DUBAI, Feb 22 Reuters Iraq39;s central bank said on Wednesday it planned to allow trade from China to be settled directly in yuan for the first time, in an attempt to improve access to foreign currency. The central bank has been taking urgent steps to compensate for a dollar shortage in local markets, which prompted […]

LONDON, Feb 22 Reuters British employers offered the biggest annual pay rises in 32 years during the three months to the end of January, but these increases are still a long way behind doubledigit inflation, industry data showed on Wednesday. Human resources data company XpertHR said the median basic pay settlement in the three months […]

Chinese money to shore up critically low reserves More external financing needed to get an IMF deal PM hopes to get IMF funding soon International bond prices fall ISLAMABAD, Feb 22 Reuters Pakistan will this week receive a new 700 million loan from China to help shore up its foreign exchange reserves, the country39;s finance […]

LONDON, Feb 22 Reuters Chineseowned British Steel on Wednesday said it could cut up to 260 jobs after announcing the planned closure of its coke ovens in northern England, saying steelmaking in Britain was uncompetitive despite efforts to reduce costs. British Steel boss Xifeng Han said the company, which is owned by China39;s Jingye Group, […]

NZ c.bank raises rates 50 bps to over 14yr high, expects more RBNZ still sees rates peak at 5.5, say inflation 39;too high39; NZ dlr rallies, swap rates rise as markets see upside rate risk RBNZ to look past shortterm price pressures from floods, cyclone WELLINGTON, Feb 22 Reuters New Zealand39;s central bank raised interest […]