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Print - 2008-03-20
President delays execution of Indian prisoner

President delays execution of Indian prisoner

President Pervez Musharraf has delayed by 30 days the execution of an Indian prisoner who was condemned to death on charges of terrorism, a jail official said on Wednesday. The move came a day after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said his government
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Currency notes: exchange rates

Currency notes: exchange rates

Exchange rates for Currency Notes issued by the Treasury Management Division of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) here on Wednesday (March 19, 2008).

Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Conversion for foreign currency deposits

Conversion for foreign currency deposits

Conversion for foreign currency deposits, DBC/FCBC, special USD bond & profits thereon (excluding FE-25 deposits) on Wednesday (March 19, 2008).

Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Outstanding bills: IPPs threaten to invoke sovereign guarantees

Outstanding bills: IPPs threaten to invoke sovereign guarantees

The country''s power sector is facing worst financial crisis as the Independent Power Producers are showing teeth to the government, threatening to invoke sovereign guarantees without prejudice, sources in the finance ministry told Business Recorder</i
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Exchange rates: buying and selling

Exchange rates: buying and selling

Exchange rates issued by the Treasury Management Division of National Bank of Pakistan on Wednesday (March 19, 2008).

Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Outstanding bills: IPPs threaten to invoke sovereign guarantees

Outstanding bills: IPPs threaten to invoke sovereign guarantees

The country's power sector is facing worst financial crisis as the Independent Power Producers are showing teeth to the government, threatening to invoke sovereign guarantees without prejudice, sources in the finance ministry told Business Recorder
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Barclays bid rates and maximum rates for payment of interest

Barclays bid rates and maximum rates for payment of interest

Barclays bid rates, maximum rates for payment of interest by authorised dealers on deposits (other than those brought under FE Circular No: 45 of 1985) and on deposits (brought under FE Circular No: 45 of 1985) -- issued by the Foreign Exchange Rates Comm
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Outstanding bills: IPPs threaten to invoke sovereign guarantees

Outstanding bills: IPPs threaten to invoke sovereign guarantees

The country's power sector is facing worst financial crisis as the Independent Power Producers are showing teeth to the government, threatening to invoke sovereign guarantees without prejudice, sources in the finance ministry told Business Recorder
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
State Bank of Pakistan conversion rates

State Bank of Pakistan conversion rates

Rates applicable for conversion into rupees of Foreign Currency Deposits, Dollar Bearer Certificates, Foreign Currency Bearer Certificates, Special US Dollar bonds and profits thereon by all banks and also for providing forward cover on foreign currency d
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
44 percent decline in foreign investment

44 percent decline in foreign investment

Political uncertainty and poor law and order situation have reduced foreign investment by about $2 billion, or 44 percent, from $4.62 billion, during eight months of the current fiscal year. However, during February 2008 foreign investment had gone up by
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
44 percent decline in foreign investment

44 percent decline in foreign investment

Political uncertainty and poor law and order situation have reduced foreign investment by about $2 billion, or 44 percent, from $4.62 billion, during eight months of the current fiscal year. However, during February 2008 foreign investment had gone up by
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
44 percent decline in foreign investment

44 percent decline in foreign investment

Political uncertainty and poor law and order situation have reduced foreign investment by about $2 billion, or 44 percent, from $4.62 billion, during eight months of the current fiscal year. However, during February 2008 foreign investment had gone up by
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Activity at Karachi and Qasim ports

Activity at Karachi and Qasim ports

The Karachi Port handled 129,625 tonnes cargo including 108,223 tonnes import, 21,402 tonnes export cargo and 2,764 containers (TEUs) during last 24 hours ending at 0700 hours on Wednesday.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Another Pakistan's first: a lady Speaker

Another Pakistan's first: a lady Speaker

Congratulations to Dr Fahmida Mirza, who has made history by getting elected as the first lady speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly. That augurs well for women's power in Pakistan, as well as rest of the Muslim world, just as the late Benazir Bhutto wa
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Kenyan coffee prices ease

Kenyan coffee prices ease

Kenyan coffee prices eased at this week's auction due to falling prices in New York, traders said on Wednesday. The Nairobi Coffee Exchange said a total of 29,574 60-kg bags were offered at the auction, held on Tuesday, and 15,550 sold. At last week's sal
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Another Pakistan's first: a lady Speaker

Another Pakistan's first: a lady Speaker

Congratulations to Dr Fahmida Mirza, who has made history by getting elected as the first lady speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly. That augurs well for women's power in Pakistan, as well as rest of the Muslim world, just as the late Benazir Bhutto wa
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
FOB Gulf corn and soyabean mostly steady

FOB Gulf corn and soyabean mostly steady

US FOB Gulf corn and soyabean basis offers held mostly steady on Tuesday but export demand remained weak despite rising soyabean prices in South America, traders said. Wheat export premiums sank due to pressure from the approaching harvest of a new-crop i
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Ukraine sees higher wheat and barley crops

Ukraine sees higher wheat and barley crops

Ukraine is likely to boost its 2008 wheat crop to 19.1 million tonnes from 13.9 million in 2007 due to higher yields and a larger sowing area, Agriculture Ministry data showed on Wednesday. It also showed the barley harvest was likely to rise to 9.68 mill
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
US Midwest bids for corn firm, soya steady

US Midwest bids for corn firm, soya steady

Spot basis bids for corn were steady to firm at interior locations around the US Midwest on Tuesday amid slow country movement, grain dealers said. Cash bids for soyabeans held steady at interior locations but rose at river terminals. Corn bids also showe
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Kenyan tea prices mixed

Kenyan tea prices mixed

Kenyan tea prices were mixed at this week's auction, with some grades easing marginally due to a dip in quality despite good demand ahead of Easter holidays, traders said on Wednesday. The Mombasa-based Africa Tea Brokers (ATB) said 115,215 packages were
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
BRIndex30 up 259.04 points

BRIndex30 up 259.04 points

On Wednesday, the BRIndex30 opened at 15,834.86, and closed at 16,093.90 points with a net positive change of 259.04 points and percentage change of 1.64. It saw intra-day high of 16,093.90 and low of 15,834.86. The volume amounted to 190,435,700 shares,
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Canadian canola rallies

Canadian canola rallies

Canadian canola futures rallied on Tuesday, supported by commercial and speculative buying and by ideas that recent losses were overdone, traders said. "We caught up" to the US soya complex, a canola trader said.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
BRIndex30 up 259.04 points

BRIndex30 up 259.04 points

On Wednesday, the BRIndex30 opened at 15,834.86, and closed at 16,093.90 points with a net positive change of 259.04 points and percentage change of 1.64. It saw intra-day high of 16,093.90 and low of 15,834.86. The volume amounted to 190,435,700 shares,
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Vietnam rice prices rise

Vietnam rice prices rise

Rice prices edged up more than 2 percent this week in Vietnam after the Philippines announced its tender results with winning bids rising nearly 50 percent. Firming paddy prices have made it difficult for exporters to gather sufficient volume for loading,
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Healthy buying pushes up KSE index

Healthy buying pushes up KSE index

Healthy buying was witnessed at the Karachi share market on Wednesday as the KSE-100 index recovered 237.88 points to close at 14,964.42 points level. The KSE-30 index gained 343.77 points and settled at 18,238.44 points level.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
US wheat futures higher

US wheat futures higher

US wheat futures closed higher on Tuesday, following as crude oil and other commodity markets rallied in a reversal from Monday's fund-driven sell-off, traders said. Tight global stocks of old-crop wheat and several pending tenders from buyers including T
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Healthy buying pushes up KSE index

Healthy buying pushes up KSE index

Healthy buying was witnessed at the Karachi share market on Wednesday as the KSE-100 index recovered 237.88 points to close at 14,964.42 points level. The KSE-30 index gained 343.77 points and settled at 18,238.44 points level.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Oil cake market rates

Oil cake market rates

Softer trend was seen on the forward cottonseed oilcake market on Wednesday as most of the buyers kept to sidelines ahead of holidays, dealers said. The March vaida did not show any change at Rs 695.00 and closed at the same level without showing any chan
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Healthy buying pushes up KSE index

Healthy buying pushes up KSE index

Healthy buying was witnessed at the Karachi share market on Wednesday as the KSE-100 index recovered 237.88 points to close at 14,964.42 points level. The KSE-30 index gained 343.77 points and settled at 18,238.44 points level.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Lean business on cotton market ahead of holidays

Lean business on cotton market ahead of holidays

Low business was seen on the cotton market on Wednesday as both buyers and sellers indulged in a tug-of-war over prices on the eve of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (s a w) holidays, dealers said. The Karachi Cotton Association (KCA) official spot rate was unchanged
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
July-February collection up 13.4 percent

July-February collection up 13.4 percent

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has collected Rs 584.366 billion during the first eight months (July-February) of 2007-2008 against Rs 515.1 billion in the corresponding period last year, showing a growth of 13.4 percent.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
July-February collection up 13.4 percent

July-February collection up 13.4 percent

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has collected Rs 584.366 billion during the first eight months (July-February) of 2007-2008 against Rs 515.1 billion in the corresponding period last year, showing a growth of 13.4 percent.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Rice prices sharply lower on grain market

Rice prices sharply lower on grain market

Rice prices were sharply down on grain market on Wednesday as the supply was enough to meet the demand, dealers said. On the rice sector, Basmati rice low type lost Rs 600 to Rs 2200 and the best type was steeply lower by Rs 1300 to Rs 2300 during the tra
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
July-February collection up 13.4 percent

July-February collection up 13.4 percent

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has collected Rs 584.366 billion during the first eight months (July-February) of 2007-2008 against Rs 515.1 billion in the corresponding period last year, showing a growth of 13.4 percent.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
US gasoline demand down

US gasoline demand down

US retail gasoline demand dropped over year-ago levels for the eighth week in a row last week, even though demand slightly increased from the previous week, MasterCard Advisors said Tuesday.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Mangla dam cleared for additional water storage

Mangla dam cleared for additional water storage

Mangla dam will be available for additional water storage during forthcoming monsoon season as the technical team has cleared it for enhanced storage. The dam will now store 8.88 million acre feet (MAF) water against 5.88 MAF of the last season.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
MGE wheat higher early in bounceback

MGE wheat higher early in bounceback

Wheat futures on the Chicago Board of Trade, the Kansas City Board of Trade and the Minneapolis Grain Exchange were higher early on Tuesday in a technical bounce after limit declines on Monday, traders said.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Mangla dam cleared for additional water storage

Mangla dam cleared for additional water storage

Mangla dam will be available for additional water storage during forthcoming monsoon season as the technical team has cleared it for enhanced storage. The dam will now store 8.88 million acre feet (MAF) water against 5.88 MAF of the last season.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
New York coffee settles firm

New York coffee settles firm

Arabica coffee futures trading on ICE Futures US settled higher on Tuesday, recovering from Monday's steep losses after fund buying and spillover support from other commodity markets provided a late-day boost, traders said.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Mangla dam cleared for additional water storage

Mangla dam cleared for additional water storage

Mangla dam will be available for additional water storage during forthcoming monsoon season as the technical team has cleared it for enhanced storage. The dam will now store 8.88 million acre feet (MAF) water against 5.88 MAF of the last season.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
New York cocoa futures sharply lower

New York cocoa futures sharply lower

US cocoa futures settled sharply lower for the second straight day on Tuesday, at a three-week low on heavy speculative long-liquidation and chart-based weakness, traders said. "We are seeing more long liquidation in the cocoa market. This is technical fa
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Fehmida elected first woman Speaker

Fehmida elected first woman Speaker

Members of the new National Assembly from a new ruling alliance on Wednesday disseminated rhetorically-controlled but substantially strong anti-Musharraf signals as they elected Speaker and Deputy Speaker with enough majority to humiliate President Mushar
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Shanghai copper ends with little change

Shanghai copper ends with little change

Shanghai copper was little changed on Wednesday, paring gains as London futures dropped almost 1 percent, but dealers said calm was returning to the anxious market after heavy losses at the start of the week. The June copper contract the most active on th
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Fehmida elected first woman Speaker

Fehmida elected first woman Speaker

Members of the new National Assembly from a new ruling alliance on Wednesday disseminated rhetorically-controlled but substantially strong anti-Musharraf signals as they elected Speaker and Deputy Speaker with enough majority to humiliate President Mushar
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
US copper gains

US copper gains

US copper futures ended near their session highs on Tuesday in anticipation of an expected decision by the Federal Reserve to slash interest rates by as much as one full percentage point. Copper for May delivery settled up 6.15 cents at $3.7465 a lb on th
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
'Geo-strategic location can be developed as trade and energy corridor'

'Geo-strategic location can be developed as trade and energy corridor'

President Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday said that the key to the country's future and way forward is sustained economic growth and control of extremism. He made these remarks while speaking to the participants of National Defence Course and Armed Forces W
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
US gold ends higher

US gold ends higher

US gold futures finished slightly higher on Tuesday on the back of inflation fears due to a bounce of crude oil prices, after heavy liquidation erased sharp initial gains which took the market to record highs on Monday.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Bank holiday

Bank holiday

The State Bank of Pakistan and all offices of SBP Banking Services Corporation, including the Public Debt Offices, will remain closed on Friday March 21, 2008 being public holiday declared by the Government of Pakistan on the occasion of Eid Milad-un-Nabi
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Gold drops after Fed cuts

Gold drops after Fed cuts

Gold fell more than 2 percent on Wednesday after a less than expected 75 basis points interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve boosted the dollar, lifted stocks and dimmed bullion's appeal as an alternative investment.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Bank holiday

Bank holiday

The State Bank of Pakistan and all offices of SBP Banking Services Corporation, including the Public Debt Offices, will remain closed on Friday March 21, 2008 being public holiday declared by the Government of Pakistan on the occasion of Eid Milad-un-Nabi
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Indian soyaoil futures down

Indian soyaoil futures down

Indian soyaoil futures contracts extended this week's losses on Wednesday as global markets stayed weak on expectations of further price falls due to higher soyabean supplies from Brazil and Argentina. The fall was limited due to a good demand in the spot
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Bank holiday

Bank holiday

The State Bank of Pakistan and all offices of SBP Banking Services Corporation, including the Public Debt Offices, will remain closed on Friday March 21, 2008 being public holiday declared by the Government of Pakistan on the occasion of Eid Milad-un-Nabi
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Oil falls $1 to around $108

Oil falls $1 to around $108

Oil fell $1 on Wednesday to around $108 a barrel, paring the 3.5 percent jump a day earlier as the dollar kept above 13-year lows, and ahead of US data expected to show rising stockpiles of crude and gasoline. US crude for April delivery, which expires at
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
US welcomes

US welcomes

The United States on Wednesday welcomed the election of a woman parliamentarian to the office of speaker in Pakistan's National Assembly as the parliamentary process in Islamabad moved forward to elect new leadership.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
ICE US to allow cotton blocks, sets options hours

ICE US to allow cotton blocks, sets options hours

ICE Futures US said it will permit block trades for Cotton No 2 futures contracts, with a minimum quantity of 500 contracts, effective with the start of trading on April 1. In a separate notice also posted last week, ICE said it amended rules for hours of
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
US welcomes

US welcomes

The United States on Wednesday welcomed the election of a woman parliamentarian to the office of speaker in Pakistan's National Assembly as the parliamentary process in Islamabad moved forward to elect new leadership.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Italy millers say don't pass wheat price rise to consumer

Italy millers say don't pass wheat price rise to consumer

Italian millers see their margins hit as they fail to pass on surging wheat costs to final consumers, the deputy director of the Italian millers' association Italmopa said on Tuesday. Millers, bread and pasta makers have come under fire in pasta-loving It
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Coalition partners send strong message across

Coalition partners send strong message across

Asif Zardari has finally put his cards on the table to tell a "hostile" Makhdoom Amin Fahim that the latter should no longer nurse his ambitions to become prime minister, as whosoever is nominated by him would be in the prime minister's house just warming
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
India sugar rises

India sugar rises

Indian sugar futures rose on Wednesday on short-covering after the markets had fallen up to 8.6 percent since on Thursday's close, but large deliveries capped gains in the near-month contract. Good summer demand in physical markets and expectations of rob
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Coalition partners send strong message across

Coalition partners send strong message across

Asif Zardari has finally put his cards on the table to tell a "hostile" Makhdoom Amin Fahim that the latter should no longer nurse his ambitions to become prime minister, as whosoever is nominated by him would be in the prime minister's house just warming
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
New York sugar futures up

New York sugar futures up

ICE raw sugar futures ended up on Tuesday as investors took advantage of Monday's sharp sell-off to buy in at lower levels, but a burdensome backdrop of increasing supply threatened further price gains, analysts said.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
New government must sustain economic growth, says Musharraf

New government must sustain economic growth, says Musharraf

President Pervez Musharraf Wednesday said the new government can meet the challenges of terrorism, energy crisis, rising fuel and food prices through good governance and by always keeping "Pakistan First".
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Soyabeans bounce

Soyabeans bounce

US soyabean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade ended higher on Tuesday, bouncing from Monday's sharply lower move when speculators liquidated long positions, traders said. All three soya markets closed locked limit lower on Monday a sign of the general
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
New government must sustain economic growth, says Musharraf

New government must sustain economic growth, says Musharraf

President Pervez Musharraf Wednesday said the new government can meet the challenges of terrorism, energy crisis, rising fuel and food prices through good governance and by always keeping "Pakistan First".
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Malaysian tin

Malaysian tin

Malaysian tin rose 2.1 percent on Wednesday, tracking a sharp increase in prices on the London Metal Exchange, one dealer said.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
New government must sustain economic growth, says Musharraf

New government must sustain economic growth, says Musharraf

President Pervez Musharraf Wednesday said the new government can meet the challenges of terrorism, energy crisis, rising fuel and food prices through good governance and by always keeping "Pakistan First".
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Tokyo rubber rallies

Tokyo rubber rallies

Tokyo rubber futures bounced back to rise more than 1 percent on Wednesday, as steady oil prices and a softer yen encouraged buying. The benchmark Tokyo Commodity Exchange rubber contract for August delivery rose as high as 286.9 yen per kg, up 4.5 yen or
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Indonesia palm oil mixed

Indonesia palm oil mixed

Indonesian palm oil prices were mixed on Wednesday, with a fall in Malaysian palm oil futures discouraging strong position-taking ahead a long holiday weekend. The state marketing centre in Jakarta did not hold a crude palm oil auction on Wednesday. There
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Malaysian palm oil futures fall

Malaysian palm oil futures fall

Malaysian crude palm oil futures slid another 4 percent on Wednesday as demand remained weak despite lower prices, pushing down vegetable oils across Asia. The benchmark June contracts on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange fell as much as 154 ringgit
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
US mortgage applications fall to 2008 low

US mortgage applications fall to 2008 low

Applications for US home mortgages last week fell to their lowest since December despite a sharp drop in borrowing costs, according to data from an industry group on Wednesday.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Eurozone posts $16.9 billion trade deficit

Eurozone posts $16.9 billion trade deficit

The 15 eurozone countries suffered a worse than expected trade deficit of 10.7 billion euros (16.9 billion dollars) in January, a first official EU estimate showed Wednesday. The Eurostat data agency said seasonally adjusted eurozone imports and exports b
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Fannie, Freddie to add extra $200 billion into housing

Fannie, Freddie to add extra $200 billion into housing

US regulators announced a plan Wednesday to allow government-sponsored mortgage firms Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to pump an extra 200 billion dollars into the troubled housing market.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Three Gulf states cut rates to defend dollar peg

Three Gulf states cut rates to defend dollar peg

Three Gulf Arab oil producers lowered some interest rates on Wednesday to defend their dollar-pegged currencies after a US rate cut despite the risk of stoking already near-record inflation.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
McCain voices concern over US economy

McCain voices concern over US economy

US Republican presidential candidate John McCain voiced concern on Wednesday over the weakening US economy. "Americans are hurting. I'm very deeply concerned," McCain told Reuters while touring the Israeli town of Sderot, hit frequently by Palestinian roc
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Economy going through 'rough patch', says Cheney

Economy going through 'rough patch', says Cheney

US Vice President Dick Cheney said on Wednesday that the economy is going through a "rough patch," a day after the Federal Reserve slashed interest rates to try to protect the economy from financial turmoil. "We're currently going through a rough patch he
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Sony Ericsson warns on first quarter

Sony Ericsson warns on first quarter

Mobile phone maker Sony Ericsson warned on Wednesday first-quarter earnings could fall by more than half, adding to growing gloom in the handset sector and dealing co-parent Ericsson a fresh blow. A global economic slowdown is starting to crimp consumer s
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Sony Ericsson warns on first quarter

Sony Ericsson warns on first quarter

Mobile phone maker Sony Ericsson warned on Wednesday first-quarter earnings could fall by more than half, adding to growing gloom in the handset sector and dealing co-parent Ericsson a fresh blow. A global economic slowdown is starting to crimp consumer s
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Fund executives see prolonged crisis, shades of 1929

Fund executives see prolonged crisis, shades of 1929

Top fund executives are resigned to the probability of a credit crisis lasting many months or even years, with some looking back as far as the Wall Street crash of 1929 for a possible comparison.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Fund executives see prolonged crisis, shades of 1929

Fund executives see prolonged crisis, shades of 1929

Top fund executives are resigned to the probability of a credit crisis lasting many months or even years, with some looking back as far as the Wall Street crash of 1929 for a possible comparison.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Morgan Stanley earnings fall

Morgan Stanley earnings fall

Morgan Stanley reported sharply lower quarterly earnings on Wednesday after absorbing $2.3 billion of write-downs, but resilient trading results helped the No 2 US investment bank beat Wall Street's reduced expectations by a wide margin.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Morgan Stanley earnings fall

Morgan Stanley earnings fall

Morgan Stanley reported sharply lower quarterly earnings on Wednesday after absorbing $2.3 billion of write-downs, but resilient trading results helped the No 2 US investment bank beat Wall Street's reduced expectations by a wide margin.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Millions strike in Greece over pensions

Millions strike in Greece over pensions

Millions of Greeks took part in a 24-hour nation-wide strike on Wednesday against planned pension reforms, grounding flights, confining ships to port and closing schools, ministries and banks. Thousands marched through central Athens, beating drums and ch
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Air France won't extend deadline

Air France won't extend deadline

Air France-KLM CEO Jean-Cyril Spinetta on Wednesday ruled out extending a March 31 deadline for striking a deal with Alitalia's unions, who have opposed the Franco-Dutch carrier's proposal.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
General Mills profit up

General Mills profit up

General Mills Inc on Wednesday posted a higher-than-expected quarterly profit as cost-cutting measures and higher sales helped offset soaring prices for wheat and other commodities, sending its shares up almost 3 percent.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
General Mills profit up

General Mills profit up

General Mills Inc on Wednesday posted a higher-than-expected quarterly profit as cost-cutting measures and higher sales helped offset soaring prices for wheat and other commodities, sending its shares up almost 3 percent.
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Temporary governor to head BoJ

Temporary governor to head BoJ

Parliament failed on Wednesday to agree on a new central bank chief, leaving a temporary governor to take the Bank of Japan's helm as central banks around the world work together to combat the credit crisis. Opposition parties that control the upper house
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Americans in sour mood over economy

Americans in sour mood over economy

Americans are in a sour mood over the sagging US economy, worried about their jobs and overwhelmingly of the opinion the country is on the wrong track, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday. The Reuters/Zogby Index, which measures the mo
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Next sees tough year ahead

Next sees tough year ahead

British clothing retailer Next Plc said trading would be tough in its stores this year with like-for-like sales seen down 4-7 percent, knocking its shares. "Trading conditions in the year ahead will continue to be difficult as increased costs and rising t
Published 20 Mar, 2008 12:00am