Cotton futures ended lower on Thursday on investor sales as the prospect of a debt deal in the EU and the US failed to fire up market participants who feel the deals would just postpone solving urgent budget problems in both regions for another day, analy
Copper posted its first down day in four sessions on Wednesday, as lingering debt uncertainties on both sides of the Atlantic and questions about near-term demand prospects threw some cold water on a recent rally. In New York, the key September COMEX cont
The most-active October copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange dropped half a percent to 72,310 yuan a tonne on Thursday. Hopes demand from top copper consumer China will stay strong in the second half of 2011 had been boosting sentiment in the
Copper fell on Thursday as data showed shrinking manufacturing activity in top consumer China fuelled demand fears, but losses were capped by a softer dollar against the euro, which was boosted by optimism about a eurozone debt deal.
Brent crude turned negative in a bout of late selling on Thursday, dragged down by a sell off in gasoline due to concerns about US demand. Weak gasoline demand, which has been lagging year ago levels by 2.2 percent over the last four weeks in the midst of
Key Tokyo rubber futures settled down 1 percent on Thursday as a strong yen and weaker oil prices weighed on the market, with many investors taking a wait-and-see stance amid uncertainties in the US and European financial markets. The key Tokyo Commodity
Raw sugar and US cocoa futures settled up in thin trade on Wednesday, while arabica coffee closed at a six-month low after a choppy session weighed down by chart-based pressure and Brazil's new-crop harvest. Key October raw sugar futures rose 0.14 cent to
Malaysian palm oil futures fell on Thursday after hitting a one-month high earlier in the session as weak economic Chinese data erased gains made on higher export hopes. Commodity markets come under pressure after weak economic data from the world's top c
White sugar futures leaped climbed on Thursday as talk swirled that the cane crop of No. 1 producer Brazil will be smaller than previously thought as aging plants and poor weather damage the harvest. London's October white sugar futures climbed $25.50 or
Gold resumed its rise on Wednesday after the last session's drop from record highs, as investors focused on economic uncertainty despite progress in talks on raising the US debt limit and ahead of a eurozone summit aimed at resolving the region's debt cri
Spot gold hovered around $1,600 on Thursday, with investors waiting for the outcome of a eurozone summit on Greece's debt crisis while concerns around the US debt ceiling talks continued to support sentiment.
Gold held near $1,600 an ounce on Thursday as caution over the outlook for the European debt crisis lingered after draft proposals from an emergency EU summit in Brussels were reported, and as concerns persisted over talks to lift the US debt ceiling.
Raw sugar futures leaped by up to 5 percent Thursday as talk swirled that the cane crop of No. 1 producer Brazil will be smaller than previously thought as aging plants and poor weather damage the harvest. New York's October raw sugar contract was up 0.86
CBOT December corn fell 7-1/2 cents per bushel to $6.70-1/4 early on Thursday on forecasts for cooler and wetter weather by the weekend in the US crop belt, traders said. CBOT September wheat was down 13 cents to $6.84.
Copper ended down for a second straight day on Thursday, after data showing a contraction in China's vast manufacturing sector lessened some demand optimism in the world's top metals consumer. "The Chinese numbers were very negative; that's what is keepin
Gold fell on Thursday, extending its drop from a recent record high as a proposal to give Europe's financial rescue fund new powers to fight debt contagion drew investors to riskier assets at the expense of safe havens.
In a bid to chalk out a joint strategy in the Parliament and give tough time to the government, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership on Thursday held separate meetings with Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) l
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued draft amendments to the Income Tax Rules with respect to treatment of profit made on sale of borrowed shares under Margin Trading Scheme and Margin Financing Scheme, wash sales, extension in e-filing of statem
The power crisis may worsen in the country as an important meeting convened to resolve the issue of circular debt remained inconclusive with PEPCO demanding immediate release of Rs21 billion. Sources told Business Recorder that PEPCO had sought imm
Muttahida Qaumi Movement lawmakers have been allotted opposition benches in Sindh Assembly. Speaker Nisar Khoro assigned seats to MQM members on Thursday.
Former president Pervez Musharraf insisted Thursday that Pakistan did not provide assistance to Osama bin Laden as he renewed criticism of the US raid that killed the world's most wanted man.
Mortar shells fired from across the border in Afghanistan hit a house in Khar on Thursday killing two people and wounding several children, officials said. They blamed Pakistani Taliban, saying the militants are hiding in eastern Afghanistan and launching
Opposition in the National Assembly on Thursday criticised the government for failure to maintain law-and-order situation in Karachi and blamed the government for rigging AJK Legislative Assembly's elections.
The Federal Board of Revenue may distribute workload of Inland Revenue (IR) Wing by creating two new posts ie FBR Member IR Income Tax and FBR Member IR Sales Tax. It is learnt here on Thursday that the FBR was considering two options in this regard.
The Federal Board of Revenue has decided to grant sales tax exemption on import of plant and machinery (not manufactured locally) on submission of post-dated cheques by registered manufacturers/industrial importers and bank guarantees/pay orders, etc, by
A constitutional petition was filed in the Supreme Court (SC) here on Thursday challenging the appointment of retired judges in Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellant Court.
Japan's government plans additional spending of 13 trillion yen ($165 billion) for reconstruction projects after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, on top of a combined 6 trillion yen already set aside in two extra budgets, a government source said on T
United Continental Holdings and US Airways Group's profits topped Wall Street expectations, but the results fell from a year earlier as fuel prices skyrocketed. The much-smaller Alaska Air Group posted a profit that was in line with Wall Street forecasts.
Growth of Swiss exports slowed in June and firms slashed prices to defend foreign market share as the strong Swiss franc took its toll. The data supports the Swiss National Bank's view that growth will slow this year due to the franc's rise to record peak
Turkey's Central Bank left its policy rate at a record low on Thursday and took a new dovish tone, saying steps to slow demand were working and promising to loosen policy if debt woes in developed countries stalled growth.
A latest Global Economic Conditions survey from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has revealed that businesses are becoming increasingly unable to respond to the inflationary challenge through cost-cutting.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Yang Jiechi congratulated Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on assumption of the office. In a letter written to Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, the Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi congratulated her on assumin
Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd, taking excellent initiative for its employees, formally opened on Thursday Employee Facilitation Center (EFC), established for its employees I Ex-employees and their families at Regional General Manager-II, Office I
As part of its mandate to develop an efficient primary market and encouragement of new listing at the stock exchanges, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has reviewed the Companies (Issue of Capital) Rules, 1996 (CI Rules) and appro
A thorough review of the performance relating to the all important issue of broadening of tax base (income tax and sales tax) would be under taken at the 4th Chief Commissioners Conference scheduled to be held in Islamabad on July 23.
Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Farzana Raja has directed the organisations responsible to conduct ongoing door to door poverty survey to complete the process on urgent basis in the areas where it is still underway.
The prices of gold on Thursday hit another historic high mark of Rs 51, 300 per tola up by Rs 400 after the global market witnessed a surge to $1599 an ounce, traders said. Gold price gained to a new peak of Rs 43, 971 per 10 grams from Rs 43, 628 in a si
Seventeen Indians on death row in the United Arab Emirates on conviction of killing a Pakistani are to avoid execution by paying over $900,000 in "blood money," The National newspaper said on Thursday.
The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has finalised all arrangements to hold its 8th Flagship International "My Karachi: Oasis of Harmony Exhibition 2011" from July 22 at Expo Centre, Karachi, which was another sequel to KCCI annual internat
Despite devolution of Ministry of Zakat and Ushr from Federal to Provincial governments, Sindh could not collect Zakat directly from the companies and individuals in new Zakat year due to obstacles created by the Centre, official sources disclosed to B
Bank Alfalah, one of the leading commercial banks in Pakistan, conducted a three-day customised knowledge sharing programme for The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), which is the most recent entrant to the Pakistani banking sector.
The Consul General of The Gambia Syed Tahir Husain has expressed his confidence that more trade opportunities are explored by Pakistani entrepreneurs in the Gambia. He made these remarks while giving his message on The Revolution Day of The Gambia which f
The Information Department, Government of Sindh, on the recommendation of DPC-1 and with the approval of competent authority, has promoted 20 Information Officers (BS-17) to the post of Deputy Director Information (BS-18), on a regular basis.
Japan's exports rose in June and the pace of annual declines slowed, bringing the trade balance back into surplus as factory output and sales steadily recover from the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown.
Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke said a proposed rule from US bank regulators regarding margin requirements and derivatives could put US companies at a competitive disadvantage with their international rivals.
British state borrowing rose in June, but finance minister George Osborne remains on course to meet his annual target after downward revisions to previous months, official data showed on Thursday. Public sector net borrowing hit £14 billion ($23 billion,
Sudan on Thursday approved a law imposing fees on the south's use of its oil infrastructure, in an effort to offset the loss of oil revenues following southern secession on July 9, the finance minister said.
Morgan Stanley stunned Wall Street with better-than-expected second-quarter results, outperforming Goldman Sachs and other rivals as it gained market share in tough trading conditions.
Morgan Stanley stunned Wall Street with better-than-expected second-quarter results, outperforming Goldman Sachs and other rivals as it gained market share in tough trading conditions.
Factory activity in the US Mid-Atlantic region rebounded in July, but stubbornly high new filings for jobless benefits suggested an expected pick-up in economic growth in the second half of 2011 would be modest.
Express Scripts Inc will buy rival Medco Health Solutions Inc for $29.1 billion in cash and stock to create a powerhouse in managing prescription drug benefits in the United States, the companies said on Thursday.
AT&T Inc's second-quarter profit and revenue beat Wall Street estimates and it added more subscribers than expected despite the loss of exclusive US rights to sell Apple Inc's iPhone.
AT&T Inc's second-quarter profit and revenue beat Wall Street estimates and it added more subscribers than expected despite the loss of exclusive US rights to sell Apple Inc's iPhone.
Private-sector growth in the eurozone ground to a halt this month and China's factory sector contracted for the first time in a year, surveys showed on Thursday, deepening evidence of a global slowdown.
China's factory sector shrank for the first time in a year in July, a survey showed on Thursday, feeding worries among the country's main trading partners that its growth is unsustainable and could lead to a slump.
The world's top oil consumers decided against releasing more stocks into the market on Thursday, despite high prices still threatening to hinder economic recovery, saying they believed producers have started pumping more.
English giants Chelsea failed to shine under new boss Andre Villas-Boas Thursday in a friendly against Malaysia that was marred by racial abuse towards their Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun.
Ravi Shastri has been summoned by a law enforcement agency probing alleged financial irregularities in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the former India all-rounder confirmed Thursday. He has been asked to help the Enforcement Directorate over questions r
Sri Lanka's inaugural Twenty20 premier league, which has been hit by a lack of big names, began Thursday in front of sparse crowds with the first game decided by a bowl-out due to overnight showers. Spin wizard and local hero Muttiah Muralitharan starred
Sri Lanka on Thursday appointed Tillakaratne Dilshan as skipper for Australia's visit next month, but did not name a deputy. Dilshan will lead in the three Tests, five ODIs and two Twenty20 games, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said in a statement. The first gam
Andy Schleck roared to victory on the history-making 18th stage featuring the highest ever finish in Tour de France history here Thursday. But the Luxembourger's bid for the overall lead was thwarted by Thomas Voeckler.
Paraguay beat Venezuela 5-3 on penalties to reach the Copa America final on Wednesday after regulation and extra-time produced a goalless draw. Twice champions Paraguay will now meet Uruguay, chasing a record 15th title, in Sunday's final in Buenos Aires.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored three goals in a devastating nine minute second-half spell on Wednesday to propel Spanish giants Real Madrid to a 3-0 victory overr Mexico's Chivas Guadalajara Ronaldo, a former world footballer of the year, was thwarted by Chivas
A franchise-based field hockey league on the lines of the successful Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket will be held in India in December featuring top players, it was announced on Thursday. The eight-team World Series Hockey, a joint venture of the Indi
Rain prevented play resuming as scheduled after tea in the first Test between England and India at Lord's Thursday. Bad light cut short play initially at 3:51pm local time (1451GMT), forcing an early tea, with England 127 for two after losing the toss in
Footballers from poor countries are being "trafficked" around the world in order to facilitate match-fixing, FIFA's head of security was reported as saying Thursday. Chris Eaton, who is responsible for overseeing world football's attempts to tackle corrup
Brazilian swim star Cesar Cielo escaped a drugs ban Thursday after a high-profile case that left him clear to defend his 50m and 100m titles and lifted a doping cloud from the world championships.
Gurwar and Gur prices were higher on the wholesale grain market on Thursday in process of trading, dealers said. On cereals side gur inferior type posted fresh gain of Rs 200 to Rs 7000 and best quality was unmoved due to balanced demand and supply positi
The Karachi Port handled 91,455 tonnes of cargo including 71,414 tonnes of import cargo, 20,041 tonnes of export cargo and 5,051 loaded & empty containers during last 24 hours ended at 0700 hours on Thursday.
Cocoa deliveries to Brazilian traders' and grinders' warehouses so far this season are around 11 percent below the year-ago period, data from Bahia Commercial Association showed on Wednesday. Deliveries recorded for the past week were inflated by the addi
US wheat futures rose for the second day in a row on Wednesday, supported by a round of short covering and a weak dollar that bolstered demand for US commodities, traders said. Gains in the Kansas City Board of Trade hard red winter wheat and MGEX spring
ICE Canadian canola futures rose on Wednesday, snapping a three-day losing streak and keeping pace with firm soya futures. Rain across Saskatchewan and Manitoba on Wednesday seen mostly beneficial for canola and may curbed gains, along with stronger Canad
Russia expects to reprise its role as a leading grain exporter this season thanks to a good harvest after last year's severe drought forced it to impose an export embargo, the Agriculture Minister said. Russia sees grain exports of 18 million tonnes in th
The July vaida was lower and the December contract was inert on the forward cottonseed oilcake market on Thursday in process of trading, dealers said. The July contract that had closed at 1427.50 opened with a fall of 40 paisa at 1427.10. The December vai
Falling trend persisted on the cotton market on Thursday as spot rate was extended overnight fall and prices in ready on steady arrivals of phutti, dealers said. The Karachi Cotton Association (KCA) official spot was dropped by another Rs 100 to Rs 5,700,
Hard red winter wheat basis bids held steady on Thursday as some livestock producers bought wheat in an otherwise quiet market, dealers said. Some hog and cattle feedlots purchased the grain to feed instead of corn, a Kansas dealer said. Producers chose t
Cotton prices on both the New York futures market (ICE) as well as domestic market slumped further across the board to present a clearly bearish picture. New York futures rates were all obtaining below one dollar a pound on Thursday evening Pakistan time.
Cotton prices on both the New York futures market (ICE) as well as domestic market slumped further across the board to present a clearly bearish picture. New York futures rates were all obtaining below one dollar a pound on Thursday evening Pakistan time.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Minister for Forest, Wajid Ali Khan, said the passage of 18th constitutional amendments will strength institutions as several departments have been devolved to provinces. Addressing at a meeting held here at Pakistan Forest Institu
With severe shortage of urea in the domestic market, the government will have to import 0.3 million tons of the fertiliser before September in addition to 0.125 million tons for which deal is in the pipeline.
Pepsico Foundation has provided a $700,000 grant to the American Pakistan Foundation (APF) to develop and execute a year-long flood recovery and rehabilitation programme for the most devastated regions of Pakistan. The grant is part of a broader Pepsico F
Federal Minister for Communications, Dr Arbab Alamgir Khan Khalil has said that the government has given subsidy during the holy month of Ramazan despite financial constraints, saying that the package will provide massive discount on different essential c
Privatisation Commission has constituted a six-member Transaction Committee on Thursday to hold the Secondary Public Offering (SPO) of Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL). The committee will be headed by a senior PC board member Iftikhar ul Haq with Mahmood
Telenor Pakistan, country's second largest cellular company, continued to perform well in the second quarter of 2011 according to the latest figures released by the Telenor Group. It added 914,000 subscriptions during the three-month period, ending with a
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday announced one million pound sterling for upgrading the facilities for Machine Readable Passport (MRP) System for the Pakistanis residing in Britain. The PM made the announcement during the annual gala dinn
Kuwait-listed Gulf Finance House soared on Thursday after its chairman sold a $1.4 million stake in the firm, helping the country's index gain for a third straight day. The investment company's stock jumped 8.2 percent. Its major shareholder sold 7 millio
Seoul shares ended down on Thursday, pressured by lingering uncertainties about US and European debt problems, while shipbuilders lost ground following weak quarterly results by Hyundai Heavy Industries. Auto shares tumbled on profit-taking and tech issue
The Nikkei stock average on Thursday held on to most of its strong gains made the day before, bolstered by hopes that a debt deal for Greece will be struck at an EU leaders' summit but capped near 10,000 by worries about the US debt ceiling.
US stocks advanced on Thursday led by banks after Morgan Stanley reported better-than-expected results and as details of a new Greece rescue plan emerged. Financials led all S&P sectors, boosted by Morgan Stanley, which posted a narrower-than-expected los
US stocks closed near unchanged on Wednesday, a day after Wall Street's best rally since March, as the oncoming debt ceiling deadline overshadowed strong earnings from Apple Inc. Apple hit another all-time high one day after the maker of the iPhone and iP
Taiwan stocks rose 0.13 percent on Thursday, with chip makers recovering from early dips after Intel Corp's subdued outlook for PC sales and with smartphone maker HTC recovering further from a recent decline. The main TAIEX index rose 10.97 points to 8,71
US Treasuries prices fell on Wednesday as the safety bid for US government debt ebbed on the view that eurozone leaders were making progress on a plan to ease Greece's debt burden. US Treasuries have been variously buffeted by worries about the European d
US Treasuries prices fell on Wednesday as the safety bid for US government debt ebbed on the view that eurozone leaders were making progress on a plan to ease Greece's debt burden. US Treasuries have been variously buffeted by worries about the European d
Indian shares dropped for a second day on Thursday as quarterly earnings mostly indicated companies were facing pressure on profit margins, while the central bank was unlikely to ease its tightening policy due to stubbornly high inflation.
Chinese shares in Shanghai as well as Hong Kong finished lower on Thursday as a survey showed that manufacturing in China contracted for the first time in a year, adding to slowdown concerns even as inflation pressures remain.