March 15, 2006	Wednesday	Safar 14, 1427

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Review of strategic units sell-off suggested: Energy security ISLAMABAD, March 14: The Planning Commission has asked the government to re-examine the policy of selling strategic assets in the energy sector to foreign investors because this may have far-reaching impact on country’s energy security, it is learnt....		Banks ignore small farm loan seekers KARACHI, March 14: Banks are lending more to growers but are not reaching out to new farmers; they are rather serving lesser borrowers than in the past....
Wholesale market runs out of sugar stocks KARACHI, March 14: The Jodia Bazar and its adjacent area, the hub of country’s wholesale trade, have run out of sugar stocks, thus resulting in suspension of sugar supply to the...		$20bn export target for next fiscal ISLAMABAD, March 14: Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan said on Tuesday that the export target for the year 2006-07 will be around $20 billion. “We would cross the target for next...
Bulls stage comeback; index recovers 340 points KARACHI, March 14: Stocks on Tuesday recovered from the overnight lows as investors were back in the market and covered positions at the lower levels but there was no matching selling from any quarter....		Cotton prices stay firm despite low demand KARACHI, March 14: Cotton market on Tuesday showed quietly steady trend as official spot rates were firmly held at the overnight levels in the absence of strong mill demand....
CBR withdraws 2,000 appeals ISLAMABAD, March 14: The Central Board of Revenue has withdrawn 2,000 appeals of frivolous nature from the Supreme Court during the last two months. This was stated by CBR Chairman M....		Rupee sheds value on $ buying KARACHI, March 14: The Pakistani rupee eased on Tuesday as importers bought dollars to clear payments, but dealers expected the rupee to steady in the near term....
MOL says test drills at Tal block successful BUDAPEST, March 14: Hungarian oil and gas group MOL said on Tuesday that test drills in the Tal block gas and oil field in Pakistan had been successfully finished....		Oil prices ease on IEA report LONDON, March 14: World oil prices receded on Tuesday as traders noted strong downward revisions to global crude demand forecasts by the International Energy Agency, dealers said....
Ports row may hurt US investors WASHINGTON, March 14: Treasury Secretary John Snow warned on Tuesday that the United States risks “having the doors of the world closed to us” for investment unless it resists the appeal of protectionism....		US current account deficit at new high WASHINGTON, March 14: The US current account deficit widened to a colossal new high of $804.9 billion in 2005 as consumers binged on cheap imported goods, the government said on Tuesday....
Subsidy row GENEVA, March 14: The European Union and United States jousted at the World Trade Organization on Tuesday, as Brussels demanded that Washington provide more details of aid for Boeing....		Energy bills LONDON, March 14: British industry’s energy bills have soared more than 50 per cent under new supply contracts due to start next month, a leading energy broker said on Tuesday....
Trade surplus with EU states down by 30pc ISLAMABAD, March 14: Pakistan’s trade surplus with 25 European Union (EU) member countries has declined by 30 per cent during the year 2004-05 over the previous year....		BD govt to assess possible impact: Tata investment DHAKA, March 14: The government of Bangladesh would assess possible impact of proposed $3 billion Tata investment on the country’s overall economy, to make sure that it does not run into political difficulties by signing a deal with the Indian conglomerate....
China to restrict iron ore imports SHANGHAI, March 14: China said Tuesday it will impose unspecified restrictions on iron ore imports, citing the need to create a level playing field in the sector’s international trade....		Karachi Port operations KARACHI, March 14: Four ships carrying containers and crude oil are expected to arrive at the outer anchorage on Wednesday, according to KPT sources. Berthing activity at the wharves was active...
Port Qasim KARACHI, March 14: Three ships carrying containers, edible oil and wheat were berthed at QICT and MPT during the last 24 hours, said a PQA press release on Tuesday....		Palm oil prices KUALA LUMPUR, March 14: Malaysian palm oil ended down on light selling pressure on Tuesday after touching six-week lows the previous day, as players awaited clues on March 1-15 exports to decide direction....
Asian stocks close lower HONG KONG, March 14: Asian stocks closed mostly lower on Tuesday following a mixed performance by Wall Street, a spike in the cost of crude and persistent fears over the prospect of interest rate hikes....		European stocks mostly fall LONDON, March 14: European stock markets mainly dipped on Tuesday as investors fretted over high oil price levels, although trading here was lifted by fresh takeover news and solid results, dealers said....
Gulf Arab bourses dive DUBAI, March 14: Stocks across the Gulf Arab region tumbled on Tuesday as a crisis of confidence triggered some of the steepest falls in years, with Dubai losing nearly 12 per...		Karachi market rates KARACHI, March 14: The following were Tuesday’s commodity market rates in rupees....