Briefing 07-05-2022

Banks post higher EPS growth in 2021

Most of the listed banks posted higher profits in 2021, compared to the previous year, largely due to higher operating income. According to market insiders, the central bank's latest relaxation on provisioning, bullish stock market and record imports and exports helped many banks to earn more last year. Page 9

China Asian Games 2022 postponed

The 2022 Asian Games scheduled to be held in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou in September has been postponed, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) said in a statement on Friday as China battles an ongoing wave of Omicron-led Covid-19 resurgence in many parts of the country. Page 14

Johnson a 'poor option' to lead the party

Labour has gained key London councils from the Conservatives, with Tories suffering losses across England in local election results so far. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said his party had reached a "turning point" and was "back on track" to succeed at the next general election. Page 11

T-bill, bond jump 36pc in July-March

Transactions of the government's fixed income tradable securities in the secondary market jumped significantly in the first nine months (July-March) of the current fiscal year (FY22). Bangladesh Bank statistics showed that combined secondary trading of these securities was recorded at Tk 1,706 billion in the first nine months of the current fiscal year compared to Tk 1,252.56 billion in the same period of the last fiscal year (FY21). Page 16