Vienna - Nuclear-exporting countries gathered for a second day of talks on allowing trade with India on Friday, with several members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) wanting to put conditions on the United States' proposal for a trade exemption.

As diplomats do not expect the 45 NSG members to come to an agreement by the end of their Vienna meeting later on Friday, pressure is building on the United States to see the trade exemption through in a further session in September.

Vienna  - Rising 3.86 dollars on Thursday, the price for crude oil produced by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) jumped back above the
110-dollar-mark, data issued by OPEC showed on Friday.

One barrel (159 litres) of OPEC-produced crude stood at 113.63 dollars Thursday, compared with 109.77 dollars on the previous day.

Oil prices were pushed by concerns about rising tensions between the United States and oil producer Russia, Vienna-based energy consultants JBC said.

Vienna - Flughafen Wien Group, Vienna's international airport, reported on Thursday that its net profit before taxes increased by 19.2 per cent to 50.5 million euros (74.5 million dollars), as passenger traffic to North America and Eastern Europe grew.

Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) amounted to 69.9 million euros, up 14.8 per cent from 60.9 million euros in the first six months of 2007.

The airport collected revenues of 272.2 million euros, 13.7 per cent more than last year.

Vienna  - The Vienna Insurance Group reported a profit increase of 29.3 per cent for the first half of 2008 on Thursday, boosted by strong growth in Central and Eastern European countries, where the group is market leader.

Net profits after minorities rose to 207.74 million euros (306.38 million dollars), compared with 160.63 million euros in the first six months of last year.

Second-quarter net profits were up 37.4 per cent, to 116.33 million euros, the company said.

In the first half of this year, revenue in terms of premiums written rose 20.7 per cent to 4.22 billion euros.

Vienna  - The price for crude oil

Vienna, Aug 21 : The crucial two-day meeting of the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) begins here today to decide on whether to grant India access to nuclear fuel and technology.

The NSG’s plenary session is expected to discuss the possibility of granting India an exemption from its restrictive export rules. India is standing by its “excellent non-proliferation record” and will seek to allay fears or doubts that the NSG might have about having nuclear commerce with it.