Rate hikes expected as Indian inflation spikes to 7.4-pct

NEW DELHI, April 11, 2008 (AFP) – Indian inflation accelerated to 7.41 percent, according to official data released Friday, dealing a blow to the government and fanning expectations of monetary tightening. Annual inflation quickened to 7.41 percent for the week ended March 29, from seven percent the previous week, according to the Wholesale Price Index, […]

Inside Deals

April 11, 2008 (LBO) – A Sri Lankan supreme court judge has proposed amending regulations on stock market offences to cover markets regulators as well as all company shareholders. Supreme court judge Saleem Marsoof said a serious deficiency in the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Act is that it does not provide against the use […]

With US in crisis, global economy in peril: IMF

WASHINGTON, April 8, 2008 (AFP) – The global economic outlook is increasingly grim with the United States mired in a recession from a housing meltdown whose effects are still spreading, the IMF said Wednesday. Global expansion is set to slow to 3. 7 percent in 2008 amid an unfolding crisis that began in the United […]

Oil spike, aircraft cost bring down Hong Kong budget airline

HONG KONG, April 10, 2008 (AFP) – Soaring fuel costs and a decision to buy aircraft instead of renting them led to the demise of budget Hong Kong airline Oasis, the company’s founders said in an open letter published Thursday.Raymond and Priscilla Lee apologised to the thousands of stranded passengers, company employees and to investors […]

‘s economy speeds up in Q1: government

SINGAPORE, April 10, 2008 (AFP) – Singapore’s economy grew an annual 7.2 percent in the first quarter, faster than the 5.4 percent expansion recorded in the previous three months, the government said Thursday. But economists said the growth is likely to taper off in coming months amid a widely-expected US-led global slowdown. Last quarter’s performance […]

Prawn sandwich destroys Philippines fish nurseries: expert

MANILA, April 10, 2008 (AFP) – She helped turn many of the world’s prawn farmers into millionaires, but Jurgenne Primavera now worries that her life’s work might have indirectly accelerated the destruction of fish nurseries.The Filipina zoologist, whose research on breeding the black tiger prawn became a manual that revolutionised the aquaculture industry, pointed at […]

Boardroom Behaviour

April 10, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s top state legal advisor has told company directors not to be mere ‘rubber stamps’ but to act independently and in the best interests of their companies and stakeholders. Attorney-general C R de Silva said company directors today are expected to meet an increasing range of obligations amidst commercial […]

US mortgage crisis may cost 945 bln dlrs worldwide: IMF

WASHINGTON, April 8, 2008 (AFP) – The International Monetary Fund said Tuesday the worldwide losses stemming from the US subprime mortgage crisis could hit 945 billion dollars as the impact spreads in the global economy. The IMF, in a particularly stark report, said that falling US housing prices and rising delinquencies on the residential mortgage […]

WASHINGTON, April 8, 2008 (AFP) – Federal Reserve staff predict the US economy will contract in the first half of 2008 amid worsening housing market and credit woes, minutes from a central bank meeting revealed Tuesday.Such a downturn would be defined as a recession by most economists.Moreover, some policymakers at the central bank see the […]

Pound falls to historic low against euro

LONDON, April 9, 2008 (AFP) – The pound fell to a historic low point against the euro in early trading on Wednesday as the Bank of England prepared to begin a meeting at which it was expected to cut interest rates.The pound dropped to an all-time low of 1.25 euros shortly after 0700 GMT. It […]

‘ earnings

DUBAI, April 9, 2008 (AFP) – Foreign workers making up the bulk of the labour force in the robust Gulf economies are feeling the crunch of rocketing prices and weak currencies with some even asking why stay at all.“A segment of workers is considering leaving, particularly those from countries that are seeing strong economic growth,” […]

‘s opposition approved to pursue legal action on polls results

HARARE, April 8, 2008 (AFP) – Zimbabwe’s opposition was Tuesday given the green light to pursue a legal bid to force a declaration of the country’s presidential election, 10 days on from the poll on Robert Mugabe’s future.Faced with 80 percent unemployment and six-digit inflation, almost one third of Zimbabwe’s 13 million population have left […]

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