March 29, 2006	Wednesday	Safar 28, 1427

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NIT split into six parts for sell-off: Each unit values Rs13bn KARACHI, March 28: Each of the six parts in which the National Investment Trust (NIT) is being split up for sale in late April carries gross value of Rs13 billion, a source familiar with the transaction told Dawn on Tuesday....		Investment in petroleum projects sought ISLAMABAD, March 28: Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Amanullah Khan Jadoon on Tuesday said that Pakistan’s policy in the energy sector provided better incentives and the exploration activities were expected to move correspondingly onward....
Poor return on deposits in first six months KARACHI, March 28: The banking spread, the gap between lending and deposit rates, has been increased by the private banks which rose by 167 basis points in just one month....		Exports to cross $18bn mark this fiscal KARACHI, March 28: Minister of Commerce Humayun Akhtar Khan said on Tuesday that exports were expected to cross over $18 billion this fiscal and foreign direct investment (FDI) would also touch an all-time record level of around $3 billion....
Trade gap with India widens to $259 million ISLAMABAD, March 28: Pakistan’s trade deficit with India widened to $259.324 million during 2004-05 as against $73.736 million in 1999-2000 following the expansion of tradable items in the positive list....		Oil prices up over $1 LONDON, March 28: World oil prices surged above $65 per barrel for the first time in two months on Tuesday, owing to supply concerns as a result of violence in Nigeria, Iran’s nuclear programme and falling inventories, traders said....
Assistance to Lesotho textile units ISLAMABAD, March 28: Pakistan will provide technical assistance to the Kingdom of Lesotho in setting up of textile industries in that country. The offer was made by Textile Industry Minister Mushtaq...		Linkages between industry, academia stressed ISLAMABAD, March 28: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Tuesday emphasized the need to create linkages between the industry and academia to expedite the industrialization process. Talking to a delegation of Nobel...
Rupee eases on importers’ $ demand KARACHI, March 28: The Pakistani rupee eased on Tuesday, and dealers saw it shedding more value in the days ahead due to rising dollar demand from importers....		Stock market recovers 47 points on fresh buying KARACHI, March 28: Leading shares on Tuesday came in for active short-covering at the lower levels on the stock market but there were no signs of a decisive breakthrough in the...
Cotton prices ease on hasty-selling KARACHI, March 28: Cotton market on Tuesday slipped from the recent higher levels as some of the disappointed central Sindh ginners unloaded their unsold positions at the lower rates fearing further decline in the absence of strong mill demand....		New budget to be trade-oriented KARACHI, March 28: Chairman Central Board of Revenue (CBR) Abdullah Yousuf has said that the government is determined to make all out efforts to support local business and industry in the forthcoming budget....
Karachi Port operations KARACHI, March 28: Seven vessels carrying containers and general cargo are expected to arrive at the outer anchorage on Wednesday, according to KPT sources. Berthing activity at the wharves was modest...		Port Qasim KARACHI, March 28: Two ships to load and offload rice and edible oil were berthed at MPT during the last 24 hours, said a PQA press release on Tuesday....
Tariff adjustment ISLAMABAD, March 28: The Tariff Rationalization Committee of Engineering Development Board (EDB) on Wednesday recommended a tariff adjustment on 374 items, mostly through SROs, in order to meet special needs of various industries....		Power firms DHAKA, March 28: Bangladesh plans to partly privatize its power industry this year, its biggest sale of government assets and a potential boost for the nation’s tiny $3bn stock market....
Asian stocks close higher HONG KONG, March 28: Asian stocks closed mostly higher on Tuesday in cautious trade ahead of a monetary policy meeting of the US Federal Reserve Open Market Committee, dealers said....		Gold prices lower LONDON, March 28: Growing interest in silver is expected to push the price to new highs, with funds buying the metal on expectations that a proposed investment vehicle will give them strong returns....