News Archives for Print - 2013-02-18

A leading political figure and Chief of Chandio tribe Nawab Ghaibi Sardar Khan Chandio along with hundreds of his tribesmen and associates has announced joining PPP. The announcement in this regard was made during a public meeting at Chandio House, Kamber

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Prices may soar even higher on cotton market

COTTON: Trading remained modest on the cotton market this week as dwindling stocks of finer varieties allowed ginners to keep a firmer hand on prices. The official spot rate went up to Rs6,250 up from Rs6,100 last week whereas most of the trading t

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

MQM ministers hand their resignations over to governor

Sindh ministers belonging to Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Sunday formally submitted their resignations to Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad following MQM's announcement to quit the PPP-led coalition government because of various grievances.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Government must formulate directed bank credit policy for small growers, says Dr Rashid Bajwa, CEO NRSP

Dr Rashid Bajwa is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP), here in Pakistan. NRSP was established in 1991 as a not-for-profit organisation. It currently touches around 2.2 million poor households through social mobilisa

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Government must formulate directed bank credit policy for small growers, says Dr Rashid Bajwa, CEO NRSP

Dr Rashid Bajwa is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP), here in Pakistan. NRSP was established in 1991 as a not-for-profit organisation. It currently touches around 2.2 million poor households through social mobilisa

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Consumer discipline - II

All the organisations in Pakistan are now relatively more conscious about the concept of customer satisfaction and are serious in formulating consumer-friendly policies. One of these organisations is Pepco, which is providing electricity supply to total 1

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

G20 promises unlikely to end devaluation debate

Financial leaders from the world's 20 biggest economies may have promised not to devalue their currencies to help exports, but the pledge will do little to keep exchange rates stable. While G20 finance ministers and central bank governors can promise not

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Strengthening democracy and political parties - I

Elections are around the corner hopefully, after a full period of five years of civilian rule held by PPP, punctuated by continual threats and conspiracies to overturn the tables by various interest groups and not to forget the rising terrorism. There are

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Energy crisis and PPPP's prospects

The major irritant that has plagued the people of this country since the President Zardari-led government took over power in 2008 remains the energy crisis. This continuing crisis, political analysts as well as party loyalists unhesitatingly aver, may wel

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Obama's State of the Union address

President Barack Obama spent much of his first term trying to meet his Republican opposition on middle ground in order to push through Congress his plans for economic recovery and health care reforms as well as winding down the two wars in Iraq and Afghan

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Shortfall in tax collections

Tax collections continue to show sings of stagnating despite a lot of efforts generally claimed by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). According to the latest available data, it had collected Rs 1,027 billion during July-January, 2013 as against Rs 974 bi

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Small dams to irrigate 2,688 acres of land in Waziristan

The two small dams constructed at cost of Rs 857.65 million, will irrigate more than 2,688 acres cultivable lands in South and North Waziristan agencies.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

'Shale Gas Framework': ECC may approve bidding process

The Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet is likely to approve the bidding process for the proposed 'Shale Gas Framework' as the first three Shale Gas pilot projects, an unconventional source of gas.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Three kidnapped and killed in Chaman

Some unknown armed men kidnapped and shot dead three Afghanis and dumped their bodies near railway station, here on Sunday. According to Levies sources, armed assailants kidnapped three people in Kuchlak area while they were leaving for Afghanistan throug

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

PSCA elects office-bearers

The Pakistan Senior Citizens Association (PSCA), Hyderabad chapter, elected its office bearers here on Sunday. According to the Chairman Election Committee Muhammad Saleh Soomro, eight office bearers and seven members of the executive committee had been e

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Prgmea criticises FBR for extending ST withholding regime

The Zonal Chairman, Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association (Prgmea), Shaikh Mohammad Shafiq has strongly criticised the FBR for extending the Sales Tax Withholding Regime through its notification SRO 98(1)72013, dated 14-02-2013

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

$45 billion investment in Karachi: lot of studies still have to be undertaken: Sheikh Nahayan

A member of Abu Dhabi's royal family says he plans to spend $45 billion over up to 15 years on a real estate project in Karachi, touted in Pakistan as the country's biggest ever foreign investment.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

PPP delegation visits Jamia Binoria

A delegation of Pakistan Peoples Party, led by General Secretary PPP Sindh Taj Haider visited Jamia Binoria to condole the deaths of prominent scholars, Mufti Sualeh Muhammad and Abdul Majeed Deenpuri, here on Sunday.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Imran warns of a civil war if elections rigged

Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI), Chief Imran Khan has said the upcoming elections would bring about such a revolution that would make people remember polls of 1970. Imran warned of possible civil war if there should be any rigging in the elections. He appeal

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Zafar Rajput elected president of HDBA

The Hyderabad District Bar Association (HDBA) elected its new office bearers in the elections held on Saturday. The results of the elections were declared here on Sunday with the independent candidate advocate Zafar Rajput elected as President of the new

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Guilty of tax evasion, deceptive market practices: Bahria Town ineligible for award of contracts: TI Pakistan

No contract could be awarded to Bahria Town, as its Director Malik Riaz is a declared tax evader by Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO), and Bahria Town has been adjudicated by Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) as guilty of deceptive market pr

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Messi hits 300th Barcelona goal in comeback win

Barcelona assistant manager Jordi Roura hailed 300-goal Lionel Messi after the Argentine's double helped his side come from a goal down to beat Granada 2-1 on Saturday. Messi's first goal was also his 300th in a Barcelona jersey and Roura was particularly

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Del Potro wins Rotterdam title over Benneteau

Juan Martin del Potro defeated Julien Benneteau 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 on Sunday to win the Rotterdam World Tennis and deny the Frenchman's dream of a first career title. Del Potro played the last game with cotton wool stuffed up one nostril due to a bloody nose

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Australia win women's World Cup

Australia clinched the women's World Cup for the sixth time when they defeated the West Indies by 114 runs in the final in Mumbai on Sunday. Australia, electing to bat, scored 259-7 before dismissing the West Indies for 145 in the day-night match.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Kaneria's appeal against life ban to resume in April

Banned leg-spinner Danish Kaneria's appeal against a life ban will resume on April 22 after it was adjourned by an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) disciplinary panel in December, the Pakistani player's brother said on Sunday.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Chelsea rout Brentford to reach fifth round

Chelsea avoided becoming the latest victims of the FA Cup's spate of giant-killings as the holders eased into the fifth round with a 4-0 win over League One minnows Brentford on Sunday.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Nadal struggles into Brazil Open final

Rafael Nadal struggled into the Brazil Open final on Saturday by downing Argentine lucky loser Martin Alund in three sets and later said he was handicapped by nagging knee pain. The former world number one, who is recovering from a left knee injury, battl

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

McCullum, injured Guptill, steer New Zealand to win

Captain Brendon McCullum led New Zealand to a dramatic three-wicket win over England with heroic support from an injured Martin Guptill in the one-day international in Hamilton on Sunday. The game seemed beyond New Zealand's grasp when they were reduced t

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

South Africa take series after Pakistan collapse

South Africa reinforced their status as the world's number one Test team when they beat Pakistan by four wickets on the fourth day of the second Test at Newlands on Sunday. The victory, with a day to spare, gave South Africa a winning 2-0 lead in the thre

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Stereo learning: infants distinguish between languages

Even before they can talk, infants as young as seven months who grow up in bilingual homes acquire a special ability to distinguish between languages, researchers said on February 14. Scientists are still baffled by the mechanics of language learning, and

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Cosmic rays mystery lifted in new findings

Cosmic rays - fast-moving particles that constantly pummel our planet - come from the explosion of supernovae, new research confirmed on February 14, resolving an astronomical mystery. Protons make up 90 percent of these rays that pelt Earth's atmosphere

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Food and drink industries undermine health policy

Multinational food, drink and alcohol companies are using strategies similar to those employed by the tobacco industry to undermine public health policies, health experts said on February 14.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Genetically engineered virus kills cancer

A genetically-engineered virus tested in 30 terminally-ill liver cancer patients significantly prolonged their lives, killing tumours and inhibiting the growth of new ones, scientists reported. Sixteen patients given a high dose of the therapy survived fo

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Are plant-based diets environmentally friendly?

A nutritious diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables might be healthier for humans but not necessarily healthier for the environment, according to a French study.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Living at higher altitudes tied to lower obesity incidence

People in the United States who live at higher altitudes where the air is thinnest are less likely to be obese than those in low-lying areas, according to a US study.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Nearsighted children may get worse in winter

Nearsighted children had their vision deteriorate faster when days were shortest and more slowly during the summer months, according to a Chinese study investigating whether daylight may slow the worsening of children's vision.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

New panel to scrutinise ocean governance

Senior politicians on February 11 launched an independent panel into management of the world's oceans, which are facing unprecedented overfishing, pollution and habitat loss. The Global Ocean Commission is spearheaded by former British foreign secretary D

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Nextdoor renovates before taking on the world

Neighbourhood social networking service Nextdoor.com rolled out home improvements on February 12 along with word it is flush with new funding and eyeing community-minded cultures around the world. Launched in late 2011 as a modern variation on town square

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Hackers sock smartphone earpiece star Jawbone

Jawbone on February 13 warned users of its earpieces and Jambox speakers that hackers stole names, email addresses and encrypted passwords from accounts used to make the wireless devices smarter.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Hackers know dictionary; get passwords from elsewhere

From aardvark to zymurgy ... any word you can find in a dictionary can also be found by a hacker. If you use one of the words as a password, don't be surprised if a hacker cracks it.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Apple eyeing smart watch, reports say

Apple is testing a watch-like device which could perform some smartphone functions, US media reports said on February 11. The New York Times reported that the maker of iPhones and iPads is experimenting with a curved-glass device, which could incorporate

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Android & Apple extend smartphone dominance

Android-powered smartphones and Apple's rival iPhone have extended their near duopoly with a whopping 91 percent of the global market in the fourth quarter, a survey showed on February 14. Google's Android system was used on 70.1 percent of smartphones sh

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Apple still has 'magic,' innovation, says chief executive Cook

Apple remains ahead of its rivals in the ability to innovate and "create magic" despite tougher competition in key sectors like smartphones and tablets, chief executive Tim Cook said Tuesday. Cook said Apple still has strong growth opportunities because o

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Chip maker Intel plans to launch online TV service

Intel Corp, the world's top chip maker whose fortunes are eroding under the popularity of mobile devices, will enter the hotly competitive market of online television this year with a service that will both stream live content and provide content on deman

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

IBM puts supercomputer to work on cancer

IBM is putting its Watson supercomputer to work fighting cancer, in what is described as the first commercial program of its kind to use "big data" to help patients with the disease. The US computing giant last week unveiled its initiative with health ins

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Getting old games to run on newer computers

The old games are the best, or so a lot of gamers believe. However, it's difficult to run games that are 10 years or older on modern computers. The solution is the compatibility mode that Windows offers. This option is found under "Properties" if you righ

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Build your own NFC tags

Owners of a smartphone with near-field communication (NFC) capacity can construct their own NFC tags fairly simply. These can be small stickers or key rings to transmit commands to smartphones which are swiped past them, according to German computer magaz

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Power-hungry USB devices best kept apart

USB devices with a large appetite for power should not be connected to a computer side by side. External hard drives and other drives connected by USB cable for example use a lot of power. German computer magazine PC Welt advises that these devices are be

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Facebook users can pay to promote friends' posts

Facebook on February 15 said it is letting users pay to ensure that messages posted by friends at the leading social network get more attention. The feature is being rolled out globally and comes less than four months after Facebook began letting members

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Choosing a cable network connection over wireless

When a computer is connected to a network both through a cable and wirelessly it may surf more slowly than necessary. The reason is that in such cases Windows favours the wireless connection over the faster network cable.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Suzlon posts biggest quarterly loss

India's troubled wind energy giant Suzlon posted its biggest-ever quarterly loss on February 14, hit by a combination of hefty debt and declining global demand for turbines. The firm, once a star of India's green technology, reported its net loss quadrupl

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Suzlon posts biggest quarterly loss

India's troubled wind energy giant Suzlon posted its biggest-ever quarterly loss on February 14, hit by a combination of hefty debt and declining global demand for turbines. The firm, once a star of India's green technology, reported its net loss quadrupl

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Anglo promises austerity after posting first loss in a decade

Anglo American slid to its first net loss for more than a decade in 2012 after profits fell across all units and the global miner wrote $4 billion off the value of its flagship Minas Rio iron ore project in Brazil.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Anglo promises austerity after posting first loss in a decade

Anglo American slid to its first net loss for more than a decade in 2012 after profits fell across all units and the global miner wrote $4 billion off the value of its flagship Minas Rio iron ore project in Brazil.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Michelin reports profit rise, cautious for this year

French tyre-making giant Michelin reported on February 12 a 7.4-percent rise in net profit in 2012 with a boost from capital gains but was cautious about this year while holding medium-term targets. The group reported a rise in net profit from the 2011 le

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Michelin reports profit rise, cautious for this year

French tyre-making giant Michelin reported on February 12 a 7.4-percent rise in net profit in 2012 with a boost from capital gains but was cautious about this year while holding medium-term targets. The group reported a rise in net profit from the 2011 le

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Nestle warns market will stay tough in 2013

Swiss-based food giant Nestle warned on February 14 that business was likely to be tough this year, after its 2012 results showed a slowdown in growth in emerging markets. Nestle's net profit of 10.6 billion Swiss francs (8.8 billion euros, $11.5 billion)

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Nissan bets on Indonesia to revive Datsun as emerging market brand

Nissan Motor Co considers Indonesia key to its bid to resurrect Datsun next year - a brand name retired in the early 1980s - as a sub-$10,000 no-frills car to drive growth in emerging market sales.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Higher US advertising spending buoys Omnicom profit

Omnicom Group Inc, the largest US advertising company and home to agencies such as BBDO World-wide and DDB World-wide, reported a better-than-expected fourth-quarter profit on higher revenue in its domestic market. Many of the macroeconomic problems cited

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Barrick, Kinross offer hopeful signs for gold industry

Canadian-based gold miners, led by top global producer Barrick Gold Corp, are showing the first tentative signs of emerging from a year-long funk, having made painful adjustments to a new reality of stagnating bullion prices. After a series of acquisition

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

BAE teams up with Vodafone for cyber security drive

Britain's BAE Systems and mobile phone operator Vodafone unveiled a five-year deal to work together on cyber security solutions on Sunday. The companies will offer a range of communications security products and services for mobile phones and tablet devic

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Volkswagen chief executive to take 20 percent pay cut for 2012

Volkswagen AG Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn will be paid 14 million euros ($18.7 million) for 2012, 20 percent less than the previous year, German magazine Der Spiegel reported. Der Spiegel, which did not cite sources, also said VW's supervisory board

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Kuwait Finance House fourth quarter net rises but misses estimates

Kuwait's biggest Islamic lender, Kuwait Finance House (KFH) reported a 24 percent rise in fourth-quarter net profit on Sunday thanks to its restructuring programme but the numbers fell short of analyst estimates.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Renault announces deals at Abu Dhabi arms fair

Renault Trucks Defence on Sunday announced orders for armoured vehicles from Middle East and African states, at the start of the IDEX military fair in the United Arab Emirates. RTD, an affiliate of Sweden's Volvo, said in a statement that "a Middle Easter

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Intel Israel more than doubles exports, mulls new investment

Intel's Israeli subsidiary more than doubled its exports in 2012 to $4.6 billion and is seeking to bring manufacturing of the company's next generation of chips to Israel.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Saudi oil exports fell to 7.06 million barrels a day in December: JODI

Saudi crude exports fell for the third month running in December, but the fall in shipments was less dramatic than the drop in oil production, official data showed on Sunday.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Tens of thousands join electricity protests across Bulgaria

Tens of thousands of Bulgarians protested in more than 20 cities against high electricity bills on Sunday, piling pressure on the government after a week of persistent demonstrations. Protesters chanting "It will be the same every day until we win," paral

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

France woos UAE over Rafale jet deal

France's senior defence industry lobbyist said on Sunday he was confident the United Arab Emirates would buy Rafale fighter jets by 2015-2016, as the defence minister in Paris said talks on a deal had resumed. In January, a diplomatic source told Reuters

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Slovakia woos US Steel amid European meltdown

As meltdown menaces Europe's steel sector, Slovakia is scrambling to keep US Steel - the country's largest single employer - from selling off a mammoth factory in Kosice, a gritty eastern industrial hub.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

China may consider fuel price hike

China, the world's second-largest oil consumer, could consider raising the prices of gasoline and diesel as early as this month as a basket of crude oil prices has risen to hit a trigger point, data from an energy consultancy showed on Sunday.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Dubai's Nakheel in talks to extend $2.2 billion loan

Developer Nakheel is in talks to extend 8 billion dirhams ($2.18 billion) in loans due in 2015, the indebted company's chairman was quoted as saying in a local newspaper on Sunday. Ali Rashid Lootah dismissed concerns over Nakheel's ability to repay its d

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Dubai's Nakheel in talks to extend $2.2 billion loan

Developer Nakheel is in talks to extend 8 billion dirhams ($2.18 billion) in loans due in 2015, the indebted company's chairman was quoted as saying in a local newspaper on Sunday. Ali Rashid Lootah dismissed concerns over Nakheel's ability to repay its d

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Novartis golden handshake angers shareholders, politicians

Pharma group Novartis' decision to pay up to 72 million Swiss francs ($77.94 million) to outgoing chairman Daniel Vasella has unleashed a wave of indignation among activist shareholders and politicians.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Germany wants comprehensive EU-US free trade deal

German Economy Minister Philipp Roesler wants the European Union and the United States to reach a comprehensive transatlantic free trade agreement rather than settle for the limited deal some southern EU nations favour.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Bank Indonesia takes precautions to keep rupiah's decline orderly

Indonesia's central bank is gradually closing trading loopholes used by global investors in an attempt to exert more control over its weakening currency and prevent a desirable depreciation of the rupiah from turning into a panicky tailspin.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

CBOE does not rule out going private again

The Chicago Board Options Exchange's parent company, which went public in 2010 after years of effort, would consider going private again if that would benefit shareholders, a top executive said on Thursday.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Some redeemable Build America Bonds are overpriced: Citi

With the March 1 deadline for automatic federal spending cuts approaching, the $3.7 trillion US municipal bond market is again focused on the impact of cuts to Build America Bonds (BABs) subsidies.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Some redeemable Build America Bonds are overpriced: Citi

With the March 1 deadline for automatic federal spending cuts approaching, the $3.7 trillion US municipal bond market is again focused on the impact of cuts to Build America Bonds (BABs) subsidies.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Colombia cuts 2013 global bond sales to buy dollars

Colombia's government will reduce global bond issuance this year by $1 billion to replace them with dollar purchases on the foreign exchange market to combat the rising peso currency, Finance Minister Mauricio Cardenas said on Wednesday.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Colombia cuts 2013 global bond sales to buy dollars

Colombia's government will reduce global bond issuance this year by $1 billion to replace them with dollar purchases on the foreign exchange market to combat the rising peso currency, Finance Minister Mauricio Cardenas said on Wednesday.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Wall Street week ahead: after decent rally, perhaps time for a pause

US stocks could struggle to extend their seven-week winning streak as the quarterly earnings period draws to a close and the market bumps into strong technical resistance. Many analysts say the market could spend the next few weeks consolidating gains tha

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Bangladesh's interbank forex, interest rates

Interbank buy/sell rates for the taka against the dollar on Sunday. 78.95-78.9550 (78.95-78.98).

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Italy vote nerves may complicate Spain sale

Spain may need to offer higher yields at its debt sale next week to counter worries over Italian elections, but renewed buying interest from domestic investors should ensure the auction goes smoothly.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Italy vote nerves may complicate Spain sale

Spain may need to offer higher yields at its debt sale next week to counter worries over Italian elections, but renewed buying interest from domestic investors should ensure the auction goes smoothly.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Iceland wants to avoid more currency falls: central bank head

Iceland's central bank will intervene to ensure as little depreciation as possible in its weakening currency due to inflation concerns but will draw no line in the sand over the crown's value, its governor Mar Gudmundsson said on Monday.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Japanese shares may lose ground

Surging Tokyo-listed shares may take a breather next week if a meeting of the G20 leading economies ushers in a stiff criticism of the yen's sharp drop, analysts said on Friday. In the past week, the benchmark Nikkei 225 index edged down 0.19 percent, or

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

JGB market sentiment improves sharply

A weekly gauge of sentiment in the Japanese government bond market improved sharply, after the prices of short-term notes soared the previous week on expectations of Bank of Japan rate cuts, the latest Thomson Reuters poll showed on Tuesday.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

JGB market sentiment improves sharply

A weekly gauge of sentiment in the Japanese government bond market improved sharply, after the prices of short-term notes soared the previous week on expectations of Bank of Japan rate cuts, the latest Thomson Reuters poll showed on Tuesday.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Middle East-Stocks: Aldar lifts Abu Dhabi; most markets dip on profit-taking

Shares in Abu Dhabi's Aldar Properties helped lift the emirate's benchmark to a 39-month high, with investors expecting strong dividend payouts, while profit-taking weighed on most other regional markets.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Obama draft bill to clear path to citizenship for illegal immigrants

A draft of a White House immigration proposal would allow illegal immigrants to become legal permanent residents within eight years, USA Today reported on Saturday.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Nato to help implement Karzai air strike decree: Dunford

Nato will work with the country's defence leadership to implement a ban by President Hamid Karzai on Afghan forces using Nato air strikes in residential areas, the new Nato commander in Afghanistan, US General Joseph Dunford, said on Sunday.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

US protesters urge Obama to act on global warming

Thousands of protesters gathered in Washington Sunday for a rally to press President Barack Obama to take concrete measures to help fight global warming. The protesters want Obama to reject the proposed Keystone XL pipeline that would bring oil from Canad

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Cypriot conservative chief grabs lead in election

Conservative leader Nicos Anastasiades has grabbed a commanding lead in Cyprus's presidential election and may be able to avoid a run-off, exit polls showed on Sunday, boosting investors' hopes for a swift deal to save the island from bankruptcy.

Published 18 Feb, 2013 12:00am

Currency	Rate
USD PKR Interbank Selling / Dec 23	278.69
USD PKR Interbank Buying / Dec 23	278.43
USD to Swiss Franc / Dec 20	0.89
USD to Japanese Yen / Dec 23	156.63
Pound Sterling to USD / Dec 23	1.26
Euro to USD / Dec 23	1.04

Stock	Volume
S&P 500 / Dec 20	5,930.85
Nasdaq / Dec 20	19,572.60
FTSE 100 / Dec 20	8,084.36
Dow Jones / Dec 20	42,840.26
Germany DAX 30 / Dec 20	19,884.75
France CAC40 / Dec 20	7,274.48
India Sensex / Dec 23	78,595.51
Tokyo Nikkei / Dec 23	39,161.34

Item	Value
Gold 10 Grams PKR / Dec 20	234,311
Karachi Cotton PKR/37.32 KG / Dec 21	17,585
Petrol/Litre / Dec 23	252.10
Crude Oil USD/Barrel / Dec 23	69.79
Gold Spot USD/Ounce / Dec 23	2,632.38
Diesel/Litre / Dec 23	255.38

Stock	Price
Dewan Sugar / Dec 23 Dewan Sugar Mills Limited(DWSM)	6.60 ▲ 1.00 (17.86%)
Jahangir Sidd(Pref) / Dec 23 Jahangir Sidd(Pref)(JSCLPSA)	9.50 ▲ 0.95 (11.11%)
Dewan Farooque Sp. / Dec 23 Dewan Farooque Spinning Mills Limited(DFSM)	4.71 ▲ 0.44 (10.30%)
Power Cem(Pref) / Dec 23 Power Cement (Pref)(POWERPS)	12.27 ▲ 1.12 (10.04%)
Treet Corp / Dec 23 Treet Corporation Limited(TREET)	24.38 ▲ 2.22 (10.02%)
Bawany Air Products / Dec 23 Bawany Air Products Limited(BAPL)	37.62 ▲ 3.42 (10.00%)
Dawood Hercules / Dec 23 Dawood Hercules Corporation Limited(DAWH)	223.96 ▲ 20.36 (10.00%)
Engro Corp / Dec 23 Engro Corporation Limited(ENGRO)	435.67 ▲ 39.61 (10.00%)
First Imrooz Mod. / Dec 23 First Imrooz Modaraba(FIMM)	220 ▲ 20.00 (10.00%)

Stock	Price
J.A.Textile / Dec 23 J.A. Textile Mills Limited(JATM)	37.72 ▼ -4.19 (-10.00%)
Olympia Mills / Dec 23 Olympia Mills Limited(OML)	34.60 ▼ -3.82 (-9.94%)
Dar-es-Salaam / Dec 23 Dar-es-Salaam Textile Mills Limited(DSML)	42.01 ▼ -4.58 (-9.83%)
Asia Ins. / Dec 23 Asia Insurance Company Limited(ASIC)	13.99 ▼ -1.52 (-9.80%)
Leather Up Ltd. / Dec 23 Leather Up Limited(LEUL)	27.51 ▼ -2.67 (-8.85%)
LSE Financial Serv. / Dec 23 LSE Financial Services Limited(LSEFSL)	15 ▼ -1.25 (-7.69%)
Burj Clean Energy Modaraba / Dec 23 Burj Clean Energy Modaraba(GEM)(GEMBCEM)	8.45 ▼ -0.65 (-7.14%)
First IBL Mod. / Dec 23 First IBL Modaraba(FIBLM)	3.10 ▼ -0.18 (-5.49%)
Popular Islamic / Dec 23 Popular Islamic Modaraba(PIM)	13 ▼ -0.74 (-5.39%)

Stock	Volume
WorldCall Telecom / Dec 23 Worldcall Telecom Limited(WTL)	99,942,750 ▲ 0.09
Pace (Pak) Ltd. / Dec 23 Pace (Pakistan) Limited(PACE)	43,280,462 ▲ 0.13
K-Electric Ltd. / Dec 23 K-Electric Limited(KEL)	40,644,312 ▲ 0.14
Sui South Gas / Dec 23 Sui Southern Gas Company Limited(SSGC)	40,619,788 ▲ 0.36
Cnergyico PK / Dec 23 Cnergyico PK Limited(CNERGY)	30,423,419 ▲ 0.51
B.O.Punjab / Dec 23 The Bank of Punjab(BOP)	29,495,012 ▲ 0.10
Pak Elektron / Dec 23 Pak Elektron Limited(PAEL)	23,717,939 ▲ 2.06
Symmetry Group / Dec 23 Symmetry Group Limited(SYM)	21,897,051 ▲ 0.29
Hub Power Co. / Dec 23 The Hub Power Company Limited(HUBC)	20,727,996 ▲ 2.22

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