The branches of the banks in commercial areas and around shopping malls and marketplaces will remain open on July 2, 3 and 4 (Saturday, Sunday and Monday), according to a circular of Bangladesh Bank (BB) issued last week, reports BSS. The central bank in another circular directed all the commercial…

AFP, SINGAPORE: Oil prices rose in Asia yesterday as traders welcomed assurances from central bank around the world that they were ready to step in to…

AFP, TOKYO: The pound edged up yesterday after tumbling in US trade following hints from the head of the Bank of England that it was ready to cut interest rates to stem fallout from Britain's decision to quit the European Union. A week after the unexpected Brexit vote, Mark Carney sought to reassure…

AFP, LONDON: Global stocks rose yesterday, with the London market now in a much better place than before Britain's vote to leave the EU, and others…

AFP, TOKYO: Confidence among Japan's small firms and non-manufacturers worsened during the second quarter of the year, a central bank survey showed Friday, as the yen's surge threatened profits and growth in the world's number three economy. The Bank of Japan's closely watched Tankan…

AFP, DUSHANBE: Tajikistan announced yesterday it had awarded the Italian company Salini Impregilo a $3.9 billion (3.5-billion-euro) contract to build a hydroelectric dam that threatens to raise tensions in Central Asia. The ex-Soviet country's presidential press service said a state commission approved…

AFP, FRANKFURT: The uncertainty sparked by the British vote to leave European Union will "inevitably" harm economic recovery in the euro area, European Central Bank executive board member Benoit Coeure said in a newspaper interview yesterday. The pick-up in the eurozone economy "will…

AFP, BEIJING: Activity in Chinese factories suffered its sharpest deterioration for four months in June, figures showed yesterday, as weak demand and…

AFP, BERLIN: The German economy ministry said a special incentive to persuade consumers to buy electric cars will finally come into effect on Saturday.…

AFP, FRANKFURT: German auto maker Daimler said yesterday it plans to acquire the Dutch car-leasing specialist Athlon for 1.1 billion euros ($1.2 billion). "Daimler Financial Services ... signed an agreement to purchase Athlon Car Lease International for 1.1 billion euros from the Dutch De Lage…

UK manufacturers reported a pick-up in activity in June from May, according to a closely watched survey, reports BBC. However, data for the Markit/CIPS manufacturing purchasing managers' index was almost all collected before the 23 June referendum. There is a "clear risk" uncertainty resulting…

AFP, BRUSSELS: The European Union yesterday formally extended damaging economic sanctions against Russia by six months due to a lack of progress in resolving the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The measures target the oil, financial and defence sectors of the Russian economy and were first imposed after…