Beijing / AFP Chinese exports surged in March, the first gain in nine months and the latest positive data out of the world’s number two economy, but analysts warned on Wednesday’s headline figure masked ongoing weakness in overseas demand. Official figures showing a better-than-expected jump in shipments abroad come just days after another strong inflation reading and last week’s ...

  New Delhi / Reuters India’s 2016/17 wheat imports are expected to surge more than five-fold to the highest in a decade, as a severe drought linked to an El Nino weather event and unseasonal rains push domestic output down to the lowest since 2011, a Reuters survey shows. A spike in overseas purchases by India, the world’s second largest ...

  Islamabad / Reuters Pakistan’s government will guarantee 100 billion rupees ($955 million) worth of Islamic bonds to fund what would become the country’s fourth largest hydropower plant, aiming to address power shortages that have hindered economic growth. The deal would be one of largest infrastructure sukuk sold to date, helping expand a funding format that has largely been confined ...