Briefing 20-10-2019

Omera road show today

Omera Petroleum Limited (OPL), country's largest LPG operator, will hold its IPO (initial public offering) road show today (Sunday) as part of the process of going public under the book building method. Page 9

Violence escalates in Barcelona

Violent clashes escalated in Barcelona late Friday, as radical Catalan separatists hurled rocks and fireworks at police, who responded with teargas and rubber bullets, turning the city centre into a chaotic battleground. Page 14

IMF warns of downside risks for Asia

Asia is expected to grow at 5.0 per cent in 2019 and 5.1 per cent in 2020, with risks to the projection still skewed downward, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) official said. "In line with the slowdown of global growth, the growth in the Asia Pacific region is expected to be the slowest since the global financial crisis in our context of prolonged global uncertainty," Changyong Rhee, director of IMF's Asia and Pacific Department, said during a press conference. Page 15

BKB plans Tk 100b special rural credit

Bangladesh Krishi Bank (BKB) is planning to undertake next year a Tk 100 billion credit programme for the small and marginal farmers as well as small rural entrepreneurs. If everything goes well, the long-term credit scheme is expected to start on March 17, 2020. Page 16