The profit of Shell Pakistan Ltd, country's second largest oil supplier, in the six months ended on December 31, 2003, may range between Rs 650 million and Rs 740 million, down from same period a year ago because it lost market share of motor gasoline and

The running cotton season is now dragging towards close and growers are now planning for next season. Most of seed-cotton has arrived at ginneries (about 8.9 million bales) and around 8 percent is left behind.

The running cotton season is now dragging towards close and growers are now planning for next season. Most of seed-cotton has arrived at ginneries (about 8.9 million bales) and around 8 percent is left behind.

Indian police claimed on Sunday they had arrested a cell of heavily-armed terrorists who had been planning to attack the annual Republic Day parade through New Delhi on Monday.

Indian police claimed on Sunday they had arrested a cell of heavily-armed terrorists who had been planning to attack the annual Republic Day parade through New Delhi on Monday.

After a fairly lucrative year in 2003, emerging market currencies remain a favoured bet in 2004, underpinned by generally high interest rates and healthy balance of payments positions.

Fewer than a third of Australians support retaining the Queen as head of state, according to an opinion poll published Sunday in the lead-up to the country's national holiday.

The US Army Corps of Engineers inaugurated a provisional unit in Baghdad on Sunday whose job will be to speed up the reconstruction of Iraq's infrastructure.

The heirs to India's most influential political family, Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi, will campaign for the main opposition Congress party during upcoming national polls, a news report said Sunday.

Pakistan has conditioned the recognition of Israel with the just settlement of Palestine issue in accordance with the United Nations resolutions.

Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri at a function of "English Speaking Union" here on Sunday assured the nation against any sell-out on Kashmir as well as other key interests.

Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri at a function of "English Speaking Union" here on Sunday assured the nation against any sell-out on Kashmir as well as other key interests.

Iran will not restore diplomatic ties with the United States until there has been a "fundamental change" in its policies towards it, President Mohammad Khatami said on Sunday.

The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has started budget preparation exercise for fiscal year 2004-05 in consultation with the private sector federation and chambers and field formations.

The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has started budget preparation exercise for fiscal year 2004-05 in consultation with the private sector federation and chambers and field formations.

State Bank's assurance that it would maintain a stable monetary policy in the next months of current fiscal year helped the leading brokerage houses and institutions to play safe on the stock market with fresh buying activity in key scrips which boosted s

State Bank's assurance that it would maintain a stable monetary policy in the next months of current fiscal year helped the leading brokerage houses and institutions to play safe on the stock market with fresh buying activity in key scrips which boosted s

The investment of banks and other financial institutions in the first half of the current fiscal year recorded a rise of Rs 7.4 billion in the equity market following a series of positive steps taken by the government and promise of good returns by the co

The investment of banks and other financial institutions in the first half of the current fiscal year recorded a rise of Rs 7.4 billion in the equity market following a series of positive steps taken by the government and promise of good returns by the co

The formal listing of Oil & Gas Development Co (OGDC) and improvement in share prices increased the badla investment last week to Rs 24 billion, a four-month high level.

The formal listing of Oil & Gas Development Co (OGDC) and improvement in share prices increased the badla investment last week to Rs 24 billion, a four-month high level.

Pakistan has committed to participate in the Asian Bond Market initiative and has committed $ 50 million for Asian Bond Fund.

Pakistan has committed to participate in the Asian Bond Market initiative and has committed $ 50 million for Asian Bond Fund.

Pakistan has committed to participate in the Asian Bond Market initiative and has committed $ 50 million for Asian Bond Fund.

The modest increase in remittances, exporters selling, and smooth supply of dollars enabled the rupee to stabilise versus the dollar last week.

The modest increase in remittances, exporters selling, and smooth supply of dollars enabled the rupee to stabilise versus the dollar last week.

Nasa's second Mars rover, Opportunity, fell to a safe landing on an eerie plain featuring the first bedrock ever seen on the Red Planet, scientists at Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said on Sunday.

Nasa's second Mars rover, Opportunity, fell to a safe landing on an eerie plain featuring the first bedrock ever seen on the Red Planet, scientists at Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said on Sunday.

Individuals accused by President Pervez Musharraf of involvement in nuclear weapons proliferation serve as a front for states involved in leaking secrets, a UN disarmament commissioner said on Sunday.

Two US soldiers were missing on Sunday after their rescue helicopter crashed into northern Iraq's Tigris river following a patrol boat accident that left another US servicemen missing and killed two Iraqi policemen and a civilian.

Two US soldiers were missing on Sunday after their rescue helicopter crashed into northern Iraq's Tigris river following a patrol boat accident that left another US servicemen missing and killed two Iraqi policemen and a civilian.

President General Pervez Musharraf has said "al Qaeda is on the run, they are hiding" on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and army is pursuing them as well as the Taleban supporters in South Waziristan.

President General Pervez Musharraf has said "al Qaeda is on the run, they are hiding" on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and army is pursuing them as well as the Taleban supporters in South Waziristan.

Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali said on Sunday that the pace of development activities in the country was being expedited. In this regard the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) will meet after every three months.

Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali said on Sunday that the pace of development activities in the country was being expedited. In this regard the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) will meet after every three months.

To ensure quality sales tax audit of registered units having low annual turnover, the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has devised new parameters for carrying out desk audit without causing any inconvenience to the business community.

To ensure quality sales tax audit of registered units having low annual turnover, the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has devised new parameters for carrying out desk audit without causing any inconvenience to the business community.

The weather report of Sunday (January 25) and the forecast for Monday (January 26, 2004).

The open end mutual funds.

The open end mutual funds.

The open end mutual funds.

The Unit Prices for January 26, 2004.

The Unit Prices for January 26, 2004.

The Unit Prices for January 26, 2004.

Comparative table of returns being given banks on their Profit and Loss Sharing Accounts and Term Deposits.

Following currency fluctuations took place in foreign exchange rates during the last week. (January 19 to 24, 2004)

Fatima Enterprises Ltd sales was record highest but net profit after taxation was the record lowest.

Fatima Enterprises Ltd sales was record highest but net profit after taxation was the record lowest.

Orascom Telecom (OT) led a bout of profit taking in Egyptian stocks on Sunday, traders said, after Pakistan, where OT is the major player, received strong interest in two new mobile telephone licences.

Investment bank J.P. Morgan recently launched the first euro zone inflation- proof government bonds index to benchmark the swelling fixed income niche.

Investment bank J.P. Morgan recently launched the first euro zone inflation- proof government bonds index to benchmark the swelling fixed income niche.

Citigroup Inc, one of the largest US corporate borrowers, plans to sell up to $28 billion of long-term bonds in 2004, Treasurer Guy Whittaker said.

Citigroup Inc, one of the largest US corporate borrowers, plans to sell up to $28 billion of long-term bonds in 2004, Treasurer Guy Whittaker said.

Hong Kong shares are expected to start the Year of the Monkey on a firm note, with investors in Hutchison Whampoa Ltd waiting to see if consumers in its home market welcome its third generation mobile phones.

Japanese stocks are expected to edge up this week, helped along by continued buying by foreign investors and maybe by earnings reports from tech heavyweights such as Sony Corp.

Malaysian equity bulls are pointing to a strong economy, early sure-footedness by the new prime minister and robust consumer spending to justify a rosy outlook for the stock market.

Indian shares are expected to climb steadily this week, settling down after recent volatility as foreign funds step up buying and local institutions boost exposure on robust corporate results, traders said on Sunday.

The yen ended the week lower against the US dollar, despite a mid-week rise, with investors poised for Japanese intervention to keep the local currency weak.

Indian bond trade is likely to be subdued this week as investors ponder an economic boom, rising prices and a pick-up in bank credit, which are all reinforcing the view that a three-year-long monetary easing cycle is over.

Indian bond trade is likely to be subdued this week as investors ponder an economic boom, rising prices and a pick-up in bank credit, which are all reinforcing the view that a three-year-long monetary easing cycle is over.

Whether Toronto stocks are currently in the midst of an advance or a retreat is a matter of foggy debate, but when it comes to the longer-term outlook, most forecasters see only blue sky.

The path of least resistance may be down this week for the stock market, since expectations for strong fourth-quarter scorecards have already fuelled a hefty rally.

Interbank buy/sell rates for the taka against the dollar on Sunday. 58.85/58.88 (previous 58.85/58.88).

The median overnight interbank rate on Egypt's pound on Sunday remained at 5-1/2 percent from the previous session as dealers said the effects of a central bank deposit auction was balanced by maturing funds.

While the soaring euro has set alarm bells ringing in the eurozone, sterling's rally, also a flipside of the weaker dollar, seems to have been greeted with little more than a shrug by British officials.

Japan may impose extra duties on dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips produced by Hynix Semiconductor Inc of South Korea starting this summer, a Japanese newspaper said on Sunday.

Combined capital investment in Japanese firms' digital electronics products is expected to hit 1.2 trillion yen (11 billion dollars) for the year to March, a daily said Sunday.

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates said he expected the European economy to rebound this year after the slow-down worsened by the Iraq war, in an interview Sunday with the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag.

Electricity-starved Iraq opened the door Sunday for independent power firms to build and operate generating plants to help boost grid capacity and galvanise reconstruction and economic growth.

Not content to be trailing in the race, France is scrambling to catch up on trade with China by urging the small and medium-sized entrepreneurs on the French business scene to make a push for Chinese markets.

A US trade delegation will visit South Korea this week for talks over Seoul's ban on American beef imports, the agriculture ministry said Sunday.

Economy Minister Wolfgang Clement vowed on Sunday that the struggle to slash Germany's chronically high jobless rate would go on, despite the weekend sacking of the head of the federal employment agency (BA).

Economists have nudged up their 2004 growth forecasts for most of the world's major economies and expect the United States to grow faster than fellow members of the Group of Seven industrial nations, a Reuters poll showed.

Tepid optimism and gnawing concerns. This is the state of mind of a number of global business leaders and policy-makers gathering at this ski resort for the annual World Economic Forum meeting of the rich and powerful.

India signed an agreement with South America's main trading bloc on Sunday to establish a free trade area intended to reduce dependence on trade with rich countries.

Bad loans at South Korean banks jumped more than 20 percent last year, partly because of rising credit card defaults and an accounting fraud at SK Networks Co, Yonhap News Agency said on Sunday.

China banned poultry imports from Thailand and Cambodia on Sunday to try to stop a deadly bird flu from spreading to the world's most populous country.

Germany's Siemens AG sees a slight improvement in the mobile networks market this year, the head of its ICM mobile phones and networks unit said in an interview with a German newspaper.

A senior Afghan official in south-eastern Zabul province escaped unhurt but his two guards were injured when their convoy was ambushed by the Taleban overnight, officials said Saturday.

President Hamid Karzai said on Saturday an international conference likely to be held in March would attract more attention to the reconstruction of Afghanistan, which many people complain is happening too slowly.

Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry holds a nine-point lead over Howard Dean in New Hampshire but the race appears to be tightening, according to a Reuters/MSNBC/Zogby poll released on Saturday.

An Egyptian lawyer denied charges of spying for Israel Saturday as he went on trial before the emergency High State Security Court, three months after his arrest in the Pyramids district of southern Cairo.

An author given access to the official French report on the death of Britain's Princess Diana was quoted as saying it dismissed "fevered speculation" about her fatal car crash and final emergency care.

Two days before the arrival of President Hu Jintao on a state visit, France affords China a rare honour Saturday when it opens up the Champs Elysees in Paris for a traditional dragon-and-drums new year parade.

The driver of a Danish tourist bus and two passengers were killed and 42 other people were injured in a motorway collision with two trucks in eastern Germany overnight, police said on Saturday.

Pope John Paul II on Saturday urged parents to exercise greater control over their children's television viewing habits, saying the media sometimes promoted divorce, abortion and homosexuality while giving less weight to family values.

US planes pounded several areas in Afghanistan's eastern province of Kunar on Sunday after one of its bases came under rocket attack, officials said.

An explosion on Sunday outside a business school in the western city of Nantes run by one of France's first Muslim departmental governors caused minor damage but no injuries, officials said.

Damascus strongly denied Sunday charges by the former head of the US-led coalition's search for alleged Iraqi weapons of mass destruction that parts had been moved to Syria in the run-up to the war.

A mysterious disease has killed at least 12 people in Bangladesh and made many more sick and health experts said on Sunday they were sending samples to the United States for analysis.

Thailand brought in troops and prisoners on Sunday to kill millions of chickens and stop the spread of highly contagious bird flu, which has jumped to humans in Vietnam and Thailand and now spread to Indonesia.

Two months after storming Georgia's parliament armed with popular support and red roses, Mikhail Saakashvili took the oath as president on Sunday on the steps of the same building and pledged to revive the country.

The Bush administration is considering whether to abandon or change its plan to set up an independent Iraqi government through regional caucuses, The Washington Post reported in its Sunday edition.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair will not quit after what is set to be his toughest week since coming to power over six years ago, a senior minister in his government said Sunday.

The Bush administration is considering a change in international rules to prevent countries like Iran from legally acquiring components for a nuclear weapons program, senior US officials say.

Saddam Hussein can only be tried in Iraq when the country regains sovereignty due to Geneva Conventions restrictions, International Committee of the Red Cross officials said Sunday.

A US soldier has died of wounds sustained in a rocket-propelled grenade attack on his vehicle in the town of Beiji, north of Baghdad, the US military said Sunday.

Iran announced Sunday it was boosting its domestic defence systems with the production launch of a new line of short-range Raad missiles to be installed in the Gulf region.

Four people were killed and many others seriously injured when security forces clashed with striking workers at a copper factory in south-eastern Iran, an parliamentarian said Sunday.

Iran's parliament voted Sunday for an emergency reform of the electoral law aimed at forcing conservative religious rivals to reinstate thousands of reformist candidates barred from next month's election.