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US new home sales plunge 6.6 percent in June
WASHINGTON, July 26, 2007 (AFP) – Sales of new homes in the United States dropped 6.6 percent in June to an annualized 834,000 units, in a further sign of the persistent slump in the housing sector, the Commerce Department said Thursday. The June number of new home sales, the lowest since March, was significantly below […]
Sri Lanka, Capitalism 2.0, a dead Doha and the new economic order
July 27 (LBO) – Small countries like Sri Lanka would have been better off had world trade talks succeeded as the alternative is bilateral trade deals with stronger, increasingly protectionist economic partners, a top European economist said. Protectionist sentiment was on the rise in established capitalist countries who feel threatened by the emergence of new […]
Easy Dollars
July 26, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has relaxed foreign currency transactions in the country by allowing money changers to sell as well as buy forex and also relaxed rules on operating non-resident foreign currency accounts. The Central Bank, which regulates the industry, said in a public notice that nine money changers out of 62 […]
Flat Profits
July 26, 2007 (LBO) – Dialog Telekom, Sri Lanka’s largest celco saw consolidated net profits dip by a marginal 3 percent in the June quarter as start-up costs of a new pay TV division dragged the group bottom line down. “DBN will expand its fixed wireless operation into four more districts including Colombo, during the […]
Indonesia issues tsunami alert after 6.6-magnitude quake
JAKARTA, July 26, 2007 (AFP) – Indonesian authorities issued a tsunami warning Thursday for the province of North Maluku after a 6.6-magnitude quake hit the area, a meteorology official said.The earthquake was centered 57 kilometres (35 miles) under the seabed some 234 kilometres northwest of the town of Ternate, the capital of North Maluku, said […]
‘s upgrades China, Hong Kong, Macau ratings
HONG KONG, July 26, 2007 (AFP) – International ratings agency Moody’s Investors Service said Thursday it has upgraded its currency ratings for China, Hong Kong and the gambling haven of Macau.It has raised China’s long-term foreign currency bond rating to “A1” from “A2” on the back of the exceptional strength of its external payments position, […]
May to July in Britain wettest since 1776
LONDON, July 26, 2007 (AFP) – The three-month period from May to July has already become the wettest in history here, even before the end of the month, Britain’s Met Office said Thursday.Figures released by the weather forecasting agency showed that 387.6 millimetres (15.3 inches) of rain has fallen across England and Wales, the most […]
New Zealand central bank lifts interest rates
WELLINGTON, July 26, 2007 (AFP) – New Zealand’s central bank raised interest rates Thursday for the fourth successive time this year due to sustained inflationary pressures.“But easing is going to be a considerable time away unless the economy softens very rapidly.” Reserve Bank of New Zealand Governor Alan Bollard raised the official cash rate (OCR) […]
Sri Lanka to host Asian Rugby tournament
COLOMBO, July 26, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka has been confirmed as host of the Asian Rugby championship in November after the world governing body was assured of the players’ safety, a top official said on Thursday.Dilroy Fernando, the chief executive officer of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union, said the International Rugby Board (IRB) […]