News Archives for Print - 2009-10-26

Mitsui Life may shift away from foreign bonds

Japan's Mitsui Life Insurance said on October 20 it may shift funds to yen bonds from hedged foreign debt in the second half of the fiscal year to March if yields on Japanese government bonds rise.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Lending to shipping sector will stay tight

Lending to the shipping sector is set to remain tight well into 2010 and will lead to more consolidation among seaborne companies to weather the tougher conditions, a leading ship finance adviser said on October 23. Around 90 percent of the world's traded

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

American Express revenue falls

American Express Co posted stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings on October 22 as the credit card company trimmed costs, a decline in consumer spending stabilised and bad loans eased. Net income fell to $640 million, or 53 cents per share, from $815 m

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

American Express revenue falls

American Express Co posted stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings on October 22 as the credit card company trimmed costs, a decline in consumer spending stabilised and bad loans eased. Net income fell to $640 million, or 53 cents per share, from $815 m

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

UBS sees wave of Russian IPOs in 2010

Russia will see a string of stock floatations in the first half of 2010 as the government seeks to privatise stakes in state-owned assets, the head of Swiss bank UBS in Russia and the CIS said on October 21. "We have a big backlog of activity at the momen

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

UBS sees wave of Russian IPOs in 2010

Russia will see a string of stock floatations in the first half of 2010 as the government seeks to privatise stakes in state-owned assets, the head of Swiss bank UBS in Russia and the CIS said on October 21. "We have a big backlog of activity at the momen

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Insider trading wire taps sign of things to come

Federal agents have for years been tapping the cell phones of drug traffickers and mafia dons, but the latest insider trading bust shows they are now using the method to go after rogue traders and fund managers. US authorities charged Galleon Group hedge

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Apple reports quarterly net profit of $1.67 billion

Apple reported a quarterly net profit of 1.67 billion dollars on October 19 on record sales of iPhones and Macintosh computers. Apple recorded 9.87 billion dollars in revenue during the fourth quarter of its fiscal year, which ended September 26, compared

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Apple reports quarterly net profit of $1.67 billion

Apple reported a quarterly net profit of 1.67 billion dollars on October 19 on record sales of iPhones and Macintosh computers. Apple recorded 9.87 billion dollars in revenue during the fourth quarter of its fiscal year, which ended September 26, compared

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Investors still struggling to put fear behind them

Many of the world's wealthiest investors remain traumatised by the losses they sustained during the financial crisis and are clutching on to safe, low-yielding assets rather than taking any risks. Wealth managers say that even after a 75 percent rise in w

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Investors still struggling to put fear behind them

Many of the world's wealthiest investors remain traumatised by the losses they sustained during the financial crisis and are clutching on to safe, low-yielding assets rather than taking any risks. Wealth managers say that even after a 75 percent rise in w

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Mothers turn to Web for product, medical advice: study

Companies trying to market products to mothers need to head onto the Internet with a survey showing the 21st century mother is online daily, using Facebook to connect to friends and Google to diagnose illnesses.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Apple puts touch 'Magic' in computer mouse

Apple on October 20 unveiled a new generation computer mouse with touch controls similar to those in wildly popular iPhones and iPod Touch devices. Magic Mouse lets people use finger gestures instead of buttons, wheels, or balls to navigate computer scree

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Google wooing Microsoft business customers

Google on October 19 ramped up a campaign to convert businesses world-wide into users of email, calendar, document and other software programmes it offers online as services on the Internet. "Gone Google" advertising was expanded to Britain, France, Canad

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

One size fits all phone chargers on the way: ITU

Ever forget your phone charger and no one around has the same kind of handset? Have a drawer full of useless old phone chargers at home? Breathe a sigh of relief. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations' telecom arm, said on Oc

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

More Internet users sharing status updates

Sharing status updates on online services such as Twitter or Facebook is becoming increasingly popular among Americans, according to a survey released on October 21. Nineteen percent of Internet users surveyed in August and September said they use Twitter

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

New iPhone application from NASA

NASA is coming to the iPhone. The US space agency announced on October 23 that it has created a free NASA application for the popular Apple smartphone and the iPod Touch. NASA said the application, available through the Apple App Store, provides "informat

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Plastic Logic to unveil first e-reader in January

Plastic Logic, a US company whose planned electronic reader has attracted a lot of media buzz, said on October 19 that it will announce the availability and pricing of the device for business professionals in January. The Mountain View, California-based f

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Microsoft launches Windows 7

Microsoft's much-heralded Windows 7 went on sale around the world on October 22 as the US software giant seeks to reboot after the disappointment of its previous generation operating system Vista. Windows 7 made its global debut to generally good reviews

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Toshiba launches portable fuel-cell for mobiles

For people fed up with their mobile telephone or iPod batteries running out, Japan's Toshiba Corp announced on October 22 the launch of a portable fuel-cell that can power up digital gadgets on the move.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

PayPal opening doors to outside developers

PayPal plans to throw open the doors of its software platform to enable outside developers to build innovative tools using the online financial transaction service. The move should clear the way for new ways to make PayPal online transactions in televisio

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Facebook revamps home page feed

Facebook on October 23 modified its news feed feature to let members of the world's leading social-networking service catch up on tidbits they may have missed while away from the website.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

General Electric unveils pocket-sized ultrasound tool

General Electric (GE) on October 21 unveiled an ultrasound device about the size of an iPhone, saying the gadget could become "the stethoscope of the 21st century." "We are going to put this in the clinicians' hands," GE chief executive Jeffrey Immelt sai

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Amazon rolls out programme to sync Kindle with PCs

Amazon.com Inc said on October 22 that digital books ordered for use on its Kindle electronic reader can now be read on personal computers. Amazon will provide a software application - available next month as a free download - that can convert Kindle book

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Kuwait Gulf Bank third quarter profit hit by loan provisions

Kuwait's Gulf Bank said bad loans would weigh on profits through mid-2010 on Sunday after it used all of the 42 million dinars ($147.1 million) of operating profit from the third quarter as provisions. The bank did not publish a figure for net loss or net

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Nigeria's rebels declare 'indefinite ceasefire'

Nigeria's main armed group in the oil-rich Niger Delta, MEND, declared Sunday an "indefinite ceasefire" to encourage dialogue with the government. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta said in a statement it made its decision after the gove

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Islamic asset management needs products, distribution to thrive

The infant Islamic management industry lacks a large enough range of products and distribution channels to increase to challenge its conventional peers in catering to Muslim wealth, experts said.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Islamic asset management needs products, distribution to thrive

The infant Islamic management industry lacks a large enough range of products and distribution channels to increase to challenge its conventional peers in catering to Muslim wealth, experts said.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Abu Dhabi business and consumer confidence rises

Abu Dhabi's economy is recovering from impacts of the global economic crisis with business and consumer confidence rising, a set of new indicators for the Gulf Arab oil-exporting emirate showed on Sunday. The worst global recession since the 1930s slashed

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

UAE interbank rates hit multi-year lows

Interbank lending rates in the United Arab Emirates fell to multi-year lows on Sunday as the dollar-pegged country brings the cost at which banks lend to each other into line with its neighbours and the United States. Since August, the UAE central bank ha

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Iran sees different Opec views on oil price

Opec members have different views about the suitable oil price level, Iran's representative in the producer organisation told Reuters on Sunday. "There are different opinions by different (Opec) members about the oil prices... Some believe the price of $7

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Massive tax shortfall looms over South Africa mid-term budget

South Africa's finance Minister Pravin Gordhan faces a massive shortfall in tax revenues as he presents the mid-term budget Tuesday, likely to double the estimated fiscal deficit. It will be Gordhan's first budget since he took over from the popular and c

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Taiwan opposition pledges to halt US beef imports

Taiwan's opposition vowed Sunday to stop the government's controversial decision to lift a ban on the import of US beef on the bone, imposed in 2003 amid fears over mad cow disease. Wang Sing-nan, the Democratic Progressive Party's parliamentary whip, lam

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Recession or not? US economy likely to be in limbo

The US economy is poised to show growth in the third quarter, rebounding from its worst slump in decades, but whether the recession is over is a more complex question. The first official estimate due Thursday on gross domestic product (GDP), or output of

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

EU leaders seek treaty, climate change deals

European Union leaders hope to reach a deal at a summit this week removing the last obstacles to a treaty to give the bloc more global clout, but face a battle over funding for a global climate change agreement.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Saudi Savola, Tate&Lyle seal deal on stakes sale

London-based Tate and Lyle Plc's has agreed to sell its minority stakes in Egyptian and Saudi sugar units to its Saudi-based partner, Savola Group, which bets on soaring sales from the units this year.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

UK's Byrne says stimulus should be phased out carefully

The UK's Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liam Byrne told Sky News on Sunday the country's economic stimulus should be phased out carefully, adding the same kind of stimulus seen during the recession will not be needed once growth returns next year.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Kuwait may post $34 billion budget surplus 2009/10

Opec member Kuwait is expected to post a budget surplus of 9.75 billion dinars ($34.14 billion) in its 2009/10 fiscal year if oil prices remain at current levels, a newspaper reported on Sunday.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Italian Schiavone eases to Kremlin Cup title

Italy's Francesca Schiavone eased to her second title with a 6-3 6-0 thrashing of Belarussian Olga Govortsova in the Kremlin Cup final on Sunday. After a nervous first set, when both players had trouble holding their serve, the eighth seed ran away with t

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Liverpool sink United to ease the pressure on Benitez

Fernando Torres eased the pressure on Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez as his sublime strike inspired a 2-0 win over arch rivals Manchester United on Sunday.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Loeb wins record sixth consecutive world title

Frenchman Sebastien Loeb claimed a record sixth successive world rally championship by winning the title-deciding British round in Cardiff on Sunday. Finn Mikko Hirvonen led Loeb by a single point going into the race, with the French driver's Citroen team

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

New Zealand players behind shock resignation: Moles

Former New Zealand coach Andy Moles has confirmed a lack of player support was behind his shock resignation less than a year into his tenure. Moles, 48, who was contracted until the 2011 one-day World Cup, resigned on Saturday following an internal review

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Serie A leaders Inter see off Catania

Sulley Muntari and Wesley Sneijder were on target to give Serie A leaders Inter Milan a 2-1 win over Catania at the San Siro on Saturday. Ghana midfielder Muntari put the champions in front on 13 minutes when his lob into the box towards Samuel Eto'o was

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Marseille versus PSG match postponed because of H1N1 flu

Olympique Marseille's Ligue 1 match against Paris St Germain was postponed on Sunday after several PSG players were diagnosed with H1N1 flu, the French Professional League (LFP) said. The decision was taken "on the formal recommendation of the (national)

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

South Korean Choi triumphs on Asian Tour return

South Korea's KJ Choi marked his return to the Asian Tour with a four-stroke victory at the weather-hit Johor Open on Sunday. Choi posted an eight-under-par 64 in the third round for a 20-under total of 196 in an event reduced to 54 holes. Thai Chapchai N

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Depleted Real Madrid held to draw at Sporting

Depleted Real Madrid ended a disappointing week with a 0-0 draw at Sporting Gijon on Saturday, handing champions Barcelona the chance to open a three-point lead at the top of La Liga.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Italy's Rossi wins MotoGP title

Italy's Valentino Rossi clinched his second successive MotoGP world championship on Sunday, finishing third at the Malaysian Grand Prix after a penalty forced title rival Jorge Lorenzo to start from the back of the grid.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Cuche wins season opener in Soelden

Didier Cuche ensured the Alpine skiing season opener remained in Swiss hands when he won the Soelden giant slalom on Sunday. Beaten into second place by compatriot Daniel Albrecht in the Austrian resort last winter, Cuche, who went on to win the disciplin

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Japan high school pitcher turns down MLB: Kyodo

Japanese schoolboy Yusei Kikuchi has snubbed several offers from Major League Baseball teams and will stay in Japan to play baseball next year, Kyodo news agency reported on Sunday. The 18-year-old pitcher told reporters last week that he was still undeci

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Australia hold nerve to edge India in thriller

Australia survived a massive scare from India's tailenders to snatch a thrilling four-run victory in the first match of their one-day international series here on Sunday. The world champions posted a daunting 292-8 and had the hosts reeling at 201-7 befor

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Hedge fund Mena Capital overweights Qatar, UAE

One of the few hedge funds focused on the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) has taken heavy exposure to Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, expecting that international investment in the region is about to pick up.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Hedge fund Mena Capital overweights Qatar, UAE

One of the few hedge funds focused on the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) has taken heavy exposure to Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, expecting that international investment in the region is about to pick up.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

JGB yield curve flattens, super-longs bought back

The Japanese government bond (JGB) yield curve flattened on Friday, with super-long yields dipping as selling pressure from a week-long sell-off driven by issuance concerns eased slightly.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

JGB yield curve flattens, super-longs bought back

The Japanese government bond (JGB) yield curve flattened on Friday, with super-long yields dipping as selling pressure from a week-long sell-off driven by issuance concerns eased slightly.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Seoul bourse may move in tight range

South Korea's stock market is likely to move in a narrow range next week as most local stocks have already priced in solid corporate earnings and other positive factors, analysts said on Friday. They said the market would take its direction from world oil

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Indian bond yields inch up ahead of $2.2bn supply

Indian federal bond yields inched up on Friday as traders awaited fresh supplies from a $2.2 billion sale later in the day, and a rise in US treasury yields overnight also dampened sentiment. At 10:30 am (0500 GMT), the yield on the 10-year benchmark bond

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Indian bond yields inch up ahead of $2.2bn supply

Indian federal bond yields inched up on Friday as traders awaited fresh supplies from a $2.2 billion sale later in the day, and a rise in US treasury yields overnight also dampened sentiment. At 10:30 am (0500 GMT), the yield on the 10-year benchmark bond

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Indian shares to track quarterly earnings

India's stock market indices will eye the central bank moves on interest rates and second-quarter earnings from Indian companies, dealers said. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is not expected to hike rates at its monetary policy review next Tuesday, even

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Asian currencies mixed against dollar

Asian currencies ended the week mixed against the dollar amid signs oof recovery in the US economy.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Philippines shares likely to breach

Philippines share prices may breach the 3,000-point level next week amid growing optimism about business prospects, analysts said on Friday.The composite index gained 0.34 percent or 10.17 points over the week to close at 2,932.99 on Friday.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Singapore shares may move higher on property rebound

Singapore shares are seen trading higher on the back of renewed interest in the property sector as home prices rise, dealers said. The blue chip Straits Times Index closed at 2,715.34, up 7.22 points or 0.27 percent from the previous week.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Australian shares expected to gain

An improving economic outlook bodes well for Australian shares in the week ahead, dealers said on Friday. For the week ending October 23, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index rose 23 points, or 0.48 percent, to close at 4,859.4.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Taiwan shares may face Pressure

Taiwan share prices are expected to encounter selling next week as the bellwether high tech sector remains pressured on profit taking, dealers said on Friday. Investors, in particular, are watching closely how large cap electronic firms will report their

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Bangladesh interbank forex and interest rates

Interbank buy/sell rates for the taka against the dollar on Sunday 69.15/69.15 (previous 69.15/69.15).

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Jakarta shares may fall amid cautious investor trend

Indonesian shares will likely drop amid cautious investor sentiment and profit-taking on major stocks, dealers said Friday. Investors taking a wait-and-see approach ahead of the announcement of third-quarter company earnings will likely avoid any aggressi

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Tokyo shares likely to face range-bound

Japanese stocks are likely to be range-bound as investors watch a slew of corporate earnings and economic data due out in Japan and the United States, analysts said Friday. "Stocks are likely to move in a narrow range as the earnings season gets in full s

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Wall Street eyes new catalyst as earnings rally fades

The earnings-driven rally of the past few weeks appears to have run out of steam on Wall Street, leaving the market in search of a new catalyst heading into the final stretch of 2009. The main stock indexes remain near 12-month highs, but gains have been

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

President set for re-election as Tunisians vote

Tunisians voted on Sunday in an election almost certain to hand a new term to President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, the 73-year-old who has run the North African country for more than two decades.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Three trapped Chinese coal miners rescued after eight days

Rescue workers Sunday safely pulled out three coal miners in northern China who were trapped underground for eight days after a shaft collapsed. The men were in stable condition after being rescued from the pit of a coal mine in Shenmu county in northern

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

India and China 'to build trust' over border dispute: Singh

Indian premier Manmohan Singh and his Chinese counterpart have agreed to work towards lowering tensions in a long-running border dispute, he told reporters Sunday. Singh and Wen Jiabao had a "frank and constructive" discussion over the territorial spat th

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

OIC slams Israeli 'breach'

The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) condemned on Sunday the Israeli police action at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem, warning that it could have a "dangerous outcome." "This is a violation of all Muslim sanctuaries," Ekmeleddin Ihsan

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Police clash with Palestinians at Al-Aqsa mosque

Clashes erupted on Sunday between Israeli police and Palestinians at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in the latest violence to shake Jerusalem's flashpoint site holy to Muslims and Jews.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Obama to the rescue for reeling Democrats

A year ago, Barack Obama and Joe Biden were in the home stretch of a pulsating White House race, belting out speeches to pumped up crowds and days away from crushing Republican John McCain. The Democratic duo, now president and vice president, are back on

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Merkel's new government blasted as political 'Jurassic Park'

Trade unions, opposition leaders and the press savaged German Chancellor Angela Merkel's new-look government Sunday over what they called a fiscally reckless and socially unjust plan for the next term.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Kuwaiti MPs call to enforce hijab

Kuwaiti lawmakers are pressing the authorities to force women to wear the hijab headscarf ahead of a court ruling on Wednesday concerning two women MP who refuse to wear it. "Hijab is a legal and religious obligation," MP Jamaan al-Harbash told a rally la

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Palestinians make world's largest embroidered dress

Palestinians in the West Bank town of Hebron on Sunday unveiled what they believe is the largest embroidered dress ever sewn, in a bid to promote their local handicrafts.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

US and North Korea hold nuclear talks

Senior US and North Korean envoys held rare face-to-face talks in New York, boosting hopes of progress in stalled six-party nuclear talks and paving the way toward increased bilateral engagement. Ri Gun, a deputy negotiator in stalled negotiations over th

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Opposition activist killed in Russia's Ingushetia

An opposition activist from Russia's Ingushetia region was shot dead in his car on Sunday in the latest sign of rising violence in the North Caucasus. Maksharip Aushev, a local businessman, was driving near the town of Nalchik in the nearby region of Kaba

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Desecration of Holy Quran: Afghans torch Obama effigy in protest

Furious Afghans torched an effigy of US President Barack Obama and hurled stones at police Sunday during a mass protest over allegations that Western troops set fire to a copy of the Holy Quran.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Appeal to observe October 27 as Black Day

The All Parties Hurriyet Conference (APHC) has appealed to the people of held Kashmir to observe complete strike on October 27 and commemorate the day as Black Day, the day Indian army landed in the valley.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Educational institutions re-open today

All the government and private educational institutions including schools and colleges in twin cities that were closed down due to terror threats would re-open from today (Monday). According to statement issued by Federal Education Directorate here direct

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

IJP road construction, repair work to be completed soon

IJP road repair and construction work from 9th Avenue to Faizabad would be completed within two months. Spokesman Capital Development Authority (CDA) said here on Sunday that there is a heavy load of trucks on IJP road, which damages it.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Speed breakers causing hurdle for smooth flow of traffic

Its been over two months now that the speed breakers near Gulshan Dadan Khan on both sides of city's busiest Murree road sprung up for no apparent reason, but to satisfy ego of an influential person, not only hurdling traffic but causing serious accidents

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Insufficient parking space irks residents

With the number of increasing vehicles every passing day, in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi are experiencing different problems like traffic jams and lack of parking. Most of the people park their vehicles on the roadsides that often results

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Lawlessness

I want to draw the attention of related sources towards the sugar crises. Sugar is again short or we can say unavailable in many areas. Many utility stores don't have a stock of sugar any more and those who have sugar in their godowns are selling it at th

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

PIA flights to UK

I am a Pakistani-origin French citizen living in Paris. Recently I took a PIA Boeing 777 flight to London from Islamabad, where after a two-day stay, I went to Paris. My flight on PIA was good and I fail to understand the complaints by so many passengers,

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

POL profits slide but output to drive recovery ahead

Pakistan Oil Fields has reported a sharp drop in first quarter net profits for the second quarter in a row as its topline remained under pressure due to decline in both production and realised oil and gas wellhead prices.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

PSO earnings up but receivables still mounting

The country's largest oil marketing and distribution company, Pakistan State Oil, posted a jump in first quarter net profits as strong volumetric sales, higher inventory gains amid efficient management of assets offset the impact of lower sale prices.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

MCB earnings flat as advances stay put

MCB bank managed to post a marginal growth in nine-month net profits as lower provisioning against bad loans weathered the bank from year-on-year decline in earnings, offsetting the sharp drop in advances and non-markup income in the third quarter.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Rover's Diary: What are the options for President Zardari?

Societies that are in transition often find their various institutions battling with each other for more space. In Pakistan, most of the institutions have not developed because their natural growth has been retarded by frequent interruptions of the democr

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Clinton's influence in Team Obama: a nuanced role

Hillary Clinton has found her voice but finding her place in the top-down foreign policy apparatus that is the Obama administration has proven more elusive. The former first lady, senator and presidential candidate has, by her own and others' accounts, tr

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

More of the same on two agreements

Two recent agreements with 'foreign interests' in which Pakistan was the beneficiary have been posted on the website - not the website of the Pakistani government, as part of a strategy to meet the requirements of transparency and accountability, but as p

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

United we must stand to face the threat of terrorism

The high-level meeting on Friday, presided over by Prime Minister Gilani, was attended by the top civilian and military leadership besides the heads of security and intelligence networks. While the meeting indicated that the entire nation, including the p

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Export diversification

The strategy of enhancing exports through their diversification has always won favour of our policymakers because of the high risks involved in the concentration of exports in a few commodities, particularly cotton and its products. Though, it is too earl

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Mirza condemns assassination of Balochistan minister

The Sindh Home Minister, Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, has vehemently condemned the assassination of Balochistan Minister for Education, Shafiq Ahmed Khan. In a statement here on Sunday, he said that with their dastardly acts, the terrorists cannot intimidate the go

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Merger of colonies in Hyderabad municipal limits demanded

Hundreds of thousands of residents of Katchi Abadis from Cantonment area Hyderabad have described their grievances under control of Cantonment Board, demanding restoration of their rights as citizens and to merge their colonies in municipal limits of Hyde

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Moderate fluctuations seen in grain, seed prices, spices marginally up

Major changes in commodities on the wholesale markets were marked in dyes and chemicals, sugar, gur, bajra, khandsari, mace, big cardamom sago and darchini with modest fluctuation either way. The Monday session was slow, a few changes transpired on the co

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Bulls resist fall in cotton prices, bears hopeful on easy conditions

Seed-cotton arrivals have reached peak in Sindh province in the first fortnight of this October month and may reach peak in Punjab this fortnight or next one. By the 15th of this month, Sindh had received about 60 percent while Punjab 30 percent of their

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Bulls resist fall in cotton prices, bears hopeful on easy conditions

Seed-cotton arrivals have reached peak in Sindh province in the first fortnight of this October month and may reach peak in Punjab this fortnight or next one. By the 15th of this month, Sindh had received about 60 percent while Punjab 30 percent of their

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Ali Gilani denied visa to participate in UK Kashmir moot

India, in its fresh act of suppression of Kashmiris, has denied the visa of UK to the Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani, restraining him from participating in the `Intra-Kashmir Conference' in London.

Published 26 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Currency	Rate
USD PKR Interbank Selling / Nov 25	277.83
USD PKR Interbank Buying / Nov 25	277.73
USD to Japanese Yen / Nov 25	154.29
USD to Swiss Franc / Nov 25	0.89
Pound Sterling to USD / Nov 25	1.26
Euro to USD / Nov 25	1.05

Stock	Volume
S&P 500 / Nov 22	5,969.34
Nasdaq / Nov 22	18,003.65
FTSE 100 / Nov 22	8,262.08
Dow Jones / Nov 22	44,296.51
Germany DAX 30 / Nov 22	19,322.59
France CAC40 / Nov 22	7,255.01
India Sensex / Nov 25	80,331.40
Tokyo Nikkei / Nov 25	38,933.62

Item	Value
Gold 10 Grams PKR / Nov 22	240,483
Crude Oil USD/Barrel / Nov 25	70.68
Karachi Cotton PKR/37.32 KG / Nov 25	17,685
Gold Spot USD/Ounce / Nov 25	2,664.27
Cotton US¢/pound / Nov 25	71.20
Petrol/Litre / Nov 26	248.38

Stock	Price
786 Invest Ltd / Nov 26 786 Investments Limited(786)	6.82 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
AL-Abbas Sugar / Nov 26 Al-Abbas Sugar Mills Limited(AABS)	593.76 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Agro Allianz / Nov 26 Agro Allianz Limited(AAL)	16 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
AL-Abid Silk / Nov 26 Al-Abid Silk Mills Limited(AASM)	3.49 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Ali Asghar / Nov 26 Ali Asghar Textile Mills Limited(AATM)	70.89 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Allied Bank / Nov 26 Allied Bank Limited(ABL)	120.21 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Abbott Lab. / Nov 26 Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited(ABOT)	1,023.10 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Abson Ind. / Nov 26 Abson Industries Limited(ABSON)	2.50 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Alfalah ETF. / Nov 26 Alfalah Consumer Index ETF.(ACIETF)	12.55 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)

Stock	Price
786 Invest Ltd / Nov 26 786 Investments Limited(786)	6.82 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
AL-Abbas Sugar / Nov 26 Al-Abbas Sugar Mills Limited(AABS)	593.76 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Agro Allianz / Nov 26 Agro Allianz Limited(AAL)	16 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
AL-Abid Silk / Nov 26 Al-Abid Silk Mills Limited(AASM)	3.49 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Ali Asghar / Nov 26 Ali Asghar Textile Mills Limited(AATM)	70.89 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Allied Bank / Nov 26 Allied Bank Limited(ABL)	120.21 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Abbott Lab. / Nov 26 Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited(ABOT)	1,023.10 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Abson Ind. / Nov 26 Abson Industries Limited(ABSON)	2.50 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Alfalah ETF. / Nov 26 Alfalah Consumer Index ETF.(ACIETF)	12.55 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)

Stock	Volume
WorldCall Telecom / Nov 26 Worldcall Telecom Limited(WTL)	177,135,830 ▲ 0.00
K-Electric Ltd. / Nov 26 K-Electric Limited(KEL)	124,131,268 ▲ 0.00
Hascol Petrol / Nov 26 Hascol Petroleum Limited(HASCOL)	105,013,176 ▲ 0.00
Fauji Foods Ltd / Nov 26 Fauji Foods Limited(FFL)	77,697,371 ▲ 0.00
Treet Battery / Nov 26 Treet Battery Limited(TBL)	43,783,366 ▲ 0.00
B.O.Punjab / Nov 26 The Bank of Punjab(BOP)	36,573,763 ▲ 0.00
Sui South Gas / Nov 26 Sui Southern Gas Company Limited(SSGC)	32,719,678 ▲ 0.00
PIA Holding Co.Ltd / Nov 26 PIA Holding Company Limited(PIAHCLA)	27,969,689 ▲ 0.00
Cnergyico PK / Nov 26 Cnergyico PK Limited(CNERGY)	25,874,820 ▲ 0.00

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