The United States and China will tackle rising inflation at the opening of bilateral economic talks next week, US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Tuesday.
Central bankers on both sides of the Atlantic unleashed a further verbal offensive on inflation, sparking a rise in the US dollar and drops in stock and bond prices on Tuesday. The Bank of Canada surprised markets by keeping its key interest rate steady a
Gulf Arab states launched emergency efforts to control soaring prices while inflation in Egypt hit a 19-year peak on Tuesday as spiralling costs for food and fuel threaten to damage economic growth and stir discontent.
Small business owner confidence in the US economy deteriorated to its lowest in 28 years, according to a survey released on Tuesday. The National Federation of Independent Business said its index of small business optimism fell 2.2 points in May to 89.3,
The US trade deficit widened more than expected in April as the price of imported oil hit a record, pushing overall imports to an all-time high, a Commerce Department report showed on Tuesday. The monthly trade gap grew nearly 7.8 percent to $60.9 billion
Russia's Gazprom, the supplier of a quarter of Europe's natural gas, expects the price of crude oil to almost double within 18 months and to take gas prices higher with it.
IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn sounded a pessimistic note on the US economy on Monday, saying a stronger-than-expected first-quarter performance did not necessarily mean the worst is over. "I am only partly reassured by data for the first quarter of 200
Commonwealth leaders said international institutions such as the United Nations and the World Bank were inadequate in their response to a trio of global financial crises, calling on Tuesday for immediate reform. "Global crises required truly global and un
Global credit turmoil, an economic slowdown in industrial countries and accelerating inflation are set to curb the rapid pace of growth in developing economies this year, the World Bank said on Tuesday. The economic cooling may be welcome relief to countr
Apple has unveiled a new version of its popular iPhone built for high-speed wireless networks with faster Internet access and more features for business users. Chief executive Steve Jobs said the price for the mobile device will start as low as 199 dollar
World oil demand will rise at its slowest pace in six years during 2008 as a raft of fuel subsidy cuts in Asia erodes consumption, the International Energy Agency said on Tuesday. But the adviser to 27 industrialised economies also sharply lowered its pro
Kazakh miner Kazakhmys Plc is due to become the biggest shareholder in its bigger rival ENRC Plc by buying a 7.7 percent stake from the government, boosting the chances of a merger, analysts said. Kazakhmys said on Tuesday it had no immediate plans to lau
Trade unions hailed a European Union agreement on Tuesday to give temporary workers the same rights as permanent employees from day one but urged EU lawmakers to better protect the maximum 48-hour work week.
The possibility of a US recession will put further pressure on financial markets in the coming months and push policymakers to implement regulatory reforms, former US Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker said on Monday.
The finance adviser (minister) to Bangladesh's army-backed interim government said on Tuesday that his 2008-09 fiscal budget would help alleviate poverty, boost farming and create jobs. "The fiscal proposals the July-June budget made were neither out of p
China's consumer prices rose 7.7 percent in May from a year earlier, easing from an almost 12-year high of 8.5 percent in April, two sources familiar with the data said on Tuesday. Economists polled by Reuters had expected inflation to dip to 7.9 percent,
Tesco said its first quarter like-for-like sales excluding petrol in its core UK market rose 3.5 percent, slower than at the start of the year as clothing and furniture sales were hit by a consumer squeeze. Tesco shares fell more than 2.6 percent to 391.2
Tesco said its first quarter like-for-like sales excluding petrol in its core UK market rose 3.5 percent, slower than at the start of the year as clothing and furniture sales were hit by a consumer squeeze. Tesco shares fell more than 2.6 percent to 391.2
The Bank of Japan is expected to keep interest rates on hold at 0.5 percent this week as a slowing economy and gloom over corporate activity remain key concerns, with inflation still among the lowest in major economies.
Iran's annual inflation rate rose to more than 25 percent in May, the central bank said, highlighting a growing economic problem facing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ahead of next year's election.
The Chinese economy is at risk of a sharp slowdown in 2008 and may need to accept above-target inflation to keep growth on track, a government researcher said on Tuesday. Yu Bin, the head of macroeconomic research with the Development Research Centre, a t
Emerging economies such as China and India are growing faster than the rest of the world but still lack the firepower to offset weaker growth in the US and European Union, Fitch Ratings said Monday.
Taiwan stocks fell 2.5 percent to a more than two-month closing low on Tuesday, as investors shunned major tech exporters such as TSMC on worries over high oil prices and slowing demand from the United States.
Hong Kong shares plunged to their lowest level since April 1 on Tuesday after Shanghai stocks fell the most in a year in a broad sell-off triggered by Beijing's latest round of monetary austerity measures.
The Dow staged a modest rebound on Monday from Friday's nearly 400-point drop, as concerns about consumer spending and the housing market were eased by better-than-expected sales figures from McDonald's Corp and a surprising gain in pending home sales.
China's main stock index tumbled 7.73 percent on Tuesday, its biggest drop since June last year, after the central bank announced a harsher-than-expected tightening of monetary policy to fight inflation. Banks and property shares led the declines as buyer
Short-dated US Treasury yields experienced their biggest one-day slip in 25 years on Monday as prices, moving inversely to yields, tumbled on the view that the Federal Reserve would raise interest rates later this year to thwart inflation pressures.
Short-dated US Treasury yields experienced their biggest one-day slip in 25 years on Monday as prices, moving inversely to yields, tumbled on the view that the Federal Reserve would raise interest rates later this year to thwart inflation pressures.
Philippines share prices closed down 3.4 percent on Tuesday amid soaring oil prices, regional stock market weakness and following a Wall Street slide last week, dealers said. The composite index fell 93.75 points to 2,645.95 points. The all-share index fe
Thai share prices closed 1.69 percent lower on Tuesday amid concerns over record oil prices and high inflation, dealers said. They said the bourse followed regional markets, and that investors were also still wary of the political situation as protests ru
Japan's Nikkei average fell 1.1 percent to a two-week closing low on Tuesday as worries about global stagflation outweighed the positive effect on exporters of the dollar's rise to a three-month high against the yen.
Indian shares closed 1.17 percent lower on Tuesday after hitting a new intra-day low for the year, led by a plunge across Asian markets and worries over high oil prices, dealers said. The benchmark Mumbai 30-share Sensex index fell 176.85 points at 14,889
Singapore share prices closed 1.65 percent lower on Tuesday ahead of key US economic data to be released this week, dealers said. The blue chip Straits Times Index dropped 50.97 points to 3,033.05 on volume of 1.31 billion shares worth 1.50 billion Singap
The yuan fell sharply against the dollar in the offshore forwards market on Tuesday and one-year dollar/yuan volatilities hit a fresh post-revaluation high after an aggressive monetary tightening by China's central bank.
The dollar jumped to a three-month high against the yen on Tuesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the central bank would strongly resist an erosion in inflation expectations, convincing more investors that rate hikes could come this year
The dollar jumped on Monday as top Treasury and Federal Reserve officials voiced concern about its recent slide, raising the chances that officials could step into the foreign exchange market to support the US currency.
The Australian dollar fell to its lowest in over three weeks on Tuesday as warnings from the Federal Reserve chief about inflation lifted the US currency and battered bonds around the globe. "Bernanke's concern about inflation has pushed the US dollar up
Most Asian currencies fell on Tuesday after Fed chief Ben Bernanke's warning on inflation fanned expectations of US interest rate rises this year, but central bank intervention lifted the won and the baht. The Philippine peso briefly dipped to 44.45 per d
The Swiss franc fell against the dollar on Tuesday as the greenback was lifted by comments that suggested the US Federal Reserve could hike rates this year. "Against the dollar, the franc is down because of comments from (Federal Reserve Chairman) Bernank
The "sold out" signs are springing up around England's county cricket grounds as the Twenty20 revolution gathers pace. The country's domestic Twenty20 competition begins its sixth year on Wednesday and the "crash bang wallop" form of the game has never be
British number one Andy Murray got off to a winning start at Queen's Club on Tuesday after Sebastien Grosjean pulled out with a leg injury just two games into their second round match. Murray will be relieved to have advanced with the minimum effort again
The Lawn Tennis Association were accused of letting young British talent go to waste after James Ward, one of the prospects they neglected, came close to shocking former world number one Marat Safin at Queen's Club. Ward, ranked 488th in the world, had co
England coach Peter Moores expects New Zealand to be a far tougher proposition in the upcoming one-day series than they were in a lopsided Test campaign. England cruised to a 2-0 Test series victory with an innings and nine run win, achieved with more tha
Netherlands' controversial first goal in Monday's 3-0 Group C victory over world champions Italy at Euro 2008 was correctly awarded despite many observers believing it was offside, organisers UEFA said on Tuesday. UEFA general secretary David Taylor told
India beat Pakistan by 140 runs in a triangular one-day series match here at the Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Statium here on Tuesday. Pakistan chasing 330 to win all out only making 190 in 35.4 overs. Earlier, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir thrived on Pakis
A suspect behind a stabbing spree in Tokyo which left seven dead was handed to prosecutors on Tuesday as a picture emerged of an angry young man engulfed by feelings he was ugly and lonely.
Israeli troops killed three Hamas fighters in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday as Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with top ministers to weigh up a possible military offensive on the besieged territory. On Tuesday Israeli troops killed three Hamas fighters in Gaza
Iran is withdrawing assets from European banks in the face of tightening international sanctions against the Islamic Republic over its disputed nuclear programme, an Iranian daily said on Tuesday.
The United States is expected to pledge roughly $10 billion in aid for Afghanistan at a donors conference to be held in Paris on Thursday, a Bush administration official said.
Nepal's ex-king Gyanendra will leave his palace on Wednesday, a day before the expiry of a deadline set by a constitutional assembly which abolished the monarchy, a palace official said. He is expected to move to a former hunting lodge on the outskirts of
The Democratic Party raised 247 million dollars between January 1, 2007 and April 30, 2008, a sum that could prove crucial this election year, according to Federal Election Commission figures. The total is 24 percent more than the party raised during the
Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Tuesday ruled out suggestions of a national unity government, saying his party was sure to win a presidential runoff despite government violence. Tsvangirai told a news conference in Harare that Zimbabwe was
A Tamil Tiger leader accused the Sri Lankan government on Tuesday of denying international mediators access to the rebels and said Colombo was not ready for peace talks. The government rejected the rebels' claim.
South Korea's entire cabinet offered to resign on Tuesday in the face of massive street protests, as its increasingly unpopular president warned that Asia's fourth-largest economy could be heading into crisis.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour said on Tuesday planned Guantanamo war crimes trials fell short of international standards and handing down death penalties would be "just not acceptable".
China declared victory over an unstable "quake lake" on Tuesday as floodwaters were released downstream, where hundreds of thousands had been under threat of a second crisis following last month's earthquake.
The United States and the European Union sought on Tuesday to turn up the pressure on Iran to drop its nuclear enrichment programme by saying they were ready to go beyond a latest round of UN sanctions. But President George W. Bush acknowledged the limits
Hard-line Islamist leaders rejected a UN-brokered peace pact signed by the Somali government and some opposition figures, and vowed on Tuesday that war would continue. "We don't see that as a peace deal, we see it as a trap," Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys tol
The UN Special Representative for Afghanistan, Kai Eide, called Tuesday on Kabul and its international supporters to forge a "new deal" to push forward progress for the Afghan people. Afghanistan and more than 80 countries and international organisations
The head of Saddam Hussein's tribe was killed by a bomb planted on his vehicle north of Baghdad on Tuesday, police said. The blast killed Sheikh Ali al-Neda as he travelled along a highway after leaving his home in the late Iraqi president's hometown of A
Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama staked out starkly opposing stances on taxes on Tuesday, with McCain promising corporate tax breaks and Obama pledging tax increases for many.
Protesters marched in India, Hong Kong and Nepal over soaring oil prices on Tuesday and Spaniards stockpiled fuel and food, fearing shortages because of a truck drivers' strike that has halted deliveries.
Sterling fell on Tuesday as British data did little to change the view that inflation is rising and growth is slowing, and on expectations of euro zone and US rate hikes. Sterling was unable to capitalise on data showing retail sales grew at their fastest
The dollar rose broadly, setting a three-month high against the yen on Tuesday, after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke raised his anti-inflationary language, stoking expectations for US interest rate rises.
The Indian rupee fell to a two-week low on Tuesday, hit by worries about foreign investors withdrawing funds after the stock market hit a new low for 2008, but suspected central bank intervention checked its losses.
European credit spreads widened on Tuesday on fears of interest rate hikes, although they recovered partly later in the day after US share market declines were smaller than feared. By 1534 GMT, the Markit investment-grade iTraxx Europe index was at 92.5 b
European credit spreads widened on Tuesday on fears of interest rate hikes, although they recovered partly later in the day after US share market declines were smaller than feared. By 1534 GMT, the Markit investment-grade iTraxx Europe index was at 92.5 b
Asian sovereign and corporate bond spreads widened on Tuesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke indicated inflation was becoming a priority, marking the latest indication that global interest rates are on the rise.
Asian sovereign and corporate bond spreads widened on Tuesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke indicated inflation was becoming a priority, marking the latest indication that global interest rates are on the rise.
US stocks shifted gears and climbed at midday on Tuesday as investors bought Dow industrials like Coca-Cola and other companies with steady earnings, while a drop in oil prices helped ease concerns about inflation.
Malaysian stocks closed little changed on Tuesday amid profit-taking by retail players and short-term investors, dealers said. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index fell 0.02 points to 1,230.96 and declining stocks outnumbered advancers 396 to 227.
Britain's top shares index fell for a third day in a row on Tuesday as commodity stocks weighed, though miner Eurasian Natural Resources rose on market talk of a merger with rival Kazakhmys. The commodity-heavy FTSE 100 closed down 50.3 points or 0.9 perc
Tokyo rubber futures firmed on Tuesday, hovering near their highest level in almost two weeks, helped by a weaker yen. The benchmark rubber contract on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange for November delivery added 1.0 yen per kg to 337.6 yen, having hit a high
Shanghai copper fell nearly 1 percent on Tuesday after China tightened monetary policy by more than expected over a long holiday weekend, and zinc dropped by its daily limit on weak demand and arbitrage. The most active Shanghai August copper contract sli
A strong dollar knocked copper prices lower on Tuesday, while nickel jumped almost 7 percent as a gas explosion in Australia raised concerns over this year's output, traders and analysts said. In other metals, zinc fell to a 2-1/2-year low on poor fundame
Oil fell sharply on Tuesday after the US Federal Reserve signalled it was taking aim at inflation, triggering a rebound in the US dollar and a sell-off across commodities markets. Further pressure on prices came after two of the world's biggest energy for
Florida's tomato industry is in "complete collapse" and growers in California and Mexico are having trouble selling their crops as US regulators hunt the source of a salmonella outbreak linked to certain tomato varieties, growers said on Tuesday.
London robusta coffee and cocoa futures rose on investor and fund buying on Tuesday, while white sugar moved sideways, underpinned by firm physical demand for the sweetener, dealers said. Coffee led the gains, as technical buying by investment funds and s
Gold fell more than 2 percent on Tuesday as the dollar rose after comments by US Treasury secretary Henry Paulson. Paulson reiterated he would be prepared to intervene in currency markets to underpin the dollar.
Arabica coffee on ICE Futures US jumps 3 percent in volatile trade on short-term buying Tuesday, while cocoa gained as investors bought day-earlier dips amid rollover activity, traders said.
Raw sugar futures eased on ICE Futures US at EDT 1253 GMT. July contract gained 0.10 cent to 9.80 cents per lb. Range from 9.66 to 9.84 cents. July contract volume at 8,578 lots.
Corn was up 1-1/2 to 5 cents per bushel, with July up 2-1/2 at $6.49-1/4 per bushel early on Tuesday. Support from USDA's June supply/demand report that showed a cut in US corn production for this year and a decline in corn ending stocks. Wet US weather h
Wheat was up 1/4 to 10-1/2 cents per bushel, with July up 5-3/4 at $7.94-1/4 per bushel early on Tuesday. Rebound from Monday's decline with gains in corn also supportive. USDA's June production and supply/demand reports neutral for wheat prices.
CBOT soyabeans were down 14 cents per bushel to up 5, with July down 13 at $14.39 per bushel early on Tuesday. Turns down on likely switch to larger US soya acreage this year as flooding harms corn crop.
US copper futures lost over one percent of their value early on Tuesday as a stronger dollar continued to hold its bearish influence over price, keeping them pinned down near the bottom of an almost three-month range.
US gold futures tumbled 2 percent on Tuesday as the dollar surged after comments on inflation from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke triggered speculation of an interest rate hike. The August gold contract on Comex division of New York Mercantile Exch
Pakistan Gems and Jewellery Development Company (PGJDC) has organised a Computer Aided Jewellery Designing (CAD/CAM) Course at Gems and Jewellery Training and Manufacturing Centre in Lahore. The course that started on Tuesday would continue for one month
Advisor to Chief Minister (ACE) for Inquiries and Anti-Corruption Establishment, Gul Mohammed Laat has ordered an inquiry against allotment of land in Karachi and all over the province during the last 5 years in violation of laid down rules and regulation
Estate Management Directorate staff of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has carried on with its clean-up campaign for the third consecutive day by flattening temporary and permanent constructions flouting the building by-laws on both sides of Multan
The fate of 860 ad-hoc lecturers, kept on regularisation promise by the previous government, hangs in balance as they continue to wait for appropriate orders.
City District Government Karachi has decided to start different projects costing Rs 22.50 million meant to provide recreational facilities at Clifton Beach Park. The projects include a monorail to be run at a cost of Rs 10 million while another Rs 10 mill
Aga Khan Planning and Building Service Pakistan, in an attempt to create a deeper understanding of the crucial importance of environment, conceptualised an art competition titled, 'Friends of the Environment' at a hotel here on Tuesday.
Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Sindh, Dr Nasrullah Baloch inaugurated sub-national immunisation campaign for polio eradication in the Sukkur district on Monday. The drive is being launched by Health Department Sukkur from Tuesday to Thursday in the dist
Provision for advance medical facilities in small cities are essential to help the ailing people seek needed relief at their nearest, said Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro Vice Chancellor Professor Naushad Ahmed Shaikh.
As many as 300 new family welfare centres will be established in the province for the provision of basic maternal and child health care facilities to the maximum people at their doorsteps.
The Punjab Health Department has set up monitoring teams consisting of senior officers to check health facilities in the province. Each team has been assigned 10 districts where every officer will report with recommendations to the provincial co-ordinator
A drive against manufacturers and sellers of fake and spurious drugs has begun in the Punjab and 130 cases have been sent to drug courts. It was disclosed in a meeting of Provincial Quality Control Board Health Department, here on Tuesday, disclosed an of