S Lanka’s trade deficit

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s trade deficit jumped to $2.4 billion in the first eight months of this year due to higher oil import prices. The gap widened by 52.4 per cent compared to a deficit of $1.57 billion for the first eight months of 2005. The country’s total import bill rose by 21.1 per cent to $6.81 billion while exports were up by 8.9 per cent to $4.41 billion from January to August. — AFP

Eurozone growth up

BRUSSELS: The eurozone economy grew by 2.7 per cent in the second quarter, revising slightly upwards a previous estimate of 2.6 per cent. The rate, which surged from 2.2 per cent in the first quarter, marked the strongest growth since the first quarter of 2001, during the heady days of the high-tech boom. On a quarterly basis, the bloc’s economy expanded by 0.9 per cent in the second quarter. — AFP

Taiwan’s export rises

TAIPEI: Taiwan’s exports in September rose by 18.1 per cent year-on-year to a record $20.09 billion, compared with a 16.6 per cent rise to $19.37 billion seen in August. Imports in September grew by 10.9 per cent year-on-year to $17.27 billion, against a 17.1 per cent rise to $18.16 billion in the preceding month. — AFP

Spanish inflation dips

MADRID: Spanish inflationary pressures eased sharply in September as a result of falling oil prices. Spanish consumer prices rose by 2.9 per cent on the year in September, down

from a 3.7 per cent rise in August. On a monthly basis, consumer prices fell by 0.2 per cent in September. On a EU-harmonised basis, Spanish annual inflation was 2.9 per cent in September. — AP

SIA, Boeing seal deal

SINGAPORE: Boeing Co on Wednesday confirmed that Singapore Airlines Ltd ordered 20 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners with purchase rights for 20 additional airplanes. The airline originally announced the selection of the 787-9 in June and said last week that the order was worth $4.52 billion. The new planes will be delivered from 2011 through 2013. — AP

Infosys’ profit jumps

NEW DELHI: The net income of Infosys Technologies Ltd jumped by 44.2 per cent in the July-September quarter from a year ago, the company said, reflecting continued strong outsourcing demand. The company wri-tes and develops software for many Western companies has raised its revenue and earnings forecast for the fiscal year through March 2007. — AP

Starbucks loses case

SEOUL: Giant US coffee chain Starbucks lost a trademark dispute with a little-known South Korean company which styled its products ‘Starpreya’. The patent court ruled against Starbucks, which filed a trademark-infringement lawsuit against local firm Elpreya. Starbucks claimed Elpreya’s use of the brand ‘Starpreya’ causes local consumers to confuse the product with its own brand name. — AFP

Posco to invest $6.1m

SEOUL: Posco-India, a subsidiary of South Korean steelmaker Posco, will invest $6.1 million in an Indian railway project as part of a consortium led by India’s state-run Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. — AFP