MBL’s new branch

KATHMANDU: Machhapuchchhre Bank Ltd (MBL) inaugurated its branch office at Ilam on October 15. According to a press statement, the bank is operating 17 ATM counters and plans to set up 10 more. MBL has a total paid up capital of Rs 1.32 billion, deposit of Rs 11.58 billion and operating profit of Rs 1.91 million. It recently distributed 60 per cent rights share to its shareholders. — HNS

India’s inflation drops

NEW DELHI: India’s annual rate of inflation has further moderated, dropping to 11.44 per cent for the week that ended on October 4, as compared to 11.8 the previous week. The inflation rate, based on the official wholesale price index (WPI), stood at 3.22 per cent for the week ended on October 6. — HNS

Joblessness rising

LONDON: The number of jobless people in the UK rose at the fastest rate since the recession of the early 1990s in the three months to August, prompting fears that the jobless total will break through the two million level by Christmas. The Office for National Statistics said the jobless total on the broad Labour Force Survey measure jumped by 1,64,000 in the three months to August from the previous three months to stand at just under 1.8 million. — The Guardian