Briefing 2023-08-26

Stocks end four-week losing streak

The benchmark equity index bounced back in the outgoing week, snapping a four-week losing streak, as smart investors put fresh bets on beaten-down stocks, pushing the turnover higher. Still, cautious investors stayed on the sidelines to wait for upbeat outlook on both the economic and political fronts. Page 9

Modi, Xi hold rare sitdown

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held "candid and in-depth" talks to ease tensions along their disputed frontier, Beijing said Friday, after a rare face-to-face encounter between the two leaders. Relations between the world's two most populous countries have been in deep freeze since a deadly Himalayan border clash that killed 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops in 2020. Page 14

Sheikh Kamal U-18 Club Cup Rugby begins

Sheikh Kamal U-18 Club Cup (sevens) Rugby competition began on Friday at Paltan ground adjoining Bangabandhu National Stadium in the city. Youth and Sports Ministry's additional secretary Md Nazrul Islam formally inaugurated the two-day meet as the chief guest, organised by Bangladesh Rugby Federation Union (BRFU). Page 13

Oil prices jump

Oil prices jumped more than 1 per cent on Friday as the dollar firmed. Brent crude rose 98 cents, or about 1.2 per cent, to $84.34 a barrel by 1315 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude was up 92 cents, also roughly 1.2 per cent, at $79.97. Page 15