NCC extends service

KATHMANDU: NCC Bank has extended its Any Branch Banking Service (ABBS) throughout the country from July 17. “The service available within the valley only before is now available throughout the country,” states a press release issued by the bank. NCC bank has 17 branches throughout the country. — HNS

Indian inflation flat

NEW DELHI: India’s inflation rate was unchanged despite sharp fluctuations in some staple foods. Inflation came in flat at 4.27 per cent for the week ended on July 7. The week saw a 16 per cent fall in fruit prices but a rise in costs for vegetables, spices, imported edible oil and sugar. The figure keeps inflation well within the central bank’s medium-term inflation target of four to 4.5 per cent and well below its goal of around five per cent for current financial year. — AFP

British economy rises

LONDON: Britain’s economy grew by 0.8 per cent in the second quarter of this year compared with 0.7 per cent during the first three months of 2007. GDP grew by three per cent during the three months to June 30 from the same quarter in the previous year. The British economy had also grown by three per cent on an annual basis during the first quarter of 2007. — AFP

Fund manager jailed

TOKYO: Japan’s most prominent shareholder activist was sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty of insider trading. Yoshiaki Murakami, who was also fined a record $9.6 million, had been accused of buying shares in Nippon Broadcasting System after learning that Livedoor was about to make a bid for the broadcaster. — The Guardian