Business

Asian stock markets saw mixed performance on Friday, with stronger-than-expected Japanese growth offset by weak Chinese economic data, while oil prices edged lower ahead of a key summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Japan’s economy expanded by 0.3% in the April–June quarter, with the previous quarter’s output also revised upward—helping the world’s fourth-largest economy narrowly ...

UK economic growth slowed between April and June, according to official figures, but came in better than expected. The economy expanded by 0.3%, down from 0.7% in the first three months of the year, the Office for National Statistics said. The biggest contribution came from services while the construction industry also grew. The government has made boosting economic growth a ...

Bangladesh has recorded $1.054 billion in remittance inflows during the first 12 days of August, reflecting a strong 34% year-on-year growth and signaling renewed momentum in foreign exchange earnings. According to Arif Hossain Khan, Spokesperson and Executive Director at Bangladesh Bank, the figure marks a significant increase from $721 million received during the same period in August 2024—an additional $333 ...

Fashion accessories chain Claire’s has collapsed into administration in the UK and Ireland, putting 2,150 jobs at risk. The company has 278 shops in the UK and 28 in Ireland but has been struggling with falling sales and fierce competition. Claire’s said all outlets will continue trading while it considers “the best possible path forward”. Its administrators from Interpath and ...

The price of jet fuel used in aircraft has been increased for both domestic and international flights, according to a new announcement by Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) on Wednesday. Effective from midnight, the price of jet fuel for domestic flights has been set at Tk 99.62 per litre, up from Tk 98.02. For international flights, the price has been ...

National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan has said the agency’s recent notice on zero-tax returns is intended to raise taxpayer awareness, not to intimidate anyone. “We do not want to scare taxpayers in any way. We simply want to make them aware,” he told a press conference on Tuesday at the Ministry of Finance’s multipurpose hall ...

Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin on Tuesday said the government is actively working to reduce the existing 20% reciprocal tariff imposed by the United States on Bangladeshi exports to 15%. “There is a collective effort at all levels of the government to bring down the tariff from 20% to 15%,” he said during a press briefing at Secretariat following a ...

The government has reduced the retail price of loose palm oil by Tk 19 per litre following a decline in prices on the international market. However, the price of bottled soybean oil will remain unchanged at Tk 189 per litre. Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman announced the new price at a press conference held at the Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday ...

After introducing new Tk 1,000, Tk 50, and Tk 20 notes, the central bank has decided to release a new Tk 100 banknote into the market on Tuesday (August 12). The information was confirmed in a press release issued on Sunday by the Communications and Publications Department of the central bank, signed by Director Nurunnahar. The new note, predominantly blue, ...

Bangladesh’s gross foreign exchange reserves have risen to $30.25 billion, according to Bangladesh Bank, reflecting a slight improvement in the country’s external financial position. The central bank’s Executive Director and Spokesperson, Arif Hossain Khan, confirmed the figure on Sunday, with official data showing reserves at $30,248.11 million as of August 9—up from $30 billion on August 4 and $30.004 billion ...