DAWN - Business; December 28, 2007

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December 28, 2007	Friday	Zilhaj 17, 1428

Businessmen foresee bleak trade scenario: Benazir’s assassination KARACHI, Dec 27: The trade and industry people, terming the assassination of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto after her election meeting in Rawalpindi a national political loss, forecast a bleak scenario for business and export....		Soomro calls for better trade ties with Afghanistan ISLAMABAD Dec 27: Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro has stressed the need for developing sustainable commerce and increased interaction between the business communities of Pakistan and Afghanistan....

Pakistan enters world cement market in a big way KARACHI, Dec 27: After remaining a traditional supplier of cement to Afghanistan for the last so many years, Pakistan has now entered the world market in a big way....		Rangers to check wheat smuggling ISLAMABAD, Dec 27: The federal government has authorised Pakistan Rangers in Punjab and Sindh to halt smuggling of wheat — an apparent move to resolve the on-going flour crisis across Pakistan....

KSE 100-share index loses 43 points KARACHI, Dec 27: The recent upward drive on the stock market was halted on Thursday as a section of investors took profits at the higher levels amid an actively traded session where alternate bouts of buying figured prominently....		AHBL to issue IPOs from 29th KARACHI, Dec 27: About 119 million ordinary shares of Arif Habib Bank will be issued from Dec 29....

Oil prices near $100 per barrel LONDON, Dec 27: Oil prices headed towards the $100 per barrel mark on Thursday after the murder of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto and following a sixth successive weekly drop in US crude reserves.New...		Members of auto industry body named RAWALPINDI, Dec 27: The Engineering Development Board (EDB) has announced the nomination of 12 private members of Auto Industry Development Committee (AIDC) through a circular issued on Thursday....

NBP okays two new schemes for jobless KARACHI, Dec 27: Despite numerous hurdles in its way in all four provinces, officials of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) say that they have delivered ‘green rickshaws and some other...		Dollar falls NEW YORK, Dec 27: The dollar dropped against the euro on Thursday, its fifth straight daily decline, after a weaker-than-expected US durable goods report boosted the case for more Federal Reserve interest rate cuts next year....

Foreign investors worried LONDON, Dec 27: Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination will boost perceived risk in the country, analysts warned on Thursday, but some said it was not in itself surprising enough to substantially change investor sentiment....		Cotton market consolidates overnight gains KARACHI,Dec 27: The cotton market on Thursday consolidated the overnight gains amid active follow-up support both from the ginners and the spinners....

HK, China liberalise aviation markets HONG KONG, Dec 27: Hong Kong said on Thursday it and China will further liberalise their aviation markets by allowing increased frequencies between both sides and easing restrictions on passenger and cargo flights....		Karachi port operations KARACHI, Dec 27: Four ships carrying urea, containers and to load ethanol are expected to arrive at the outer anchorage on Friday, according to KPT sources....

Market falls on economic worries NEW YORK, Dec 27: US stocks fell on Thursday after a weak durable goods report raised concerns about the outlook for the economy and assassination in Benazir Bhutto sparked worries about global political stability....		JCR reaffirms rating for Pak-Oman KARACHI, Dec 27: The JCR-VIS Credit Rating Company Ltd. (JCR-VIS) has reaffirmed the fund stability rating of Pak-Oman Advantage Fund (POAF) at ‘AA-(f)’ (Double A minus (f))....

Asian stocks close mostly higher HONG KONG, Dec 27: Asian stocks closed mostly higher on Thursday with buying emerging as investors and traders moved to consolidate positions and window dress ahead of year’s end....		Malaysian palm oil up KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 27: Malaysian crude palm oil futures jumped more than 2 per cent on Thursday to a new high on a combination of concerns over global supplies from South America and surging demand from Asia....

European shares climb LONDON, Dec 27: Europe’s main stock markets rose on Thursday in light trade after the Christmas break and following slender overnight gains on Wall Street, dealers said....		Gold rises LONDON, Dec 27: Gold hit a one-month high on Thursday as buying picked up after news that former prime minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto has been killed in an attack....