The US services sector unexpectedly gained steam in August, with new orders firming and businesses paying higher prices for inputs -- potential signs of still-elevated inflation pressures.

German factory orders fell more than expected in July, official data showed Wednesday, in the latest setback for Europe’s largest economy as it grapples with an industrial slowdown.

The dollar held near a six-month peak on Wednesday as jitters over China and global growth weighed on risk appetite, while the yen was close to a10-month low, drawing the strongest warning since mid-August from Japan’s top currency diplomat.

India’s palm oil imports are set to jump 26 percent to a record high in the 2022/23 year ending on October 31, as a recovery in consumption and competitive prices prompt refiners to increase purchases, the country’s top palm oil buyer told Reuters on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia and Russia said on Tuesday they would extend voluntary oil cuts until the end of the year, sending the price of Brent crude to a 10-month high.

The European Union on Wednesday unveiled the list of digital giants -- including Apple, Facebook owner Meta and TikTok parent ByteDance -- that will face tough new curbs on how they do business.

Oil prices reversed course on Wednesday after rising over 1 percent in the previous session, on a firmer dollar and as investors shrugged off jitters arising from supply cuts from Saudi Arabia and Russia.

The dollar held close to a six-month peak as jitters over China and global growth weighed on risk appetite, while the yen strengthened as Japan's top currency diplomat sent a warning about the currency after it earlier dropped to a 10-month low.

Japanese household spending suffered its biggest drop in nearly 2-1/2 years squeezed by rising prices, although volatility in some items meant the outlook might not be as gloomy as the headline figures suggested.

Russia has cemented its position as the world’s top grain exporter with the help of a bumper harvest and cut-rate prices while its war in Ukraine has upended the market.

Growth in India’s dominant services industry lost some steam in August but overall conditions remained strong despite elevated inflationary pressures, according to a business survey that showed exports were at a record high on robust foreign demand.

China is set to launch a new state-backed investment fund that aims to raise about $40 billion for its semiconductor sector, two people familiar with the matter said, as the country ramps up efforts to catch up with the US and other rivals.

Gold slipped to a one-week low on Tuesday as investors sought the US dollar after weak data in China, although rising expectations for a pause in interest rate increases by the US Federal Reserve limited losses.

Oil prices dipped on Tuesday as fresh data added to gloom over the state of China’s post-pandemic recovery, although expectations of an extension in supply cuts by leading Opec+ producers limited losses.

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) yesterday launched a project titled “SWITCH to Circular Economy Value Chains (SWITCH2CE)” in Bangladesh to steer the textiles and garments sector toward sustainable circular practices.

The Indian rupee closed weaker on Tuesday as the local unit slipped to the 83 level for the first time in nearly two weeks due to broad weakness in Asian currencies and likely dollar outflows.

HC stays requirement of consent from Bangladesh Ocean Going Ship Owners’ Association (BOGSOA)

Tk 524 crore worth of shares of the bank change hands at Ctg bourse today

The banks are: Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank and Myanmar Investment and Commercial Bank

The global SWITCH2CE project is co-funded by the European Union and Finland government