February 18, 2006	Saturday	Muharram 19, 1427

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Exporters fear losing $4 billion market: Boycott of EU products KARACHI, Feb 17: Businessmen are disturbed by the demand of the leaders of religious parties on Thursday to boycott the products of European countries in protest against the publication of blasphemous caricatures in some European newspapers....		Huge trade gap may hit balance of payments KARACHI, Feb 17: Pakistan’s trade deficit increased to roughly $6.5 billion in the first seven months (July-January 2005-06) of the current fiscal year. This is even larger than $6.2...
Big price gap attracts crowds at USC KARACHI, FEB 17: Despite increase in sugar quota for the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) from 11,000 tons to 22,000 tons per month by the government, people still have to wait for hours to get the sweetener at the controlled rate....		Commerce and Trade Group not being disbanded KARACHI, Feb 17: Minister of Commerce Humayun Akhtar Khan has said that there is no move to disband Commerce and Trade Group (C&T) and officers and employees of the Export Promotion...
Kabul seeks permission for imports via Wagha ISLAMABAD, Feb 17: Afghanistan has urged Pakistan to allow its imports from India via Wagha border which Kabul believes will reduce the cost of products. Talking to Dawn after a meeting...		Transfer of PTCL to Etisalat in two weeks ISLAMABAD, Feb 17: The $2.6 billion privatization deal for 26 per cent shares of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) with Etisalat of the UAE is almost final and its management control would be transferred in “one or two weeks”....
Oil, bank lead smart recovery on stock market KARACHI, Feb 17: Stocks on Friday staged a broad recovery followed by heavy foreign and local buying in leading oil stocks and bank shares amid an actively traded weekend session, signalling the continuation of the bull-run....		Cotton market lacks lustre KARACHI, Feb 17: Cotton market on Friday lacked normal trading interest as buyers and sellers again kept to the sidelines owing to delivery problems because of protest strike against the blasphemous cartoons....
Oil prices recover losses LONDON, Feb 17: Oil prices climbed on Friday for the second day in a row, recovering some of the ground lost over the past week, ahead of a long holiday weekend in the United States, dealers said....		Trade deficit with China rises by 72pc ISLAMABAD, Feb 17: Pakistan’s trade deficit with China has increased significantly in the last two years from $865.211 million in 2003-04 to $1.488 billion in 2004-05, indicating a rise of over 72 per cent....
‘No ban on Indian bids for oil assets’ NEW DELHI, Feb 17: Petroleum Minister Amanullah Khan Jadoon said on Friday Indian firms were not barred from bidding for oil and gas assets in his country....		Moot on economic growth, innovation ISLAMABAD, Feb 17: The Competitiveness Institute (TCI), a Spain-based group of cluster practitioners and experts, will hold a two-day conference on “Innovation, competitiveness and economic growth in Asia and Pacific” in Pakistan on May 15-16....
Karachi Port operations KARACHI, Feb 17: Seven ships carrying containers, crude oil and soyabean meal are expected to arrive at the outer anchorage on Saturday, according to KPT sources....		IBP course for Afghan bankers KARACHI, Feb 17: The Institute of Bankers Pakistan (IBP) is holding a 15-day high value training programme for the executives and officers from the Central Bank of Afghanistan from Feb 20....
New trade body KARACHI, Feb 17: The industrialists of Port Qasim industrial area have formed a trade body with the name of Port Qasim Association of Trade and Industry....		Indian rupee MUMBAI, Feb 17: The rupee extended losses to a one-month low against the dollar on Friday, hurt by a combination of factors such as a soft yen and worries about a possible slowdown of foreign funds into India....
Palm oil prices lower KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 17: Malaysian crude palm oil futures fell on Friday after a six-day run higher, but the market was still targeting resistance after setting a new 2006 record for turnover, dealers said....		LSE steps up defence against Macquarie takeover LONDON, Feb 17: The London Stock Exchange said on Friday that it will return 510.0 million pounds (745.0 million euros, $885.0 million) to shareholders as it hardens its defence against a takeover bid from Australian investment bank Macquarie....
Gold ticks down in Europe LONDON, Feb 17: Gold inched down in Europe on Friday, shedding overnight gains as the dollar rose against major currencies and as earlier buying prompted by a security scare in the United States subsided....		PTDC motels ISLAMABAD: The Privatization Commission Board on Friday approved inclusion of 24 motels and restaurants of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) in the privatization list....