Petrol pump operators threaten strike on 23rd April 2012 Petrol Strike

April 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Petrol pump operators today threatened to go on a one-day strike on April 23 demanding a hike in commission they get on fuel sales.

“It has been decided that all petrol pumps of public sector oil marketing companies in the country shall ob

serve one day protest closure in the first instance from midnight of April 22-23 till the midnight of April 23-24,” Federation of All India Petroleum Traders (FAIPT) General Secretary Ajay Bansal said here.

Further, FAIPT, which claims to represent dealers of over 40,000 petrol pumps in the country, will go on an indefinite strike from midnight of April 29-30, if their demands are not met.

He said the oil ministry has not implemented recommendation of its own committee that was constituted to go into the issue of commission paid to dealers.

The committee headed by Joint Secretary (Marketing) in Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had recommended a dealer commission of 0.39 paise per litre on petrol and 0.17 paise a litre on diesel. But the ministry gave only 0.27 paise for petrol and 0.15 paise for diesel.

“Our demand for 5% commission on the invoice value of petroleum products has been turned down by the committee without any proper reason,” he said.

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UPDATE 1-Kemira Q2 profit tops consensus, 2010 EBIT to rise

July 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

HELSINKI, July 29 (Reuters) – Finnish chemicals firm Kemira (KRA1V.HE) reported higher second-quarter profit due to stronger demand across all its units, and predicted full-year earnings would rise year on year.

“Customer demand is getting stronger. Operating profit from continuing operations, excluding non-recurring items, is expected to grow notably from last year,” the firm said in a statement on Thursday.

April-to-June underlying operating profit rose 38 percent versus a year ago to 40.5 million euros ($52.7 million), at the top end of forecasts in a Reuters poll of analysts. Revenues rose 12 percent to 545 million, trumping all expectations.

“The recovery in demand which started at the end of the first quarter also continued in the second quarter,” said Kemira, a supplier of chemicals to the paper, oil and water industries. ($1=.7684 Euro) (Editing by Jon Loades-Carter)

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Daiwa: hit by Australian dollar derivatives loss

July 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

July 27 (Reuters) – Daiwa Securities Group (8601.T) suffered a loss of slightly less than 10 billion yen ($115 million) on Australian dollar derivatives, Chief Financial Officer Nobuyuki Iwamoto said on Tuesday.

The loss helped push Daiwa to a 1.19 billion yen ($13.7 million) net loss in the April-June quarter. (Reporting by Junko Fujita)

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Thai govt lifts emergency in more provinces

July 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

July 20 (Reuters) – Thailand’s government said on Tuesday it was lifting a state of emergency in three provinces but it would remain in force in others including Bangkok, after being imposed in April to help authorities cope with political unrest.

The government had lifted the emergency in five provinces on July 6 when the initial period came to an end, but extended it for another three months in other areas covering a quarter of the country because it said anti-government elements still posed a threat.

The state of emergency bans political gatherings of more than five people and gives the government powers to censor the media. It also gives broad powers to the security forces, including the right to detain suspects without charge. (Reporting by Pracha Harirasapitak; Editing by Alan Raybould)

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Taiwan’s HTC Q2 profit up about 33 pct y/y

July 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment

July 6 (Reuters) – Taiwan smartphone maker HTC Corp (2498.TW) reported an around 33 percent rise in second-quarter profit, it said on Tuesday.

HTC’s unaudited net profit in April-June was T$8.64 billion ($268 million), the company said in a statement, without giving further details.

In the same period a year earlier, it had reported an audited net profit of T$6.5 billion.

Sales reached T$23.86 billion in June.

HTC ranks behind bigger smartphone rivals Nokia Oyj (NOK1V.HE), Blackberry maker Research in Motion (RIM.TO), iPhone maker Apple Inc (AAPL.O) and Motorola Inc (MOT.N) in the global smartphone rankings, according to research firm IDC. (US$1=T$32.2) (Reporting by Roger Tung)

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Nikkei pares losses to close off seven-month low

July 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – Japan’s Nikkei share average edged up on Tuesday, paring losses to climb back above support at a key retracement level after falling to a seven-month low.

The benchmark Nikkei started trade below 9,200, key support around the level of a 50 percent retracement from its March 2009 low to its April high on fears over China’s property market, before hitting a seven-month low of 9,091.70 and coming within sight of its next support — 9,076, a trough touched last November.

But as the yen’s gains were tempered and as Chinese stocks rose the benchmark pared its losses, closing the day up 0.8 percent or 71.26 points at 9,338.04. The broader Topix gained 1.2 percent to 847.24.

(Reporting by Shinichi Saoshiro)

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Nikkei back above key retracement, off 7-month low

July 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment

July 6 (Reuters) – Japan’s Nikkei share average edged up on Tuesday, paring losses to climb back above support at a key retracement level after falling to a seven-month low.

The benchmark Nikkei .N225 started trade below 9,200, key support around the level of a 50 percent retracement from its March 2009 low to its April high on fears over China’s property market, before hitting a seven-month low of 9,091.70 and coming within sight of its next support — 9,076, a trough touched last November.

But as the yen’s gains were tempered and as Chinese stocks rose the benchmark pared its losses, closing the day up 0.8 percent or 71.26 points at 9,338.04. The broader Topix gained 1.2 percent to 847.24. (Reporting by Shinichi Saoshiro)

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Nikkei hits 7-mth closing low, breaks key support

July 2, 2010 By Leave a Comment

July 1 (Reuters) – Japan’s Nikkei average fell 2 percent on Thursday, breaking a key support to hit a seven-month closing low, with market players citing a rise in risk avoidance underscored by falls on Wall Street, a higher yen and slower China manufacturing growth.

Market players said the Nikkei’s next target is just above 9,000, a low tested in November and July 2009, after the index broke 9,200, near the 50 percent retracement from the Nikkei’s March 2009 low to its high in April.

The benchmark Nikkei .N225 shed 191.04 points to 9,191.60, its lowest close since late November. It fell as low as 9,147.68 at one stage.

The broader Topix fell 1.6 percent to 828.39. (Reporting by Aiko Hayashi)

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Chile bank system profit up 53.3 pct in Jan-May

July 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

June 30 (Reuters) – Chile’s banking sector profit for the January-May period rose 53.3 percent from a year earlier on greater loans and interest margins, the Banking and Financial Institutions Superintendency said on Wednesday.

Financials

Bank earnings totaled 690.117 billion pesos ($1.297 billion) in the first five months of 2010. However earnings fell 9.3 percent in May compared to April due to lower returns from financial operations, and higher operating costs and provisions.

Santander Chile (SAN.N)(STG.SN), Chile’s largest bank, posted a net profit of 206.676 billion pesos ($388 million) in the period. The superintendency did not provide a year-ago figure.

The country’s No. 2 bank, Banco de Chile CHI.SN, earned 170.163 billion pesos ($320 million) in the five-month period, the superintendency said. ($1=532 pesos at end-May) (Reporting by Antonio de la Jara; Editing by Brad Haynes)

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ICICI Bank sees 20 pct rise in FY11 home loan demand

June 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

June 25 (Reuters) – ICICI Bank (ICBK.BO) expects home loan demand at India’s second-largest lender to rise 20 percent in the financial year that began in April, chief executive of the bank’s housing finance unit said on Friday.

Financials

“There are fewer transactions in major centres like Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore but growth is continuing in other areas,” Harshil Mehta told reporters on the sidelines of a real estate conference. (Reporting by Prashant Mehra and Rajesh Kurup)

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BRIEF-Isiklar Holding plans IPO next year

June 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment

June 22 (Reuters) – Riza Kutlu Isik, chief executive of Turkey’s Isiklar Holding — which has interests in construction, energy, foundry and shopping malls — tells Reuters on Tuesday: * Isiklar Holding plans to hold an initial public offering in April-May next year. (Reporting by Evrim Ballim)

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Nigerian leader says too early to talk of 2011 run

June 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

June 20 (Reuters) – Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said on Sunday it was too early to say whether or not he will contest elections due by next April.

“It’s too early to make a pronouncement,” Jonathan said in an interview broadcast by the Nigerian Television Authority. (Reporting by Felix Onuah; Writing by Randy Fabi; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

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UPDATE 1-Healthcare Locums says no longer in offer talks

June 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – British medical-staffing firm Healthcare Locums Plc (HLO.L) said talks with a prospective buyer had ended and it was no longer in an offer period.

In April, the AIM-listed company had said it received an approach that may or may not lead to an offer. [ID:nLDE6380JU]

“The board of HCL (Healthcare Locums) announces that both parties have now agreed that all discussions in relation to this approach have now ceased,” Healthcare Locums said in a statement.

Shares of the company closed at 217.50 pence on Monday on the London Stock Exchange. (Reporting by Aditi Samajpati in Bangalore; Editing by Aradhana Aravindan)

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RPT-Port Hedland May total iron ore exports up 2.9 pct

June 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

June 15 (Reuters) – Iron ore shipments via Australia’s Port Hedland rose 2.9 percent to 15.02 million tonnes in May from 14.59 million tonnes in April, according to port authority figures released on Tuesday.

Basic Materials

China remained the largest destination with shipments of 9.98 million tonnes versus 10.9 million tonnes in April.

BHP Billiton Ltd/Plc (BHP.AX)(BLT.L) is the port’s biggest user followed by Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (FMG.AX). (Reporting by James Regan; Editing by Mark Bendeich)

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Port Hedland May total iron ore exports up 2.9 pct

June 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

June 15 (Reuters) – Iron ore shipments via Australia’s Port Hedland rose 2.9 percent to 15.02 million tonnes in May from 14.59 million tonnes in April, according to port authority figures released on Tuesday.

Basic Materials

China remained the largest destination with shipments of 9.98 million tonnes versus 10.9 million tonnes in April.

BHP Billiton Ltd/Plc (BHP.AX)(BLT.L) is the port’s biggest user followed by Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (FMG.AX). (Reporting by James Regan; Editing by Mark Bendeich)

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India May inflation to be in same range as April-finsec

June 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

June 14 (Reuters) – India’s May headline inflation should be in the same range as April, Finance Secretary Ashok Chawla told Reuters on Monday.

The median forecast for May inflation in a Reuters poll is 9.56 percent, which compares with April’s reading of 9.59 percent. [ID:nSGE65A09I]

The data is due at 0630 GMT. (Reporting by Abhijit Neogy)

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Exiled Kyrgyz leader Bakiyev denies role in riots

June 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

June 13 (Reuters) – Exiled former Kyrgyz president Kurmanbek Bakiyev denied on Sunday any involvement in a wave of ethnic violence in the south of Kyrgyzstan that has killed at least 82 people.

Bakiyev said in a statement that reports of his involvement were “shameless lies” and that the interim government that replaced him after an uprising in April were proving incapable of quelling the unrest.

(Reporting by Andrei Makhovsky; Writing by Conor Humphries;

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Vienna airport had 11.4 pct more passengers in May

June 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

June 10 (Reuters) – Flughafen Wien AG (VIEV.VI) said on Thursday it registered 11.4 percent more passengers in May, for a cumulative rise this year of 4.3 percent to 7.1 million passengers.

Industrials

The figure resumed its rise after a decline in April due to the volcanic ash cloud that caused airspace closures. (Reporting by Marcel Michelson; Editing by Mike Nesbit)
Industrials

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UPDATE 1-Roche wins wider EU label for arthritis drug

June 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

June 8 (Reuters) – Roche (ROG.VX) said on Tuesday the European Commission had extended the label for its drug Roactemra to reduce the rate of progression of joint damage and improve physical function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, when given in combination with the older drug methotrexate.

The move had been expected following a positive recommendation from the European Medicines Agency in April.

The drug, which is known as Actemra in the United States, is currently approved for use in combination with methotrexate to treat adults with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis who respond inadequately to other treatments.

The new label extension is a recognition that Roactemra can also inhibit structural damage to joints, reinforcing its effectiveness.

(Writing by Ben Hirschler)

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UPDATE 1-Zain, Bharti to close African deal on Tuesday-sources

June 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

June 8 (Reuters) – Kuwait’s Zain (ZAIN.KW) and India’s Bharti Airtel (BRTI.BO) are expected to close a $9 billion deal for most of the Kuwaiti firm’s African assets on Tuesday, sources said.

Zain will receive $7.9 billion from Bharti on Tuesday before both firms make an announcement about the final closing, sources close to the deal told Reuters.

Bharti has called for a press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday at 0900 GMT, but did not provide more details. Sunil Mittal, the firm’s chairman, will attend the press conference.

In March, Zain struck a $9 billion deal selling its operations in 15 African countries, excluding Sudan and Morocco, to Bharti.

Kuwaiti daily al-Rai said in a report earlier on Tuesday, citing informed sources, that $400 million will be deposited into the Kuwaiti firm’s accounts after completing some procedures related to the transfer of Zain’s license in Gabon to Bharti.

In April, Zain said that the Gabon government has approved the sale of Zain Gabon to Bharti. [ID:nSGE63T024]

The remaining $700 million will be received by Zain a year after the closing, according to the agreement.

Zain’s shares were halted since May 30 pending the distribution of its 2009 cash dividend after its shareholders approved a cash dividend of 170 fils per share, which excludes distribution from the sale of the African units to Bharti. [ID:nLDE64Q0TG]

There are 1,000 fils to the dinar. (Reporting by Eman Goma; Editing by Thomas Atkins)

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