Inflation in Laos climbs to 39.3 pct in December

STORY: Inflation in Laos climbs to 39.3 pct in December DATELINE: Jan. 9, 2023 LENGTH: 0:01:55 LOCATION: Vientiane CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Central Bank of Laos 2. various of the market STORYLINE: Inflation in Laos increased to 39.3 percent year-on-year in December, the highest rate of 2022, according to a report issued by the Lao Statistics Bureau on Saturday. The year-on-year inflation rate in Laos increased from 38.46 percent in November to 39.3 percent in December. The higher prices of the communications and transport, consumer goods and the continuing depreciation of the Lao currency kip are among the main factors driving inflation. According to the report, costs in the communications and transport category rose by 50.4 percent year-on-year in December. The price of food and non-alcoholic beverages has surged by 45.9 percent. In addition, the cost of the housing category surged by 32.1 percent. The cost of medical care and medicine increased by 42.1 percent. Meanwh

Tokyo stocks rise on final day, but suffer record loss

Tokyo stocks rise on final day, but suffer record loss

TOKYO, Japan - Popular Japanese badminton pair Kumiko Ogura (L) and Reiko Shiota ring the bell during the annual closing ceremony at the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo's Nihombashi area on Dec. 30. Tokyo stocks rose in the year's final, half-day session, but the key Nikkei index ended 2008 with its steepest one-year percentage drop of 42.1 percent, reflecting investor sentiment battered by a string of macroeconomic and corporate woes.

PORTUGAL-LISBON-PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

PORTUGAL-LISBON-PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

(220130) -- LISBON, Jan. 30, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Lisbon, Portugal, on Jan. 30, 2022. Portugal's ruling Socialist Party led by Prime Minister Antonio Costa has won the parliamentary election, garnering 42.1 percent out of 92.6 percent votes counted, according to preliminary results. (Photo by Pedro Fiuza/Xinhua)

PORTUGAL-LISBON-PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

PORTUGAL-LISBON-PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

(220130) -- LISBON, Jan. 30, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Lisbon, Portugal, on Jan. 30, 2022. Portugal's ruling Socialist Party led by Prime Minister Antonio Costa has won the parliamentary election, garnering 42.1 percent out of 92.6 percent votes counted, according to preliminary results. (Photo by Pedro Fiuza/Xinhua)

PORTUGAL-LISBON-PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

PORTUGAL-LISBON-PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

(220130) -- LISBON, Jan. 30, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Lisbon, Portugal, on Jan. 30, 2022. Portugal's ruling Socialist Party led by Prime Minister Antonio Costa has won the parliamentary election, garnering 42.1 percent out of 92.6 percent votes counted, according to preliminary results. (Photo by Pedro Fiuza/Xinhua)

PORTUGAL-LISBON-PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

PORTUGAL-LISBON-PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

(220130) -- LISBON, Jan. 30, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Lisbon, Portugal, on Jan. 30, 2022. Portugal's ruling Socialist Party led by Prime Minister Antonio Costa has won the parliamentary election, garnering 42.1 percent out of 92.6 percent votes counted, according to preliminary results. (Photo by Pedro Fiuza/Xinhua)

PORTUGAL-LISBON-PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

PORTUGAL-LISBON-PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

(220130) -- LISBON, Jan. 30, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A voter casts her ballot at a polling station in Lisbon, Portugal, on Jan. 30, 2022. Portugal's ruling Socialist Party led by Prime Minister Antonio Costa has won the parliamentary election, garnering 42.1 percent out of 92.6 percent votes counted, according to preliminary results. (Photo by Pedro Fiuza/Xinhua)

PORTUGAL-LISBON-PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

PORTUGAL-LISBON-PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

(220130) -- LISBON, Jan. 30, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Lisbon, Portugal, on Jan. 30, 2022. Portugal's ruling Socialist Party led by Prime Minister Antonio Costa has won the parliamentary election, garnering 42.1 percent out of 92.6 percent votes counted, according to preliminary results. (Photo by Pedro Fiuza/Xinhua)

Tokyo stocks rise on final day, but suffer record loss

Tokyo stocks rise on final day, but suffer record loss

TOKYO, Japan - Popular Japanese badminton pair Kumiko Ogura (L) and Reiko Shiota ring the bell during the annual closing ceremony at the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo's Nihombashi area on Dec. 30. Tokyo stocks rose in the year's final, half-day session, but the key Nikkei index ended 2008 with its steepest one-year percentage drop of 42.1 percent, reflecting investor sentiment battered by a string of macroeconomic and corporate woes. (Kyodo)