Category: Trade

Dec 11, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s export earnings in October grew 5.9 percent to 661.2 million US dollars from a year ago led by agriculture and apparel, recovering from a fall in September, the Central Bank said.Growth in imports slipped below 20 percent in October for the first time in 2008 after several months […]

Dec 11, 2008 (LBO) – The European Commission has listed Sri Lanka among countries to which it is extending from next year the GSP Plus duty free trade deal but subject to the eventual outcome of an eligibility probe. Trade experts said the listing, which had earlier been expected only by December 15, means Sri […]

Dec 02, 2008 (LBO) – Trade concessions from the European Union have been extended till about the middle of next year until a probe on Sri Lanka’s eligibility is completed, an official said. International Trade Ministry Secretary S. Ranugge said the EU had informed the government of the decision. The probe which began in October […]

Nov 21, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s exports earnings in September fell 9.4 percent to 652 million US dollars from a year ago on lower demand from the US and other big markets, the central bank said. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send to 678 Industrial exports […]

WASHINGTON, October 26, 2008 (AFP) – The head of the International Monetary Fund Dominique Strauss-Kahn announced on Sunday that a “substantial financing package” would be announced for Hungary in the next few days. “An IMF staff mission and the Hungarian authorities, in close consultation with the EU, have reached broad agreement on a set of […]

TOKYO, October 27, 2008 (AFP) – Japan’s Nikkei stock index on Monday fell to a level last seen in 1982 before the economic bubble era, tracking heavy losses on overseas markets as fears grew of a global recession. The Nikkei dropped 155.69 points, or 2.04 percent, to 7,493.19 in early trade, the lowest point since […]

TOKYO, October 27, 2008 (AFP) – Growing fears of global recession sent share and oil prices plummeting Monday as markets shrugged off new moves to protect shell-shocked economies and a G7 pledge to stabilise the financial system.The IMF unveiled rescue plans for Ukraine and Hungary, South Korea slashed its key interest rate, Japan announced fresh […]

BERLIN, October 27, 2008 (AFP) – Greenpeace unveiled a global action plan Monday it said would not only improve the world’s energy mix and stop climate change but also help end the international financial crisis.Aggressively investing in renewable power generation and energy efficiency could create a 360-billion-dollar (285-billion-euro) industry providing half of the world’s electricity, […]

REYKJAVIK, October 24, 2008 (AFP) – Iceland asked the International Monetary Fund to help it overcome a crippling banking crisis with a loan of two billion dollars (1.58 billion euros), its government said on Friday. “The Icelandic Government has reached an agreement…with a mission from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on a comprehensive stabilisation programme,” […]

WASHINGTON, October 24, 2008 (AFP) – The global financial crisis inflicted more pain Friday on a wide range of corporate sectors, prompting heavy losses in stock markets, while the IMF readied a rescue of some 200 billion dollars for debt-laden countries. Amid grim financial news from around the world, stocks saw another tumultuous day, starting […]

PARIS, October 24, 2008 (AFP) – Emerging market countries, their once vibrant economies now under increased strain in the global finance crisis, can no longer be counted on help prop up world stock markets. “The escalation of the crisis revealed or exacerbated existing vulnerabilities (in emerging countries), such as current account deficits, that were ignored […]

HANOI, October 25, 2008 (AFP) – At least 11 Vietnamese men have died after drinking suspect alcohol in Ho Chi Minh City over the past month, state media said Saturday. The latest death was a 44-year-old man, who had been hospitalised Wednesday and died Friday, the Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper said. The paper quoted […]