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BSE hits new high on budget hopes

     Mumbai: India's main share index jumped to a historic high early on Monday, propelled by expectations of economic reforms in the budget to be announced on February 28 and a strong rally on Wall Street last Friday. The benchmark 30-share Bombay Stock Exchange index was up 1.12 percent at 6,708.38 points at 11:00 a.m. It rose to a high of 6,716.81, and beat the previous peak all-time high of 6,696.31 on January 4. It, however, ended 0.7 percent higher at 6,679.33. Traders said they expected the government to rationalise the tax structure, which could result in a fall in taxes that companies pay. Bank shares were buoyed by newspaper reports the government was likely to raise the ceiling on foreign direct investments in banks to 74 percent from 49 now.

Shoaib's inclusion for India tour still uncertain (Go To Top)

     Lahore: A lot of confusion and uncertainty still prevails over the inclusion and availability of pace man Shoaib Akhtar for the forthcoming tour of India starting February 25. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asked Shoaib to play in the second round match of the ongoing Patron's Trophy against Habib Bank, starting from Monday to prove his fitness for selection to the team to be brought together on Feb 18, reported The Dawn. "I am still facing problems due to hamstring and I have also informed the PCB and the national selection committee of my decision of not playing in the trophy," Shoaib has been quoted as saying. The inquiry report related to the speedster is yet to be made public. The Rawalpindi sensation has informed about his decision to the chief selector Wasim Bari. "Yes, he rang me up saying he was not fit, but I told him that I want a fit and fighting Shoaib for the India tour and it would have been better if he had played for KRL," Bari has been quoted as saying. However, when Bari was asked that how will the fitness test of Shoaib be under taken as there is no time for test by the doctors, as the team of medical experts of the Pakistan side was scheduled to return the same day the selection committee meets, he said, ""It is not my job. I have informed the board to provide me proper medical reports about four unfit pace men namely Shoaib, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Khalil and Shabbir Ahmed". The chief selector of the Pak team has also been quoted as saying that, the PCB had formed a medical commission comprising local experts and Shoaib should have appeared before it.

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