The US government's budget deficit for fiscal year 2014 shrank to its lowest level in six years as tax revenues rose amid a growing economy, the Treasury Department said Wednesday. The deficit stood at $483 billion in the year that ended September 30, a d

Most stock markets in the Middle East continued to decline on Wednesday as global equities remained under pressure and disappointing quarterly earnings and forecasts weighed on bourses in Oman and Kuwait. While selling of Gulf stocks in previous days was

Tokyo stocks closed 0.92 percent higher on Wednesday, recovering slightly after five days of losses on bargain hunting and thanks to a weaker yen. The Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, which sank to a two-month low on Tuesday, gained 137.01 po

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq ended up slightly on Tuesday, breaking a three-day string of declines that marked their worst losses since 2011, while the Dow finished lower for a fourth session on lingering worries about global demand. While the S&P closed in pos

Australian shares lifted 0.7 percent on Tuesday, as stronger consumer sentiment underpinned shares in the recently battered banking and mining stocks, though weakness in energy shares capped broader gains. The S&P/ASX 200 index added 38.2 points to 5,245.

Taiwan stocks fell 0.88 percent on Wednesday amid continued heavy selling by foreign investors. As of 0157 GMT, the main TAIEX index fell 77.51 points to 8,690.88, trailing other regional and global bourses, after closing up 0.65 percent on Tuesday. For t

US Treasuries prices jumped on Tuesday in a rally driven by anxieties about a slowing global economy that knocked 30-year bond yields below 3 percent for the first time since May 2013. Investors who had bet on rising US interest rates scrambled to cover s

US Treasuries prices jumped on Tuesday in a rally driven by anxieties about a slowing global economy that knocked 30-year bond yields below 3 percent for the first time since May 2013. Investors who had bet on rising US interest rates scrambled to cover s

Shares in Hong Kong and Shanghai rose on Wednesday as data showing Chinese inflation easing raised hopes the mainland government will introduce economy-boosting measures. The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong added 0.40 percent, or 92.08 points, to close at 23

A sell-off in European stocks accelerated on Wednesday, with a key index suffering its biggest one-day slide in nearly three years as investors slashed exposure to risky assets on mounting worries about global growth. The slump represented a wipe-off in m

South African stocks lost more than two percent on Wednesday as worries that weaker global economic growth will sap demand for commodities hit companies like Assore and Sasol. The JSE Top-40 index dropped 2.19 percent to 41,572, a level last seen in the m

Sri Lankan stocks gained for a second straight session on Wednesday, recovering from a near four-week closing low hit early this week, as banks rose in thin volume. However, stock brokers expect volatility in the near future amid worries about early presi

Indonesian stocks rose for a second session on Wednesday as gains in selected large caps overshadowed losses in shares of coal miners while most others in Southeast Asia ended flat to weaker amid persisting concerns about the global economy. Indonesia's m

Britain's top share index hit a 15-month low on Wednesday, with cyclical sectors such as commodities and banks falling on concerns about the global economy and drugmakers slipping on AbbVie's decision to reconsider its takeover bid for Shire. The bluechip

The euro wallowed on Wednesday after disappointing data out of Europe knocked the single currency, lifting the dollar index to a one-week high. Adding to the gloom, China's inflation rate slowed more than expected in September to a near five-year low, hei

The Canadian dollar fell to a five-year low and Norway's crown slid to a four-year trough against the US dollar on Wednesday as investors fled the currencies of economies that are grappling with a drop in energy prices. The Norwegian crown, which tends to

The US dollar hit a three-week low against the euro and a more than one-month low against the yen on Wednesday after weak US economic data on retail sales and producer prices heightened concerns that the Federal Reserve would delay its first rate hike. Co

The US dollar recovered against a basket of major currencies on Tuesday after worrying economic data out of the euro zone and Britain underscored the relative health of the US economy. The dollar reversed Monday's losses against the euro after euro zone i

Interbank buy/sell rates for the taka against the dollar on Wednesday. 77.40-77.41 (previous 77.40-77.40). Call Money Rates: 07.00-09.25 percent (* Previous 07.00-09.25 percent). (* revised).

The Sri Lankan rupee ended weaker on Wednesday due to dollar demand from importers and downward pressure on the local currency was expected to continue on foreign selling in government securities, dealers said. The spot currency ended at 130.75/95 per dol

South Korea's won turned firmer as the central bank did not provide clear signs of further policy easing after it cut rates on Wednesday, while emerging Asian currencies mostly weakened on worries about a slowing global economy. The Bank of Korea's moneta

The Australian and New Zealand dollars were unable to keep hard-won gains on Wednesday as global deflation and growth concerns resurfaced, while investors braced for a batch of data out of China. The Australian dollar eased back to $0.8689, from a peak of

Weaker expectations for an early rise in British interest rates sent sterling down against the euro on Wednesday and muted gains against the dollar despite a similar deterioration in the outlook for US rates. US data drove a renewed dollar sell-off on Wed

Maynor Figueroa headed home the equaliser in the 86th minute Tuesday to give Honduras a 1-1 draw with the United States in an international football friendly. The 31-year-old Premier League standout for Hull City leaped between US defender Jermaine Jones

Andy Murray admitted on Wednesday that he is prepared for all possibilities as the race for the last handful of spots at the World Tour Finals heats up with less than three weeks left in the season. "It (making the eight-man championships in London) is a

Serbia summoned the Albanian ambassador on Wednesday to protest at an incendiary flag-flying stunt at an international soccer match that caused a brawl on the pitch and set back hopes for detente between the Balkan neighbours. Tuesday's Serbia-Albania Eur

Martin O'Neill praised Ireland's never-say-die spirit after John O'Shea celebrated his 100th cap with a dramatic equaliser to seal a 1-1 draw with Germany in Tuesday's Euro 2016 qualifier. Germany were heading for a 1-0 win in Gelsenkirchen after Toni Kro

Asad Shafiq geared up for the upcoming Test series against Australia by hitting a century in a four-day practice match between Pakistan 'A' and the tourists in Sharjah on Wednesday. Skipper Shafiq was unbeaten on 108 and Ehsan Adil not out yet to score as

The inaugural Indian Super League will help the cricket-mad nation develop a football culture with the ultimate aim of qualifying for the World Cup, a top FIFA official said Wednesday. "India has huge potential. The ISL is helping," the world governing bo

FIFA on Wednesday banned Mongolian football chief Ganbold Buyannemekh for five years for taking bribes to vote for former Qatari official Mohamed bin Hammam in the world body's leadership election. The ban was ordered by the adjudicatory chamber of the FI

James Rodriguez scored in the 74th minute to give Colombia a 1-0 victory over Canada on Tuesday in an international football friendly. The Real Madrid striker, who was the top goal scorer in this year's World Cup, rescued the South American squad from a s

Pakistan's head coach Waqar Younis on Wednesday raised hopes his team will fare better in the upcoming Tests against Australia after suffering a 3-0 whitewash in the recent one-dayers. The countries are now preparing for a two-match Test series which star

Scottish nationalists cleared the way on Wednesday for Nicola Sturgeon, a prominent figure in the failed campaign for independence in last month's referendum, to become the country's next first minister. Sturgeon will succeed Alex Salmond as leader of the

Georgia on Wednesday warned Russia against taking further steps to integrate its separatist region of Abkhazia, saying it would create new security problems in Europe. President Giorgi Margvelashvili issued an "emergency statement" after the leader of the

Dubai health authorities quarantined Wednesday an air passenger who arrived from Liberia after he showed symptoms of Ebola, in the first suspected infection registered in the Gulf region. The United Arab Emirates health ministry said the man who travelled

A second health care worker in Texas tested positive for Ebola, US officials said Wednesday, as concerns mounted world-wide over the possibility that airplane travellers could be exposed to the virus. US President Barack Obama cancelled a campaign trip to

Libya's army threw its weight behind an ex-general who launched a new assault Wednesday to retake second city Benghazi from Islamist militias who have seized control of large parts of the turmoil-gripped country. The North African nation has been gripped

US first lady Michelle Obama - showing she is willing to go the extra mile for her anti-obesity campaign - has busted out a few of her dance moves... with a turnip. In a short video message, Obama holds up a turnip, asks "Turnip - for what?" and then sway

A New Yorker who was in prison for 29 years for a murder was exonerated Tuesday when a judge determined that his conviction was based on a false confession. David McCallum was 16 years old when he and Willie Stuckey were arrested in 1985 for the October 2

Hong Kong police came under fire Wednesday after plainclothes officers were filmed beating and kicking a handcuffed protester during some of the worst clashes since mass pro-democracy rallies erupted over two weeks ago. The city's security chief said the

Opposition parties in Catalonia on Wednesday demanded a snap regional election after pressure from Madrid forced leaders to water down plans for a vote on independence from Spain. The region's conservative president, Artur Mas, said on Tuesday the non-bin

Polish security services have detained a high ranking officer on suspicion of spying for a foreign country, the Polish defence ministry said Wednesday, with media reporting the country in question was Russia. "The national defence ministry detained a Poli

Two Brazilian companies on Wednesday raised their takeover offer for US banana giant Chiquita, in an attempt to woo it away from a merger with Irish fruit producer Fyffes. Cutrale Group, a juice exporter, and investment bank Safra Group said they were off

Hillary Clinton hits the campaign trail Wednesday to support a Democratic Senate hopeful, one of several events that could offer sneak peeks at her 2016 presidential aspirations. The former secretary of state and presumptive Democratic frontrunner for the

Tens of millions voted in Indian state elections Wednesday in the first major test of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity since he stormed to power in May on a pledge to reform the economy. Five months after Modi's rightwing Bharatiya Janata Party (

France on Wednesday announced major cuts in defence spending, including the scrapping of an artillery regiment and the loss of 7,500 jobs, as the country battles a ballooning budget deficit. "In 2015, 7,500 jobs will be cut. The defence ministry will take

A Thai woman set herself on fire inside a Bangkok government building Wednesday after she was unable to pay off loans of $46,000, officials said, as household debt in Thailand rises to a record high. Sangvean Raksapet, 52, from central Lop Buri province,

The World Health Organisation on Wednesday adopted guidelines recommending countries bring in higher taxes on cigarettes to help cut smoking rates, a move fiercely opposed by the tobacco industry. Delegates from 179 countries meeting in Moscow signed up t

Fracking technology has driven a boom in natural gas that many hope will prompt a switch away from coal use and put the brakes on the rise in Earth-warming carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. But a study on Wednesday said market forces will undo many of the p

Mozambicans voted Wednesday in a tough electoral test for the ruling Frelimo party, which has run the southern African country since independence from Portugal in 1975. Frelimo is facing growing discontent over a wealth gap that persists despite huge mine

Turkey on Wednesday said only Syrian refugees would be allowed to cross its border to fight jihadists for the mainly Kurdish Syrian town of Kobane, rejecting calls from the West to fully open the frontier. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters tha

After more than two months of air strikes, American commanders have finally decided on a name for the US-led war against Islamic State jihadists - "Operation Inherent Resolve." The decision was taken "a few days ago" by the chiefs of all the armed service

Kurdish and Iraqi forces fought to hold back advancing jihadists on the Syria-Turkey border and near Baghdad on Wednesday as Washington pushed to rally its allies against the Islamic State group. In the Syrian town of Kobane on the Turkish border, Kurdish

President Mamnoon Hussain has said that greater attention and investment in agriculture will increase productivity, reduce poverty, improve balance of trade, generate employment, check rural migration and increase GDP growth in the country.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has started development work on the unique housing project of Park Enclave. In this regard, the contractor of the housing project has mobilised the heavy machinery for construction of internal roads here on Wednesda

Dr Syed Kaleem Imam, an exceptional officer of police service of Pakistan and former Inspector General of Police Islamabad having served as Deputy Police Commissioner Operations at United Nation African Hybrid mission at Darfur, Sudan finally returned aft

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan administered oath of the office of provincial minister to Imtiaz Shahid Qureshi and Muzaffar Said at a ceremony held at Governor's House, Peshawar on Wednesday. KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak also att

A delegation of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) led by its central Ameer, Siraj-ul-Haq called on Speaker, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Asad Qaiser here in Speaker House on Wednesday. The meeting discussed in detail national and provincial political situation includi

A peace committee volunteer was killed in an attack by armed men at Safi tehsil of Mohmand Agency late Wednesday night. According to details, unknown militants attacked a peace committee check post at Kandaro locality and killed Sajid, a volunteer of a Sa

Federal Minister for Finance, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, will chair the first meeting of the Tax Reforms Commission on October 18 (Saturday). Finance Minister had approved the constitution of the Commission last month with the resolve to facilitating the

Islamabad's Ambassador to the United States Jalil Abbas Jilani joined a gathering of eminent Pakistani and American personalities to discuss the future of Pakistan-US relations at an event hosted by the Atlantic Council.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani in a meeting with Chairman of the Pakistani Senate Nayyar Hussain Bukhari in Geneva on Tuesday warned against the spread of terrorism and extremism in the region, saying that terrorists' hit-and-run operations at th

Incorporated in 1967 as Hoechst Pakistan Limited, Sanofi-Aventis Pakistan is a distinguished company in the pharmaceutical industry of Pakistan. The company started the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and chemicals in 1973. Sanofi is also listed on Karac

Incorporated in 1967 as Hoechst Pakistan Limited, Sanofi-Aventis Pakistan is a distinguished company in the pharmaceutical industry of Pakistan. The company started the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and chemicals in 1973. Sanofi is also listed on Karac

Key issues surrounding the future development of the ASEAN region will be discussed at the inaugural annual ASEAN Economic Summit On November 12 at Singapore where the landmark regional event will bring together policy-makers, economists, CEOs, financiers

In pursuant to the judgement dated 29.09.2014 passed by Election Tribunal, Bahawalpur in election petition no.222/2013 titled "Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon vs. Dewan Aashiq Hussain Bukhari and others", the ECP on Wednesday de-notified the membership of Dewan

Pakistan could easily earn million of dollars annually by focusing on bringing down wastage in fruits and vegetables by stepping up food processing, according to a study conducted on food wastage. Experts have urged the government to extend financial and

The 4th international logistics and supply chain management conference will be held at a local hotel here on Thursday (today). S M Muneer, Chairman Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) will be the chief guest while Dr Tilo Klliner, Counsel Gener

K-Electric (KE) on Wednesday signed an agreement with United Bank Limited (UBL). As per the agreement, UBL's customers can pay their bill at any UBL branch in Karachi through the advanced mechanism of UBCS (Utility Bills Collection System). The implementa

The Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation (DI&I) of FBR on Wednesday claimed to have foiled an attempt to smuggle around 10 tonnes of narcotics amounting to Rs 800 million to Karachi. According to Asif Marghoob Siddiqui, Director DI&I, Karachi, th

Jubilee Life, Pakistan's largest life insurance provider in the private sector, experienced another crowning moment as they were presented with the "HR Leadership" award for the second time in a row at the Asian HR Leadership Awards held in Dubai recently

More than 300,000 people including minority Shiites and Hindus have fled Balochistan over the past 10 years due to growing unrest, a rights group said Wednesday. Resource-rich but poor Balochistan is in the midst of its fifth armed uprising against the st

Scholars and academics said here on Wednesday that pluralism, mutual understanding and religious harmony between different religions were the ultimate guarantee for peace and security in the international politics. They also underscored the need for resol

Registrations are now open for the Cambridge Schools Conference, an annual conference attended by Cambridge teachers from across the globe. The conference will be held at Northshore College of Business and Technology, Colombo from 3rd to 5th December 2014

Three people were killed while four others injured in separate incidents of violence here on Wednesday. According to police and rescue sources, 22-year-old Ali Murad was shot dead by unknown people in Lyari in the jurisdictions of Chakiwara police station

The recent announcement by some key Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leaders to extend their allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) of Iraq and Syria is said to be the outcome of internal fissures within the banned TTP and a setback for their movement.

Chief Information Commissioner Right to Information (RTI) Commission Major Sahibzada Muhammad Khalid (Retd) has said that the KP RTI law is soon to extend to Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA), saying currently citizens mostly from far-flung ar

National Assembly Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping on Wednesday expressed dismay over performance of Sindh Fisheries and Marine Fisheries Departments, as fish export has registered a massive decline in the past couple of years. Syed Ghulam Mustafa

Knowledge Leadership in Innovation and Creativity 2014 (KLIC-2014), a first of its kind conference with eight international and three local speakers and facilitators, will be held on November 17-18, 2014, at the Marriott Hotel in Karachi. KLIC is the brai

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi on Wednesday filed another reference in Rs 324.449 million Modaraba case of M/s Islamic Traders Private Limited in the Accountability Court. Director General NAB Rawalpindi had approved the reference aga

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi on Wednesday filed another reference in Rs 324.449 million Modaraba case of M/s Islamic Traders Private Limited in the Accountability Court. Director General NAB Rawalpindi had approved the reference aga

The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control on Wednesday unanimously passed the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Local Governments Bill, 2013. The committee met here with MNA Rana Shamim Ahmad Khan in the chair at the Par

PIA has opened its second Training Centre at Rawalpindi for imparting training to the youth of Pakistan in the field of Aircraft Maintenance. The Training Centre was inaugurated by Advisor to Prime Minister on Aviation, Shujaat Azeem and senior officials

A ruling party member has lamented the excessively-charged electricity bills for agriculture tube-wells and requested the government to rationalise the bills. The issue of electricity bills for agriculture tube-wells was raised by PML-N's Rao Muhammad Jam

The National Assembly's Standing Committee on National Food, Security and Research Wednesday approved Seed Amendments Bill 2014 to improve the existing law, enabling it to meet the requirements of modern seed industry. The committee that met with Malik Sh

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain has strongly condemned the blast in the Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency. Altaf has expressed his grief on the death of several people besides injuries to many others in the incident, said a statement on Wed

PIA has so far carried more than 18,000 Hajjis from Jeddah to Pakistan through 38 post-Hajj and regular scheduled flights, PIA spokesman said here on Wednesday. PIA has operated 10 flights to Karachi carrying 3,700 Hajjis, 10 flights to Lahore carrying 4,

"Blue Area is open for business!"

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal has announced to hold Mufti Mehmood Conference in Quetta to show power and build public opinion against what they called 'secular forces' furthering foreign agenda in the country. "PTI and PAT chief in pursuance of their hidden

The Vice Chancellor Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences Jamshoro, Professor Noshad A. Shaikh, presided over a meeting regarding the arrangements of the Entry Test for the admission in the courses of MBBS and BDS scheduled on 19th October 2014.

CFA Society Pakistan (CFA Pakistan) is a member society of the CFA Institute, which is a global organisation of analysts, portfolio managers and financial professionals, and administers the prestigious Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program world-wide.

The federal government Wednesday raised Rs 117 billion through the auction for Market Treasury Bills against the target of Rs 200 billion. Participation in the auction remained thin as most of banks appeared more interested in investing in the long-term g

The federal government Wednesday raised Rs 117 billion through the auction for Market Treasury Bills against the target of Rs 200 billion. Participation in the auction remained thin as most of banks appeared more interested in investing in the long-term g

President Mamnoon Hussain has sought a report from the chief secretaries of all the provinces about the measures taken so far to cope with Ebola virus. He directed the authorities to make arrangements for the screening at the airports, ports and border ar

The police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested around 42 alleged criminals in different targeted raids and encounters conducted at various parts of the metropolis during last 24 hours. Police said that their 106 raids and five encounters carried out as

Chairman of Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said he has not received any terror threat. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, in a message on social media website Twitter, tweeted that terrorists are afraid of him. He added that he has not rece

Sindh Information Minister and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Sharjeel Inam Memon on Wednesday demanded PTI chairman Imran Khan to tender unconditional apology for his recent remarks against the PPP supporters. "Imran Khan should mind his language.

KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has expressed satisfaction that like many other sectors, work on the projects of highways has been expedited in the province with additional qualities of eliminating the possibilities of corruption, ensuring the transparen

SITE Association of Industry's Chairman Muhammad Jawed Bilwani, on Wednesday urged Sindh governor and chief minister to direct Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) to review its decision of increasing water tariff as the industrialists are already faci

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday gave two-week time to the provincial health secretary and the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) administrator to submit reports on measures they have taken to curb preparation, manufacturing and selling of Gutk