Vol. 5 Num 101 Fri. September 03, 2004       Home  News Today's Index Front Page Business Sports Culture General Views Editorial Letters to Editor Write to Editor Sections World Others About Us Contact Advertisement Supplements Archives Business   Stock market unscathed by volatile politics DSE index gains 213 points in August prompting SEC to air note of caution The country's premier bourse remains immune to the current political instability stemming from the deadly grenade attacks on a rally of the main opposition party, with the market showing an upward trend   Foreign trade instt limping Faces dearth of manpower, funds Established more than a year ago, Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI) is yet to start its activities in full swing, thanks to dearth of manpower and funds.   Indian textile units plan jt ventures with China A section of Indian textile industry is considering either setting up joint venture with Chinese firms or outsourcing from China to face the tough competition in the post-quota regime.   Indian central bank worried about oil price impact India's central bank has sounded a note of caution on the prospects of the country's economic growth and inflation due to uncertain monsoon and high international oil prices.   Malaysia seeks to become top outsourcing centre in Asia Malaysia will seek to lower the cost of business to remain competitive as one of the region's top outsourcing centres and bolster growth in its eight-year-old high-tech zone, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad   Asean ministers begin talks on economic integration Southeast Asian economic ministers began talks here Thursday to discuss ways to speed up economic integration and free trade in an effort to move closer to establishing a regional economic community.   GMG Airlines to start maiden international flight Sept 8 Private carrier GMG Airlines will launch air service on the Chittagong-Kolkata route from September 8, spreading the wings of the private airliner abroad.   JOBS training on coconut shell button production Job Opportunities and Business Support (JOBS) has recently started training on coconut shell button production at Mohammadpur in Dhaka in association with Button Hole Limited, an export-oriented coconut   OneTel gets licence to operate fixed line phones OneTel Communications Limited has got licence as a private fixed line telephone operator.   Midas Financing approves 10pc stock dividend Midas Financing Limited has approved the recommendation of 10 percent stock dividend for the financial year 2003-04.   Beijing, Manila see hope for China-Asean free trade zone Philippine President Gloria Arroyo and Chinese President Hu Jintao expressed hope on Wednesday for the early establishment of a planned free trade zone linking China and 10 Southeast Asian countries.   Pakistan's reforms may slow down, targets slip Shaukat Aziz is hailed as the driving force behind Pakistan's economic recovery, but the reform process that put the country back on track may slow now he has become prime minister, analysts said Wednesday.   Oil threatens US recovery, says Stiglitz The US economy is in a "fragile" recovery which is threatened by rising oil prices, 2001 Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz said Wednesday.   Japan threatens sanction against US in WTO trade dispute Japan Wednesday threatened sanctions against the United States before the year's end after getting the green light from the WTO unless Washington repeals a controversial anti-dumping law.   Thai state bank under fire over Myanmar loan A Thai Senate panel has criticised a state bank for lending $15 million to military-ruled Myanmar for a project to be run by a firm founded by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawtra, its chairman saidThursday.   Nissan sees higher US, Asia sales in '05 Japan's Nissan Motor said Thursday it was sticking to its year to September 2005 sales target of 3.6 million vehicles, with its overseas business helping offset the sluggish domestic market.   FDI in Asean rises 48pc in 2003 Foreign direct investment in Southeast Asia rose by 48 percent in 2003, demonstrating the region's resilience in the face of setbacks, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) said Thursday.     Advertisement