Finance News: Latest Financial News, Finance News today in Bangladesh

External interest payment up 162pc in July-March, FY24

External interest payment increased by 162 per cent year-on-year in the first nine months of the fiscal year 2023-24 (FY24) as debt servicing for loans taken for some mega projects has started, reports BSS.According to the finance ministry's "Quarterly Debt Bulletin" released on Wednesday, Tk 116.02 billion (11,602 crore) was...

ICCB terms 'BBIN Agreement' as catalyst for economic growth

International Chamber of Commerce-Bangladesh (ICCB) has termed the BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal) agreement as a catalyst for economic growth and development, reports BSS.The BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal) initiative, officially launched in 2015, has been created to tackle the logistical and economic challenges that have historically hindered...

GP provides free 10 minutes, 500MB internet to flood victims

Mobile phone operator Grameenphone is providing free 10 minutes talk time and 500 MB of internet to help maintain emergency communication with everyone in flood-affected areas of Feni, Cumilla, Noakhali, Moulvibazar, Khagrachhari, Habiganj, and Brahmanbaria, reports BSS.Customers can avail of the free minutes and internet by dialing *121*5050#, which will...

Jalal Ahmed named BERC chairman

Jalal Ahmed, former chairman of Petrobangla, has been appointed as the new chairman of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC), reports UNB.The government has appointed him to lead the energy regulatory body for the next three years.Jalal's appointment follows the resignation of the previous chairman, Nurul Amin, who stepped down...

Al-Arafah Islami Bank approves 15pc dividend

The 29th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC. approved 10% Cash Dividend and 5% Stock Dividend for the year ended on 31 December 2023. The AGM was held on Thursday with Chairman of the Bank Salim Rahman in the chair, said the bank in a statement. Vice...

Unilever Consumer stands beside flood affected people in Sylhet

The Unilever Consumer Limited has stood beside the flood-affected people in Sylhet region with emergency humanitarian assistance. This humanitarian assistance has been provided to some 1000 affected families in Sylhet region to offset the impact on the local economy and help minimise the problems related to livelihood of affected people,...

India business activity extends robust growth streak in August

BENGALURU, Aug 22 (Reuters): India's business activity extended its robust growth streak in August as a stronger services industry offset a slight slowing in manufacturing expansion, according to a survey that indicated price pressures also were easing.Those findings suggest India will hold on to its title of fastest-growing major economy...

Saudi Arabia's non-oil exports rise 7.3pc

RIYADH, Aug 22 (Arab News): Saudi Arabia's non-oil exports increased by 7.3 per cent in June, reaching SR21.59 billion ($5.75 billion) compared to the same month last year, official data showed. According to data from the General Authority for Statistics, chemical and allied products led the non-oil exports, accounting for...

Eurozone business activity gets boost from Olympics

LONDON, Aug 22 (Reuters): Eurozone business activity showed surprising strength in August despite firms raising prices, a survey showed, potentially weakening expectations for two more rate cuts from the European Central Bank this year.However there were signs the upswing may be temporary, with readings flattered by a sharp rise in...

Chinese internet giant Baidu posts flat revenue as consumption slumps

BEIJING, Aug 22 (AFP): Chinese internet giant Baidu posted flat second-quarter revenue on Thursday, as an uncertain economic outlook in the country weighs on household consumption.Baidu, which operates China's top search engine, derives a large part of its sales from advertising-a sector vulnerable to slumps in personal and business spending.Its...

Robi offers free talk-time, internet in flood-hit areas

Mobile phone operator Robi is providing 20 minutes of free talk-time and 250 megabytes of free internet to provide emergency communication support in flood-hit areas, reports BSS.Robi customers can access this free talk-time and internet by dialling *212*1#, with a validity period of three days. To check eligibility for the...

Comoros becomes WTO's 165th member

GENEVA, Aug 22 (AFP): The Comoros on Wednesday became the 165th member of the World Trade Organization after negotiating terms for 17 years."I am particularly proud to welcome Comoros as the newest member of the WTO," said the organisation's director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala."Comoros's membership will add a valuable voice to the...