Thursday, April 01, 2010

Business News – Newsletter for April 1, 2010

Thursday, April 1, 2010


Japan’s corporate gloom lifting as exports bolster business confidence

Japan business confidence rises on global recovery

TOKYO – Japanese companies are regaining lost confidence and feeling less somber, the central bank said Thursday, thanks to an export boom that is lifting the country’s corporate gloom.
Growing faith in the global recovery produced solid numbers in the Bank of Japan’s quarterly “tankan” survey of business sentiment. The … Original source on Gaea Times at : Japan’s corporate gloom lifting as exports bolster business confidence.

Global markets gain as Japan, China reports boost confidence; Tokyo up 1.4 percent

World stocks up after Japan,China economic reports

HONG KONG – Asian stock markets rose Thursday as signs of growing strength at powerhouse economies China and Japan brightened the outlook for the world recovery. European shares also gained in early trade.
Major markets were higher by 1 percent or more, turning around from a lackluster session the day …. Read the original article  : here.

Euro falls to $1.35 as Greek debt woes continue, eurozone reports higher unemployment

Euro falls to $1.35 in European morning trade

FRANKFURT – The euro is lower against the dollar amid lingering worries about Greece’s debt problems and rising unemployment in Europe.
The 16-nation euro is at $1.35 in European morning trade Thursday, down from $1.3510 late Wednesday in New York.
The British pound trades at $1.5228 from $1.5181, while the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Euro falls to $1.35 as Greek debt woes continue, eurozone reports higher unemployment.

Himachal still hopeful of getting tax holiday package

SHIMLA – Political parties in Himachal Pradesh are still hopeful that the central government will restore the tax exemption scheme that has drawn industries from several sectors to the state in the past seven years.

The tax holiday scheme expired Wednesday. The National Democratic Alliance government had granted a special industrial development package to the state … Read more >>.

Money Market Operations as on March 31, 2010

…. Source article  : Money Market Operations as on March 31, 2010.

Scheme of Ways and Means Advances (WMA) to the State Governments for the Fiscal Year 2010-11

On a review of the State-wise limits of Normal Ways and Means Advances for the year 2009-10, the Reserve Bank of India has decided to keep these limits unchanged for the year 2010-11. Accordingly, the aggregate Normal WMA limit for the State Governments inclusive of the [..] Read the original article: here.

Obama travels to Maine to promote health care overhaul’s benefits for small business

Obama to promote health bill’s business benefits
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is promoting his health care law’s benefits for small businesses as he tries to rally public support for the massive overhaul.
During a speech Thursday in Portland, Maine – the second stop in a series of appearances to sell the reforms …. Read the original article  : Obama travels to Maine to promote health care overhaul’s benefits for small business.

UK regulator proposes sharp reduction in mobile phone connection fees

UK regulator calls for cut in mobile phone charge

LONDON – A U.K. regulatory agency on Thursday proposed a steep reduction in connection charges for mobile phone users.
The regulator OFCOM proposed to cut the so-called “mobile termination rate” in stages from 4.3 pence ($0.065) per minute to half a pence per minute by 2015.
The mobile termination … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : UK regulator proposes sharp reduction in mobile phone connection fees.

Publicity drive launched in Orissa for census 2011

BHUBANESWAR – The Orissa government Thursday launched a massive publicity drive for census 2011, spreading awareness among people about the importance of providing necessary data for the operation, an official said.

The Census of India, 2011 shall be conducted in two phases, namely, house listing operation and population enumeration. The house listing will be conducted in … Read more »»».

Dai-ichi Life Insurance soars in biggest IPO in 12 years

TOKYO – Shares of Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co, Japan’s second-largest life insurer, surged 14 percent to 160,000 yen ($1,713) when they made their debut Thursday on the Tokyo Stock Exchange after the nation’s largest initial public offering (IPO) in more than a decade.

The insurer, formerly a mutually owned company, was valued at 1.4 trillion …. Read the original article  : Dai-ichi Life Insurance soars in biggest IPO in 12 years.

Iran nuclear envoy in China for talks after easing of Beijing stance on new sanctions

Iran top nuclear envoy arrives in China for talks

BEIJING – Iran’s top nuclear negotiator arrived Thursday for talks with Chinese officials, just after Beijing appeared to drop its opposition to possible new U.N. sanctions against Tehran over its uranium enrichment program.
China has veto power in the U.N. Security Council and ending its opposition would be … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Iran nuclear envoy in China for talks after easing of Beijing stance on new sanctions.

One third of youth in Italy are jobless

Rome, April 1 (IANS/AKI) At least one in three youngsters in Italy is unemployed as the country still suffers the impact of global recession, according to a data released by the government.

Till February, there were about 2.13 million jobless in Italy out of the total 22.81 million population of employed people in the country, state … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : One third of youth in Italy are jobless.

Maruti first auto firm in India to sell million cars in a year

NEW DELHI – Indo-Japanese automobile giant Maruti Suzuki has become the first company in India to sell over a million passenger cars during a fiscal year, with as many as 1,018,365 vehicles rolling out of its showrooms during 2009-10.

The company sold 870,790 vehicles in the domestic market and exported 147,575 vehicles out of India, both … Read : Maruti first auto firm in India to sell million cars in a year.

2 surveys show China’s manufacturing acclerated in March on strong export, domestic demand

Surveys: China manufacturing accelerated in March

SHANGHAI – China’s manufacturing accelerated in March as the dampening impact of winter weather and a long holiday the previous month eased and both exports and domestic sales recovered, two surveys showed Thursday.
The state-affiliated China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said its purchasing managers index, or PMI, rose to 55.1 … Read more »».

Asian markets gain as Japan, China reports boost confidence; Tokyo up 1.3 percent

Asia stocks up after Japan, China economic reports

HONG KONG – Asian stock markets rose Thursday as signs of growing strength at powerhouse economies China and Japan brightened the outlook for the world recovery.
Major markets were higher by 1 percent or more, turning around from a lackluster session the day before. Oil prices traded above $84 …. Read the original article  : here.

Indian equities open on firm note

MUMBAI – Indian equities began trading on the first day of the new fiscal on a firm note, with a key market index up nearly 100 points within an hour of trading Thursday, backed by strong cues from other Asian markets.

The sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) opened at 17,555.04 points against … Read more : Indian equities open on firm note.

India spells ‘easy’ terms for $1 bn loan to Bangladesh

DHAKA – Bangladesh says the terms set for the $1 billion loan offered by India during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s New Delhi visit in January are “as easy as those of the Asian Development Bank (ADB)”.

India has offered the loan at 1.75 percent interest rate. Last week, it spelt the terms in a draft agreement …. Read the original article  : India spells ‘easy’ terms for $1 bn loan to Bangladesh.

BlackBerry holds No 1 position in US, posts $2.46-b profit

TORONTO – BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM) reported 35 percent jump in its revenue over the previous fiscal year, netting in $15 billion in fiscal 2010.

The world leader in wireless communication posted a net profit of $2.46 billion for the current fiscal year ending Wednesday – up 29.8 percent from the previous year.
Interestingly, …. Read the original article  : here.

Current soda taxes too small to cut consumption or childhood obesity, study suggests

Study: Small soda taxes don’t dent obesity

ATLANTA – Small taxes on soda do little to reduce soft drink consumption or prevent childhood obesity, but larger levies probably would, according to new research.
The study is being released as a recent wave of proposals would raise soda taxes or create new ones on sugared beverages. But they’ll … Read more »».

Citigroup says Primerica IPO prices above expected range, raises $320.4 million

Citigroup’s Primerica IPO raises $320.4 million

NEW YORK – Citigroup says the initial public stock offering of its Primerica life insurance business has raised $320.4 million.
The bank said about 21.4 million shares in Primerica were sold at $15 each. That’s above Citigroup’s initial expectation of selling 18 million shares in a range of $12 to $14 …. Original article  : Citigroup says Primerica IPO prices above expected range, raises $320.4 million.

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