The United States is prepared to speed up interest rate hikes –- and could raise them higher than anticipated -- if needed to cool inflation and a strong jobs market, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Tuesday.

The Export-Import Bank of China has told Sri Lanka it will try to finalise in the months ahead how it treats debt owed by the crisis-hit nation, according to a letter seen by Reuters which also reiterated a moratorium for debt due in 2022 and 2023.

The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Dhaka together with the Sri Lankan expatriate community and associations organised an evening programme today at the Dhaka Sheraton to showcase trade, investment, and tourism opportunities in Sri Lanka

The dollar steadied on Monday as investors awaited testimony from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell ahead of the February jobs report at the end of the week that will likely influence how much more the US central bank will raise interest rates.

Oil prices fell on Monday after China set a lower-than-expected target for economic growth this year at around 5 per cent, and as investors cautiously awaited US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s testimony this week.

The step may increase the supply of the US dollar in the forex market

The British public’s expectations for inflation over the coming year and five to 10 years ahead rose unexpectedly in February, US bank Citi said after publishing a monthly survey conducted by market research company YouGov.

Underlying inflation in the euro zone will stay high in the near term so a 50 basis point European Central Bank interest rate increase later this month is increasingly certain, ECB President Christine Lagarde told Spanish media group Vocento.

A top UN official has warned that “urgent” measures are needed to help 52 countries facing debt repayment problems that put some at risk of default.

AFD Executive Director Philippe Orliange says

Sri Lanka’s decision to raise interest rates shows the crisis-hit country’s commitment to reducing inflation quickly towards single-digit levels, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Saturday.

The Pakistani rupee on Friday strengthened 2.38 per cent in interbank closing at 278.46 rupees against the dollar, a day after the central bank raised its policy interest rate by 300 basis points (bps) to 20 per cent, trading data showed.

An Egyptian delegation will come today on a three-day visit to learn from Bangladesh about the south Asian country’s journey towards digitalisation of the public procurement system, including its design, development, implementation and sustainability.

Oil prices recovered from a brief sell-off to gain by more $1 per barrel on Friday and ended the week higher, driven by renewed optimism around demand from top oil importer China.

Countries in debt distress such as Zambia and Sri Lanka turning to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for financial help are facing unprecedented delays to secure bailouts as China and Western economies clash over how to provide debt relief.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday slammed the world's rich countries and energy giants for throttling poor nations with "predatory" interest rates and crippling fuel prices.

Since 2011, eight countries visited Bangladesh to gain knowledge on electronic public procurement

Inflation in crisis-racked Pakistan has jumped 31.5 percent according to state data published Wednesday, as Islamabad continues to stare down IMF negotiators withholding a crucial bailout.

Oil prices steadied on Friday, but fell for the week on a stronger US dollar and fears that an economic slowdown would weaken crude demand.

The agricultural, cereal, and export price indices remained stable in the two weeks to February 23, said the World Bank.