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International Business News
Al l’, Kuala Lumpur
Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia Wednesday snapped administrative charges to boost passenger numbers but said it has not been hurt by the downturn that has affected most airlines worldwide.
Chief executive officer Tony Fernandes told AFP the company would lose 400 million ringgit (111 million dollars) a year by getting rid of the charges but said he wanted to keep a promise of providing the lowest fares.
"I continue to remain bullish. Any product that can reduce cost will make more profit," he said.
"I have been in the business for the last seven years. There has been perpetual headwinds such as the out break of SAWS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in Asia in 2003) and the tsunami. We will continue to grow," he added.
"We are going the extra mile to live-up to our brand promise to have the lowest fares in the market, he said, adding that passengers now need to pay only the fare and airport tax.
"With no admin fee more people will travel with AirAsia, especially in view of the current economic uncertainties," Fernandes added. Administration charges range from 22 ringgit to 43 ringgit per person.
Fernandes has adopted a policy not to hedge its fuel requirements since prices were being driven up by mere speculation.
US to loan $5.9b to Ford, $1.6b to Nissan for fuel efficiency
AFP, Washington
The US government will loan 5.9 billion dollars to Ford Motor Co. and 1.6 billion dollars to Japanese automaker Nissan to invest in improving the fuel economy of their US-built vehicles, officials said Tuesday.
The loans are the first awarded out of a 25 billion-dollar program to help automakers meet upcoming fuel efficiency standards. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said at a press conference.
“I'm pleased to announce eight billion in provisional loan agreements that will drive innovation in fuel efficiency and help revolutionize the automobile industry in .America," Chu said.
"These loans will help the auto industry meet and even exceed the president's tough new fuel standards while creating jobs, reducing our dependency on foreign oil and ensuring.America's competitiveness."
.Another 465 million dollars wall be loaned to electric sports car maker Telsa.
/Additional loans will be awarded to "large and small automobile manufacturers and parts suppliers up and down the production chain" over the coming months, said Chu, who vowed to release the funds as quickly as possible.
Eurozone banks in record ECB loan offer
AFP, Frankfurt
The European Central Bank lent commercial banks a record 442.24 billion euros (620 billion dollars) at 1.0 percent Wednesday via its first offer of 12-month funds, aiming to boost credit flows.
The previous record for the central bank's refinancing operations was 348.6 billion euros in two-week funds on December 18, 2007 as crisis-hit commercial banks bolstered their balance sheets during the crunch year-end period.
Analysts at UniCredit markets expected the ECB's move to result in lower rates charged by commercial banks for longer-term borrowing in general.
If that happens, interest rates overall could also remain low, a crucial contribution to recovery as the eurozone grapples with what is expected to be a sluggish rebound from the worst global recession in more than 60 years.
In Paris, the OECD group of 30 advanced economies meanwhile urged authorities to keep interest rates exceptionally low and to continue to support the financial sector until a sustained recovery is underway.
Hong Kong feng shui master battles for tycoon's estate
AFP, Hong Kong
A Hong Kong bartender-turned-feng shui master who says he is the sole heir to the 13 billion dollar estate of Nina Wang testified Wednesday in a court battle over the eccentric tycoon's fortune.
Tony Chan appeared on the witness stand more than six weeks into the trial over Wang's estate in a case that has gripped the tycoon-obsessed city.
The court will decide whether Wang, who at one stage was Asia's richest woman, left her entire fortune to Chan when she died of cancer in 2007 aged 69.
Opposing Chan's claim is Wang's Chinachem Charitable Foundation, which is now controlled by her siblings, who say a will awarding Chan the huge fortune is a fake
Lawrence Lok, the lawyer for Chinachem, started his cross-examination in front of a packed courtroom Wednesday by questioning Chan's credibility.