The fluctuations observed during the day:

All timings are in PST (Pakistan Standard Time).

Spot basis bids for hard red winter wheat in the US Plains held steady on Thursday in a quiet market. Winter wheat seeding continued at a good pace though welcome rain showers interrupted planting in parts of the Plains region. Drought continued to plague

The trading in chemical items ended mixed on Jodia Bazaar here on Thursday. The following changes were noted.

Small business activity was seen on the wholesale grain market on Thursday most of the leading buyers were on the sidelines due to less buying interest, dealers said. On the cereals side, wheat old bardan and wheat new Bardan slightly up by Rs 5 to Rs 294

Indian sugar futures extended losses on Thursday to hit their lowest in a month after the government made available higher supplies for October and November in an attempt to keep prices lower during key festivals. The government has allowed millers to sel

The Karachi Port handled 128,792 tonnes of cargo comprising 98,848 tonnes of import cargo and 29,944 tonnes of export cargo including 5,143 loaded & empty containers during the last 24 hours ended at 0700 hours on Thursday. The total import cargo of 98,84

The December vaida was higher while the January contract was unchanged on the forward cottonseeds oilcake market on Thursday in process of trading, dealers said. The December vaida closed at Rs 445.50 and it commenced with a modest rise of 20 paisa at Rs

A persistent rise in phutti arrivals, pushed prices further down on the cotton market on Thursday, dealers said. Official spot rate continued fall, dropping more Rs 150 to Rs 5,250, they said. In the ready business, over 17000 bales of cotton changed hand

Lnit prices lost nearly Rs 400 per maund (37.32 Kgs) this week in the ready market following increased arrivals, improving quality, fall in values of New York cotton futures and abundant crop prospects and carryovers in most parts of the world. With the m

Lnit prices lost nearly Rs 400 per maund (37.32 Kgs) this week in the ready market following increased arrivals, improving quality, fall in values of New York cotton futures and abundant crop prospects and carryovers in most parts of the world. With the m

US chief executives' view of the economy deteriorated sharply in the third quarter and is now as bleak as it was in the immediate aftermath of the last recession, according to a survey released by the Business Roundtable on Wednesday. CEOs have become mor

China shares staged a sharp late-session rally, helping mainland stock indices bounce off multi-year lows, which traders attributed to speculation authorities will take measures to bolster beaten-down markets. Thursday's move on mainland markets lifted Ho

Japan's Nikkei average rose on Thursday, rebounding from the previous session's sharp fall, as a surge in Chinese stocks lifted sentiment in the region, countering concerns over the euro zone crisis after anti-austerity protests in Spain. China's Shanghai

US stocks rallied on Thursday, putting the S&P 500 on track to snap a five-day retreat, after Spain unveiled its plans for economic reform to deal with its debt crisis. The fiscally troubled nation announced a detailed timetable for economic reforms and a

The S&P 500 fell for a fifth straight trading day on Wednesday as protests in Spain and Greece over eurozone austerity measures raised fresh concerns over Europe's ability to get its debt crisis under control. Investors sold risk-sensitive sectors such as

Australian shares rose 0.5 percent on Thursday, snapping three sessions of losses, led by renewed strength in banking and industrial stocks, but concern over the euro zone capped gains. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index rose 22.6 points to 4,384.2. The benc

US government debt prices rose on Wednesday as resurgent fears over Europe drove investors to the safe-haven bonds, with worries flaring that Spain's reluctance to ask for a full-blown bailout would prolong the region's debt crisis. Longer-dated US yields

US government debt prices rose on Wednesday as resurgent fears over Europe drove investors to the safe-haven bonds, with worries flaring that Spain's reluctance to ask for a full-blown bailout would prolong the region's debt crisis. Longer-dated US yields

South Korean shares rose on Thursday, led by Samsung Electronics following the launch of its new smartphone, but gains were capped by worries about Europe following street protests in Spain and Greece against more austerity measures. The Korea Composite S

Southeast Asian stock markets ended mostly higher along with stronger global markets on Thursday, with Malaysia hitting a one-week high as domestic institutions led among buyers while the Thai index got a lift by PTTEP's share offering details. Malaysia's

European shares closed a touch higher in thin trade on Thursday, lifted by expectations of economic stimulus in China, but uncertainty about Spain's fiscal reforms kept gains in check and investors braced for new market jitters. Heavyweight basic resource

Taiwan stocks ended up 0.18 percent on Thursday, lifted by biotech shares and chipmakers, which rose 1.64 percent and 0.94 percent, respectively. The main TAIEX index was up 14.17 points to 7,683.80, after opening flat. Electronics shares gained 0.27 perc

Indian shares fell for a second consecutive session on Thursday as software services exporters such as Infosys were hit by continued worries about the global demand outlook and the impact of the recent rally in the rupee on overseas profits. The session w

Gains by bank and mining stocks helped lift Britain's benchmark share index on Thursday, although investors said worries over the euro zone could limit further moves higher and favour more defensive sectors such as food or health stocks. The blue-chip FTS

Sterling rose on Thursday, hitting a three-week high against the euro helped by news Britain's economy contracted less than expected in the second quarter and as worries grew about Spain's debt and economic problems. The euro fell 0.5 percent to 79.23 pen

The euro held steady versus the dollar on Thursday, hovering near a two-week low, as violent protests against austerity measures in Spain and Greece highlighted the challenges facing highly-indebted euro zone countries. The single currency held steady at

The euro traded close to a two-week low against the dollar on Thursday as investors awaited a draft budget from Spain that could pave the way for the country to request an international bailout. Uncertainty about when Spain will request a rescue programme

The euro gained against the US dollar and yen on Thursday, having tumbled earlier to two-week lows after Spain unveiled its 2013 budget amid persistent uncertainty over whether and when it might ask for an international bailout. The euro last traded at $1

The euro slipped to a two-week low against the dollar on Wednesday as Spain's economy weakened sharply and its 10-year bond yield again topped 6 percent, increasing worries that the euro zone's debt crisis is worsening. The yen managed to hold its ground

Interbank buy/sell rates for the taka against the dollar on Thursday. 81.55-81.68 (previous 81.60-81.69). Call Money Rates: 07.00-08.50 percent (previous 07.00-8.50 percent.

The Australian and New Zealand dollars were swept higher by a wave of short covering on Thursday, with the Aussie pulling up from a two-week trough thanks in part to buoyant equity markets in Asia. The Aussie dollar stood at $1.0420, putting more distance

Most emerging Asian currencies rose on Thursday as investors covered short positions, viewing recent slides as overdone, and on demand by exporters, although the outlook for regional units stayed murky on European debt worries. The Taiwan dollar, the Phil

Spot yuan prices softened slightly on Thursday but still near a five-month high against the dollar, despite the central bank setting the dollar/yuan midpoint weaker for the third day in a row. The People's Bank of China (PBOC) fixed the yuan midpoint at 6

The Indian rupee rose to a 4-1/2 month high on Thursday, breaching the psychological level of 53 to the dollar, on strong capital inflows, with further gains expected after the government stuck to its borrowing target for the fiscal year. The government s

Sri Lanka beat New Zealand in a one over eliminator after the 40-over Super Eights contest was sensationally tied at Pallekele stadium on Thursday. With both teams inseparable on 174 runs at the end of 40 overs a "super over" round was played for the resu

West Indies edged out defending champions England by 15 runs in an exciting finish to the World Twenty20 Super Eight group one match at Pallekele stadium on Thursday. Chasing a daunting 180-run target, England came close with Eoin Morgan (71 not out) and

Former India batsman Sandeep Patil was named Thursday as the new chief selector ahead of home Test series against England and Australia, the country's cricket board announced. The 56-year-old replaced Krishnamachari Srikkanth whose tenure saw India clinch

Chelsea captain John Terry was given a four-match ban by the Football Association (FA) after being found guilty of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers' Anton Ferdinand on Thursday. An FA statement said an independent regulatory commission had issued a su

England's women cricket team beat Pakistan women team by 43 runs in a Group-A match of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2012 in Sri Lanka. Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and invited England to bat first, which posted 133-6 with openers Laura Marsh and Charlo

Manchester United moved into the League Cup fourth round with a 2-1 win over Newcastle, while holders Liverpool fought back to seal a 2-1 victory at West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday. United, looking to win the League Cup for the fifth time, made a host o

World number one Victoria Azarenka and number two Maria Sharapova crashed out of the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in contrasting styles on Thursday. Azarenka, from Belarus, pulled out citing fatigue, while the French Open champion from Russia went d

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday presented a new look domestic structure to separate the departments and regions in domestic tournaments to improve the quality of the domestic cricket and to bring it at par with international standard. Director Ge

A three-day National Amateur Golf Championship will be started from today (Friday). The 45th edition of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Amateur National Ranking Golf Championship will be formally inaugurated by the vice president Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Golf Associatio

Four top contenders for the World Twenty20 title resume battle on Friday, looking for ways to emerge unscathed from the tougher of the two groups in the Super Eights round. Top-ranked South Africa take on Pakistan and India clash with Australia in a sold-

German unemployment rose for a sixth month running in September, suggesting domestic demand might not be able to compensate for weakening exports amid the euro zone crisis and power growth in the bloc's number one economy. Joblessness remains near to its

The leaders of Sudan and South Sudan signed deals on Thursday to secure their shared border and boost trade, which will restart crucial oil exports, but they failed to resolve other conflicts remaining after the South seceded last year. The deal, reached

Automakers warned that Europe's car market may not improve for the next two years as austerity measures and high unemployment keep drivers away from showrooms. Companies at the Paris Auto Show, which opened to the media on Thursday, showed off no-frills c

Spain announced a detailed timetable for economic reforms and a tough 2013 budget based mostly on spending cuts on Thursday in what many see as an effort to pre-empt the likely conditions of an international bailout. Ministry budgets were slashed by 8.9 p

Spain announced a detailed timetable for economic reforms and a tough 2013 budget based mostly on spending cuts on Thursday in what many see as an effort to pre-empt the likely conditions of an international bailout. Ministry budgets were slashed by 8.9 p

India has raised taxes on rail fares and vowed to stick to its planned borrowing target for the year, underlining its will to curb it fiscal deficit and avoid a credit ratings downgrade. Thursday's move came two weeks after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh u

India has raised taxes on rail fares and vowed to stick to its planned borrowing target for the year, underlining its will to curb it fiscal deficit and avoid a credit ratings downgrade. Thursday's move came two weeks after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh u

Japan's Honda Motor signed a joint venture deal with Bangladesh's state-owned steel corporation BSEC Thursday to assemble motorcycles for the South Asian nation's booming economy, officials said. The Japanese automobile giant will own 70 percent stake in

Britain's economy contracted less than thought during the second quarter, offering a higher base for an expected return to tepid growth and lifting the pound while supporting share prices. Other data showed Britain's financial position worsened, although

An Abu Dhabi bank has filed a legal claim against Dubai's Zabeel Investments, according to court papers seen by Reuters, the second time in a month a creditor has resorted to the courts to recover debt from a company owned by the emirates top royals.

Greece's coalition government has agreed on the main points of a multi-billion-euro austerity package needed to unlock EU-IMF loans, Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras said on Thursday. "We have agreed on the main points," Stournaras said following a meet

Orders for long-lasting US manufactured goods fell sharply in August, suggesting the main engine of the economic recovery was stalling even as a report showing a drop in new claims for jobless aid offered a hopeful sign on the labour market.

A major Chinese steelmaker said on Thursday it has halted production at a loss-making plant and expressed doubt that government attempts to stimulate the slowing economy would revive demand in the world's biggest market for the metal. With China's slowing

Hard-line Maoists ordered Indian-registered vehicles out of Nepal on Thursday and demanded that cinemas stop showing Bollywood movies in protest over New Delhi's influence in the Himalayan nation. The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), a breakaway faction

Britain and Ecuador failed to reach agreement on the fate of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange Thursday at a meeting of their foreign ministers here, officials said. "We see no immediate solution," Ecuadoran Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino told reporters a

Saudi Arabia has agreed to a $400 monthly minimum wage for Filipina maids, a year after a row over the issue halted the entry of such workers, Philippines officials said Thursday. Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay, who oversees the welfare of Filipi

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu drew his "red line" for Iran's nuclear programme on Thursday - the point at which Iran has amassed nearly enough highly enriched uranium for a single atomic bomb - and voiced confidence that the United States shar

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday he would seek to have the Palestinians' UN status upgraded to a sovereign country and cautioned that Israeli settlement expansion meant time was running out for a two-state solution.

A former senior trader at Credit Suisse, the global financial services company headquartered in Zurich, has been arrested in London on fraud charges, the BBC reported. Kareem Serageldin, a US citizen who was formerly employed with Credit Suisse in New Yor

Israel and the United States are holding secret talks on setting a deadline for stopping Iran's nuclear programme, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said Thursday. "It is desirable that this whole issue of red lines will be set, but not publicl

Europe's top banks need to find more capital than rivals elsewhere in order to meet tougher rules coming into force in January, the continent's bank regulator said on Thursday. The assessment came just hours after Britain's banks were urged by the Bank of

Two suspected Russian spies alleged to have been operating in Germany for more than 20 years have been charged with espionage, federal prosecutors said Thursday, in the first case of its kind since German unification. The man and the woman, who German med

Rights group Amnesty International on Thursday called on California to end the "shocking" conditions inside its prison isolation cells, which house some 3,000 inmates. Prisoners in the cells are confined for at least 22 and a half hours a day in windowles

Up to 700,000 refugees may flee Syria by the end of the year, the UN refugee agency said on Thursday, escaping a conflict which is killing hundreds every day and dividing world powers meeting at the United Nations. The UNHCR forecast is almost four times

Protesters in New York jostled and yelled at Iran's foreign ministry spokesman in a street near the United Nations, but police said Thursday that the official had been pulled out to safety. Video footage posted online shows the small crowd of screaming pr

US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, lagging behind in polls, squared off against rival President Barack Obama on Thursday over potential defence cuts that could kick in early next year. Speaking in the suburbs of Washington which are home to

The United States on Thursday said it has signed a framework agreement with Saudi Arabia and other members of the Gulf Co-operation Council to explore ways to boost trade and investment with the oil-rich region. The GCC also includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman

Seasonal and speculative selling in cotton accelerated on Wednesday, sending futures contracts below 71 cents per pound for the first time since the start of August. Falling for a fifth straight session, New York-traded cotton for December delivery settle

The most-traded January copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange slipped 0.14 percent to close at 59,070 yuan ($9,400) a tonne on Thursday as traders betting on a fourth-quarter recovery in Chinese demand, though an upcoming holiday and simmering

Copper rose on Thursday, on prospects that demand from the metal's top consumer China could recover by the end of the year, but a firmer dollar, an approaching Chinese holiday and concerns about Europe's debt crisis kept gains in check. Benchmark copper o

Oil prices rose on Thursday as tensions between Iran and the West reinforced concerns about potential supply disruptions, while Spain's plans for economic reform also lent support to crude and lifted equities on Wall Street. US gasoline futures rose to th

Key TOCOM rubber futures ended up 0.5 percent on Thursday after a late afternoon surge in Chinese stocks lifted sentiment in the region, but worries about the slowing global economy and sluggish car demand capped gains. The key Tokyo Commodity Exchange ru

Thursday's Rotterdam vegetable oil prices at 1600 GMT.

Thursday's Rotterdam vegetable oil prices at 1600 GMT.

US grains tumbled on Wednesday, and soyabeans sank below $16 a bushel to their lowest price in nearly three months as worries about Europe's debt crisis had investors scrambling for safe-haven assets like US Treasury bonds. The declines were accentuated a

Malaysian palm oil futures ended off a 2-year low on Thursday, as investors remained cautious over high stocks and the eurozone debt crisis. Traders said palm oil inventory in No 2 producer Malaysia could climb higher in September after reaching a 10-mont

US cocoa futures inched upward on Thursday, on track to finish with the strongest quarter in three years as the market traded in a narrow band after recently falling from a 10-month high, while coffee jumped on the heels of the firm commodity complex. Sug

Gold prices ended down on Wednesday but off an earlier two-week low as a stronger dollar and weaker crude oil triggered profit-taking after bullion's recent sharp rally boosted by stimulus by central banks around the world. Spot gold was down 0.5 percent

Gold edged up on Thursday from a two-week low hit in the previous session, but continued worries over the euro zone debt crisis that has lifted the dollar and weakened oil is expected to cap bullion's gains. Spot gold rose about 10 percent in the last fiv

Gold prices rose on Thursday, recovering from the previous day's two-week low, in line with the euro, stock markets and other commodities, but uncertainty over when Spain would request a rescue programme limited investors' confidence. Spot gold was up 0.6

US corn futures fell for a fourth straight day and hit a three-month low on Thursday and wheat slid 2 percent to a 2-1/2 month low, pressured by technical selling and fund liquidation ahead of a government grain stocks report on Friday. Soyabeans were mix

Gold rose more than 1 percent on Thursday, on track for its biggest daily gain in two weeks, on hopes for additional monetary stimulus from China and as fresh austerity steps in Spain renewed fears over the euro zone. Bullion extended early gains after Sp

The capsizing of a modern passenger vessel 'Costa Concordia' early this year is an indication that human errors will continue to plague the seas despite technological advancements in world-wide maritime sector, experts agreed on Thursday. Bahria Universit

Governments and humanitarian agencies have miserably failed in providing quick and adequate relief in the worst flood affected districts of Sindh and Balochistan resulting in increased post flood human losses as millions of flood affected people are homel

The newly elected governing body of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) will assume office on September 29th under President Mohammad Haroon Agar will face several tough challenges including ever increasing incidents of extortion of money,

The fast closures of processing units are leading the country to suffer over 14 percent loss in knitwear export during the first two months of the current fiscal year to $384.714 million, exporters told Business Recorder on Thursday. Pakistan's kni

Haji Fazal Kadir Khan Sherani, President of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and Zakarya Usman, Chairman of FPCCI Committee on Co-ordination with Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) have urged the Chairman FBR to extend the deadline of filing

Pakistan Ship's Agents Association (PSAA) has elected Ava A Cowasjee as chairperson and Tariq Haleem as vice chairman for the term 2012-13. According to the association's press release issued here on Thursday, the PSAA held its AGM at a local hotel to cho

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has taken serious notice of the much debated issue of imported Australian sheep. The Chief Minister has directed the concerned departments to submit report on the issue within a week. Following the Chief Minister's

Professor Evaghelos Xynos M.D., Ph.D., F A C S is the Head of Department of General Surgery at Creta lnterclinic of Heraklion, 'Agia Olga" Hospital of Athens, Greece, will be visiting Karachi to conduct a live demonstration of colorectal surgeries at Jinn

The easing in the interest rate is likely to compel bankers to reignite consumer financing, particularly car financing, analysts said. Pakistan central bank has slashed its policy rate by 350 basis points to 10.5 percent since July 2011, as inflationary t

Japanese brands and companies will be further exploring the Pakistani market through participation and promotion at the seventh Expo Pakistan Exhibition in October 2012. An exclusive pavilion is being set-up at the Expo Centre in Karachi, inspired by the

Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited (PTCL) held an awareness seminar on 'Prevention of Heart Disease among Women & Children'. Dr Inamul Haq, Consultant Cardiologist, Federal Government Services Hospital, was specially invited to speak at the occas

Chairman All Pakistan Motor Dealers Association (APMDA), H.M Shehzad along with members of the association will meet Chairman Federal Board of Revenue on Friday (today) in Islamabad. Shehzad told Business Recorder that delegation of the association

"Long live Gujjar Khan."