Equities fell in Asia on Monday as investors awaited the next earnings season with high hopes for strong reports and outlooks as the recovery progresses, while the head of the Federal Reserve reiterated his view that the economy was improving but warned the virus still posed a risk.

Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla new year, has once again brought no cheer to clothing and sweets retailers as the coronavirus pandemic has kept a majority of customers at bay for the second year in a row.

Technology giant Microsoft is in advanced discussions to buy the US group Nuance Communications, which specializes in artificial intelligence, for $16 billion, according to media reports Sunday.

Bank branches will remain open from 10am to 3pm on April 13 to give people more time to settle transaction before the beginning of a seven-day countrywide restriction on movement from April 14.

Bangladesh Bank today evening said all the branches of banks, except for those dealing with overseas trade, will remain closed during the upcoming restrictions on movement for the ongoing pandemic

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) fixed the retail prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) today. Now, the retail price of 12.5kg LPG cylinder provided by the state-owned Liquid Petroleum Gas Limited (LPGL) will cost Tk 591 while the 12kg variety of private companies will cost Tk 975.

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) is going to announce the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) today.

Onion seed producers in Faridpur fear a lower than expected harvest this time as droughts, swarming caterpillar attacks and low pollination have hampered cultivation this year.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) yesterday exempted import of crude soybean and palm oil of a 4 per cent advance tax (AT) to contain prices during Ramadan, the month of fasting for Muslims.

Bangladesh Bank yesterday instructed banks to impose account maintenance fees on small depositors once a year.

Textile and garment manufacturers and exporters yesterday demanded the government allow keeping factories open during the coming lockdown to help them offset the losses caused by the pandemic.

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal yesterday indicated that the government may consider reducing corporate tax rates for listed firms in the upcoming budget.

Physical gold demand in India stalled this week after local prices rebounded from a one-year trough and coronavirus restrictions were imposed, while buyers in other major Asian hubs were also put off by an uptick in prices.

The central bank yesterday extended the banking hours by half an hour after clients rushed up to branches to withdraw cash as the country is set to go into a strict lockdown from April 14 to tame the raging coronavirus.

The Spanish government lowered its growth forecast for 2021 on Friday after fresh pandemic restrictions led to a weaker-than-expected first quarter.

Robi Axiata logged 1.7 per cent higher revenue year-on-year in the first quarter of 2020 thanks to increased data use.

South Korean battery makers LG Energy Solution and SK Innovation Co agreed on Sunday to settle disputes over trade secrets dispute, avoiding a potential setback for US electric-vehicle (EV) ambitions.

Walton is set to market the ventilators it has produced with the help of world-renowned medical equipment manufacturer Medtronic, a development that would help critical coronavirus patients to receive proper treatment.

Bank of America said on Thursday it will deploy $1 trillion for its environmental business initiative to push for green finance by 2030, expanding on the $300 billion it had announced for the same project in 2019. The second largest U.S. bank said the latest announcement puts its total commitment to sustainable finance by 2030 at $1.5 trillion.

The International Monetary Fund expects inflation in Iran to rise further this year and called for reforms as the economy recovers from the coronavirus crisis.