| Turkish lira firms, but investors cautious
Turkey's lira firmed in early trade on Thursday but investors were seen cautious ahead of key jobs data due in the United States on Friday. The lira strengthened to 1.4260 against the dollar in early trade from Wednesday's close of 1.4330, which followed a range-bound session. Despite recent losses from a global sell-off of risky assets, the lira is still more than 20 percent above a June 2006 trough, though slightly weaker than its end-2006 level. "Abroad the global turbulence has decreased which has affected us positively and that will continue today," one Istanbul trader said. He saw the lira trading in a range of 1.42 to 1.44 until Friday, when markets would be focused on U.S. non-farm payrolls data, a key indicator of the strength of the economy and a guide to future interest rate moves there.
US homophobes support Latvia's hate campaign
While Latvia makes faltering steps into Europes economic embrace, there are many who're determined to shun the equal rights and cultural tolerance that ultimately comes with the package. Latvia joined the EU and NATO in 2004 and has experienced some struggles to balance the coutry's nationalism with European laws and values. Unsurprisingly, it's been the Church thats resisted the development of a strong, legally protected LGBT community. Cardinal Janis Pujats, head of the Latvian Roman Catholic Church, issued a series of statements on March 13 denouncing a new national program aimed at preventing problems of intolerance of sexual minorities. The Latvian population is mostly Christian, the largest group being Lutheran with smaller percentages claiming to be Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox.
Bahrain 'can follow Singapore model in attracting businesss
MANAMA: Bahrain has the potential to follow the example of Singapore and eclipse its larger neighbours as a destination for international trade, US Ambassador to Bahrain William Monroe said yesterday. The Far East economic powerhouse should be the model for Bahrain as it seeks to build new business ties, said Mr Monroe. He was previously posted in Singapore, and said yesterday he was struck by the similarities between there and Bahrain. "I spent three years in Singapore and I keep seeing the same model here," said Mr Monroe. "Singapore was a little country with no resources with these big huge neighbours, some of whom - like Indonesia and Malaysia - at one time wanted to swallow it up. "However, Singapore just ploughed ahead and invited in all the investment and planned where it could export to in the region.
Dollar Rally Short-Lived After Modest GDP Boost
After Wednesday's data left dollar bulls a little dejected, the market was ready for a pick-me-up. Though, what traders received were modest improvements from the final GDP calculation and weekly jobless claims – not the sort of indicators that trigger momentum without a serious surprise. Accordingly, EURUSD spent most of the Asian and European sessions climbing slowly off of a 1.33 swing low before dropping 40 points off of 1.3355 on the greenback news. After the US news hit the wires, USDCHF widened its strict 1.2135 – 1.2180 range by 10 points to 1.2190 on the topside. Against the pound, the dollar advanced a mere 35 points after putting spending most of the early hours bouncing off of 1.9660 resistance. Finally, USDJPY blazed its own path as the market looked to take back the yen's outsized gains from yesterday.
THRONE SPEECH 2007/2008 BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE MOST HON. PROFESSOR ...
As we begin a new Parliamentary Year, the Administration and the people of Jamaica can be proud of our competent performance in hosting the Opening Ceremony and the other events of the ICC CWC 2007. The officials, volunteers, members of Security Forces and the Jamaican people, in general, can take credit for these achievements. The spirit of volunteerism was reflected not only in the Competition itself but the involvement of some of our religious denominations assisting with the cleaning up of the country. In regard to the ensuing Legislative Year, the Government proposes to take a number of actions to enhance the social, economic and political development of the country. It is proposed to secure passage of a number of Bills which have already been placed on the Agenda of Parliament.
S&P/TSX Composite Closes Sharply Amid Broad Based Weakness ...
Highpine Oil and Gas (HPX.TO) lost 9.2 percent after the company announced a fourth quarter loss of C$0.08 per share before the bell. Also closing sharply lower was First Calgary Petroleum (FCP.TO), which shed 6.4 percent. While the price of gold remained relatively stable around the $650.00 mark for most of the session, gold stocks were pummeled on Tuesday. The Gold Index fell 3.6 percent, hampered by a 9.3 percent loss by Centerra Gold (CG.TO | charts | news | PowerRating). Meanwhile, shares of Crystallex (KRY.TO) plunged after the company said that it knew of "no developments" with regard to recent rumors that it may be purchased by a Russian company. Financial stocks suffered as traders assessed the fallout from a sharp increase in defaults on subprime mortgage loans in the US.
Even illegal immigrants in the US pay taxes
LOS ANGELES - On a recent Sunday afternoon, construction workers, car washers, truck drivers and students crowded into Petra Castillo's one-room tax-preparation office in this city's South Central neighborhood. Most of those inside what was once the home of El Jefe Tacos shared something besides their need to beat this year's April 17 filing deadline: They are illegal immigrants. "They are undocumented, but they want to do everything right," says Castillo, 50 years old, who has a no-nonsense demeanor as she juggles phone calls and customers, mainly speaking in Spanish. Politicians and activists campaigning for a crackdown on illegal immigration frequently complain that the nation's estimated 12 million undocumented residents violate U.S. law by not paying taxes, as well as by being in the U.S.
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