Barclays bid rates, maximum rates for payment of interest by authorised dealers on deposits (other than those brought under FE Circular No: 45 of 1985) and on deposits (brought under FE Circular No: 45 of 1985) -- issued by the Foreign Exchange Rates Comm

The government has set a target to attract $1 billion foreign investment in the country during the current year.

Rates applicable for conversion into rupees of Foreign Currency Deposits, Dollar Bearer Certificates, Foreign Currency Bearer Certificates, Special US Dollar bonds and profits thereon by all banks and also for providing forward cover on foreign currency d

Following selling pressure, notably in fuel & energy sector, share values underwent massive battering, with the index moving down by 59.29 points on the local equity market on the first day of the week.

Karachi interbank rates on Monday (January 26, 2004).

Following selling pressure, notably in fuel & energy sector, share values underwent massive battering, with the index moving down by 59.29 points on the local equity market on the first day of the week.

Pakistan economic indicators on January 26.

Selling by financial institutions and general investors erupted in the first session of the new week after significant increase in heavy badla rates, reducing share index by 85 points.

Egypt Aluminium's plan to boost production by 50 percent to 300,000 tonnes a year is ahead of schedule by two years, an official at the plant's state holding company Metallurgical Industries said on Monday.

Selling by financial institutions and general investors erupted in the first session of the new week after significant increase in heavy badla rates, reducing share index by 85 points.

Sliding trend was witnessed on the forward cottonseed oilcake market as the January vaida matured amid thin activity.

Rodney M Berkins told Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz that J C Penny, of USA, hopes to increase its imports from Pakistan to over $200 million in the coming years.

Dullness prevailed in the cotton market on Monday as leading buyers kept on the sidelines due to less buying interest, relevant sources said.

Rodney M Berkins told Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz that J C Penny, of USA, hopes to increase its imports from Pakistan to over $200 million in the coming years.

Argentine sales of 2002/03 corn totalled 11.04 million tonnes by January 23, up from 11.02 million tonnes the week before, the agriculture department said on Monday.

President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai signed into law Afghanistan's new constitution on Monday, more than three weeks after the document was approved by a grand assembly, officially enshrining a presidential system of government for the country.

Thin activity was seen with most of the buyers kept on the sidelines due to less buying interest on Monday (January 26, 2004).

Investigations into alleged nuclear proliferation by Pakistani scientists is progressing satisfactorily and of the four being investigated "one or two" are likely to be set free shortly, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said here on Monday.

Singapore oil product swaps prices tracked crude lower in post-holiday trade on Monday and naphtha lost nearly $2 on easing concerns over supplies from Algeria.

Investigations into alleged nuclear proliferation by Pakistani scientists is progressing satisfactorily and of the four being investigated "one or two" are likely to be set free shortly, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said here on Monday.

Japan's customs-cleared imports of corn for animal feed fell 1.4 percent in December from a year earlier to 1,064,782 tonnes, preliminary data from the Ministry of Finance (MOF) showed on Monday.

The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has decided to withdraw contravention cases against wrongly registered jewellers having annual turnover below Rs 1 million.

South Africa remains gripped by crop-threatening drought despite the torrential rains that drenched parts of the country last week, the water affairs department said on Monday.

The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has decided to withdraw contravention cases against wrongly registered jewellers having annual turnover below Rs 1 million.

Nymex natural gas, heating oil and crude futures fell on Monday in Asia following forecasts that predicted a chill in the United States would loosen its grip later this week.

High prices of Indian cotton are not viable for Pakistani importers though India has put no restriction on export of raw cotton to Pakistan, importers in Karachi said on Monday.

Relatively high Russian barley output coupled with historically high world prices is fuelling massive exports, which may severely dent domestic stocks.

High prices of Indian cotton are not viable for Pakistani importers though India has put no restriction on export of raw cotton to Pakistan, importers in Karachi said on Monday.

Tokyo rubber futures mostly finished a touch lower on Monday, but the prompt January contract rose slightly in its final session, providing some support.

An al Qaeda operative with close ties to the suspected mastermind of the September 11, 2001, attacks was captured last week in Iraq, President George W. Bush said on Monday.

Singapore oil product swaps prices tracked crude lower in post-holiday trade on Monday and naphtha lost nearly $2 on easing concerns over supplies from Algeria.

Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan, renewing his call against protectionism, said Monday that free markets have worked best to limit economic downturns in the past few decades and boost living standards.

Ukraine's National sugar producers' association Ukrtsukor said on Monday the country hoped to produce 1.461 million tonnes of white sugar from sugar beets in 2004 compared with 1.453 million tonnes in 2003.

The Arab League called Monday for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to inspect Israel's nuclear sites.

Malaysian palm oil exports for January 1-25 stood at 734,063 tonnes, up from 716,816 for December 1-25, cargo surveyor Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS) said in a shipment estimate released on Monday.

The responsible Indian leaders have at last started admitting that Pakistan is sincere in its talks for resolving all issues peacefully which augurs well for the improved relations between the two neighbours.

Tokyo gold futures fell on Monday in line with Comex gold's decline and weak spot bullion prices in Asia.

The responsible Indian leaders have at last started admitting that Pakistan is sincere in its talks for resolving all issues peacefully which augurs well for the improved relations between the two neighbours.

Asian differentials for March lifting Oman crude oil were stable from last week at MOG minus three/minus eight cents in thin activity, traders said on Monday.

The Bolan Bank Ltd has been taken over by a well-known industrial group, headed by Iqbal Ali Mohammad of Gul Ahmed Textile fame who has acquired about 40 percent shares from the owners.

Spot gold fell in Asian trade on Monday and was seen moving in a $405 to $415 an ounce range this week, depending on how the dollar fares against other major currencies.

The Bolan Bank Ltd has been taken over by a well-known industrial group, headed by Iqbal Ali Mohammad of Gul Ahmed Textile fame who has acquired about 40 percent shares from the owners.

Benchmark oil prices eased on Monday, but stayed close to 10-month highs, after forecasters predicted a chill in the United States would loosen its grip.

The Bolan Bank Ltd has been taken over by a well-known industrial group, headed by Iqbal Ali Mohammad of Gul Ahmed Textile fame who has acquired about 40 percent shares from the owners.

Malaysian spot tin prices closed at $6,445 a tonne on Monday, the same as on Wednesday's finish, with the high local premium deterring European buyers.

The government has nominated seven national and international firms for conducting two Kotri downstream studies and asked these firms to submit revised rates by February 9.

Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) soybeans and soy products extended gains in Asia on Monday on concerns about tight US supplies and hopes for increased soymeal use, Asian traders said.

The government has nominated seven national and international firms for conducting two Kotri downstream studies and asked these firms to submit revised rates by February 9.

French sugar intervention board FIRS has produced its first full balance sheet estimate of the 2003/04 season, keeping national beet sugar output unchanged from earlier forecasts of 3.95 million tonnes.

Prime Minister's Task Force on Power Tariffs Rationalisation is to recommend reversal of past decisions regarding the hike of the tariff, which adversely affected electricity consumers.

Malaysian crude palm oil futures rallied to close at a near one-month high on Monday, inspired by sharp gains in Chicago soyaoil futures and the latest Malaysian export data.

Prime Minister's Task Force on Power Tariffs Rationalisation is to recommend reversal of past decisions regarding the hike of the tariff, which adversely affected electricity consumers.

Ukraine's National Commission for Power Regulation said on Monday it had increased the electricity tariff for the country's sole aluminium smelter, ZALK, to $20.54 per megawatt hour in February from $19.53 in January.

Russia's Gai ore enrichment plant produced 76,182 tonnes of copper in concentrate in 2003, a spokesman for the Urals Mining and Metals Co (UMMC), which controls the plant, said on Monday.

Ukraine, faced with its worse wheat crop in 50 years, plans to promote spring wheat planting and hopes to harvest 2.5 million tonnes of spring wheat annually, a top official was quoted on Monday as saying.

Zambian Luanshya Copper Mines (LCM) started extensive rehabilitation on Monday at its Baluba mine, closed for almost three years, Swiss owner J&W Holdings said.

The Bush administration is preparing to tighten rules on animal feed, human food and dietary supplements as pressure heats up to lower the risk of mad-cow disease, the Wall Street Journal said on Monday.

Russia's fifth largest oil firm Sibneft, which is in the process of divorce from bigger partner YUKOS, said on Monday it planned to maintain healthy oil output growth at 20 percent this year.

Brazil's Agriculture Ministry said late Friday it had adopted the mad cow safeguard of banning sick or injured cattle for human consumption, as requested by the United States of world beef exporters.

Spot corn basis bids were steady to firmer in the US Midwest Monday and soyabean sales were quiet, while corn bids were unchanged and some locations were seeing scattered corn movement, dealers said.

Copper cathode producers in Japan are trying to trim exports and buy more metal to supplement their own production and to maintain deliveries to their domestic customers, traders and smelter officials said on Monday.

An official from Egypt's state Holding Company for Food Industries (HCFI) said on Monday it was tendering for 30-55,000 tonnes of US, Canadian, French or Australian hard or soft wheat for February 10-20 shipment.

Russia has added Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand and Taiwan to the list of countries from which it had suspended imports of poultry for fear of bird flu, the Agriculture Ministry said on Monday.

South Korea confirmed on Monday a fresh case of the bird flu at a chicken farm and planned to slaughter more chickens living near the affected area, the Agricultural Ministry said.

Thai poultry imports will be off supermarket shelves in the European Union for at least five months, the European Commission said on Monday, dampening any hope in Bangkok for a quick end to the crisis.

Worries are diminishing over harm to the US Great Plains hard red winter wheat crop because it will not be as freezing this week as originally thought, a private forecaster said Monday.

Container ship operator Orient Overseas (International) Ltd, owned by the family of Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, said on Monday it was considering operating its own container terminal in Singapore.

Argentine sales of 2003/04 wheat totalled 3.08 million tonnes by January 23, up from 3.06 million tonnes a week before, the agriculture department said on Monday.

Singapore bunker prices were mixed on Monday with 380-centistoke (cst) material steady to stronger and 180-cst down with crude.

Turkish maritime authorities said on Monday the Bosphorus and Dardanelles waterways have been reopened to normal shipping after last week's closures due to severe weather conditions.

The Karachi Port handled 68,191 tonnes of cargo including 60,569 tonnes import and 7,622 tonnes export cargo during last 24 hours ending at 0700 hours on Monday.

Open-outcry trading was slow in Monday's official rings on the London Metal Exchange (LME), with minor gains in the afternoon paring earlier losses, market sources said.

NYCE cotton futures ended easier Monday on grower, trade and speculative sales which aborted an attempt to pierce a technical barrier in the market, analysts said.

Gold bullion prices gained ground on earlier losses in Monday's afternoon trade in Europe, encouraged by a slightly weakened dollar and fresh buying in New York, traders said.

Oil prices dropped further from recent 10-month highs on Monday after forecasters predicted a deep chill in the United States, the world's thirstiest oil consumer, would loosen its grip and lower demand for heating fuel.

Monday's Rotterdam vegetable oil prices (1700 GMT).

Monday's Rotterdam vegetable oil prices (1700 GMT).

Parmalat said on Monday it had net debts of 14 billion euros ($17.6 billion) in September, almost eight times the figure given by the food group's former top managers, most of whom are now under arrest.

Parmalat said on Monday it had net debts of 14 billion euros ($17.6 billion) in September, almost eight times the figure given by the food group's former top managers, most of whom are now under arrest.

French drugs firm Sanofi-Synthelabo SA launched a 47.8-billion-euro ($60.66 billion) hostile bid for larger rival Aventis SA on Monday in a move to create the world's third largest pharmaceuticals group.

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) on Monday called for arbitration in a row pitting the United States against the European Union and others over a request for hundreds of millions of dollars in trade sanctions.

Japanese trade surplus in December rose 41.2 percent from a year earlier to 1.12 trillion yen (10.6 billion dollars), posting the sixth straight month of gains despite a surging yen, the finance ministry said Monday.

Russian oil and gas giant Lukoil signed Monday a contract with Saudi Arabia for the exploration and production of gas north of the Rubi al-Khali or Empty Quarter desert in the first deal of its kind in the kingdom involving a Russian company, Saudi offici

Bank of England lawyers rejected as "paranoid conspiracy allegations" Monday charges that officials deliberately lied over the collapse of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International in 1991.

Japanese banks were hit on Monday by failures in the nation-wide system that had just integrated online networks of automated teller machines (ATMs) earlier this month.

Egypt signed a deal with three Arab countries to extend the second phase of a $1 billion Middle East natural gas pipeline project that starts from Egypt to northern Jordan by mid-2006, officials said on Monday.

US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman William Donaldson called on Monday for greater co-operation with EU market regulators to help prevent damaging corporate scandals like the one at Parmalat.

The British government has snubbed the country's leading defence contractor BAE Systems over a huge contract to provide the Royal Air Force with refuelling aircraft, preferring the pan-European EADS group instead, it was announced Monday.

US Treasury Secretary John Snow on Monday said speeding up global economic growth will be at the top of the agenda at an upcoming meeting of top finance officials from the world's leading economies.

European and US officials gave conflicting signals about the need for action to curb volatile exchange rates on Monday as the world's industrialised countries prepared for a key meeting next month.

The Congressional Budget Office on Monday forecast a slight improvement in this year's record federal budget deficit, but new evidence of worsening deficits over the next decade pose political problems for President George W. Bush in this election year.

It's official: Japan's Toyota Motor Corp has unseated Ford Motor Co as the world's second-biggest auto maker.

Japanese government bond (JGB) prices bounced back from early losses on Monday as renewed worries about the health of the nation's banking system sent Tokyo stocks reeling.

Japanese government bond (JGB) prices bounced back from early losses on Monday as renewed worries about the health of the nation's banking system sent Tokyo stocks reeling.

Banking stocks led Malaysian shares to a higher close on Monday, with the key index touching a new 42-month high at one stage as investors built on positions taken before the Lunar New Year holiday.

Philippines stocks closed lower for the third straight session on Monday as further profit-taking eroded recent gains in telecom stocks such as PLDT after the market hit its highest in nearly three years last week.

South Korean shares climbed nearly one percent to end at a 20-month high on Monday, with active foreign buying driving market leader Samsung Electronics Co Ltd to an all-time high.

Sri Lankan stocks jumped nearly six percent on Monday as hopes for a settlement to the island's political crisis fuelled local buying of blue chips.

Singapore's key share index ended at a fresh 34-month high on Monday driven by investor appetite for blue chips such as DBS Group Holdings and Singapore Airlines

When stocks were suffering a summer slowdown last year, the Bush tax cuts juiced up the economy and spurred Wall Street on to its best full year since 1999.