News

Bitcoin price tops $45,000

Bitcoin galloped past $45,000 on Tuesday, for the first time since April 2022, as the world’s biggest cryptocurrency started the new year with a bang, buoyed by optimism around the possible approval of exchange-traded spot bitcoin funds. Bitcoin touched a 21-month peak of $45,922, having gained 156 per cent last year in its strongest yearly performance since 2020. It was last up 3.1pc at $45,50

Petroleum consumption falls 15pc

The first half of FY24 ended on a dismal note for the petroleum sector due to a 15 per cent drop in sales of petroleum products to 7.686 million tonnes from nine million tonnes in the same period last fiscal year. Petrol sales posted a drop of 7pc to 3.57m tonnes during the July-December period from 3.83m tonnes in the same period of FY23 despite a price drop to Rs267.34 from Rs331.38 per litre

Stocks cheer new year with 2,211-point rally

Extending its winning streak for the third consecutive session after suffering the biggest-ever single-day fall on Dec 27, bulls staged a spectacular rally on the first day of the new calendar year of 2024, again tossing the KSE-100 index above 64,000-point level on Monday. Topline Securities Ltd Chief Executive Officer Muhammed Sohail told Dawn that the release of funds to Independent Pow­er P

PSX begins 2024 with 2nd highest single-day gain, surges 2,200 points

Shares at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) began the new year in the green, posting the second-highest single-day gain in the history of the benchmark index on Monday. According to the PSX website, the KSE-100 index struck 63,935.56 points at 10am, up 1484.52 points or 2.38 per cent from the previous close of 62,451.04 points. The index finally closed at 64,661.78, gaining a cumulative 2210.74

IMF board to review Pakistan tranche on Jan 11

The Inter­national Monetary Fund (IMF) has included Pakistan on its Executive Board agenda for January 11, as reported on its updated website. During this meeting, the board is set to deliberate and potentially grant final approval for the disbursement of the next $700 million tranche under the existing $3 billion Stand-By Arrangement (SBA). According to the IMF Executive Board calendar, upc