World Economy

Recession fears trump inflation worries in Australia

Recession fears trump inflation worries in AustraliaSydney - Despite inflation rising to its fastest pace since 1995, interest rates are likely to fall again before the end of the year because the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is more worried about slowing growth than rising prices, economists said Wednesday.

The consumer price index (CPI) rose 1.2 per cent in the September quarter, taking the annualized inflation rate to 5 per cent from 4.5 per cent in the year to June.

Egyptian government attempts to reassure investors

Egyptian government attempts to reassure investorsCairo- Egyptian ministers emphasized terms including "healthy," "safe" and "sound" to describe the local economy during a two-day Euromoney business conference in Cairo, which concluded Tuesday.

The theme that they conveyed was: "We are not worried."

As panic spreads in markets worldwide amid the international economic slowdown, the local officials laboured to reassure investors about Egypt as a place with ample opportunities.

Argentina pushes proposal to nationalize pension funds

Argentina pushes proposal to nationalize pension fundsBuenos Aires - Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner on Tuesday signed a bill to unify the country's pension system into a public regime, following 14 years in which workers could opt for either a private or a public pension scheme.

The bill that will nationalize private pension funds needs to be approved by Congress. It would allow the government to collect the compulsory pension contributions of close to 3.6 million workers - worth some 4.6 billion dollars per year - who are currently in the private system.

Economic crisis will not deter US foreign aid

Economic crisis will not deter US foreign aid Washington - President George W Bush said Tuesday the United States must remain committed to providing assistance to developing countries despite economic turmoil at home.

Bush gave the keynote address at the White House's Summit on International Development in Washington, touting his administration's achievements while reminding the gathering that combating poverty abroad is vital to US national security interests.

‘India ranks first in implementing anti-dumping duties’

World Trade OrganisationNew Delhi, Oct 21 : The World Trade Organisation Secretariat has said that India leads all WTO member-countries in implementing anti-dumping measures followed by European Union and Indonesia during the first six months of 2008.

“Concerning application of new final anti-dumping measures, India reported applying 16 new measures, thereby registering an increase of 78 per cent during January-June over the same period last year,” the WTO said in its report.

India applied for six of the 16 new measures on products in the chemicals sector, it said.

Chinese economy in slow down mode in wake of global meltdown

Beijing, Oct. 21: The global meltdown has affected China''s booming economy too.

A CBS report says that while the Chinese economy is still growing, it is doing so at its slowest pace since 2003.

It quoted the National Statistics Bureau as saying on Monday that the economy has expanded by just nine percent in the third quarter, the slowest rate since 2003. By comparison, the economy grew 10.6 percent in the first quarter and 10.1 percent in the second quarter of 2008.

The government is still drafting specifics of broad plans to help counter the chill on the world''s fastest growing major economy.

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