Closing prices of New York cotton in US cents/pound on Friday.

Closing prices of New York cotton in US cents/pound on Friday.

Gold and silver rates in rupees per 10 grams prevailing in major cities on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Gold and silver rates in rupees per 10 grams prevailing in major cities on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Official KCA spot rates for local dealings in Pakistan rupees on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Wholesale poultry rates on Saturday (April 24) and rates for Sunday (April 25, 2004).

Karachi Plastic/Urea Moulding Compounds Rates on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Karachi Yarn Market Rates on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Karachi Yarn Market Rates on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Cotton yarn rates in rupees per 10 Lbs on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Cotton yarn rates in rupees per 10 Lbs on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Commodities market rates in rupees on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Paper market rates in rupees on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Grain and other commodity rates in rupees on Akbari Mandi on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Hides and skin rates in rupees prevailing on the commodity markets in Karachi on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Karachi grain market rates in rupees on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Chemicals and dyes market rates in rupees on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Rates of dry fruit in rupees prevailing on the commodity markets in Karachi on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Rates of spices and other allied commodities in rupees prevailing on the commodity markets in Karachi on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Jute goods rates in rupees prevailing on the commodity markets in Karachi on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Raw Rubber rates in rupees prevailing on the commodity markets in Karachi on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Milk Powder rates in rupees prevailing on the commodity markets in Karachi on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Tea rates in rupees prevailing on the commodity markets in Karachi on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Interbank closing rates for dollar on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Dollar buying and selling rate in the kerb market in rupees on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

The rupee at the weekend gained strength in the open market on State Bank's warning to exchange companies to ward off speculative trade in dollars and strictly follow the rules of forex.

The rupee at the weekend gained strength in the open market on State Bank's warning to exchange companies to ward off speculative trade in dollars and strictly follow the rules of forex.

EFU Life Assurance Ltd announced that the Offer and Bid prices for the following funds effective from Monday April 26, 2004.

EFU Life Assurance Ltd announced that the Offer and Bid prices for the following funds effective from Monday April 26, 2004.

EFU Life Assurance Ltd announced that the Offer and Bid prices for the following funds effective from Monday April 26, 2004.

Pipe fitting rates in rupees prevailing in the markets in Karachi on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Iron, steel and other metal rates in rupees prevailing on the commodity markets in Karachi on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

The statement of affairs of the State Bank of Pakistan, Banking Department, as on 17th April, 2004.

The statement of affairs of the State Bank of Pakistan, Banking Department, as on 17th April, 2004.

The prices of different makes and models of cars prevailing in Karachi in the week ended Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Karachi Port's world-wide shipping schedule beginning Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Karachi Port's world-wide shipping schedule beginning Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Karachi Shipping Intelligence report incorporating changes till 7 am on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Karachi Shipping Intelligence report incorporating changes till 7 am on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Value of the dollar in terms of other world currencies as prevailing in the week ended Saturday (April 24, 2004).

The International Monetary Fund(IMF), treasuries' department's currency values in terms of Special Drawing Rights(SDR).

Open market rates of foreign currencies supplied by the Forex Association of Pakistan on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Spot Dollar rates from Khadim Ali Shah Bukhari & Co Ltd on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Money market report by Khadim Ali Shah Bukhari & Co on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

The selling/buying rates for currency notes of major currencies issued by National Bank (NBP) here on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Bill Buying Rates per unit of currency -- issued by the Treasury Management Division of the National Bank of Pakistan on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Interest rates on new foreign currency deposits issued by the Treasury Management Division of National Bank of Pakistan on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Interest rates on old and incremental FCY deposits on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

London Interbank Offer Rates on for calculating interest on special US dollar on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Exchange rates for Currency Notes issued by the Treasury Management Division of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) here on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Conversion for foreign currency deposits, DBC/FCBC, special USD bond & profits thereon (excluding FE-25 deposits) on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

Exchange rates issued by the Treasury Management Division of National Bank of Pakistan on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

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

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

Karachi interbank rates on Saturday (April 24, 2004).

The United States and the European Union signed a shipping security deal on Thursday to improve co-operation against terrorism, but critics say it creates loopholes and may increase risks to non-US ports.

The lineup of vessels to load sugar in Brazil's ports rose to 24 from 21 a week ago, shipping agent Williams said Thursday.

Danish oil and shipping group A.P. Moeller-Maersk said on Tuesday its subsidiary APM Terminals would build a container terminal in Portsmouth, Virginia in the United States.

Panama dry bulk rates were flat with an easier bias on Tuesday on slow shipments of new South American crops, with China's attempts to curb its rapid economic growth hurting market sentiment, regional brokers said.

China Shipping Development Co Ltd said its first-quarter net profit more than doubled as China's rising demand for crude oil fuelled oil transhipping.

China Shipping Development Co Ltd said its first-quarter net profit more than doubled as China's rising demand for crude oil fuelled oil transhipping.

The container shipping business is set to go on growing this and next year, the head of Maersk Sealand, the container unit of Denmark's A. P. Moeller-Maersk, said on Friday.

The Karachi Port handled 74,460 tonnes of cargo including 54,264 tonnes import and 20,196 tonnes export cargo during last 24 hours ending at 0700 hours on Saturday.

A senior Abu Dhabi official will sign a deal with German carmaker Volkswagen AG during a visit to Berlin which starts on Monday, the UAE's official news agency WAM said on Friday.

Zimbabwe's finance minister was arrested on Saturday on charges of dealing in foreign currency, police said, the first senior official in President Robert Mugabe's government to be detained in a corruption crackdown.

Germany's government and six leading economic think tanks will next week trim their forecasts for German growth this year, German media reported on Saturday.

China needs to rein in "blind" investment and construction, President Hu Jintao said on Saturday, reiterating vows to curb over-investment to avoid derailing growth in the world's sixth-biggest economy.

Libya welcomed a US move to relax its trade embargo on the North African state and said on Saturday bankers from the two countries were discussing ways to unfreeze Libyan assets in the United States.

When Yoshimichi Kawai became Nikon Corp's head of stepper production a little over a year ago, a recovery for these multi-million-dollar machines that make microchips was far from assured.

The US Treasury has stopped giving financial intelligence to Mexico after confidential information was leaked in a corruption scandal involving Mexico City's mayor, both countries said on Friday.

Major US engineering and construction companies working to rebuild Iraq said on Friday hostilities are disrupting their projects but most of their work is on schedule.

Malaysia said Saturday it was confident the number of tourists visiting it this year would climb back to the 2002 level of 13.3 million after dropping last year because of SARS and the Iraq war.

Group of Seven finance ministers said on Saturday prospects for global growth are favourable but warned rising oil prices are a risk, and repeated a warning against excess volatility in foreign exchange rates.

Singapore's annual inflation rate surprisingly slowed in March despite a rapid rebound in economic growth that has prompted the central bank to try to nip price pressures in the bud.

Troubled Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors may receive another blow to its image as its current and former officers could face negligence charges over truck defects that caused a fatal accident, news reports said Saturday.

Japan and the United States agreed on Saturday to aim for a solution by this summer to Japan's ban on US beef imports, a Japanese official said.

Malaysian tin recouped most of the previous day's losses on Friday as the market tracked overnight gains on the London Metal Exchange (LME).

Comex copper futures edged higher on Friday as signs that demand for copper might be heating up led to a late bout of buying ahead of the weekend, traders said.

New York precious metals settled higher on Friday on bargain hunting after being pummelled to oversold terrain in this week's sell-off, but robust US durable goods data that boosted the dollar capped gains.

Shanghai copper fell for the fourth consecutive day on Friday in dampened demand due to government attempts to cool China's white-hot economy, traders said.

Prices at Sri Lanka's two-day natural rubber auction rose this week on strong overseas demand coupled with crimped volumes because of a drought on the island, brokers said on Friday.

Tokyo rubber futures settled lower on Friday on expectations supplies will start to rise as the end of the dry season in rubber producing countries nears.

Chicago Board of Trade rice futures continued an upturned on Friday, ending higher on strong technical, traders said.

US corn exports are speeding up from an already strong pace, with a sharp decline in corn futures prices renewing a competitive edge against rival Argentina and reviving sales to South Korea, traders said.

Chicago Board of Trade soyabean ended mostly higher on Friday on tight US Soya supplies, firm US and South American cash trade, and strong soyaoil prices, brokers said.

CSCE raw sugar futures settled mixed on Friday, with nearby months declining, as May/July rollover stayed in focus before the May contract expires next week, dealers said.

A strong dollar pushed gold prices to a five-month low this week, and weighed on other commodities, while oil drew support from worries over supply and global security.

Two changes were seen in commodities traded on seed and grain wholesale market on Saturday.

Egypt's main official wheat buyer said on Saturday he had bought 120,000 tonnes of Australian wheat for June 1-20 shipment.

Soft red winter wheat futures at the Chicago Board of Trade continued to slide on Friday, hit by fund long liquidation over the last three sessions, traders said.

The May vaida opened at Rs 461.20 and highest was seen at Rs 461.30. Later trading depressed and it shed sharply to be the lowest at Rs 457.30 but closing was seen higher at Rs 461.30.

Cotton market wore cheerless look on Saturday as spinners showed their determination not to yield to pressure from ginners or any foreign factor, relevant sources said.

Dyes showed some changes on the Jodia Bazar on Saturday amid low business.

Following is the market quotation for hide and skins for the month of March 2004 according to the release issued on April 17 by the Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA) received at our end on April 24, 2004.

Speculators in IMM yen futures reversed into a net short position in the period ended April 20, from a net long position the prior period, data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission showed on Friday.

Following is a selection of comments from analysts on important technical developments in the foreign exchange market.

The dollar rebounded on Friday as a robust US durable goods report and more comments from Fed officials strengthened the view that US interest rates will head higher in the near term, analysts said.

The Canadian dollar fell on Friday after the greenback was broadly supported by hopes of higher US interest rates and strong data ahead of a meeting of top finance officials of the world's richest nations.

India's foreign exchange reserves rose to a record $117.59 billion in the week ended April 16 as the central bank continued to mop up a bulk of the overseas capital flowing into the country, analysts said.

Brazilian currency and stocks rose on Friday after the government posted a record primary budget surplus for March, soothing investor fears about its fiscal woes, traders said.