DAWN - Business; March 20, 2007

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March 20, 2007	Tuesday	Safar 30, 1428

Textile units fear closures, defaults: Delay in incentive package KARACHI, March 19: In all likelihood, the textile industry leaders have lost hopes of getting a second incentive and concessions package before next budget in June and there are fears of...		Higher import duty sought to check dumping: Indian sugar LAHORE, March 19: Punjab’s sugar millers want the government to double the existing duty of 15 per cent on the import of refined white sugar in order to block what they call possible dumping of Indian sweetener in Pakistan....
Client-level netting in futures extended KARACHI: March 19: Implementation of the client-level netting regime in the Deliverables Futures Market has been extended for a further period of 30 days, which would now be due with effect from May Deliverables Futures Contracts....		Sale of buses, bikes drops with surge in cars, trucks KARACHI, March 19: The entire auto sector gave a mixed performance showing decline in buses and motorcycle sales by 3.2 per cent and 10.6 per cent, respectively, while sales of cars,...

Sentiments stay bearish on KSE KARACHI, March 19: Pakistani stocks on Monday resumed trading on a higher note on active follow-up support but failed to sustain the early run-up on late selling linked to negative political developments in the wake of judicial battle of wits....		Gwadar port opens today GWADAR, March 19: Pakistan''s first deep seaport will be inaugurated on Tuesday to serve as a strategic storage, transit facility and a regional hub for major trade activities, along some of the busiest sea-lanes in the region....

Corporate profitsdecline by 10pc KARACHI, March 19: Corporate sector profitability for the first half of financial year 2007 (1H07) declined by 10 per cent, while for the fourth quarter 2007 (4Q07), overall earnings eroded by...		PSO bidding date may be extended KARACHI, March 19: The Kuwait News Agency claimed in a report on Sunday that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz responded positively to extend the bidding date for Pakistan State Oil (PSO) for one month....

Investment in housing: public asked to be alert ISLAMABAD, March 19: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has warned general public to observe utmost caution while making investment in housing schemes to avoid chances of possible deceit and save their hard-earned money....		Core inflation down to 5.4pc ISLAMABAD, March 19: The core inflation — non-food non-energy — has declined to 5.4 per cent in February 2007 from 8.2 per cent during the same month of the last year...

Oil prices hoveringaround $61 barrel LONDON, March 19: World oil prices rebounded on Monday, reaching almost $61 a barrel in London trade, as stock markets firmed and a closely-watched report forecast a jump in crude futures in coming months....		Yen falls against $ LONDON, March 19: The euro and the dollar rose against the yen on Monday ahead of a Bank of Japan policy meeting that was expected to end with no change to the country’s ultra-low interest rates....

Rs1.4bn investment likely to enhance jewellery export ISLAMABAD, March 19: The government plans to enhance export of gems and jewellery from $29 million to $1.5 billion annually by 2017 through a new Rs1.4 billion investment....		Active trading on cotton market KARACHI, March 19: Trading on the cotton market on Monday was fairly active as spinners and mills remained active buyers around the ginners’ asking prices. Unlike the weekend activity, some big-lot...

Karachi Port operations KARACHI, March 19: Three ships carrying containers are expected to arrive at the outer anchorage on Tuesday, according to KPT sources. Berthing activity at the wharves was maintained on the higher...		Port Qasim KARACHI, March 19: Three ships carrying containers, diesel oil and chemicals arrived at the outer anchorage during the last 24 hours, said a PQA press release on Monday....

Zimbabwean fuel prices up 200pc HARARE, March 19: Fuel prices in Zimbabwe have skyrocketed by up to 200 per cent in the last fortnight amid fresh shortages brought on by inflation and a devalued currency, analysts said on Monday....		Railways earned Rs599.8m in 8 months LAHORE, March 19: Pakistan Railways has earned an amount of Rs599.8 million during July-March 10, 2006-07 through its passengers and freight units. The National Assembly Standing Committee on Railways was informed during a briefing at Railways Headquarters here on Monday....

IBP programme KARACHI, March 19: The Institute of Bankers Pakistan (IBP) will launch a high value certificate programme in the field of Microfinance before June this year. According to the institute it had organised a focused group deliberation to fine-tune the certification programme....		Russian debt MOSCOW, March 19: Russian state debt totalled $39.5bn on January 1, 2007, with the amount owed to the Paris Club group of creditor nations sharply reduced, official data showed on Monday....

Asian stocks sharply higher HONG KONG, March 19: Asian stocks closed sharply higher Monday, shrugging off losses on Wall Street and another Chinese interest rate hike as investors adjusted positions ahead of US and Japanese central bank meetings, dealers said....		European stock markets up LONDON, March 19: Europe''s main stock markets travelled higher in on Monday, boosted by news of a planned merger of German tourism giant TUI and smaller British rival First Choice....

London sugar mixed LONDON, March 19:London white sugar futures were mixed amid spread activity and possibly arbitrage in moderately brisk volumes towards midday on Monday. Dealers saw no immediate market impact from a report...		Palm oil prices KUALA LUMPUR, March 19: Malaysian palm oil futures rose 1.2 per cent in thin trade on Monday as the market expected better export numbers from the cargo surveyors....