*In the biggest nationalisation of modern American history, the US government took control of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, the two mortgage lenders who own or guarantee about half of the American $12 trillion mortgage market. Initial cost of the

Investors and businessmen are unhappy. Some have switched off their mobiles and immersed themselves deeper into their faith to pray for a way out of the current difficult patch.

The bad news is that we are going to miss the cotton production target of 14.11 million bales (155kg each) for the year 2008-09, for the fourth year in a row, in spite of a better plant population and growth of greater number of bolls.

The SBP received bids worth Rs9.522 billion for three year Ijara Sukuk against the pre auction target of Rs10 billion

Prices of rice varieties, mainly fine types including kernel and sela; most of pulses as well as some raw materials remained under pressure and fell sharply lower.

There is a loud whispering that a section of the leading foreign investors is indulging in off-the-floor transactions because of the price freeze and is inclined to get out of the market to meet its financial demands in other markets after the global

Official statistics revealed that during July-August of FY09 the country faced a current account deficit of $2.572 billion against $1.571 billion during the corresponding period of last fiscal year. Increasing trade deficit followed by slow growth in

The supply chain is controlled by the middle men, many of them are speculators and hoarders. They pocket much of the gains, with the growers not fully compensated and consumers paying a heavy price for it.

It is not for the first time that India has stopped Chenab water to fill its newly-built dam. It did the same in August, and almost got away with it. Pakistan protested, and it only partially restored supplies. This time, it did not even bother to do

Although informal sources still meet a substantial portion, the farmers’ dependence on credit is increasing for production particularly because of rising cost of inputs.

In Sindh, rice was grown on 7,12,524 hectares during 2008, compared with 5,94,026 hectares last year. This shows that there has been an increase in rice growing area. Rice is mainly grown in Larkana, Shikarpur, Jacobabad and Dadu districts in upper

The US trade deficit soared in July, the Commerce Department said, as oil imports hit an all-time high. While exports increased, economists expect slowing economies in Europe and Asia will reduce export growth later this year. The July gap between

Over the last 60 years, the sector has not developed according to a well thought out strategy. Such a strategy — had one been formulated —would have given careful consideration to at least the following aspects. Given the country’s resource

The Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) is being persuaded by the federal government to import wheat through Gwadar Port. If TCP imports wheat through Gwadar, it would be the second shipment at the new port this year.

Later, the process of reforms was geared up by the country’s financial managers Shaukat Aziz/DrIshrat Husain in the late 1999. As the financial health of the HBL and UBL was precarious, the government injected funds in these banks even prior to 1999