Asian stock markets gain on US corporate earnings, jump in oil price; Europe mixed

Asian markets rise on earnings, Europe mixed

BANGKOK – Asian stocks markets mostly shot higher Wednesday as robust U.S. earnings offered further evidence of recovery in the world’s biggest economy. European shares were mixed.
Some of the region’s major benchmarks were up 1.5 percent or more while oil jumped above $84 a barrel. The dollar rose against …. Source  : Asian stock markets gain on US corporate earnings, jump in oil price; Europe mixed.

Vizag Steel Plant Increases Prices

VIZAG, ANDHRA PRADESH, (GaeaTimes.com)- The Vishakhapatnam Steel Plant, or the Vizag Steel Plant, has declared that it would be hiking its prices by about 3 to 4 percent this year. This comes as the second hike in this year, for, only in the last month, the prices in the plant had been increased … Read more : Vizag Steel Plant Increases Prices.

Revenues from 3G auction may touch Rs.45,000 crore: Raja

NEW DELHI – The government hopes to net around Rs.45,000 crore from the ongoing auctions to award radio frequency spectrum for third generation (3G) telecom services and for rolling out broadband wireless internet services, Communications Minister A. Raja said Tuesday.

“The auction of 3G and Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) spectrum put together is likely to fetch …. Read the original article  : here.

HLL Life Care ends fiscal 2009-10 with record turnover

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – Leading condom manufacturer HLL Life Care closed the last fiscal (2009-10) with a record turnover of Rs.445 crore, the mini ratna company’s Managing Director M. Ayyappan said here.

Formerly known as Hindustan Latex Limited, the city-based enterprise recorded a turnover of Rs.371 crore in 2008-09.
HLL Life Care is the leading provider of …. Read the original article  : here.

Airlines group says industry lost over $1.7 billion from ash cloud disruptions over Europe

IATA: airlines lost over $1.7BN in ash chaos

BERLIN – The International Air Transport Association says disruptions to European air travel from the volcanic ash cloud have cost the industry at least $1.7 billion.
IATA says airlines lost revenues of $400 million each day during the first three days of grounding.
The group’s chief executive says the scale …. Read the original article  : here.

Bangladesh invites pre-qualification bids for Padma bridge

DHAKA – Bangladesh has invited international bids for pre-qualification for the construction of a road-cum-rail bridge over river Padma that will link the northern and southern parts of the country better.

Communications Minister Abul Hossain said Tuesday the government wanted the construction work to start by December this year.
“We are expecting to complete the bridge …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Bangladesh invites pre-qualification bids for Padma bridge.

Pakistan inks deal for US guided-missile frigate

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has inked a $78 million deal for acquiring the US guided-missile frigate USS McInerney that will join the fleet in January 2011 after a $65 million refurbishment to be paid for with foreign military aid provided by the US to friendly countries.

Under the contract, Pakistan is to take over the ship … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Pakistan inks deal for US guided-missile frigate.

Talwalkars IPO Worth 60.5lakh

MUMBAI, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- Talwalkars, which happens to be one of the most prominent fitness clubs in India (51 clubs in 24 cities) has gone ahead to hit the market with an IPO (Initial Public Offering) of 60.5 lakh in equity shares. Talwalkars is based out of Mumbai and as speculated, it shall raise a price … Read more >>.

AP-GfK Poll: Honk if you prefer US cars: Americans see US autos topping Asian competitors

AP-GfK Poll: Americans say US cars top Asian autos

WASHINGTON – After a long romance with foreign rivals, America’s love affair with the automobile is returning to its roots with a revived affection for U.S.-made cars.
Slightly more Americans now say the United States makes better-quality vehicles than Asia does, with 38 percent saying U.S. cars are …. Read the original article  : here.

HDFC Bank New Plans

NEW DELHI, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- One of the leading private sector banking institutions of India, HDFC bank has unveiled its plan of selling silver bars during a festival in May. There are instances of banks selling gold coins during festive seasons but silver bar is something that has not been sold by any bank so … Read more : HDFC Bank New Plans.

Another train on Kalka-Shimla route

SHIMLA – A special holiday train has been started between Kalka in Haryana and Shimla in Himachal Pradesh to meet the tourist rush.

With this, the number of trains plying daily between Kalka and Shimla, separated by 96 km, have increased to six.
The latest train will depart from Kalka at 6.30 a.m. “More special trains …. Read the original article  : Another train on Kalka-Shimla route.

BJP boycotts Lok Sabha to join rally against price rise

NEW DELHI – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday boycotted the Lok Sabha proceedings to join its mass rally here to protest against the spiralling prices of essential commodities.

BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain told IANS that party MPs felt it was more important to be part of the rally.
BJP leader and Leader of …. Source  : BJP boycotts Lok Sabha to join rally against price rise.

Rusting car to auction for 200,000 pounds

LONDON – A classic Aston Martin, which has been rusting in a barn for the last 20 years and now looks like a wreck, is expected to auction for a whopping 200,000 pounds.

James Bond films made the DB5 style car famous. DB5s were one of the most expensive cars available in the 1960s, when they …. Source article  : Rusting car to auction for 200,000 pounds.

Asian stock markets gain on US corporate earnings, jump in oil price

Asian markets rise on boost from earnings
BANGKOK – Asian stocks markets shot higher Wednesday as robust U.S. earnings offered further evidence of recovery in the world’s biggest economy.

Some of the region’s major benchmarks were up 1.5 percent or more while oil jumped above $84 a barrel. The dollar rose against the euro and largely held … Read : Asian stock markets gain on US corporate earnings, jump in oil price.

Deal reached in contract negotiations between NYC doormen, building owners, averting strike

Deal reached in NYC doormen talks over contract

NEW YORK – An agreement has been reached between New York City doormen and building owners, averting a threatened midnight strike.
Union spokesman Kwame Patterson says they reached a deal Wednesday that includes a nearly 10 percent wage increase over four years and no cuts in benefits for workers.
The …. Read the original article  : here.

Rains cheer Himachal’s apple growers

SHIMLA – Apple growers in Himachal Pradesh, India’s major fruit basket, are hoping for a good crop this year because of favourable weather following rains in the last few days that have brought the temperature down and added moisture to the soil.

“The weather has been really good this time and my estimation is that the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Rains cheer Himachal’s apple growers.

Canadian firm set for drilling in Uttarakhand

VANCOUVER – Canada’s Pebble Creek mining company said here Tuesday that it is all set to commence drilling operations at its Askot project in India’s Uttarakhand state.

Situated in Pithoragarh district of the state, the Askot project likely contains deposits of gold, silver, copper, zinc and lead.
The Vancouver-based company said it will undertake drilling … Read : Canadian firm set for drilling in Uttarakhand.

Moves by major economies saved 21 mn jobs: ILO

WASHINGTON – Policies initiated by the Group of 20 (G20) major economies in response to the economic crisis have saved or created some 21 million jobs since last year, according to the UN’s International Labour Organization (ILO).

The results of the new ILO study were presented to a meeting of G20 labour and employment ministers here …. Original article  : Moves by major economies saved 21 mn jobs: ILO.

64 mn more to live in extreme poverty: World Bank

WASHINGTON – The impact of global recession will force an additional 64 million people across the world to live in extreme poverty by 2010, warns the World Bank.

The economic crisis and recession have substantially increased the challenge of meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) targets, according to the World Development Indicator (WDI) 2010 released by … Read more : 64 mn more to live in extreme poverty: World Bank.

Electric cars to be in vogue by 2020

BERLIN – State-of-the-art electric cars will be in vogue by 2020 and global sales of such vehicles will amount to around 470 billion euro ($635 billion), a media report has said.

However, with the manufacture and sale of electric vehicles, there is also a need for proper universal charging systems, which can only be made when … Read more : Electric cars to be in vogue by 2020.