March 10, 2006	Friday	Safar 9, 1427

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

Banks’ advances at alarming level KARACHI, March 9: Banks’ advances to deposits ratio touched a record high level. Such a high ratio in a developing economy could prove dangerous and exposes viability of the banking industry...		Trade gap may swell to $12bn KARACHI, March 9: Pakistan’s international trade structure in the current fiscal year has started showing interesting features — both negative and positive — on the import side as well as on...
New formula to cut OMCs margin by 20pc: Ogra to review oil prices from April KARACHI, March 9: The ministry of petroleum and natural resources has informed the Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC) about the new formula for working out dealers commission and oil marketing companies (OMCs) margin....		Trade talks with India from 27th ISLAMABAD, March 9: India will formally raise the issue of bilateral trade with Pakistan under the South Asian Free Trade Area (Safta) agreement during the forthcoming commerce secretary level talks this month....
Separate FTZs at border ISLAMABAD, March 9: Pakistan and Afghanistan will establish separate Free Trade Zones (FTZs) in their border areas if their relations remain sour on the issue of cross border infiltration, Interior Minister...		Pakistan to receive $3bn in foreign investment KARACHI, March 9: Privatization and Investment Minister Dr Hafeez A. Shaikh said on Thursday that Pakistan would attract $3 billion in foreign investment during this fiscal....
Stocks recover 210 points as CBR denies tax rumour KARACHI, March 9: Stocks on Thursday were back on the rails and recovered in part massive previous losses as investors covered positions at the lower levels in the base shares after...		Bearish trend on cotton market KARACHI, March 9: Cotton market on Thursday showed an easy trend as spinners and mills again kept to the sidelines for no apparent bearish reasons and did not opt for fresh buying....
Dumping duties imposed: Formic acid import ISLAMABAD, March 9: The National Tariff Commission (NTC) on Thursday imposed provisional anti-dumping duties on export of formic acid to Pakistan by two exporters one each from Finland and Germany, for a period of four months....		BP invited to invest in oil, gas sector ISLAMABAD, March 9: Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister Amanullah Khan Jadoon has said that there exists a lot of potential in onshore and offshore exploration activities, besides privatization of state-owned oil and gas units....
US trade gap widens to $68.5bn WASHINGTON, March 9: The US trade deficit widened to a new record high of $68.5 billion in January as imports surged on the back of rising oil prices, the Commerce Department said on Thursday....		Oil prices above $60 LONDON, March 9: World oil prices held close to $60 on Thursday, one day after plunging on news of ample US supplies and an Opec decision to keep pumping at a near 25-year record rate....
SBP injects Rs10bn KARACHI, March 9: The State Bank on Thursday pumped Rs10 billion into the interbank market to ease the liquidity crunch, but the injection failed to bring down the overnight money rates....		Dollar holds firm against euro LONDON, March 9: The dollar held its ground against the euro here on Thursday despite news of record monthly US trade deficit as dealers turned their attention to what is expected...
Karachi Port operations KARACHI, March 9: Seven vessels including a rice loader are due to arrive at the outer anchorage on Friday, according to KPT sources. Berthing activity at the wharves was light where...		Port Qasim KARACHI, March 9: Six ships carrying containers, wheat, chemicals and edible oil were anchored at the outer anchorage during the last 24 hours, said a PQA press release on Thursday....
Regional tax moot from 17th KARACHI, March 9: Over 600 local and foreign tax consultants, jurists, business leaders and opinion makers are expected to participate in two-day Asia Pacific Tax Conference 2006, being held on March 17-18....		Call for FTA with S. Africa KARACHI, March 9: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry on Thursday called for signing of a free trade with South Africa to fully exploit potential of trade between two countries....
Amendments to KCCI constitution KARACHI, March 9: The ministry of commerce (trade organization wing) has accorded approval to the amendments carried by majority vote in the memorandum of association of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce...		Left-hand drive cars exported KARACHI, March 9: Transmission Motor Company has exported two first left-hand drive vehicles to Qatar. The keys of two of its vehicle variants, Alif Cars and Bay Pickup Truck, were handed over to Jassim M....
Cargo inspection KARACHI, March 9: The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises has informed all its rice exporting members that they can get their cargo inspected by the Trading Corporation of Pakistan....		Asian stocks higher HONG KONG, March 9: Asian stocks closed mostly higher on Thursday with Tokyo grabbing the spotlight after The Bank of Japan (BOJ) marked an historic return to conventional monetary policy....
BoJ ends anti-deflation policy TOKYO, March 9: The Bank of Japan ended its historic deflation-fighting monetary policy Thursday as the economy roars ahead but signalled it was in no rush to hike rock-bottom interest rates yet....		Gold rebounds LONDON, March 9: Gold rebounded on Thursday from its lowest level in three weeks following a pick up in physical demand, a recovery in oil and some weakness in the dollar, but investors remained cautious and waited for a sustained rise....
Palm oil lower KUALA LUMPUR, March 9: Malaysian palm oil returned to negative territory at Thursday’s close as players who bought early sold on a lack of inspiration ahead of key industry data due on Friday....		Karachi market rates KARACHI, March 9: The following were Thursday’s commodity market rates in rupees....