New Delhi: Keepers at a major western India zoo are putting their big cats into solitary confinement after a tiger in the United States caught the novel coronavirus. “We have decided to isolate them to avoid any kind of infection,” said superintendent Bharatsinh Vihol of the Kamala Nehru Zoological Garden in Gujarat state. “Also, since we have run a planned breeding programme here, it has been decided to restrict mating…
Beijing: The deadly coronavirus which has overwhelmed China and the world was discovered in an elderly couple in December last year in Wuhan through a CT scan done by Zhang Jixian, the official media reported on Friday, hailing her for alerting the authorities about the vicious virus. Since its emergence, the virus which has so far killed at least 145,000 globally and infected over 2.1 million has become a source of concern…
Germany is leading the biggest rally in global bond markets since March’s banking rout as cooling inflation and a weakening economy suggest European Central Bank rate hikes are nearing an end. Borrowing costs, or bond yields, in the benchmark euro area issuer are down at least 20 basis points (bps) this week. Alongside British and U.S. peers, yields – which move inversely to bond prices – were set for their…
Most Asian stocks edged higher on Thursday, encouraged by progress towards averting a U.S. debt default, while signs of life in China’s manufacturing sector also helped fish local stocks from six-month lows. The U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of a bill to suspend the debt ceiling late-Wednesday, pushing it forward to the Senate as a June 5 deadline for a U.S. default approaches. The move helped brew some…
Gold prices crept lower on Wednesday as markets awaited more cues on the raising of the U.S. debt ceiling, while copper prices slid after data offered more signals of a slowing economic rebound in China. Copper futures sank 0.7% to $3.6338 a pound, and were set to lose about 6% in May as data showed China’s manufacturing sector shrank for a second consecutive month in May. The reading, coupled with…
Most Asian stocks retreated on Tuesday as optimism over a deal to raise the U.S. debt ceiling was offset by fears of worsening ties between Beijing and Washington, amid renewed sparring between the two over trade and political sanctions. Chinese stocks were the worst performers for the day, with the Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite indexes falling 0.8% and 0.7%, respectively. The blue-chip CSI 300 traded at a…
Most Asian stocks rose on Monday as markets cheered a tentative deal between U.S. lawmakers to hike the debt ceiling and avert a default, with Japan’s Nikkei racing back to near 33-year highs on improved risk appetite. The Nikkei 225 was the best performer in Asian markets, up 1.4% to its highest level since July 1990. Gains were driven largely by heavyweight chipmaking and financial stocks, as technology shares continued…
Economic and trade development in the Asia-Pacific still faces many disturbances and challenges, China’s commerce minister Wang Went said. Wang made the comments at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in Detroit, where he met with several leaders and exchanged views on multilateral and bilateral economic and trade issues amid wider global trade rifts and uncertainties. Wang said he recognized the difficulties faced by the region, but added that China,…
Japanese stocks moved back towards a 33-year high on Friday, outpacing their Asian peers amid increased optimism over chipmaking stocks, while Chinese markets lagged as investors fretted over slowing economic growth and worsening U.S. ties. Broader Asian stocks also ticked lower in anticipation of more cues on the U.S. debt ceiling and a potential default. The Nikkei 225 rose 0.6% and was trading just below 33-year highs hit earlier this…
Most Asian stocks fell on Thursday as fears of a U.S. debt default persisted amid little progress toward raising the debt ceiling, although chipmaking stocks outperformed tracking a robust outlook from Nvidia. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index rose 0.6%, supported chiefly by nearly 16% jump in semiconductor testing equipment maker Advantest Corp (TYO:6857). The stock, which ranks Nvidia among its clients, was trading at a record high of 16,280 yen. Gains…
South Korea has asked Washington to review its criteria for new semiconductor subsidies, concerned over the impact of rules to limit chip investment in countries such as China, a U.S. public filing showed. In March, the U.S. commerce department proposed rules to prevent China and other countries it deems to be of concern from tapping funds of $52 billion earmarked for semiconductor manufacturing and research under the so-called CHIPS Act.…
Daily transactions have rocketed to an all-time high of 682,000 this month, according to data from Glasson, almost 40% higher than the previous peak in 2017. Bitcoin’s dominance, or its share of the overall $1.16 trillion cryptocurrency market, has swelled to 44% from 38% at the start of the year. What’s going on? Enter BRC-20, the first class of crypto tokens to be built on the bitcoin blockchain, besides bitcoin…
