Oil prices ease ahead of Yellen testimony

SINGAPORE: Oil prices eased in Asian trade Thursday as investors await congressional testimony by the US central bank chief for fresh clues about the state of the world´s biggest economy, analysts said.... Read more »

Pakistan to hold 3G,4G auctions in April:Finance minister

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will hold long-awaited auctions for 3G and 4G telecoms licences this April, the finance minister said on Friday, a step that could help boost the cash-strapped country’s foreign reserves. A... Read more »

Asian shares mixed after soft US data

HONG KONG: Asia’s markets were mixed on Wednesday as traders were left unimpressed by a weak batch of US economic indicators, although early losses were pared in Tokyo as the dollar staged... Read more »

Oil prices up ahead of US stockpiles

SINGAPORE: Oil prices edged higher in Asian trade Wednesday as dealers await the latest US crude stockpiles data for clues about demand in the world´s biggest economy at the tail-end of a... Read more »

WhatsApp to add free voice calls

BARCELONA: WhatsApp, the world’s biggest mobile messaging service, is to add a voice call service for its 450 million customers, laying down a new challenge to telecom network operators just days after... Read more »

HSBC profits tick higher in 2013 helped by cost cuts

HSBC has reported a 9% rise in profit for last year, boosted by cost cuts as it restructured the business. Reported pre-tax profit was $22.6bn (£13.6bn), compared with $20.6bn in 2012, the... Read more »

Batelco set to take control of Qualitynet

MANAMA: Batelco will take majority control of Kuwait’s Qualitynet after agreeing to double its stake in the Internet provider, the company said yesterday. Batelco, which operates in 14 countries, will buy 46... Read more »

1.6 billion dollar Thar Coal Mining Project in Sindh (Pakistan)

The project of Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company will initially provide 660 MW of power for Pakistan’s energy starved industrial units. It will complete in 2017 and help spur economic development and... Read more »

Oil prices down on speculation over US stimulus

Oil prices edged lower in Asian trade today on growing expectations the US Federal Reserve will scale back its stimulus programme after a key policy meeting this week, analysts said. New York’s... Read more »

Major moves to Glass-Steagall banking separation, as next financial crisis looms

Sydney (Release from CEC): The next phase of the global financial crisis is about to erupt, which will be much more violent than anything to date; the good news is, there is... Read more »

Ethics at Crossroads in Fortune 500 Firms

By Heide Malhotra It sounds so simple and straightforward: the concept that good morals allow an individual, a group, a nation, and the world to be upright and honest with an understanding of... Read more »

Australia’s hot ticket to Asian business

By Edward Kus & Robert Tilleard It is over 40 years since Gough Whitlam famously claimed the government had “missed the bus” on China. A recent survey of Australia’s next generation of leaders... Read more »