Chicago Board of Trade soyabean futures rallied on Thursday on supportive weekly US export sales data and concerns about Brazil's soyabean crop, traders said.
COMEX copper prices charged higher early Thursday on a raft of bullish copper news, forcing investors to cover short positions and drawing fund buyers back to the market, traders said.
COMEX gold eased Thursday morning as it saw no safe-haven buying after 10 orchestrated bombings rocked rail stations in Madrid and killed more than 173 people.
Germany's Institute for World Economics (IfW) on Thursday revised down its 2004 growth forecast for the country's economy amid concerns over the strong euro and what it termed short-term government economic reform.
Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan on Thursday urged Americans not to turn high anxiety about US job losses into support for projectionist trade measures, which could hurt rather than help the situation.
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said that India offers vast business opportunities in a variety of areas due to a large middle-class population, growing consumer purchasing power, and large unfulfilled demand for a number of products and businesses.
US retail sales rose in February, but buyers limited their shopping to auto dealers and department stores, while lines for first-time jobless benefits shortened last week, government reports showed on Thursday.
The president of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries said Thursday the cartel will allow member states to raise output to stabilise high world prices.
Halliburton Co, the main US contractor in Iraq, on Thursday fired back at a Democratic lawmaker who contends that Pentagon auditors have found major problems with how the company drew up cost estimates for billions of dollars of work there.
Faced with a tight budget and China's robust growth, Japan will cut loans to Beijing for a third straight year, replacing the Asian giant with India as the top recipient of its foreign aid, officials said on Thursday.
Rapid economic growth in China is fuelling faster-than-expected world oil demand this year, helping support high crude prices, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Thursday.
The Pentagon on Wednesday named a new group of seven US and British contract winners to manage the rebuilding of Iraq, kicking off a fresh phase of US-funded reconstruction plans.
Microsoft Corp upgraded a recent security warning to "critical" after discovering new ways in which an attacker could run malicious software on a vulnerable computer, the world's largest software maker said on Wednesday.
Business said on Thursday it would resist any European Commission bid to make it harder for firms to break working time limits laid down by the bloc's laws.
State-owned French energy giant Electricite de France said on Thursday its net profit almost doubled in 2003 despite hefty exceptional charges, thanks to strong performances from its French and European businesses.
State-owned French energy giant Electricite de France said on Thursday its net profit almost doubled in 2003 despite hefty exceptional charges, thanks to strong performances from its French and European businesses.
Russia's foreign currency reserves fell by $1.8 billion by March 5 reflecting the central bank's efforts to curb the rouble's volatility in the run up to next Sunday's presidential election.
Nissan Motor Company said on Thursday it is looking at ways to protect jobs at its US plants but declined to elaborate on what it will do if its appeal to be exempt from fuel-economy rules is rejected.
The world's top international hotelier intercontinental Hotels Plc on Thursday gave an upbeat message on hotel trading for 2004 and announced a share buy-back programme after reporting a dip in 2003 profits.
The world's top international hotelier intercontinental Hotels Plc on Thursday gave an upbeat message on hotel trading for 2004 and announced a share buy-back programme after reporting a dip in 2003 profits.
Italian luxury goods house Gucci Group on Thursday named four lesser-known in-house designers to replace Tom Ford, the star fashion creator who bowed out at the weekend.
Taiwan's Quanta Computer Inc, the world's top contract maker of laptop computers, said on Thursday it bought a 17-percent stake in the networking equipment unit of D-Link Corp for T$1.06 billion (US $32 million).
Vendors beware - auto financing in China, a country with a notoriously backward financial system, could leave them with bloodied noses in a few years' time.
Belgian image technology company Agfa Gevaert posted slightly lower-than-expected 2003 operating profit on Thursday after it was hit by the euro's strength against the dollar and sluggish markets.
Australia's jobless rate edged up in February reflecting the first loss in full-time jobs in eight months and suggesting interest rates may be kept on hold for a fourth consecutive month in April.
Taiwan stocks closed little changed on Thursday as state fund buying kicked in to prop up prices, recouping early losses as tech shares like UMC were hurt by falls on Wall Street.
Malaysian shares recovered from a soft start to end higher on Thursday, helped by news the country's largest pension fund will invest an extra one billion ringgit ($263 million) on stocks.
Singapore shares ended at five-week lows on Thursday after sharp losses on Wall Street unnerved investors and prompted a sell-off in banks and blue chips.
US stocks fell sharply on Wednesday, cancelling out the Dow Jones industrial average's gains for the year, as investors shunned equities after data showing a record US trade deficit cast doubt on the soundness of the economic recovery.
Leading Hong Kong shares ended lower on Thursday, dragged down by recent weaknesses on Wall Street and by investor worries that the market is losing steam after a furious, nine-month rally.
Philippine stocks fell to a new one-month low on Thursday after a report the largest US pension fund may unload its equities investments in the country.
Thai stocks ended higher on Thursday, recovering from early losses after new Finance Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said it was impossible to scrap minimum broker fees, prompting investors to buy shares in the firms.
Japanese stocks closed weaker for a second session on Thursday as further losses on Wall Street and a rise in the yen hit big exporters, including office machine maker Canon Inc
Jakarta stocks finished sharply lower on Thursday as an offer by a top minister to resign raised political concerns at the start of election campaigning.
US Treasury prices ended little changed on Wednesday but yields hovered near eight-month lows as a sale of new US debt attracted firm demand but fell short of the blow-out sale many dealers were expecting.
US Treasury prices ended little changed on Wednesday but yields hovered near eight-month lows as a sale of new US debt attracted firm demand but fell short of the blow-out sale many dealers were expecting.
Indian shares slid to a two-week closing low on Thursday, as worries the government would move to rein in firm cement and steel prices ahead of national elections combined with poor retail investor appetite to depress sentiment.
US technology stocks rose on Thursday, while blue chips were near unchanged as Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan reassured investors with comments on job creation.
European corporate bonds declined on Thursday, but closed above the day's lows after the Spanish government dismissed market speculation that deadly blasts in Madrid had been the work of al Qaeda.
European corporate bonds declined on Thursday, but closed above the day's lows after the Spanish government dismissed market speculation that deadly blasts in Madrid had been the work of al Qaeda.
British blue chips had their worst day since last May on Thursday, as economic and global security fears damaged confidence, with Royal & Sun Alliance and British Airways heading the hit-list.
The Hong Kong dollar hit a 5-1/2 month low against the US dollar late on Thursday as local equities continued to weaken and amid assurances from China that it would keep its yuan exchange rate stable.
The dollar lost its footing against the yen on Thursday as traders suspected the Japanese monetary authorities had loosened their grip on currency movements despite weak US economic data.
Asian currencies were a mixed bag on Thursday amid uncertainty over the near-term direction of major currencies and on domestic factors that tainted market sentiment.
The Indian rupee snapped a four-day rally as it weakened slightly on Thursday morning on speculative dollar-buying amid the greenback's latest rebound overseas against the euro, dealers said.
Sterling fell to a one-month low on a trade-weighted basis on Thursday as sharp falls on the London stock market combined with recent disappointing trade data to dim the prospect of further British interest rate rises.
The city on Saturday would enjoy the 'cricket holi season' and thousands of people have flocked to the markets to buy caps, cricket shirts, while a few have changed their television sets to watch the memorable one-day match between Pakistan and India.
Lahore saw high drama and excitement on Thursday when the Indians played their opener, a warm-up match, at the Qadhafi Stadium and the spectators, not very large in number, were surprised to witness a resounding victory by six wickets for the Pakistan A s
Indian cricket squad is due to arrive here from Lahore on Friday amid tight security to play their opening ODI against Pakistan at National Stadium on Saturday, March 13.
Betting rates on India moved up to 85 paisa from Re 1 a couple of days ago after team's massive score against Pakistan 'A' team on Thursday, sources at the local market said.
India crashed to an embarrassing six-wicket defeat at the start of the Pakistan tour after their bowlers were pounded in spectacular fashion here on Thursday.
India crashed to an embarrassing six-wicket defeat at the start of the Pakistan tour after their bowlers were pounded in spectacular fashion here on Thursday.
China on Thursday rejected reports that a Roman Catholic bishop was in police detention, saying religious authorities had merely questioned him on suspicion he had gone overseas illegally.
Afghanistan's elderly former king Mohammad Zahir Shah has returned home after spending more than a month in India for medical treatment, the presidential palace said Thursday.
A supporter of President Roh Moo-Hyun set himself on fire outside the National Assembly here Thursday as a political crisis deepened over a drive to impeach the South Korea leader.
Indonesia launched campaigning on Thursday for parliamentary elections with two big secular parties and a host of smaller Islamic ones competing for votes against a backdrop of possible attacks by militants.
President Vladimir Putin appealed to Russians on Thursday to vote in a weekend presidential election amid fears that a low turnout could invalidate the poll.
The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on Thursday warned countries affected by bird flu they should not start building up poultry flocks too soon or they could trigger a resurgence of the devastating epidemic.
President George W. Bush, caught in a controversy last week over campaign ads using images of September 11, 2001, will attend groundbreaking ceremonies for a 9/11 memorial on New York's Long Island on Thursday, then attend a campaign fund-raising event.
Tens of thousands of furious Palestinians vowed Thursday to exact revenge on Israel as the West Bank town of Jenin ground to a halt for the funerals of five militants shot dead by Israeli troops.
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami has called on the UN's nuclear watchdog to adopt a more "realistic" approach in its dealings with the Islamic republic, repeating warnings that his government could cease co-operating with it.
India's Supreme Court Thursday banned a socio-religious order from staging a frenzied dance ritual in public in which occultist participants brandish daggers, snakes and even human bones.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said Thursday he welcomed any Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories and insisted the Palestinians were ready to take over security responsibilities.
Britain's late Princess Diana staged a confrontation with her husband's long-time lover, Camilla Parker Bowles, saying she knew about the affair with Prince Charles, according to audio tapes aired on Thursday.
Thousands of medical staff held street rallies and strike meetings across France on Thursday to protest against low wages and government reforms they say will create a profit-orientated, two-tier public health service.
A mob hurled stones and bricks at former Bangladeshi president Badruddoza Chaudhry Thursday, preventing him from holding a rally where he was due to launch a group offering voters a "third way."
A US soldier was killed and two wounded in a bomb attack outside of Baquba, 50 kilometres (30 miles) north of Baghdad, a US military officer said Thursday.
Judges sentenced a Bosnian Serb to 18 years jail at The Hague tribunal on Thursday for murdering and sexually assaulting Muslim men held in a notorious Serb-run detention camp during the 1992-95 Bosnian war.
Attacks in Iraq will increase as the date for a US hand-over of power nears and there are fears a religious event next month could be a target, the US governor of Iraq said on Thursday.
British police have freed all five Britons flown home from Guantanamo Bay prison camp and the former terror suspects began denouncing their US captors on Thursday amid questions about why they were held for two years.
Sindh Minister for Information Technology (IT) Syed Mustafa Kamal on Thursday met the organisers of the ITCN Asia-2004 which is scheduled to be held from August 9 to 11 at Karachi Expo center.
British Deputy High Commissioner, Hamish Daniel called on Sindh Minister for Planning and Development Syed Shoaib Ahmed Bukhari at his office and discussed matters of common interest including promotion of bilateral trade relations and investment in Pakis
Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has expressed his grief and sorrow over the sad demise of mother-in-law of Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Chairman ARD and President PPPP.
US Congressmen have praised the co-operation being offered by Pakistan to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in rolling up proliferation network.
Leader of opposition in AJK Legislative Assembly, Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry said on Thursday in the present situation, efforts have been increased for the resolution of Kashmir issue at the international level.
The judicial tribunal formed by the government to investigate the Ashura terrorist attack here on Thursday recorded statements of 27 eyewitnesses on the third day of hearing.
Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri on Thursday asked the world community to recognise the reality, and accept Pakistan and India as nuclear power states.
It is indeed heartening that CNG buses are being introduced in Islamabad, the beautiful. The government is promoting CNG in the transport sector as an alternate fuel, and these efforts are bearing fruits.
Muslim headscarves? Emel Algan, a Turkish Berliner, prefers the term "head coverings". Particularly when the head coverings bare a flash of individual style, resembling a trendy Peruvian knit cap or an elegant green felt bonnet.
Any economic sector, may it be cybernetics, dealing directly or indirectly with entrepreneur and clientele, in any form, needs a system, a system of administration, which has to be managed, streamlined and monitored with dexterity.
An idea of the seriousness of the situation arising from the imposition of anti-dumping duty by the European Union on our bed linen may be had from the sharp reaction of trade bodies besides the Pakistan Bedwear Exporters Association which has been direct
By the time the Government of Pakistan decided to focus on information technology, make it an engine of growth for our economy and come up with the right incentives, the dot.com revolution was over.
Hundreds of villagers staged sit-in on Millat road and Narwala road against the imposition of toll tax by district government and strongly demanded that this tax should be withdrawn immediately.
Oxford historian Professor Ian Talbot has said that Quaid-i-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah envisioned Pakistan to be in peaceful co-existence with India, and wanted the two countries to be collaborating in international affairs.
Eleven candidates, including one Nazim of major group were elected unopposed in by-elections on different seats of local bodies in four tehsils of Attock district.
The Lahore High Court (LHC), while accepting a petition against State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), set aside the notification issued by the Central Bank, directing all the financial institutions to provide details about those account holders getting profit of
An Accountability Court (AC) while accepting petition filed by former directors of Asian Development Corporate Society (ADCS) Sarwar Khokhar, Malik Zulfiqar Ali and Rana Asif, has announced to withdraw proceedings in a reference against them, as they have
District Nazim Lahore Mian Amer Mahmood and Chairman Lahore Compost Limited (a consortium of Saif Group, Menart Company of Belgium and Green Technology Pakistan) Anwar Saif Ullah, on Thursday signed an agreement for setting up a composting plant at a cost
Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) has asked the government to announce new wheat procurement policy for the forthcoming wheat crop, keeping in view the suggestions of all stakeholders.
