Briefing15-10-2020

Digitisation spurs Agrani's business

Agrani Bank has topped in deposit growth among its peer state-owned banks in 2019 mainly due to improvement in its client services. Its deposit growth surged to a new high at 11.3 per cent in 2019, while Rupali Bank at 6.4 per cent, Sonali Bank at 5.6 per cent and Janata Bank at 2.3 per cent, according to official statistics. Page 9

Two Covid-19 drug trials halted

Safety concerns prompted two big US pharmaceutical companies to halt trials of experimental Covid-19 drugs, dealing a blow to hopes for a medical intervention to stop the pandemic. Eli Lilly on Tuesday said it was halting enrolment for its antibody treatment, similar to one taken by US President Donald Trump this month. Page 14

EU can slap tariffs on U.S. goods

The World Trade Organization (WTO) on Tuesday ruled that the European Union (EU) can impose tariffs on U.S. products worth around 4 billion U.S. dollars, in retaliation for government subsidies given to the aircraft manufacturer Boeing. Page 17

Oil prices slip as virus stokes demand

Oil prices slipped on Wednesday on concerns that fuel demand will continue to falter as rising coronavirus cases across Europe and in the United States, the world's biggest oil consumer, could impede economic growth. Page 19