610 stories · Page 19 of 21
The Karachi Port Trust chief and the relevant ministry have been commended by trade associations for their efforts in protecting Pakistani exporters from additional port surcharges and fees that had threatened to erode the competitiveness of outbound cargo. The praise comes from leading business chambers that had flagged the surcharge issue with authorities.
Arthur Lawrence BPO has formally unveiled a new brand identity under the name 'Beyond&', positioning it as a premium global provider of finance and accounting outsourcing services. The launch marks a strategic repositioning of the firm's service offerings to target high-value enterprise clients in international markets.
The Indian rupee's recent depreciating trend is expected to extend further as elevated global oil prices and a persistent demand-supply imbalance in the foreign exchange market continue to weigh on the currency, according to market analysts. India's heavy dependence on crude oil imports means that elevated oil prices translate directly into increased dollar demand by refiners and importers, creating structural pressure on the rupee that is difficult to offset through intervention alone.
Australian equity markets pared earlier losses after softer-than-expected core inflation data reduced expectations of additional interest rate hikes by the Reserve Bank of Australia. The CPI reading came in below market consensus, providing relief to rate-sensitive sectors including real estate, utilities, and financials.
Indian government bond markets are positioned to face selling pressure as relentlessly rising oil prices raise concerns about fiscal and inflationary consequences for the South Asian economy. The trajectory of oil prices, combined with anticipation around the US Federal Reserve's upcoming rate decision, is creating a dual headwind for Indian fixed income.
Prominent industrialist and former federal minister Gohar Ejaz has publicly argued that Pakistan's reliance on interest rate hikes as the primary anti-inflation tool is fundamentally misguided, asserting that the structural and supply-side drivers of price pressures in the country are not addressable through monetary tightening alone. Ejaz contended that high policy rates have inflicted severe damage on the industrial and manufacturing sector by raising borrowing costs to levels that make productive investment unviable, without meaningfully reducing the cost-push inflation driven by energy tariffs, taxation, and supply chain inefficiencies.
Iron ore futures gained after reports that China's authorities plan to expand credit issuance, a measure widely interpreted by commodity markets as a signal of increased infrastructure and construction activity that would boost steel demand. Iron ore, as the primary feedstock for steel production, is highly sensitive to Chinese credit and construction sector signals.
Chinese equity markets moved higher on Wednesday, led by gains in rare earth mining and battery manufacturing stocks, as investor sentiment remained constructive on the sector's strategic importance amid ongoing global supply chain realignments. The rally reflected renewed interest in materials critical to the clean energy transition.
Nickel futures on the Shanghai Futures Exchange rose to a three-month high, driven by mounting concerns over supply constraints in key producing regions. The move reflects broader anxiety in industrial metals markets as geopolitical and logistical disruptions continue to complicate supply chains.
Mercedes-Benz reported a significant slide in profits, citing fierce competition in the Chinese automotive market as the primary headwind. China, which has historically been one of the German automaker's most lucrative markets, has grown increasingly competitive as domestic electric vehicle manufacturers expand rapidly and aggressively on price.
Swiss banking giant UBS exceeded analyst profit expectations in its latest quarterly results, with elevated market volatility driving stronger-than-anticipated trading revenue across its investment banking and wealth management divisions. The results signal resilience in the bank's diversified business model under turbulent global conditions.
Attock Cement has announced the appointment of Omer Ashraf as its new Chief Executive Officer, marking a leadership transition at one of Pakistan's established cement manufacturers. The company, part of the broader Attock Group, operates in a sector that has faced cyclical pressure from elevated energy costs and subdued construction demand.
Gold prices in Pakistan fell sharply by Rs8,900 per tola on Tuesday, reflecting movement in international bullion markets and adjustments in the domestic precious metals trade. The decline brings some relief to buyers but signals continued volatility in the commodity.
Chicago corn futures climbed to a one-month high on Tuesday, supported by robust export demand and growing concerns over adverse weather conditions in key producing regions that threaten to tighten near-term supply. Strong purchasing interest from Asian buyers, particularly from feed grain importers in Southeast Asia, has underpinned demand for US corn exports at a time when weather disruptions in South America have reduced alternative supply options.
The Australian dollar slipped from a 36-year high against the yen on Tuesday after the Bank of Japan held its interest rates steady but signalled hawkish internal dissent, prompting a recalibration of yen-funded carry trades that had pushed the Australian dollar to multi-decade highs against the Japanese currency. The BOJ's decision to maintain rates, combined with three board members calling for a hike, created a complex market signal.
China's yuan maintained a firm footing in currency markets on Monday as a stable central bank fixing rate and upbeat economic data provided support against mounting geopolitical risks. The currency's resilience comes despite ongoing uncertainties in the broader global environment.
Nickel prices climbed to near a two-year high on Monday as markets reacted to escalating concerns over potential supply disruptions from Indonesia, the world's largest producer of the industrial metal. Uncertainty around Indonesian export regulations and production quotas has injected fresh volatility into global nickel benchmarks.
The Pakistani rupee extended its gradual appreciation against the US dollar on Monday, maintaining the soft upward trajectory that has emerged in recent sessions amid improved external account conditions. The currency's performance reflects a combination of remittance inflows, moderated import pressure, and a broadly stable interbank market.
Soneri Bank's board of directors has approved the establishment of a wholly owned subsidiary, a move that signals the bank's intent to expand its operational footprint or diversify into ancillary financial services under a distinct corporate entity. The bank did not immediately specify the nature or mandate of the subsidiary, though such structures in Pakistan's banking sector are typically used for microfinance, insurance, asset management, or digital financial services.
Gold prices in Pakistan rose by Rs800 per tola on Monday, according to market data from bullion dealers and the All Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association. The uptick mirrors broader global sentiment around the precious metal as investors continue to seek safe-haven assets amid geopolitical uncertainty.
A provincial governor has underscored the critical importance of strengthening intellectual property rights protection in Pakistan, warning that weak enforcement undermines innovation, deters investment, and exposes the country's exporters to market access risks in key trading partners. The governor's remarks align with longstanding concerns raised by the business and technology community, as well as international trading partners who have placed Pakistan on watch lists for inadequate IP enforcement.
A senior official identified as Nehal and the Chairman of the Karachi Port Trust have held a planning discussion centred on developing and expanding Pakistan's blue economy, covering maritime trade, fisheries, coastal tourism, and offshore resource utilisation. The meeting reflects growing institutional attention to the economic potential of Pakistan's Arabian Sea coastline and its underutilised maritime assets.
A senior commissioner has issued a zero-tolerance directive against wheat smuggling, instructing law enforcement and district administration officials to immediately halt the unauthorised cross-district or cross-border movement of wheat. The order comes during the harvest season, when the risk of commodity diversion from official procurement channels is highest.
A commentary published in a major Pakistani daily probes the fundamental question of which segments of society are bearing the heaviest burden of Pakistan's ongoing economic stabilisation programme, raising concerns that adjustment costs have fallen disproportionately on the poor and middle classes. The piece interrogates the distribution of fiscal sacrifices demanded under the government's reform agenda, which has included energy price increases, reduced subsidies, and a broadened tax net.
ABHI Microfinance Bank and Dastak Logistics have announced a strategic partnership to launch embedded lending services targeted at small and medium enterprises, combining financial access with logistics infrastructure to serve Pakistan's underpenetrated SME market. The initiative aims to provide working capital loans to businesses within the Dastak logistics network.
The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida, has contributed USD 4.17 million to UNICEF's operations in Pakistan, providing a significant boost to humanitarian and development programmes targeting vulnerable children and families across the country. The funds are expected to support UNICEF's work in areas including child nutrition, maternal health, water and sanitation access, and education outreach in some of Pakistan's most underserved communities.
Federal official Haroon Akhtar has stated that the government intends to unlock the economic potential of women and microenterprises through dedicated policy measures and targeted financial inclusion initiatives. The remarks were made at an official event and signal a renewed focus on grassroots economic empowerment as a pillar of national development strategy.
India's Reliance Industries, one of the largest conglomerates in Asia, is expected to report a notable fall in quarterly profit driven by elevated crude oil prices, which have compressed refining margins and increased input costs across its core petrochemical and energy businesses. Analysts tracking the company anticipate that the surge in global crude benchmarks will weigh materially on Reliance's refining segment, which forms a significant component of its overall revenue base.
Following earlier reports on domestic bullion prices, the price of gold in Pakistan has fallen by Rs2,900 per tola, according to updated market data released Friday. The downward movement reflects corrections in international gold benchmarks amid shifting safe-haven demand dynamics.
The Pakistani rupee recorded a marginal intra-day gain against the US dollar on Friday, according to exchange rate data released by currency dealers. The slight improvement offers modest relief against a backdrop of broader regional currency stress tied to the ongoing Iran-US conflict.