AsiaPulse News articles from January 2002

AsiaPulse News archives from January 2002

FOREX - US DOLLAR DEARER AGAINST RUPEE - JAN 1, 2002.
January 1, 2002... FOREX - US DOLLAR DEARER AGAINST RUPEE - JAN 1, 2002 $all $in $stx pticloser MUMBAI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - The U.S. dollar ended dearer against the Rupee at Rs 48.2650/2750 per dollar and the Pound Sterling also turned higher at Rs 70.18/20 per...

STOCKS- DSE CLOSES DOWN - JAN 1, 2002.
January 1, 2002... STOCKS- DSE CLOSES DOWN - JAN 1, 2002 $all $in $stx pticloser NEW DELHI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - In volatile trading, share prices, especially of Information Technology (IT) companies, succumbed to late selling by domestic financial institutions...

STOCKS- BSE CLOSES DOWN - JAN 1, 2002.
January 1, 2002... STOCKS- BSE CLOSES DOWN - JAN 1, 2002 $all $in $stx pticloser MUMBAI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - Equities turned weak after initial firmness, pushing the sensex in negative territory at close on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) today due to late selling...

OPEN - ASIA PULSE INTERNATIONAL - JAN 1, 2002.
January 1, 2002... Good Morning. This is the Asia Pulse International service of business intelligence, news, tenders and expert commentary on the economies of Asia provided by Asia Pulse Pte Ltd (Asia Pulse). Asia Pulse reserves all rights including...

WORLD BANK PROCUREMENT - CHINA, HIGHWAY PROJECT.
January 1, 2002... *** Asia Pulse Tender *** ******************************************************** WORLD BANK INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES SERVICE PROCUREMENTS - DECEMBER 2001 *********************************************************...

FILIPINOS URGED TO BUY DOMESTIC PRODUCTS, SERVICES.
January 1, 2002... CEBU CITY, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - The lingering global economic crisis is the hard way of reminding Filipinos to patronize Filipino products and services to help the country survive, according to economic experts. Cebu Holdings Inc. (CHI)...

WORLD BANK PROCUREMENT - CHINA, ROAD PROJECT.
January 1, 2002... *** Asia Pulse Tender *** ******************************************************** WORLD BANK INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES SERVICE PROCUREMENTS - DECEMBER 2001 *********************************************************...

WORLD BANK PROCUREMENT - INDONESIA, COMPUTERS.
January 1, 2002... *** Asia Pulse Tender *** ******************************************************** WORLD BANK INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES SERVICE PROCUREMENTS - DECEMBER 2001 *********************************************************...

INDIAN GOVT ISSUES NEW TEXTILES ORDER 2001.
January 1, 2002... NEW DELHI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - The Indian government has issued a new Textiles (Development and Regulation) Order 2001 superseding the earlier Order of 1993, which dilutes the powers of the Textiles Commisioner to control production and...

ANALYSIS - INDIA'S SUGAR SECTOR SEES MIXED RESULTS IN 2001.
January 1, 2002... NEW DELHI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - The year 2001 was a mixed bag for the sugar sector as it achieved some of its goals.. The sector saw a lifting of quantitative ceiling on exports, doing away with registration cum allocation export...

AUSTRALIA'S INTERNET USERS MOVE TO TIME-SAVING SERVICES: STUDY.
January 1, 2002... CANBERRA, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - A new study has revealed that Australian internet users have moved from curious surfers to time savers who use the world wide web to catch up on news, pay bills and shop. A Neilsen/Netrating study of 10,000...

WORLD BANK PROCUREMENT - INDIA, ROAD PROJECT.
January 1, 2002... *** Asia Pulse Tender *** ******************************************************** WORLD BANK INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES SERVICE PROCUREMENTS - DECEMBER 2001 *********************************************************...

NEWMONT ACQUISITIONS OF NORMANDY, FRANCO-NEVADA ON TRACK.
January 1, 2002... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) SYDNEY, Dec. 31 and DENVER, Colo., Dec. 30 /PRNewswire - AsiaNet/ Newmont Mining Corporation (NYSE: NEM) confirmed today that it has made substantial progress toward completing its...

WORLD BANK PROCUREMENT - PHILIPPINES, ROAD PROJECT.
January 1, 2002... *** Asia Pulse Tender *** ******************************************************** WORLD BANK INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES SERVICE PROCUREMENTS - DECEMBER 2001 *********************************************************...

WORLD BANK PROCUREMENT - INDIA, MASS MEDIA ADVERTISING.
January 1, 2002... *** Asia Pulse Tender *** ******************************************************** WORLD BANK INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES SERVICE PROCUREMENTS - DECEMBER 2001 *********************************************************...

INDIAN RAILWAYS POSTS 7.6 PCT INCREASE IN FREIGHT IN H1.
January 1, 2002... NEW DELHI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - An over four per cent rise ingoods traffic in August and September alone this year enabled Indian Railways to register an impressive 7.6 per cent increase in freight to 39.05 million tonnes (MT) in the first half...

AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - JAN 1, 2002.
January 1, 2002... SYDNEY, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: THE AUSTRALIAN: - Australians turn to new year with hope of peace and security. - Doug Anthony says William McMahon not big enough for PM job. - Bravery of war hero...

PAKISTAN TELECOMMUNICATION CO TO TAKE $2.5 MLN IN PAKNET SHARES.
January 1, 2002... ISLAMABAD, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited has decided to invest an aggregate sum of Rs150 million (US$2.5 million) in 15 million ordinary shares of Rs10 each in Paknet Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the...

INDIA'S LORD KRISHNA BANK SET FOR BANK ACQUISITION, IPO.
January 1, 2002... NEW DELHI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - India's Lord Krishna Bank (LKB) is drawing up plans to acquire a bank in the next 2-3 months while planning to tap the market with a Rs 2-2.5 billion (US$41.5-$51.8 million) share issue after September 2002. ...

AUSTRALIAN STATE ENACTS LAWS BANNING TOBACCO ADVERTISING AT POS.
January 1, 2002... MELBOURNE, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - Victoria will enact new laws today banning tobacco advertising at the point of sale. Quit Victoria executive director Todd Harper said the new laws were an important step forward in the push to prevent young...

PAKISTAN GOVT MAKES CHANGES TO ENGINEERING GOODS IMPORT POLICY.
January 1, 2002... ISLAMABAD, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - The government has announced major changes in the policy of importing engineering goods to protect the local industry. The import of Engineering Goods Control Order of 1998 has been repealed and a new one has been...

AUSTRALIAN ALUMINIUM SMELTERS NOT TO SEE ELECTRICITY PRICE RISES.
January 1, 2002... CANBERRA, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - New research has found that rises in electricity prices will see householders and small businesses footing the bill in Victoria and NSW while four of the biggest users will get of scot free. A study by the...

INDIA'S DCA SETTLES 170 INDIVIDUAL INVESTOR COMPLAINTS IN NOV.
January 1, 2002... NEW DELHI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - India's Department of Company Affairs (DCA) has settled 170 complaints till November, 2001 mostly belonging to individual investors, even as it approved the schemes of demerger of five ITDC hotels. During the...

INDIAN COAL MINISTRY OPPOSES DISINVESTMENT IN NLC.
January 1, 2002... NEW DELHI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - The Coal Ministry has opposed disinvestment in Neyveli Lignite (NLC) pending legislative reforms in coal and power sectors. "We have told the Disinvestment Commission that dilution of government's equity in...

IMF SETS DEADLINE FOR PRIVATIZATION OF PAKISTAN'S PTCL, UBL.
January 1, 2002... ISLAMABAD, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has given deadline of May 31, 2002 to the government to privatize Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) and the United Bank Limited (UBL). According to...

PHILIPPINE OFFICIALS CALL FOR TAIWAN-OWNED CEMENT PLANT CLOSURE.
January 1, 2002... CAMALIG, Albay, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - Environmentalists and local officials calling for the closure of a Taiwanese-owned cement factory here have found an ally in the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) which reported that the firm is severely...

PAKISTAN RECEIVES IRAQI TENDERS FOR RICE, AIRWAY EQUIPMENT.
January 1, 2002... KARACHI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - Pakistan's Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) has received several tenders from Iraq for the supply of rice and airway equipment. The Grain Board of Iraq has floated an international tender with a closing date of...

TAIWAN ELECTRONICS FIRM EXPANDS PHILIPPINE OPERATIONS.
January 1, 2002... SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - A Taiwanese electronics manufacturing firm has finalized an expansion of its operations which will employ at least 1,000 more workers. Felicito C. Payumo, chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan...

PHILIPPINES' CSEZ RECORDS US$1.9 BLN INVESTMENTS IN 2001.
January 1, 2002... CLARK FIELD, Pampanga, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - Increased investments totalling some P101 billion (US$1.9 billion) were recorded in 2001 at the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ). In a year-end report, Dr. Emmanuel Y. Angeles, president and chief...

INDIA'S NTPC FACES BLEAK PROSPECTS ON DIP IN FUNDING FROM SEBS.
January 1, 2002... NEW DELHI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - The state-owned National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) today faces bleak prospects in generation of electricity with a projected dip of Rs 50 billion (US$1.03 billion) in realisesd funds during 2001-02 from...

AUSTRALIAN MINING HOUSES DOWNBEAT ON H1, 2002 OUTLOOK.
January 1, 2002... PERTH, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - A slowdown in the global economy saw Australia's major mining houses down beat in their forecasts for the coming year even prior to the September 11 attacks on the US. They pointed to a slowdown in the global...

ANALYSIS - INDIAN MEDIA SEES CONSOLIDATION IN 2001.
January 1, 2002... NEW DELHI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - Indian media saw consolidation in 2001, with players either bowing out or sprucing up their act by cutting costs and improving product quality to survive in a difficult market where advertising revenue shrank and...

ANALYSIS - AUSTRALIAN SHARES SET TO BEGIN 2002 ON QUIET NOTE.
January 1, 2002... SYDNEY, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - Australian shares should begin trading in 2002 on a quiet note with many traders and strategists continuing their summer holidays. Direction is likely to be slightly downward after the local bourse finished the...

ANALYSIS - INDIA'S CEMENT INDUSTRY SEES RECORD GROWTH IN 2001.
January 1, 2002... NEW DELHI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - The Indian government's continued focus on infrastructure development made 2001 a year of consolidation for the cement industry which saw not only tremendous growth in demand but also witnessed a record jump in the...

TAIWAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - JAN 1, 2002.
January 1, 2002... TAIPEI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: THE CHINA TIMES - Wine costs shaken up, smokes are on the rise. THE UNITED DAILY NEWS - Wine and tobacco price rises come as no surprise at dawn of WTO entry. ...

TAIWAN'S ENTRY INTO WTO TO BE 'CLEAR SAILING': OFFICIAL.
January 1, 2002... TAIPEI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - After over a decade of persistence, Taiwan finally became a full member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) today and officials say that although there may be some stormy seas for several economic sectors, for the...

INVESTOR WITHDRAWAL FORCES INDIAN GOVT HAND IN POWER SECTOR.
January 1, 2002... NEW DELHI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - Shaken by withdrawal of global investors one by one in the absence of commercialisation of State Electricity Boards (SEBs), the federal government has been forced to commit to investing in the power sector from...

TAIWAN TO ENCOUNTER NEW ECONOMIC PROBLEMS IN 2002: CEPD.
January 1, 2002... TAIPEI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - Although the global economy is expected to swing upward in the middle of next year, it might not help Taiwan's exports and job-creation as much as it has done in the past, according to an analysis released Monday by...

TAIWAN TO LIFT AGRICULTURAL IMPORT LIMITS, SET CAR QUOTAS.
January 1, 2002... TAIPEI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - Taiwan will lift restrictions on 41 farm products upon entry to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in line with promises made during WTO entry consultations, a senior official of the Board of Foreign Trade (BOFT) said...

TAIWAN VP URGES BEIJING TO SHED DISPUTE OVER 'ONE CHINA'.
January 1, 2002... TAIPEI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - Vice President Annette Lu called on mainland China Monday to shed the outdated argument with Taiwan over whether the two sides should reunite or whether there is an agreement on the meaning of "one China." Lu...

TAIWAN TO FURTHER OPEN MARKET TO CHINESE GOODS, CAPITAL: MAC.
January 1, 2002... TAIPEI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said Monday that it will allow the domestic market to be further opened to mainland Chinese products and capital upon its entry into the WTO. With Taiwan becoming the WTO's 144th...

HK GOVT SEES FISCAL DEFICIT OF US$7 BLN IN APRIL-NOV.
January 1, 2002... HONG KONG, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - The Hong Kong government's expenditure from April 1, 2001 to November 30, 2001 amounted to HK$154.6 billion (US$19.8 billion), while its revenue reached HK$99.7 billion, the government announced in a release of its...

PRICE OF TAIWAN'S 'RED LABEL' RICE WINE SKYROCKETS.
January 1, 2002... TAIPEI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - The popular "Red Label" rice wine will carry a new suggested retail price of NT$130 (US$3.71) per 0.6 liter bottle from Tuesday, a six-fold increase from the two-decade-old government-fixed price of NT$21 per bottle....

SINGAPORE'S EAST ASIA TECH UNIT ESI SETS UP NEW SUBSIDIARY.
January 1, 2002... SINGAPORE, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - Eastern Asia Technology Limited has announced that its 70 per cent-owned subsidiary, ESO International, Inc. (ESI), has established a new 100 per cent owned subsidiary, ESO Europe S.R.L. (ESE). ESI is involved...

SINGAPORE'S HONG LAI HUAT UNIT TAKES 100 PCT STAKE IN SPLENDEO.
January 1, 2002... SINGAPORE, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - Hong Lai Huat Group Limited has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Hong Lai Huat Construction Pte Ltd (HLH Construction) has taken a 100 per cent interest in Splendeo Pte Ltd through an increase in its...

INDIAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - JAN 1, 2002.
January 1, 2002... NEW DELHI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: THE FINANCIAL EXPRESS - Indian is ahead of some of the industrialised countries in terms of the time taken for submitting preliminary findings with regard to dumping...

SINGAPORE'S ADROIT SELLS ENTIRE STAKE IN TPSC TO NETS.
January 1, 2002... SINGAPORE, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - Adroit Innovations Limited has signed an agreement to sell all its shares in The Payment Solutions Company Pte Ltd (TPSC) to Network for Electronic Transfers (Singapore) Pte Ltd (NETS). TPSC is a joint venture...

STOCKS - MUMBAI SHARES OPEN HIGHER - JAN 1, 2002.
January 1, 2002... MUMBAI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - The sensex surged further for the third consecutive day in keeping with a fresh rally in select key counters in early trade on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) today on sustained buying support from institutional...

CORR: STOCKS - DELHI SHARES OPEN HIGHER - JAN 1, 2002.
January 1, 2002... (Correcting year in headline) NEW DELHI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - Shares in Delhi Stock Exchange (DSE) today on the emergence of buying by foreign and domestic funds. The new calender year commenced on a promising note as index related...

BUSINESS IN ASIA TODAY - JAN 1, 2002.
January 1, 2002... Business in Asia on Jan 1, 2002. A summary prepared by Asia Pulse (http://www.asiapulse.com), the real-time, Asia-based wire with exclusive news, market intelligence and business opportunities: TAIWAN ELECTRONICS FIRM EXPANDS PHILIPPINE...

BRIEFING - ASIA BANKING - JAN 1, 2002.
January 1, 2002... An executive briefing on banking for Jan 1, 2002, prepared by Asia Pulse (http://www.asiapulse.com), the real-time, Asia-based wire with exclusive news, commercial intelligence and business opportunities. TAIWAN TO FURTHER OPEN MARKET TO...

ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN HITS INDIA'S AUTO INDUSTRY IN 2001.
January 1, 2002... NEW DELHI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - The auto industry was hit by the economic slowdown in 2001, but released many new models of commercial vehicles and two-wheelers. The commoner's two-wheelers remained under strain on account of poor scooter...

BRIEFING - ASIA ENERGY - JAN 1, 2002.
January 1, 2002... An executive briefing on energy for Jan 1, 2002, prepared by Asia Pulse (http://www.asiapulse.com), the real-time, Asia-based wire with exclusive news, commercial intelligence and business opportunities. INVESTOR WITHDRAWAL FORCES INDIAN...

BRIEFING - ASIA INFRASTRUCTURE - JAN 1, 2002.
January 1, 2002... An executive briefing on infrastructure for Jan 1, 2002, prepared by Asia Pulse (http://www.asiapulse.com), the real-time, Asia-based wire with exclusive news, commercial intelligence and business opportunities. SINGAPORE'S HONG LAI HUAT...

BRIEFING - ASIA TELECOMMUNICATIONS - JAN 1, 2002.
January 1, 2002... An executive briefing on the telecommunications industry for Jan 1, 2002, prepared by Asia Pulse (http://www.asiapulse.com), the real-time, asia-based wire with exclusive news, commercial intelligence and business opportunities. IMF SETS...

BRIEFING - ASIA ECONOMIC NEWS - JAN 1, 2002.
January 1, 2002... An executive briefing on the economies of Asia for Jan 1, 2002, prepared by Asia Pulse (http://www.asiapulse.com), the real-time, Asia based wire with exclusive news, commercial intelligence and business opportunities. HK GOVT SEES FISCAL...

AUSTRALIA SEES CHANGES TO PETROL, AIR REGULATIONS IN 2002.
January 1, 2002... CANBERRA, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - Under changes taking effect from today, Australia will ban leaded petrol, increase Austudy and save regional airlines $A2.9 million ($US1.47 million) a year in air traffic control charges. New national laws...

SRI LANKAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - JAN 1, 2002.
January 1, 2002... COLOMBO, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: DAILY MIRROR - The price of Shell gas sold to domestic and industrial consumers would be reduced to the price currently offered by Sri Lankan-owned LAUGFS Gas, which is Rs...

PAKISTAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - JAN 1, 2002.
January 1, 2002... KARACHI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: DAWN - Bush hails action against extremists - Hundred die as US bombs Paktia province in Afghanistan - Eleven killed in Kashmir violence - Forty-eight family...

IRANIAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - JAN 1, 2002.
January 1, 2002... TEHRAN, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: IRAN DAILY - Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Monday that a bright prospect is on the horizons for Palestine. IRNA NEWS -...

INDIAN AVIATION TO LOSE US$10 MLN DUE TO PAK AIRSPACE CLOSURE.
January 1, 2002... NEW DELHI, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - India's aviation sector would lose a total of about Rs 500 million (US$10.4 million) per annum due to the ending of air links with Pakistan, though the neighbouring country would stand to lose about 5 times more....

FOREX- US DOLLAR MILDLY CHEAPER AGAINST RUPEE - JAN 2, 2002.
January 2, 2002... FOREX- US DOLLAR MILDLY CHEAPER AGAINST RUPEE - JAN 2, 2002 $all $in $stx pticloser MUMBAI, Jan 2 Asia Pulse - The U.S. dollar ended mildly cheaper against the Rupee at Rs 48.2450/2550 per dollar and the Pound Sterling also turned lower at Rs...

STOCKS- DSE CLOSES UP - JAN 2, 2002.
January 2, 2002... STOCKS- DSE CLOSES UP - JAN 2, 2002 $all $in $stx pticloser NEW DELHI, Jan 2 Asia Pulse - Technology stocks led an upward march on the Delhi Stock Exchange today on selective buying by domestic and foreign funds which lifted the index by 3.63...

STOCKS- BSE CLOSES UP - JAN2 , 2002.
January 2, 2002... STOCKS- BSE CLOSES UP - JAN2 , 2002 $all $in $stx pticloser MUMBAI, Jan 2 Asia Pulse - Led by Cement stocks, select heavyweight counters rallied smartly lifting the sensex by about 23 points at close in erratic movements on the Bombay Stock...

OPEN - ASIA PULSE INTERNATIONAL - JAN 2, 2002.
January 2, 2002... Good Morning. This is the Asia Pulse International service of business intelligence, news, tenders and expert commentary on the economies of Asia provided by Asia Pulse Pte Ltd (Asia Pulse). Asia Pulse reserves all rights including...

FOREX - AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR OPENS LOWER - JAN 2, 2002.
January 2, 2002... SYDNEY, Jan 2 Asia Pulse - The Australian dollar opened lower on the first trading day of 2002 with thin trade expected throughout the day. At 0700 AEDT the Australian dollar was $US0.5087/92 from 0.5109/14 at Monday's close. After...

AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - JAN 2, 2002.
January 2, 2002... SYDNEY, Jan 2 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: THE AUSTRALIAN: - Fires hit suburbs, with nightmare conditions to continue. - Weather forecasts dash hopes for rain to extinguish bushfires. - Evacuations continue in...

INDIA'S FII NET INVESTMENTS MORE THAN DOUBLE IN 2001.
January 2, 2002... MUMBAI, Jan 2 Asia Pulse - Net investments of foreign institutional investors (FIIs) more than doubled in the year 2001 at US$2,843.3 million as against US$1,492.2 milllion in the previous year, though the volume of transactions was higher in...

INDIA'S TAX, GDP RATIO DOWN TO 8.33% IN H1.
January 2, 2002... NEW DELHI, Jan 2 Asia Pulse - The ongoing industrial slowdown took a heavy toll on the Tax:GDP ratio, which dipped to 8.33 per cent in the first half of this fiscal from 9.72 per cent during the year-ago period. According to official...

INDIAN RUBBER IMPORT RESTRICTIONS TO HIT EXPORTERS: AIRIA.
January 2, 2002... NEW DELHI, Jan 2 Asia Pulse - India's rubber products industry has expressed apprehension that restrictions on standards of imported consignments will affect their competitiveness both in the international and domestic market. "India's Rs...

INDIA'S FISCAL DEFICIT MOUNTS TO US$1.6 BLN IN NOVEMBER.
January 2, 2002... NEW DELHI, Jan 2 Asia Pulse - India's fiscal deficit mounted to Rs 79.13 billion (US$1.64 billion) in the first 8 months of the fiscal year as against the targeted Rs 116.31 billion for the entire fiscal year, mainly on account of lower tax...

INDIA'S EXPORTS SEE 0.5 PCT GROWTH IN APRIL-NOV, 2001.
January 2, 2002... NEW DELHI, Jan 2 Asia Pulse - Indian exports inched up during April-November to post a meagre 0.5 per cent growth at US$28.8 billion, up from US$28.7 billion last year, despite the continuing global recession. Data compiled by the...

PAK ARAB REFINERY DECLARES 34 PCT DIVIDEND.
January 2, 2002... KARACHI, Jan 2 Asia Pulse - The 89th Board meeting of the Pak Arab Refinery, declared a cash dividend of 34 per cent for the year 2000-01, together with the issue of four bonus shares for every Rs10 face value share held (432 per cent). The...

AUSTRALIA'S BRAMBLES SELLS US EQIPMENT RENTAL BUSINESS.
January 2, 2002... SYDNEY, Jan 2 Asia Pulse - Brambles Industries Ltd (ASX:BIL) has sold its US equipment rental business to rentals group National Equipment Services Inc for $US122 million ($A239.92 million). National paid $US94 million ($A184.86 million) in...

IRANIAN TRADE TEAM TO VISIT PAKISTAN ON JAN 7.
January 2, 2002... KARACHI, Jan 2 Asia Pulse - An Iranian delegation will arrive in Pakistan on January 7 to negotiate the purchase of rice, exporters said in Karachi on Dec 31. They said that the delegation from Government Trading Corporation (GTC) of Iran...

SAUDI PAK INVESTMENT APPROVES US$21 MLN FINANCING TO 27 FIRMS.
January 2, 2002... ISLAMABAD, Jan 2 Asia Pulse - The Board of Directors of Saudi Pak Industrial and Agricultural Investment Company (Pvt) Limited has approved a new Rs1.3 billion (US$21.6 million) financing to 27 companies. The Board met in Dubai on Dec 31...

AUSTRALIA'S HEALTH SECTOR TO BE HOT FOR JOBS IN 2002: SURVEY.
January 2, 2002... CANBERRA, Jan 2 Asia Pulse - A survey of recruitment professionals revealed today that the health and medical sector will be the hottest industry for jobs in 2002. The TMP Worldwide survey showed 37 per cent of 700 respondents believed the...

CHINA CAN BE BIG MARKET FOR PAKISTANI IMPORTS: MINISTER.
January 2, 2002... KARACHI, Jan 2 Asia Pulse - Commerce Minister Abdul Razzak Dawood said that China can be a big market for Pakistani exports in future. Addressing a Press conference at EPB Head Office, he said that a Pakistani delegation of leading...

PAKISTAN'S AL FAYSAL INVESTMENT BANK MERGES WITH FAYSAL BANK.
January 2, 2002... KARACHI, Jan 2 Asia Pulse - Al Faysal Investment Bank Limited (AFIBL) has been merged with Faysal Bank Limited (FBL) under a Scheme of Arrangement for Amalgamation from January 1, the banks announced on Monday. A press release of the bank said:...

STOCKS - AUSTRALIAN SHARES OPEN WEAKER - JAN 2, 2002.
January 2, 2002... SYDNEY, Jan 2 Asia Pulse - The Australian shares opened weaker on the first trading day of the year, in line Wall Street's downbeat ending for 2001. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index had fallen 6.7 points to 3415.6 by 1014 AEDT while the all...

AUSTRALIA'S REVIVED ANSETT APPOINTS JAMES HOGAN CHIEF EXECUTIVE.
January 2, 2002... MELBOURNE, Jan 2 Asia Pulse - Businessmen behind the revived Ansett appointed of 45-year-old James Hogan as chief executive of the airline. Mr Hogan was formerly chief operating officer of BMI British Midland, Britain's second-largest...

MCKINSEY RECOMMENDS CREATION OF INDIAN CABINET ENERGY BODY.
January 2, 2002... NEW DELHI, Jan 2 Asia Pulse - International consultants McKinsey has suggested that a Cabinet level body be created to oversee policy approval and implementation in the energy sector. "The establishment of a Cabinet Committee on Energy...

INDIAN GOVT INVITES BIDS FOR 3RD TRANCHE OF ITDC HOTELS.
January 2, 2002... NEW DELHI, Jan 2 Asia Pulse - The Indian government invited initial bids for the 3rd tranche of state-owned India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) hotels, involving sale of 9 properties. Elite Kovalam Ashok Beach resort in Kerala with...

INDIAN GOVT PROPOSES 2-YR TRANSITION PERIOD AFTER APM DISMANTLING.
January 2, 2002... NEW DELHI, Jan 2 Asia Pulse - The Indian government has proposed a transition period of 2 years for the oil sector after the dismantling of the Administered Pricing Mechanism (APM) on April 1, 2002, during which the present hospitality...