Category: Other
Iran hopes OPEC cut would push oil prices to 150 dollars
TEHRAN, October 21, 2008 (AFP) – Iran’s oil minister said on Tuesday that Tehran believes OPEC should cut production by between two million and 2.5 million barrels a day, and that prices could go higher than 150 dollars a barrel.Attiyah also said OPEC “might be obliged to reduce production to balance supply and demand,” at […]
India plans to complete global 3G spectrum auction in January
NEW DELHI, October 21, 2008 (AFP) – India said Tuesday its planned global auction for airwaves to offer high-speed third generation mobile phone services will likely be completed by mid-January.The auction of 3G phone spectrum could spur greater growth in the world’s fastest-expanding mobile market, which has been adding eight million new subscribers monthly, and […]
Sri Lankan tea prices tumble at Colombo auction
Oct 21, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan tea auction prices tumbled Tuesday amidst a collapsing global commodity bubble, though brokers said volumes picked up and an approaching winter was likely to bring more buying interest.“We’re confident that, while the market won’t go back to pre-currency drop rates, demand will pick up and stocks will begin […]
Pakistani officials to meet IMF over economic crisis
KARACHI, October 21, 2008 (AFP) – Pakistani officials are to meet International Monetary Fund representatives in Dubai on Tuesday as the violence-hit country looks for billions of dollars to stave off an economic meltdown. The government has insisted that seeking IMF help to avoid a balance of payments crisis is only a “back-up plan”, but […]
India faces “temporary slowdown” from global turmoil: PM
NEW DELHI, October 20, 2008 (AFP) – India must brace itself for slower growth due to worldwide financial turmoil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh warned Monday, as the central bank cut a key lending rate to shore up the economy.India was experiencing the “ripple effects” of the worst financial crisis in nearly 80 years and “must […]
”’ is forgiven
PARIS, October 20, 2008 (AFP) – IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s had only a “one-night stand” with a member of the world finance body’s staff, his wife insisted Sunday as the French establishment rallied round the former socialist minister. “We have moved on,” said television journalist Anne Sinclair, insisting in her personal blog that she still […]
French bank chairman quits over 800 million dollar trading loss
PARIS, October 20, 2008 (AFP) – The chairman and director general of the French bank Caisse d’Epargne quit Sunday over an 800 million dollar derivative trading loss at the height of the global finance crisis. Chairman Charles Milhaud said in a statement after an emergency supervisory board meeting that he was taking full responsibility for […]
Societe Generale bank shares slump on recapitalisation rumours
PARIS, October 20, 2008 (AFP) – Shares in French bank Societe Generale slumped in morning trading here on Monday, showing a loss of 10.17 percent to 40.69 euros on rumours that the bank needs new capital. The shares showed a loss of about 12.0 percent at one point. The overall Paris market was showing a […]
‘s affair with employee
NEW YORK, October 18, 2008 (AFP) – The International Monetary Fund has opened an investigation of its director Dominique Strauss-Kahn and his intimate ties to a subordinate employee — an affair that echoes the scandal that ousted Paul Wolfowitz from the World Bank last year. The IMF, one of the main players in coordinating global […]
‘s Tata chief warns West Bengal of flight of industry
NEW DELHI, October 19, 2008 (AFP) – Tata group chief Ratan Tata, forced to relocate production of the world’s cheapest car from eastern India, has warned there could be a flight of capital and industry from the poverty-hit region. In an open letter to residents of communist-ruled West Bengal, Tata asked whether they wanted to […]
Philippine exporters brace for tougher times ahead
MANILA, October 19, 2008 (AFP) – The Philippines has so far escaped relatively unscathed from the global financial crisis, but its export industries are bracing themselves for tougher times ahead, analysts say.While orders for the remainder of the year still look healthy, exporters fear that going forward into 2009 the outlook might not be so […]
‘s airline sector no longer a high flyer
NEW DELHI, October 19, 2008 (AFP) – India’s aviation industry has gone from being one of the world’s high flyers to watching its fortunes plummet as it struggles to cope with surging losses.The sector, one of the most vibrant symbols of India’s economic progress, is going through its “worst-ever phase,” says Civil Aviation Minister Praful […]