Business -- April 18, 2006

• Bank reforms spark software war in China
• Bourses hot as capital raising resumes
• Chile wants free trade agreement with new Peru government
• China sees rapid growth in trademark registration
• China to issue world's first statistical method for e-commerce

• Chinese vice premier calls for efforts to make aviation sector more competitive
• Gold price topping 25-year high in India
• Germany's BASF extends Engelhard takeover bid till end of April
• Hyundai Motor's chairman leaves for China amid investigation into bribery scandal
• Iraq-China flights get traders support

• Industry resists ore price rise
• Mitsubishi Motor buys into major Chinese auto maker
• Petroleum shortage hits Nepali capital as strikes go on
• PetroChina reports record oil, gas output in first quarter of 2006
• Sino-Indian trade to top US$20 billion this year: officials

• Shoemakers decline to lower prices facing impact of EU anti-dumping duties
• World oil prices end with record highs