How nifty 50 points are calculated

LONDON: The risks to the pound’s 2021 recovery may be becoming too numerous to bear as Britain’s currency looks poised to end a five-month winning streak. Everything from waning euphoria over the nation’s vaccine rollout programme to renewed worries about the state of the post-Brexit economy and a squeeze on public finances are taking the wind out of a rally that’s made sterling the biggest gainer this year among the G-10 currencies after the Canadian dollar. It’s slipped about 1% in March so far, on track to interrupt an advance since September that drove it to its strongest level in almost three years. “Too much optimism may be in the price, ” said London-based Mark Dowding, who this month reopened bets against the pound at BlueBay Asset Management LLP, where he oversees US$70bil (RM290.25bil). “The lockdown in the UK remains more restrictive than elsewhere, ” putting the shackles on growth. The pessimism underscores the mounting difficulties faced by Prime Minister Boris ... » Learn More about Pain points sharpen for British pound

BEIJING (Global Times): There is a high likelihood that China and the US will post a bilateral trade record this year, experts said, as their industries and economies are closely intertwined and cannot be decoupled, despite ongoing geopolitical spats and some US politicians' hue and cry intended to stem China's rise. The inseparable China-US economic relations are reflected in the two countries' trade data. Although no moves have been taken yet to remove the trade-war tariffs, China-US bilateral trade started to take off around mid-2020 in the depths of the pandemic and has showed no signs of abating into 2021. According to Chinese customs data released on Tuesday (April 13), China-US trade spiraled up by a striking 61.3 per cent in yuan terms in the first quarter of this year to reach 1.08 trillion yuan ($165 billion). This growth outpaced all of China's other major trading partners including Japan, the EU, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) economies. Although ... » Learn More about Soaring China-US trade points to ‘political chill, economic heat’

WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana: Joseph Yesufu scored 21 points and Drake beat Wichita State 53-52 on Thursday (Friday in Manila) in the First Four, the Bulldogs’ first NCAA Tournament win in a half-century. Drake’s previous tournament victory was 50 years ago to the day — March 18, 1971, against Notre Dame. Wichita State’s Dexter Dennis made a three-pointer with eight seconds remaining to trim Drake’s lead to a point. The Bulldogs got the ball in to Yesufu, who was fouled. He missed the front end of a 1-and-1 to give the Shockers a chance, but Wichita State’s Alterique Gilbert settled for a long three-pointer that hit the front rim as time expired. Tremell Murphy added 11 points for 11th-seeded Drake (26-4), which advanced to play sixth-seeded Southern California in the West Region on Saturday. Morris Udeze scored a career-high 22 points and Dennis added 13 for Wichita State (16-6). Texas Southern 60, Mount St. Mary’s 52 It was the second straight First Four victory for the ... » Learn More about Drake scores first NCAA win in 50 years

TAMPA, Florida: Pascal Siakam scored 36 points in three quarters, and the Toronto Raptors routed the Golden State Warriors, 130-77, on Friday (Saturday in Manila) with the largest margin of victory in the NBA this season. Toronto shot 53.4 percent in the game and won for just the second time in 15 games. The Raptors pushed its lead to 61 points when Malachi Flynn htit a short jump shot with 6:29 remaining. Gary Trent Jr. finished with 24 points, and OG Anunoby added 21. The 53-point win was the biggest in the NBA this season, two points wider than the final margin of Dallas’ 124-73 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on December 27. The last time an NBA game was decided by more was on Dec. 8, 2018 when Boston beat Chicago, 133-57. Andrew Wiggins led Golden State with 15 points all in the first half. It was the seventh loss in eight games for the Warriors, which played without Steph Curry and Draymond Green, a late scratch with a left finger injury. In Phoenix, Devin Booker ... » Learn More about Raptors rout short-handed Warriors by 50

MANILA, Philippines — While the government is negotiating hard with pharmaceutical companies to procure vaccines to stem the COVID-19 pandemic, Joy Requiso does not see herself signing up to get the shots, even if they are free. She is among nearly 50 percent of Filipinos who, according to a recent survey, are unwilling to get inoculated for COVID-19 mainly due to concerns about the safety of the vaccines. According to the poll, others believe vaccines are not needed to cure the severe respiratory disease, or may not be free and expensive. Requiso, a 29-year-old engineer, said she was “afraid of the risks and side effects” of any vaccine. “There’s a low chance of [me] acquiring the virus (since I am mostly at home), but getting shots is more risky and we are still not sure of its effects,” she told the Inquirer on Thursday. “Like what happened with Dengvaxia. This vaccine was carefully and thoroughly studied and approved but later it turned out, there were side effects,” ... » Learn More about Survey: Nearly 50% of Pinoys shun vaccine

Provisions for bad loans slashed Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co.’s (Metrobank) net income by almost half in the first nine months of the year. In a statement on Friday, the Ty-led lender said it netted P11 billion in the period, a 49.07-percent decrease from the P21.6 billion reported a year ago. This came after Metrobank set aside P35.4 billion in provisions for bad loans, almost five times the P7.8-billion provisions booked in January to September 2019. As a result, its NPL cover soared to 174 percent from 96 percent previously. As of September, the bank’s NPL ratio rose to 2.25 percent from 1.52 percent in the same period a year ago. “The increase in NPLs remains within expectations amidst a slowdown in the economy,” it said. Despite this, Metrobank President Fabian Dee noted that the lender’s total revenues expanded by 20 percent to P96.3 billion, income before provisions grew by 41 percent to P52.4 billion, and net interest margin increased by 4.1 percent while ... » Learn More about Metrobank income fell nearly 50% in Jan-Sept

Up to 400,000 lower-income Singaporean households will be able to collect $50 worth of vouchers in the coming months to be spent at local businesses. The Community Development Council (CDC) Vouchers Scheme was launched yesterday to help Singaporean households with daily expenses while supporting local merchants and hawkers. The households, identified through various government help schemes, can use the vouchers at participating shops and stalls such as hawker stalls and mom-and-pop shops. About 2,500 merchants and hawkers have signed up so far. More are expected to come on board as awareness of the scheme increases and the economy reopens, said Ms Low Yen Ling, chairman of the Mayors' Committee and Mayor of South West District. She added that the five mayors and grassroots advisers have been working with merchant and hawker associations to recruit heartland businesses virtually during the past two months, after Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat announced a $20 million ... » Learn More about 400,000 households to get $50 vouchers to spend at local businesses

KUALA LUMPUR: Strong following of banking and glove stocks powered the FBM KLCI above the 1,600-point psychological level on Wednesday. At 5pm, the 30-stock index surged 21.68 points, or 1.37% to 1,600.59, its highest in five days. The index opened 5.47 points higher at 1,584.38 this morning. There were 590 gainers, 440 decliners and 465 counters closed unchanged. Total volume stood at 6.3 billion units valued at RM3.61bil. In today's session, KLCI-component stocks were overwhelming in green with 28 gainers, one counter closed unchanged and only one closed lower today. Dealers said the local bourse rebounded today on strong bargain hunting as investors moved into oversold counters following recent losses. On Bursa Malaysia, Nestle jumped RM1 to RM136.50, ViTrox added 34 sen to RM16.04, Petronas Gas advanced 34 sen to RM15.98 and Ann Joo rose 26 sen to RM2.40. MPI, Euro and MR DIY are among the top losers on Bursa Malaysia. MPI shed 46 sen to RM40, Euro fell 32 sen to ... » Learn More about FBM KLCI surges 21.68 points to end above 1,600 level

Fifty MPs gather at an event to announce their entry into the Move Forward Party at the Thon Buri coordination centre on Saturday. (Photo by Arnun Chonmahatrakool) Fifty former Future Forward MPs have applied to join the Move Forward Party and elected Pita Limjaroenrat as the leader of the opposition party. At their first meeting at the Thon Buri coordination centre formerly used by the now-dissolved FFP, the Move Forward members chose the party’s 10 executives. Chaithawat Tulathon, a former FFP deputy secretary-general, was voted secretary-general. Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, who exposed the army’s online “ information operation ” against critics of the government during the recent no-confidence debate, was elected party spokesman. The new logo, featuring two arrows pointing to the future, and its orange colour, representing sunrise, was approved. “Move Forward is the new chapter of Future Forward,” Mr Pita told supporters as he discussed the party’s plans. “It will uphold its ... » Learn More about 50 MPs join Move Forward

Hideki Matsuyama (right) hugs his caddie, Shota Hayafuji after winning the Masters HONG KONG - The first men's major of 2021 dominates AFP Sport's golf talking points this week: - Take a bow - Hideki Matsuyama had tears in his eyes after his final putt Sunday as he became the first Japanese man to win a major, but his caddie also made headlines. While cameras were trained on Matsuyama, caddie Shota Hayafuji carefully replaced the pin, doffed his cap and bowed solemnly to the Augusta National course. Images of the gracious gesture have gone viral and Matsuyama admitted after that his immediate thoughts upon winning had been for his caddie. "When I saw my caddie, Shota, and hugged him, I was happy for him because this is his first victory on the bag," Matsuyama told reporters through a translator. "And then it started sinking in -— the joy of being a Masters champion." - Big moment for Mac - Left-handers have a great record in the Masters, despite only about five ... » Learn More about Japanese bow, Scots Bob and Welshman on one leg: golf talking points