales of French made cars since January 2005, while the cumulative eight months data remained down, the CCFA industry group said on Friday.
Rainer Wingender has lost count of the computers he has "modded". "The Beast, Blue Laser Boy, Max Depth," he begins, trying to remember all their names. Wingender is one of a growing number of so-called case modders - people who radically change the look,
Bankrupt US auto interiors supplier Collins & Aikman Corp late on Wednesday filed a reorganisation plan calling for its emergence from court protection as a stand-alone company.
Volkswagen has applied to put 11,000 staff in Brazil on paid leave should a strike at its main plant there cripple production at other facilities, Europe's biggest carmaker said on Friday.
Flag carrier Thai Airways International said Friday Bangkok's new international airport, set to open later this month, would help the airline cut more than 26 million dollars in fuel costs a year.
Security measures imposed after British police foiled an alleged plot to blow up planes are causing passengers anxiety and should be reviewed, an Asia-Pacific airline body said Friday.
Malaysian share prices closed firmer as investors welcomed the government's corporate tax reduction plan in the 2007 Budget, dealers said. They said the market is likely to firm further next week after investors have fully digested the contents of the 200
Philippines share prices closed 0.74 percent higher on Friday on follow-through buying after solid second quarter growth figures gave investor confidence a boost, dealers said. The economy grew 5.5 percent in the second quarter, underpinning expectations
Hong Kong stocks hit a six-year high on Friday as Cheung Kong and other property shares augmented their gains this week after tame US inflation data boosted hopes that the Federal Reserve would not need to raise interest rates any time soon.
US stocks retreated on Thursday, with investors hesitant to make big bets on equities before Friday's jobs report and as retailers reported mixed sales for August. But the three major US stock indexes posted gains for the month, with the Nasdaq up 4.4 per
US Treasuries rose on Thursday, extending a summer rally on subdued economic data and comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke left investors relaxed about the outlook for inflation.
US Treasuries rose on Thursday, extending a summer rally on subdued economic data and comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke left investors relaxed about the outlook for inflation.
Indonesian shares prices closed 0.92 percent higher on Friday led by interest rate-sensitive stocks after the release of positive consumer price index (CPI) figures, dealers said. They said the inflation figures for August of 0.33 percent from 0.45 percen
Thai share prices closed 0.80 percent higher on Friday as investors reacted positively to the country's easing inflation rate, which fell to a 14-month low of 3.8 percent in August, dealers said. They said investors chased gains in the banking, energy and
Singapore share prices closed 0.37 percent higher on Friday but gains were capped amid cautiousness over the next policy move by the US Federal Reserve, dealers said. They said that investors were sidelined as they adopted a "wait-and-see" approach until
The Nikkei average nudged down 0.04 percent on Friday as investors took profits in recent gainers such as Toshiba Corp, although trade was relatively slow ahead of a closely watched US jobs report.
Indian share prices closed up 0.68 percent on Friday, on bargain hunting as mutual funds made selective sstock purchases, dealers said. They said buying interest was seen in automobile, banking and tea stocks after the settlement of the August derivatives
Chinese shares ended down 1.32 percent on Friday after climbing for six trading days, and after the end of the official interim earnings period left investors with few trading cues.
The Swiss franc edged higher against the dollar and was largely unchanged against other currencies in early trade on Friday ahead of the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data and the US employment report due later in the session.
Chinese yuan consolidated against the dollar on Friday but still set a fresh post-revaluation, intra-day high for the fourth straight day. A few minutes before the close, the yuan hit 7.9524, its highest level since it was revalued by 2.1 percent and depe
The dollar slipped from a six-week high against the yen on Friday as the market awaited the monthly US jobs report later in the session for clues on whether the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates steady.
The dollar crept higher on Thursday after a batch of US economic data landed largely in line with expectations, prompting a bout of position squaring before Friday's keenly awaited US employment report.
Asian currencies were a touch firmer ahead of key US jobs numbers due later on Friday, with the Philippine peso extending this week's rally to hit a four-year peak against the dollar. The peso rose as far as 50.70 per United States dollar, taking its gain
The Hong Kong dollar fell on Friday with local interbank rates generally lower, prompting arbitrage traders to chase higher yielding currencies. The local currency was trading at 7.7782/83 to the US dollar, down from Thursday's local close of 7.7771/72.
Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar warned England on Friday that he will get faster and stronger after making a three-wicket return following a six-month absence from one-day international cricket.
FIFA could suspend Portugal from international football for failing to resolve a relegation row that disrupted the start of the Premier League season, a source close to the Portuguese federation said on Friday.
Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer believes his side are more determined as a result of the ball-tampering row which threatened to end their tour of England. The tourists forfeit of the fourth Test at The Oval after they had been penalised five runs for ball-tamp
Ageless Andre Agassi continued to defy the odds and elude retirement by shocking number eight seed Marcos Baghdatis in a five-set thriller on Thursday to advance to the third round of the US Open.
China is censoring media reports about the daughter of Tibet's 10th Panchen Lama, industry sources said, apparently worried that her popularity would eclipse that of her father's disputed successor.
African cinema is back at the Venice film festival after nearly 20 years with Chad's "Daratt", a story about coming to terms with the horrors of civil war inspired by director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun's own experience.
East Timor Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta partly blamed Australia on Friday for the jailbreak of prisoners and rebel soldiers in Dili, saying Australian-led peacekeepers refused to increase security around the prison.
Shinzo Abe announced his candidacy on Friday to be Japan's next prime minister, a post he looks certain to win, and said he wanted his country to forge a stronger role on the world stage and improve ties with Asia.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair called for an end to speculation about when he will leave office, sparking renewed calls on Friday for a departure timetable from critics within his party.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has offered his country's oil expertise to Angola, sub-Saharan Africa's No 2 crude producer, in a strategy to boost ties with what he calls "Mother Africa" and counter US influence there.
International donors pledged $500 million in aid for the Palestinian Territories on Friday and called on Israel to give humanitarian agencies better access to the region.
The United Nations' top human rights body on Friday announced a three-person team to investigate allegations of violations by Israel during its month-long war in Lebanon.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Friday Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had promised to enforce an arms embargo on Hizbollah under a UN resolution that halted Israel's war with the Lebanese group.
Powerful Hurricane John roared toward one of Mexico's most exclusive beach resorts on Friday, forcing hundreds of foreign tourists to flee ahead of howling winds, angry seas and lashing rain.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has unseated US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as the world's most powerful woman, according to a new ranking by Forbes magazine. "Despite her short time in office, Merkel has been dazzling world leaders, including Ton
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain have switched to a Friday-Saturday weekend in a move that will bring the two Muslim Gulf states closer to the working week in the West and many other countries.
Pope Benedict became the first pontiff on Friday to visit "Veronica's Veil", which Christian tradition says was used to wipe the sweat from Jesus' brow on his way to crucifixion and miraculously recorded his features.
Sri Lanka's army mounted an offensive to capture rebel-held territory south of the strategic north-eastern harbour of Trincomalee on Friday, officials said, and a naval battle broke out off the island's northern tip.
European Union foreign ministers called on Friday for more dialogue with Iran before any talk of sanctions after Tehran defied a UN deadline to stop sensitive nuclear work. At an informal meeting near Finland's border with Russia, ministers said there was
One British soldier was killed and another badly wounded in an attack by guerrillas in southern Afghanistan on Friday, the British defence ministry said. The soldier, whose name was not released, is the seventh British soldier killed in fighting in Helman
European Union lawmakers are set to approve a report slamming the slow pace of reform in Turkey in the latest warning from Brussels that the accession hopeful must do better.
Conditions that could lead to a civil war exist in Iraq, the Pentagon said in a new report on Friday, as the "core conflict" has changed into one pitting Sunni Muslims against Shias, with the Sunni Arab insurgency overshadowed.
The civilian death toll from violence in Iraq fell by more than a quarter in August, partial monthly statistics from three government ministries suggested on Friday, despite a spike in violence in the last week.
The Indian rupee rose modestly on Friday, snapping a two-day fall, helped by foreign inflows into a rising stock market, but gains were capped by steady dollar purchases by oil companies, dealers said.
Sterling tested eight-month highs against the euro on Friday, shrugging off a below forecast manufacturing survey and supported by recent upbeat housing data which have fuelled speculation of another UK rate hike soon.
The dollar held near a six-week high against the yen and in a tight range against the euro on Friday ahead of a closely-watched US payrolls report that could cast light on the US interest rate outlook.
European credit default swap indices inched tighter on Friday, after US payrolls and consumer sentiment data came in slightly stronger than expected, easing concerns the US economy may be slowing so fast that it risked damaging the economic outlook for co
European credit default swap indices inched tighter on Friday, after US payrolls and consumer sentiment data came in slightly stronger than expected, easing concerns the US economy may be slowing so fast that it risked damaging the economic outlook for co
US stocks began September with strong gains on Friday as a report showing slightly more-than-expected US job growth in August lifted hopes that companies will sustain profitability even as the expansion moderates.
South Korean shares edged up on Friday to their highest close in more than three months, as some exporters such as Hyundai Motor Co gained on data showing stronger-than-expected overseas shipments. The gains among exporters helped offset concerns about th
Britain's FTSE 100 index scored a broad-based rally on Friday to close at its highest level in about one month, led by banks including Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland which were boosted by the outlook for US rates.
Oil eased below $70 a barrel on Friday on expectations of a long delay before the United Nations decides on sanctions against Iran, the world's fourth-largest oil exporter.
Suedzucker, Europe's largest sugar company, plans to float its bioethanol unit CropEnergies this year if market conditions remain good, it said on Friday, sending its shares up more than 3 percent.
The United States on Friday exercised its right to delay a World Trade Organisation (WTO) probe into the billions of dollars it pays in subsidies each year to cotton farmers.
Cotton futures buckled from speculative sales to finish Friday near session lows ahead of the holiday weekend, and the weak tone could spill into next week, brokers said. The cotton market will be shut Monday for US Labour Day. Trading resumes on Tuesday.
London white sugar futures finished down on speculative and fund selling on Friday after falling nearly 3 percent shortly before the close, and traders and analysts said big global supplies would weigh on prices.
Copper fell on Friday after a pay settlement at Chile's giant Escondida mine, but analysts expect future pay negotiations, possible strikes and receding worries about higher US interest rates to support prices.
Silver attracted selling that knocked the metal off a three-month high in Europe on Friday, while a stronger dollar eroded gold prices. Spot silver earlier matched Thursday's peak of $12.89 an ounce, its highest since May, but then fell to $12.72/12.79 by
Arabica coffee futures finished in the red Friday amid benign Brazilian crop weather, though buoyant robusta values in London helped to limit the selling here before the three-day weekend, traders said.
US benchmark cocoa futures climbed 1.4 percent on Friday, with light trade and speculative buying nudging the contract near the week's top trade of $1,508 a tonne, market sources said.
Raw sugar finished Friday at its lowest level since November 2005 on a late flurry of commodity fund sales and should stay on the defensive under the shadow of a supply glut in the 2006/07 season, brokers said.
Corn futures at the Chicago Board of Trade were weak early Friday, setting back ahead of the long holiday weekend and seasonal harvest weakness, traders said.
Wheat futures at the Chicago Board of Trade were lower at midsession on Friday, consolidating after strong speculative advances over the previous two days, traders said. Traders were also positioning ahead of a long US holiday weekend. US markets will be
Copper futures in New York declined early Friday, with a few players selling after Thursday's rally and taking short-term profits ahead of a long US holiday weekend
Soyabean futures at the Chicago Board of Trade turned lower early Friday as prospects for a big US soyabean crop and abundant stocks continue to overhang prices, traders said.
Gold futures in New York tumbled on Friday before an early close as the dollar climbed on US payrolls data for August, while silver slid off a three-month high atop $13 an ounce on profit-taking.
State Minister for Youth Affairs Ghulam Bibi Bharwana has said that the government will set up youth centres at district and Tehsil level to impart technical education to the youth.
All Pakistan Caterers and Poultry Decorators Association (APCPDA), has hailed the government allowing serving of one-dish at marriage ceremonies. President of the association, M. Nadeem said here on Friday that the government has taken wise decision of li
The garment cities of Lahore and Faisalabad would be made functional within a period of one year. This was disclosed by Minister for Textile Mushtaq Ali Cheema, while talking to newsmen. He said that the buildings equipped with every facility would be pro
Strike call was totally flopped in Sialkot and its adjoining areas on Friday. All shopping centres, petrol pumps, commercial areas and restaurants remained opened in the city. The transport remained on the roads and people were busy in their daily chore a
Complete shutter-down strike was observed in Multan and other parts of southern Punjab at the call of opposition. All bazaars, shopping centres, plazas and wholesale markets remained closed to express solidarity with Balochistan people and to express ange
Imran Khan, a staunch opponent of President General Musharraf, faced embarrassment in the National Assembly when Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain, state minister for religious affairs, reminded the house of the cricketer-turned-politician's "relations" with Sita
The government of Pakistan remained quite successful for bringing in foreign investments into sectors like telecommunication, real estate and oil and gas etc. The struggle to represent Pakistan as an emerging destination for trade activities is no doubt r
Sri Lanka, which carved a global niche with its exotic lingerie, has penetrated an even more lucrative market - body armour, flak jackets and bullet-proof vests for foreign troops.
Fed up with car bombs and death threats, Lazem Hamid, an Iraqi doctor from one of Baghdad's most violent neighbourhoods, decided one day to pack his bags and take his family north to Kurdistan.
The New York Times vented the concern in US ruling circles over the deteriorating state of affairs in Afghanistan with a lengthy article and an editorial the following day, entitled "Losing Afghanistan".
In an initiative that is meant to boost alternative energy sector in Pakistan, President Musharraf has okayed an LNG-specific energy plan which envisages import of LNG and the setting up of a countrywide network to ensure supply of this highly cost-effect
While the UN Security Council had given Tehran August 31 as the date by which it was asked to end its nuclear programme, cracks are evident in the five veto wielding permanent members of the UN body on how to deal with the issue.
According to a report of the Flood Forecasting Division, the River Indus was in medium flood at Kotri and falling. According to the report, the inflows and outflows of the river Indus at Tarbela were 143,400 cusecs each. The inflows and outflows of the ri
The UN refugee agency after completing its operation in quake-hit areas on Thursday handed over its offices to the local authorities for further relief operation. UNHCR will continue to advise the authorities until the end of the year through the UN resid
Partial strike was observed in various parts of the Rawalpindi city on the call given by united opposition to protest against the killing of Baloch nationalist leader and former chief minister of Balochistan Nawab Akbar Bugti.
The board of director of Fishermen's Co-operative Society (FCS) has approved the installation of effective communication system in fishing boats to ensure the safety of fishermen.
Executive Director, Oil and Gas Development Corporation Limited (OGDCL), Aftab Ahmad on Friday said that government was providing best facilities and incentives to companies for exploring oil and gas in the country.
On the call given by Punjab Bar Council (PBC), the lawyers' community on Friday observed strike to protest the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti. The lawyers boycotted the courts to express solidarity with the Balochistan Bar Association and Balochi people.
A meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Chaudhry Shahbaz Hussain, Federal Minister for Population Welfare, to seek possible opportunities of co-operation and financial collaboration between the ministry and the National Commission for Human Developme
Former prime minister and ruling Pakistan Muslim League senior leader Zafarullah Khan Jamali disputed the burial of Akbar Bugti without handing over the body to his heirs. Talking to journalists at the Parliament House after National Assembly sitting, Jam
The University of Sindh issued promotion orders for its 20 lower grades employees under technical scheme approved by the University Syndicate. The scheme was reviewed by committees formed by the Syndicate and approved for implementation.