Author: lbostgadmin
Obama passes presidential threshold in first debate: analysts
WASHINGTON, September 27, 2008 (AFP) – Neither Barack Obama nor John McCain landed a knockout blow in their first presidential debate late Friday, but the youthful Democrat may have just scored a points victory by standing his own. Each campaign trumpeted favorable reviews from the instant punditry of television talking heads as Republican McCain played […]
US lawmakers try to close deal on financial rescue
WASHINGTON, September 27, 2008 (AFP) – US lawmakers held urgent negotiations on Saturday in a bid to agree a 700-billion dollar Wall Street bailout before markets reopen after the weekend, voicing optimism a deal was within reach. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘act (space) lbo’ and send to 678 […]
Scores dead in Sri Lanka fighting: military
September 27, 2008 (AFP) – At least 52 Tamil Tiger rebels were killed in heavy fighting between troops and the guerrillas just outside their northern capital in Sri Lanka, the defence ministry said on Saturday. Sri Lankan troops are trying to capture the northern town of Kilinochchi, where the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) […]
Indians lead world in millionaire growth: report
MUMBAI, September 26, 2008 (AFP) – India is minting new millionaires at a faster pace than anywhere else in the world, buoyed by a fast-growing economy, according to a new study. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send to 678 There were an estimated 123,000 millionaires in India […]
Hunky Dory
Sept 27, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank has disputed as ‘misleading’ a statement by a rating agency that the country’s macro-economic conditions were weak, amidst rising bad loans in banks, the highest inflation in recent history and falling profits of companies. Government revenue had increased 24.2 percent to 312.5 billion rupees in the […]
Ship Fuel
Sept 27, 2008 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) said Friday that it had started bunkering operations in Colombo port through a newly established subsidiary. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send to 678 The JCT Ltd. Oil Bank, a fully owned subsidiary company of the […]
Sri Lanka lease-backed security retains rating: Fitch
Sept 26, 2008 (LBO) – A lease-backed security issued by Sri Lanka’s People’s Leasing Company, using a trust mechanism, has retained its ‘A-(lka)’ rating which is the same as the originator, Fitch Ratings said.While credit enhancements were enough to support a higher rating, Fitch says there was an unhedged interest rate risk on the floating […]
” damage in offensive: FM
UNITED NATIONS, September 25, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka government troops are wary of any “collateral” damage as they move closer to dismantling the Tamil Tigers’ de facto state, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told AFP at the UN Thursday. “We are trying to defeat terrorism and to that extent, whatever engagement is confined,” said Bogollagama, […]
Japanese consumer prices rise 2.4 percent in August
TOKYO, September 26, 2008 (AFP) – Japan’s inflation rate stayed at a decade high of 2.4 percent in August as soaring energy costs continued to pressure Asia’s largest economy, official figures showed Friday. Core prices rose for an 11th straight month, and at the same pace as in July, when inflation was the fastest since […]
Late-night crisis talks in Congress break up with no deal
WASHINGTON, September 26, 2008 (AFP) – Republicans stymied a late-night session of talks designed to resurrect an enormous economic bailout package but new negotiations will be held in the morning, a top Democrat said late Thursday. Barney Frank, chairman of the House of Representatives financial services committee, said a House Republican introduced an alternative plan […]
Dutch bank Fortis shares plunge on asset sale reports
THE HAGUE, September 26, 2008 (AFP) – Shares in Belgian-Dutch bank Fortis fell more than 12 percent Friday, having lost some 20 percent at one stage the previous day despite its denial that it faced liquidity problems. Press reports Friday said the giant banking group was looking at asset sales of up to 10 billion […]
Canadian scientists discover oldest rocks on Earth
WASHINGTON, September 26, 2008 (AFP) – The oldest rocks on Earth have been discovered in Canada, offering scientists a glimpse at the origins of the planet, announced scientists in a study to be published Friday. The rocks, found in a belt of ancient bedrock in Quebec, are estimated to be 4.28 billion years old. The […]