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Nervous French savers start gold rush
PARIS, October 9, 2008 (AFP) – The gold merchants of Paris may trade from shops in the shadow of the historic stock exchange building, but their business is booming even as the share market collapses.Nervous investors, who have seen house prices, equity markets and interest rates falling, are seeking shelter for their savings in what […]
” from financial crisis: IMF
WASHINGTON, October 8, 2008 (AFP) – The International Monetary Fund said Wednesday that the global economy was sinking in a maelstrom of financial turmoil and faced a painful crawl toward recovery in 2009. “The world economy is now entering a major downturn in the face of the most dangerous shock in mature financial markets since […]
Fed announces new $37.8bn cash infusion for AIG
WASHINGTON, October 8, 2008 (AFP) – The Federal Reserve said Wednesday it had authorized a new 37.8-billion-dollar cash infusion into insurance giant AIG, which is under fire over a lavish spa retreat paid for by the company after its rescue by the government. The newly nationalized company, saved from bankruptcy last month and propped up […]
Zimbabwe inflation soars to 231 million percent
HARARE, October 9, 2008 (AFP) – Zimbabwe’s annual inflation rate soared to 231 million percent in July, a state newspaper said Thursday, confirming the daily hardships of a nation driven into poverty and trapped in a political impasse.Staggering increases in the price of bread and cereals were the main reason for the jump from the […]
Sri Lanka agriculture hampered by skewed subsidies, land policies: World Bank
Oct 09, 2008 (LBO) – The World Bank has said Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector is being held back by wrong policies that place a heavy reliance on subsidies and restrictive land ownership rules. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send to 678 The bank’s new country assistance strategy […]
”
PARIS, October 8, 2008 (AFP) – European Central Bank Chief Jean-Claude Trichet urged financial markets to “collect” themselves Wednesday after Wall Street and European stock exchanges tumbled again despite coordinated central bank cut rates. “Collect yourselves,” Trichet said on France 3 television. “Excessive pessimism is ill advised.” “We all together call upon the market participants […]
Sri Lanka shares extend losses
Oct 08, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan share prices ended 3.0 percent lower Wendesday a day after stock fell 2.0 percent amidst unprecedented unraveling of the global financial system, in a day where Asian and Middle Eastern markets plunged. The All Share Price Index fell 64 points to 2,042.13 while the more liquid Milanka plunged […]
Bunker Saga
Oct 08, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s former Treasury Secretary P B Jayasundera was ordered to assure Supreme Court that he would not remain in public service following an apology for having remained in public office after a judgment, lawyers said. On Wednesday Jayasundera was told to submit an affidavit assuring Supreme Court that he […]
Reversed
Oct 08, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has rapped a former president for abuse of power and reversed a controversial transfer of state land to a private developer in a landmark case, a court official said. Justice Shirani Tilekewardene delivering the judgement has observed that a president exercises power in trust for the […]
IBM Push
Oct 08, 2008 (LBO) – Midware Technologies, a Sri Lanka IT firm has been appointed a distributor of IBM Software group to drum up business in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, the company said. Midware Technologies will distribute Lotus, Tivoli, Information Management, Rational and WebSphere, brands from IBM. “The company will actively engage in brand […]