HBL opens 14th ATM

KATHMANDU: Himalayan Bank Ltd (HBL) has established its 14th ATM counter at the premises of newly opened Lalitpur Bishal Bazaar in Pulchowk. Masood Ul Hasan, senior general manager at HBL inaugurated the counter on Friday. Any cardholder carrying Visa, MasterCard or SCT credit or debit card can avail 24-hour cash withdrawal facility from the counter, states a press release. The bank also plans to open six more ATM counters; one each in Birgunj, Dharan, Bhairahawa, Hetauda, Bharatpur and Pokhara Lakeside within next two months. — HNS

Cottage industry expo

KATHMANDU: With the objectives to help development and promotion of cottage and small industries, the 18th cottage and small industry exhibition has kicked off at Bhrikuti Mandap Exhibition Hall. The cottage and small industry entrepreneurs from 75 districts are taking part in the five-day long exhibition. Organised jointly by the Department of Cottage and Small Industry and Federation of Nepalese Cottage and Small Industries, the expo plans to felicitate entrepreneurs with National Best Cottage Industry Entrepreneur Awards under several categories. — HNS

NB, CG Finco accord

KATHMANDU: Nepal Bangladesh (NB) Bank Ltd has joined hands with CG Finco, a principal agent of Western Union Money, to provide remittance transfer services from its 17 branch locations. Nirvana Chaudhary, chairman of CG Finco and Sudhir Sharma, chief operation officer at NB Bank signed an agreement on behalf of their respective organisations to this effect here on Friday. NB Bank will provide remittance transfer services under CG Finco through Western Union Money Transfer from any parts of the world. — HNS

No hike in oil output

VIENNA: The OPEC says it will not hike production in the coming months because the global oil market is currently well supplied. OPEC secretary general Abdullah Al-Badri said even if OPEC increased its oil production, the increased volume would go to national reserves of oil-consuming countries rather than refineries. — Xinhua

French economy

PARIS: French economic growth is expected to dip slightly to 2.1 per cent this year from 2.2 per cent in 2006, still well below the eurozone average. France was expected to lag its fellow members of the eurozone. — AFP