Business & Finance Archives - Page 10 of 18

Global markets surge after Trump announces exit from Iran conflict

April 1, 2026 by Newsdesk

KARACHI: Following US President Donald Trump’s announcement to withdraw from the Iran conflict, stock markets in Pakistan and across the world saw a sharp rise today.

The trading session opened on a positive note, with the 100-index climbing 7,461 points to reach 156,204, while the KSE-30 index rose 2,390 points to 47,422.

During trading, the 30-index recorded a 5.02% increase, prompting a temporary 45-minute suspension of trading, which resumed at 1:09 PM.

Trump’s announcement had also boosted Wall Street, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing up 2.49% yesterday.

Asian markets followed suit, with Japan’s Nikkei soaring by 9%, and positive trends were observed in Hang Seng, Nifty 50, and European markets.

Petrol, diesel price hike expected as government reviews summary

March 20, 2026 by Newsdesk

ISLAMABAD: The government is expected to announce new petroleum product prices today, with a significant increase under consideration.

According to sources, a summary has been sent to the federal government proposing an increase of Rs29 per litre in petrol and Rs49 per litre in diesel prices. The final decision will be taken by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Sources said the government had previously absorbed a financial burden of Rs23 billion for one week, maintaining petrol and diesel prices from March 14 to 20. This relief was provided under price differential claims.

On March 14, the government had withheld a proposed increase of Rs49.63 per litre in petrol and Rs75.05 per litre in diesel.

However, sources indicate that prices may again be kept unchanged for the coming week, as the government is considering continuing the price differential claim mechanism to shield consumers.

Currently, taxes account for Rs121.77 per litre of petrol, making up around 38% of its price. Diesel includes Rs73.42 per litre in taxes, approximately 22% of its total price. These prices also include customs duties, petroleum levy, and climate support levy.

Gold prices drop Rs24,300 ahead of Eid across Pakistan

March 19, 2026 by Newsdesk

KARACHI: Gold prices witnessed a significant decline across the country ahead of Eid, according to the All Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Association.

The association reported that the price of gold per tola dropped by Rs 24,300, bringing it down to Rs 499,462.

Similarly, the price of 10 grams of gold decreased by Rs 20,833, settling at Rs 428,208.

In the international market, gold prices also fell by $243 per ounce, bringing the rate down to $4,767.

PSX falls sharply as oil price surge and Gulf tensions weigh on investor sentiment

March 19, 2026 by Newsdesk

KARACHI: Stocks at the bourse declined on Thursday as a sharp rise in global oil prices—triggered by escalating attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure renewed concerns over inflation and fuel costs, leading to widespread profit-taking.

The benchmark KSE-100 Index at the Pakistan Stock Exchange traded within a wide range, hitting a high of 152,698.51, down 1,593.74 points (1.03%), and a low of 150,728.17, down 3,564.08 points (2.3%), compared to the previous close of 154,292.25.

Market analysts attributed the downturn to rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Ahfaz Mustafa, CEO of Ismail Iqbal Securities, said the surge in oil prices—following attacks on LNG infrastructure in Qatar—had created significant selling pressure.

He added that expectations of a fuel price hike in Pakistan, along with weakening macroeconomic indicators, further dampened investor confidence.

According to QatarEnergy, Qatar’s primary gas hub sustained extensive damage after two waves of Iranian strikes, intensifying fears of supply disruptions amid the ongoing regional conflict.

Missile strikes targeting Ras Laffan Industrial City damaged key gas-to-liquids and liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, sparking fires that were later brought under control. Officials confirmed no casualties, while the Ministry of Interior Qatar and defence authorities stated that the attacks involved ballistic missiles launched from Iran.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump warned Tehran against further escalation, threatening a strong response if attacks continue. He also noted that Israel had struck facilities at the South Pars gas field, though the United States had no prior knowledge of the operation.

The South Pars/North Dome field—the world’s largest known gas reserve shared between Iran and Qatar—remains critical to regional energy supplies, with a significant portion of Iran’s domestic gas output dependent on it.

KSE-100 surges over 1,000 points on strong early trading

March 18, 2026 by Newsdesk

KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange opened strongly on the third trading day of the week, as bullish momentum drove the benchmark KSE-100 Index sharply higher.

In early trading, the index jumped by 1,018 points, reclaiming the key psychological level of 151,000. At the time of reporting, the KSE-100 was trading at 151,034 points.

The surge follows the previous session’s close at 150,016 points, reflecting renewed investor confidence and active buying interest in the market.

Meanwhile, Asian markets showed mixed trends amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 posted a nearly 3 percent gain, while Malaysia’s stock market advanced over 1.5 percent.

Conversely, Thailand’s market recorded a modest 1 percent rise, and China’s Shanghai Composite Index slipped slightly. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index also experienced minor losses during trading.

KSE-100 index falls 3,630 points in weekly trade amid bearish trend

March 14, 2026 by Newsdesk

KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange witnessed a negative trend during the past trading week, with the benchmark index posting a sharp decline.

During the week, the KSE-100 Index dropped by 3,630 points, closing at 153,866 points compared to 157,496 points at the end of the previous week.

The market lost four psychological levels over the course of the week, reflecting persistent selling pressure.

Out of the five trading sessions, the market remained bearish for four days, while only one day ended with gains.

During weekly trading, the index touched a high of 158,624 points, while the lowest level recorded during the week was 144,119 points.

Meanwhile, the market capitalization declined by Rs369 billion during the five-day trading period, bringing the total market capitalization down to Rs17,329 billion.

Trading activity remained significant, with around 2.25 billion shares changing hands in deals worth Rs132 billion during the week.

Chinese Aerospace Group shows interest in $5–10billion investment in Pakistan

March 10, 2026 by Newsdesk

Islamabad: A Chinese company, Aerospace Development Industry Investment Group, has expressed interest in investing between $5 billion and $10 billion in Pakistan.

A Chinese delegation held a meeting with Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Investment, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, where both sides discussed potential investment opportunities in the country.

During the meeting, the Chinese group indicated its willingness to invest between $5 billion and $10 billion in Pakistan. The delegation also expressed interest in investing in the sectors of minerals, advanced technology, and industrial development.

Speaking on the occasion, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh said that regulatory reforms are ongoing to facilitate investors and improve the ease of doing business in the country. He added that investors are being offered tax incentives in Special Economic Zones to attract foreign investment.

The minister further stated that investors are also being given sales tax exemptions on the import of machinery to support industrial growth and encourage new investments.

SBP keeps policy rate unchanged at 10.5%

March 9, 2026 by Newsdesk

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Monday decided to maintain the key policy rate at 10.5 percent.

In a brief statement issued on its website, the central bank said, “The Monetary Policy Committee has decided to keep the policy rate unchanged at 10.5%,” adding that a detailed monetary policy statement will be released shortly.

The SBP has already reduced the benchmark interest rate by a total of 1,150 basis points since mid-2024, bringing it down from the historic high of 22 percent recorded in 2023, as inflation eased significantly from multi-decade peaks.

However, rising tensions in the Middle East have increased fears of disruptions to global oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for international energy supplies. The uncertainty has pushed global energy prices upward.

Pakistan, which relies heavily on imported fuel, remains highly vulnerable to fluctuations in global oil prices, making domestic inflation sensitive to changes in the international energy market.

Amid the surge in oil prices linked to the conflict involving Iran, the federal government on Friday increased retail fuel prices by nearly 20 percent. The price of petrol was raised from Rs266.17 to Rs321.17 per litre, while diesel climbed from Rs280.86 to Rs335.86 per litre.

Earlier, SBP Governor Jameel Ahmad projected that Pakistan’s economy could grow between 3.75% and 4.75% in fiscal year 2026, supported by stronger domestic demand and previous monetary easing. He also warned that inflation might temporarily rise above the central bank’s 5%–7% target range before stabilising.

Pakistan is currently operating under a $7 billion programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has advised authorities to maintain a cautious and data-driven monetary policy to control inflation expectations and strengthen the country’s external financial position.

KSE records biggest weekly drop amid regional tensions

March 7, 2026 by Newsdesk

KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed its largest weekly decline in history, as the benchmark 100-Index fell by 10,566 points over the past five trading days. The index closed at 157,496 points, down from 168,062 points at the start of the week.

During the week, the market lost 11 psychological levels, with three days showing losses and two days showing gains. The 100-Index traded at a weekly high of 161,476 points and a low of 151,258 points.

Market capitalization also suffered, dropping by Rs123.1 billion to close the week at Rs17.698 trillion. Over the five-day period, trading volumes amounted to 1.81 trillion shares valued at Rs3.28 billion.

Experts attributed the market’s volatility to regional tensions following Israeli and US strikes on Iran. A halt in new investments and heavy selling in key sectors also pushed the market into negative territory.

Investors are now closely watching economic indicators and government policies for guidance on market direction in the coming week.

Gold prices drop sharply after recent surge

March 3, 2026 by Newsdesk

KARACHI: After witnessing a surge of several thousand rupees yesterday, gold prices have dropped significantly on Tuesday.

According to the All Pakistan Gems and Jewelers Association, the price of gold per tola fell by ₨13,900, reaching ₨549,962.

Similarly, the price of 10 grams of gold decreased by ₨11,917, bringing it down to ₨471,503.

In international markets, gold is trading lower as well, with a decrease of $139 to $5,272 per ounce.