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Non-food inflation hits record in March

The country’s non-food inflation reached a record high of 13.96 per cent in March, although the point-to-point headline inflation further declined to 10.10 per cent because of a drop in food inflation. Full story

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Import growth declines to 13.63pc in July-Feb

The country’s import bill payment in July-February of the current financial year grew by 13.62 per cent from that of the same period in the previous year when payment grew by 44.30 per cent year-on-year. Full story

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Stocks rise as bargain hunters step in

Dhaka stocks rose after two days on Thursday amid thin trade as bargain hunters became active with a hope of good dividend. DGEN, the benchmark general index of Dhaka Stock... Full story

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Muhith starts pre-budget meeting today

Prior to the national budget for 2012-13 fiscal year, finance minister AMA Muhith begins his pre-budget meetings today. According to a finance ministry official, Muhith will sit with the country’s think... Full story

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World food prices stable in March: FAO

World food prices, after rising for two months, levelled out in March but stayed high, the UN’s food agency said. The FAO Food Price Index, which measures the monthly change... Full story

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NBFIs to go for short-term financing

The non-bank financial institutions would switch to short-term financing from long-term credit operations in view of the intense liquidity shortage in the money market. Full story

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Asian banks warm to bond market innovation

A shortage of US dollars, new banking regulations and strong investor demand means Asian banks are set to help spur long-awaited innovation in the region’s debt capital markets. Full story

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BMW launches Mini Cooper in India market

German carmaker BMW on Thursday launched its iconic Mini Cooper in India, the latest luxury auto maker to expand in one of the world’s fastest-growing car markets. Full story

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Euro range-bound on eurozone debt crisis concern

The euro was rangebound against the dollar and yen in Asian trade Thursday as fresh worries over Europe’s fiscal woes prompted traders to look for safer bets, dealers said. Full story

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Oil recovers in Asia after New York sell-off

Oil recovered in Asian trade Thursday after sharp losses in New York triggered by a larger-than-expected jump in US crude stocks, analysts said. New York’s main contract, West Texas Intermediate crude for delivery... Full story

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BoE keeps interest rate at record low

The Bank of England on Thursday voted to keep its key interest rate at a record-low 0.50 per cent and to maintain its economic stimulus programme amid mixed signals for the British economy. Full story

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China lifts quota for foreign investment in shares

China has raised its quota for stock investments by foreign institutional investors, in a step toward easing controls on its tightly regulated domestic share markets. Full story

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Jaguar Land Rover to build new sports car in Britain

Upmarket carmaker Jaguar Land Rover, owned by India’s Tata Motors, announced on Thursday that it plans to build its new Jaguar F-Type sports car in Britain. Full story

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Slump in German industrial output fuels recession fears

An unexpectedly sharp slump in German industrial output in February fuelled concern that the economy, the biggest in Europe, is on the brink of a recession, analysts said on Thursday. Full story

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Iran cuts oil to Greek firms over payment

Iran has blocked oil sales to two Greek companies, Hellenic Petroleum and Motor Oil Hellas after they failed to make payments, Iranian state television reported on Thursday. Full story

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Canada jobs rut ends

Canada’s jobs drought ended last month with the creation of 82,000 new jobs, pushing the unemployment rate down 0.2 percentage points to 7.2 per cent, a government agency said Thursday. Full story

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Sri Lanka economy records best-ever growth

Sri Lanka’s economy grew by 8.3 per cent last year, the quickest expansion since independence from Britain in 1948, the census and statistics department said Thursday. Full story

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Japan passes $1.1 trillion budget

Japan passed a 90.3 trillion yen ($1.1 trillion) budget on Thursday, with about half the spending expected to be financed by new bonds that will add to Japan’s massive debt mountain. Full story

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Tough times at Madagascar’s sapphire mines

At 7:00 am, it’s already getting hot in Ilakaka’s dusty market, where a woman empties a plastic vitamin bottle that is filled not with pills, but with dozens of tiny sapphires. Full story

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HSBC veteran Flockhart retires from executive role

Sandy Flockhart is retiring as an executive director of HSBC Holdings Plc after a 37-year career at the bank, much of it spent in senior postings in the Middle East and Asia, but will remain on the board, HSBC said on Thursday. Full story

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US jobless claims fall

New claims for US unemployment benefits fell last week, hovering at four-year lows as the ailing labour continues to mend, government data showed Thursday. Full story

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