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18 banks disburse below 20pc of annual targets

Eighteen commercial banks disbursed below 40 per cent of their annual targets of agricultural loans in the first half of the current financial year, according to the latest Bangladesh Bank data. Full story

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Trade fair draws huge crowd

The Dhaka International Trade Fair-2013 which began on January 1 witnessed a large number of visitors on Friday, the second weekend after the start of the fair. Traders said visitors at the fair were buying mainly plastic, kitchenware and electronics... Full story

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Red lentil, edible oil prices go up

The prices of red lentil and edible oil went up on the retail markets in the city last week ending Friday due to a supply shortage, traders said. Vegetable prices remained high and some of the items marked fresh rise on the city’s kitchen markets over the week. Full story

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Facing drought, US farmers return to crop rotation

Farmers in top US grain states are planning to rotate to other crops after repeated plantings of corn on the same fields, combined with a devastating drought in 2012, badly hurt yields. Farmers in Iowa and Illinois, which accounted for almost 30 per... Full story

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Thailand urges Japan to join in Myanmar’s industrial dev scheme

Thailand has urged Japan to join hands in a major industrial development scheme in the Myanmar’s Dawei area. In a press conference at Government House in Bangkok on Thursday, Thai prime minister Yingluck... Full story

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Dollar mixed in Asia

The dollar was mixed in Asian trade Friday following encouraging US data on housing and jobs, while the yen weakened ahead of a Bank of Japan meeting widely expected to usher in further easing measures. Full story

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Asian markets up on China data

Asian shares posted strong gains Friday after China released data showing a better-than-expected pick-up in the economy for the past four months, while Tokyo was boosted by another fall in the yen. Full story

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Oil prices turn higher in Asian trade

Oil prices turned higher in Asian trade Friday after a dramatic operation by security forces in OPEC member Algeria to rescue foreigners held by Islamist militants left several hostages dead. Full story

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Portugal eyes quick return to debt market

Portugal’s prime minister said Thursday the country would soon announce measures about its return to medium- and long-term bond markets amid reports the bailed-out eurozone nation might tap banks for a five-year... Full story

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China’s economy posts slowest growth in 13 years

China’s economy grew at its slowest pace in 13 years in 2012, though a year-end spurt supported by infrastructure spending and a jump in trade signalled the foundation for the stable growth path Beijing says is vital for economic reform may be in sight. Full story

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IMF chief warns more global recovery work needed

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde warned Thursday that more efforts were needed to get the global economy back on track. ‘We stopped the collapse, we should avoid the relapse, and it’s not time to... Full story

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Sony selling US headquarters building for $1.1b

Sony shares rocketed 12.20 per cent Friday after the embattled Japanese consumer electronics giant said it was selling its US headquarters in Manhattan for $1.1 billion as part of a huge restructuring. Full story

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Top economies face fuel price spike as LNG supply drops

Global prices for liquefied natural gas are rising towards record highs this year as increasing demand runs up against stuttering supply, threatening to drive up fuel costs in some of the world’s biggest economies. After a record, unexpected drop... Full story

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BoJ eyes open-ended asset buying, agrees new inflation goal

Japan’s government and central bank have agreed to set 2 per cent inflation as a new target next week, when the Bank of Japan will also consider making an open-ended commitment to buy assets until the target is in sight... Full story

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