International

• Saturday, January 13th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Communist Vietnam joins WTO and promises privatizations

  

  Vietnam became this week the 150th member of the World Trade Organization. U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab welcomed Vietnam into the WTO saying this is an historic day for Vietnam and the rules-based global trading system.

• Friday, January 12th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  China concerned with energy and environment costs

  The Chinese economy expanded 10.5% in 2006, the fourth year running it has been growing at double digit pace revealed on Friday Ma Kai head of the powerful Development and Reform Committee, NDRC.

• Thursday, January 11th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  World economy to slow in 2007

  An expected dampening of the world economy in 2007 after three years of healthy growth has the weakening US housing market primarily to blame, a UN economic report released yesterday said.

• Thursday, January 11th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Bank of England surprise move takes rate to 5.25%

  

  The Bank of England raised Thursday UK interest rates to 5.25% from 5% in an effort to curb inflation and surprising analysts who were expecting the decision for next month.

• Thursday, January 11th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Euro zone interest rate remains unchanged at 3.5%

  The European Central Bank balancing growth against inflation held its key interest rate steady at 3.5% Thursday but is expected to keep a close eye on prices and economic momentum ahead of a possible increase in March.

• Thursday, January 11th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Oil plunges to its lowest level price since May 2005

  

  Oil plunged Thursday to its lowest level price since May 2005, below 52 US dollars a barrel, following the continued steep rise in heating oil stocks in United States and a resumption of crude pumping top Europe by Russia.

• Wednesday, January 10th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  UNCTAD: global investment expected to slow in 2007

  Foreign direct investment (FDI) grew in 2006 for the third consecutive year to reach 1.2 trillion US dollars according to initial estimates released Tuesday by the United Nations, which also warned that economic growth is likely to slow this year because of high commodity prices and other factors.

• Wednesday, January 10th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  China's trade soaring: 969 billion exports last year

  China's trade surplus in 2006 reached a mind bogging 177.5 billion US dollars compared to 102 billion in 2005, reported Wednesday the Chinese news agency Xinhua.

• Tuesday, January 9th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  US and EU ratify commitment to the Doha trade round

  

  United States president George W Bush and the European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso ratified Monday their commitment to seek fresh ways of overcoming differences and reaching an agreement on the Doha Round trade talks.

• Tuesday, January 9th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Shipping lines increase capacity 14 percent

  Moeller-Maersk and 407 other shipping lines increased their capacity to move containers 14 percent in 2006, the fastest pace in six years, as trade expanded, data from Containerisation International showed.