Category: World
US budget deficit drops to 2.5-pct in 2015; lowest since 2007
Oct 16, 2015 (LBO) – The United States Treasury Department on Thursday said country’s budget deficit has dropped to 2.5 percent of GDP in 2015, the lowest since 2007 and less than the average of the last 40 years.Year-end data from the September 2015 Monthly Treasury Statement of Receipts and Outlays of the United States […]
US economic expansion modest in past two months: Federal Reserve
Oct 15, 2015 (LBO) – The United States experienced a continued modest expansion in the past two months, releasing its district report yesterday, the US Federal Reserve said.Commonly known as the Beige Book, the report is published eight times per year and each Federal Reserve Bank gathers information on current economic conditions in its District […]
World Bank says youth unemployment needs urgent global action
Oct 14, 2015 (LBO) – World Bank says reversing the youth employment crisis is a pressing global priority and the socio-economic cost of inaction is high. “Young people account for 40 percent of the world’s population – the largest youth generation in human history – but they are disproportionately affected by unemployment. This is a […]
Angus Deaton wins Nobel prize for consumption, welfare economics
Oct 13, 2015 (LBO) – The prize in economic sciences in memory of Alfred Nobel for 2015 has been awarded to Angus Deaton of Princeton University for his analysis of consumption, poverty, and welfare. Angus Deaton enhanced the understanding in design of economic policy that promotes welfare and reduces poverty, the royal Swedish Academy of […]
Gold prices hit seven week high with USD at near 3-week low
Oct 12, 2015 (LBO) – Gold prices rose to a seven-week high on Monday with expectations that the Federal Reserve will postpone an expected U.S. interest rate hike, foreign media reports said. Spot gold was last at 1,165.8/1,166.2 US dollars per ounce, up 10.1 US dollars on Friday’s close.Trade has ranged from 1,155 to 1,166.8 US […]
Global economy going through period of change: IMF
Oct 12, 2015 (LBO) – The global economy is going through a period of change, the International Monetary Fund’s Managing Director Christine Lagarde said during Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the IMF in Peru over the weekend.“Uncertainty over the global economy is on the minds of policymakers in all countries, including here in […]
China launches international payment system
Oct 08, 2015 (LBO) – China’s central bank on Thursday launched the first phase of the China International Payment System in a bid to open their currency to the rest of the world.With the new system businesses will facilitate cross boarder yuan transactions while increasing the efficiency and its global usage, China Central Bank said.New […]
China Forex reserves posts record quarterly drop
Oct 07, 2015 (LBO) – China’s foreign exchange reserves has posted a record drop in September quarter after its central bank intervened into the market to stabilize the yuan. Its foreign exchange reserves have fallen to 3.51 trillion US dollars at the end of September, People’s Bank of China said. The reserves decreased by 43.26 billion […]
Volkswagen to start emission scandal recalls in Jan
Oct 07, 2015 (LBO) – German auto manufacturer Volkswagen says they will start to recall cars affected by its emissions scandal in January, foreign media reports said. New chief executive of Volkswagen Matthias Mueller told German media that all affected cars will be fixed by the end of 2016. According to the media report, Volkswagen has […]
US 2017 Green Card lottery begins
Oct 02, 2015 (LBO) – 2017 Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery Program also known as the “Green Card” lottery has been opened for on-line registration from yesterday to November 3, 2015, the US embassy in Sri Lanka said.The lottery allows randomly selected applicants the opportunity to interview for an immigrant visa, and if qualified, become legal […]
UN resolution on Sri Lanka adopted unanimously
Oct 02, 2015 (LBO) – The UN Human Rights Council resolution on Sri Lanka was adopted unanimously with it calling for a judicial process including foreign judges, to investigate alleged war crimes during the islands 30 year conflict. The resolution debated among the 47 member states over two days was adopted by consensus and […]
India cuts key interest rate to bolster economy
Sept 29, 2015 (LBO) – India’s central bank reduced its policy interest rates by a larger-than-expected amount to support the economy amid China’s slowdown, media reports said. The benchmark repurchase rate was cut to 6.75 percent from 7.25 percent with most analysts expecting only a quarter percentage point cut. “The weakening of global activity since […]