Gold firm above $1,200 as lower equities stoke safe-haven bids SINGAPORE: Gold steadied near $1,230 an ounce on Friday, largely holding sharp overnight gains as a drop in US equities stoked fresh safe-haven demand for the metal. FUNDAMENTALS * Spot gold eased 0.2 percent to $1,229.84 an ounce by 0045... 19 Feb, 2016
Oil prices fall on oversupply concerns after US crude stocks hit record SINGAPORE: Oil futures fell in Asian trade on Friday as a record build in US crude stocks stoked concerns about global oversupply, outweighing moves by oil producers including Saudi Arabia and Russia to cap oil output. US crude inventories rose... 19 Feb, 2016
Australia, New Zealand urge China show restraint in South China Sea SYDNEY: Australia and New Zealand on Friday strongly urged China to refrain from stoking tensions in the South China Sea after its apparent deployment of surface-to-air missiles on a disputed island. Tensions between China and its neighbours... Women 19 Feb, 2016
Visual China expands photo archive, to invest $100 m in Getty Images HONG KONG: Chinese image licensing company Visual China Group said it plans to invest up to $100 million in Getty Images as the Shenzhen-listed firm expands its footprint in the global picture library. The deal comes a month after Corbis... 19 Feb, 2016
Asian shares slip from 3-week high as oil rally reverses TOKYO/ SINGAPORE: Asian shares slipped from near three-week highs on Friday as a rally in oil prices reversed and investors remained cautious about the outlook for the global economy. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan... 19 Feb, 2016
Plastic bag consumption reduces in China BEIJING: The number of plastic bags consumed in China’s stores and supermarkets decreased by one-third in 2015 from that in 2007, a year before the Chinese government imposed restrictions on the use of such materials. Citing surveys from trade... Art & Culture 19 Feb, 2016
FNCCI organising international trade fair next month Kathmandu, February 18 Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) announced today that it is organising ‘Nepal International Trade Fair-2016’ from March 17 to 21. In this context, the largest private sector umbrella... 19 Feb, 2016
Nepse records fresh high Kathmandu, February 1 The Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) index recorded a fresh high today as the benchmark index rose by 0.57 per cent or 7.2 points to 1,273.28 points. The country’s sole secondary market has clocked eight weekly gains since... 19 Feb, 2016
OECD cuts 2016 growth forecast to three per cent Paris, February 18 The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) today cut its 2016 economic growth forecast by 0.3 per cent to three per cent owing to disappointing data, sluggish demand, weak investment and a ‘substantial’... 19 Feb, 2016
As Indian rupee nears record lows, RBI not unduly worried The predominant view is in favour of a stable and gradual depreciation Mumbai, February 18 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will not step in aggressively even as the Indian rupee approaches a record low, as long as falls are orderly, as it believes... 19 Feb, 2016
Japan trade deficit TOKYO: Japan swung back to a trade deficit in January as exports to China plunged, official data showed on Thursday, underscoring the impact of a slowdown in one of Tokyo’s biggest trade partners. The disappointing figures come after Japan’s... 19 Feb, 2016
NOC unlikely to fulfil its earlier pledge Kathmandu, February 18 It is almost certain that Nepal Oil Corporation will not be able to fulfil its earlier promise of managing smooth supply of petrol by the end of the week. NOC had claimed on Sunday that motorists and motorcyclists would... 19 Feb, 2016
