November 19, 2005	Saturday	Shawwal 16, 1426

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Reforms stabilize economy, says Aziz ISLAMABAD, Nov 18 : Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Friday that due to structural reforms the economy has significantly stabilized and claimed that Pakistan was now the second highest growing economy in Asia....		Trade bodies ask govt to seek LDC status KARACHI, Nov 18: The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and other trade bodies have asked the government to seek Least Developed Country (LDC) status to recover from the economic crisis created by widespread devastation caused by the earthquake....
Qatar, US launch huge LNG project DOHA, Nov 17: Qatar and Washington have launched a joint project to build the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) refinery mostly for export to the United States, in a 14-billion-dollar strategic alliance between the two countries....		EU-Pakistan small projects facility initiated ISLAMABAD, Nov 18: The European Union, as part of its framework of economic cooperation, has initiated the EU-Pakistan SPF (Small Projects Facility) to improve bilateral relationships and mutual visibility by promoting...
KSE 100-share index crosses 8,900-point barrier KARACHI, Nov 18: After several abortive attempts, the KSE 100-share index on Friday crossed the barrier of 8,900 points aided partly by active short-covering in PTCL and some other leading base...		Cotton market resists fall KARACHI, Nov 18: The cotton market on Friday resisted fresh decline as arrivals of phutti into ginneries were in line with analysts’ predictions, showing a fall against the last year’s comparable figure....
Capacity building in banks stressed Karachi, Nov 18: State Bank Deputy Governor Tawfiq A. Husain has stressed the need for capacity building in the banking sector for the successful implementation of Basel-II....		Riyadh moot today to discuss oil issues RIYADH, Nov 18: Global energy leaders are in Riyadh to discuss ways and means to satiate the global crude thirst. The meeting is being held to mark the formal inauguration of the International Energy Forum Secretariat in Riyadh on Saturday evening....
Remittances up 4.3pc in July-Oct KARACHI, Nov 18: Though the inflow of overseas workers’ remittances has increased by 4.34 per cent during July-October, 2005, the earthquake-hit Pakistan expects much higher inflows as its forex reserves have started melting and dollar spending is growing faster than ever....		World oil prices steady LONDON, Nov 18: World oil prices steadied on Friday, after hitting five-month low points overnight in New York, while traders digested Opec’s forecast rise in demand growth this year, especially from energy-hungry China....
Cotton arrivals fall by 16.55pc KARACHI, Nov 18: Cotton arrivals gained momentum but were still short by 16.55 per cent to 6.801 million bales till November 15, over the same period last year, said a fortnightly...		CBR SRO on confiscation of vehicles ISLAMABAD, Nov 18: The Central Board of Revenue has decided to confiscate only those conveyances which are found carrying smuggled goods in false cavities or being used exclusively or wholly for transportation of smuggled goods....
EU to push for big cut in cotton subsidies BRUSSELS, Nov 18: The European Commission will push for a substantial cut in cotton subsidies at key world trade talks in Hong Kong next month to help suffering African growers, a spokesman said on Friday....		UK retail sales recovering LONDON, Nov 18: The outlook for British consumer spending is a little bit better than last year and retail sales are recovering slowly, although it will not be a boom Christmas, Bank of England Governor Mervyn King said on Friday....
US trims $50bn in spending WASHINGTON, Nov 18: The US House of Representatives early on Friday narrowly approved a Republican-backed deficit reduction bill that trims about $50 billion in spending over five years, much of it from social programmes....		Rwanda tea output KIGALI, Nov 18: Rwanda’s tea output is expected to increase by 38 per cent to 18,000 tons in the 2006 crop year due to improved factory equipment, an official said on Friday....
Gold up in Europe LONDON, Nov 18: Gold edged up in Europe on Friday, again touching its highest in almost 18 years at $487.80 an ounce, and traders see upside momentum continuing to more significant levels....		UK’s public finances improve in October LONDON, Nov 18: Britain’s public finances improved significantly in October, official data showed on Friday, giving a boost to finance minister Gordon Brown ahead of his pre-budget report on December 5....
Palm oil ends steadier KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18: Malaysian crude palm oil futures ended steadier after see-sawing on Friday, and dealers said fresh leads were needed for the market to rise....		Karachi Port operations KARACHI, Nov 18: Six ships carrying steel coils, general cargo and containers are due to arrive at the outer anchorage on Saturday, according to KPT sources....