News

Stocks attain modest weekly gains

Trading on the stock market opened on a positive note in the outgoing week amid expectation of certain budgetary measures. Arif Habib Ltd said sentiments improved as investors expected a likely tax on corporates that didn’t announce pay-outs in rec­ent years. They resorted to buying while anticipating that the rumoured tax would encourage companies to revive pay-outs. Moreover, a statement b

Finance: Ineffective measures

It is about time for the government to announce the timeframe for the dissolution of assemblies and notify the date for the next general elections. It’s vital not just for democracy but also for much awaited economic turnaround in Pakistan. The situation is dire currently. Growth, if at all, has reduced to a crawl. The stubborn galloping inflation will not be easy to tame. The fiscal deficit an

Saudi Arabia to cut oil output in July as Opec extends deal into 2024

Saudi Arabia will make deep production cuts in July as part of a broader output-limiting Opec+ deal as the group faces flagging oil prices and a looming supply glut. Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz said the cut of one million barrels per day (bpd) by Riyadh could be extended beyond July if needed. “This is a Saudi lollipop,” he said. Opec+, which groups the Organisation of the Petrole

Bracing for economic known unknowns

Yearly headline inflation hit 38 per cent in May 2023. This means that on average, the purchasing power of the rupee was down 38 per cent in May compared to May last year. If you have Rs138,000 now, you can buy only as many goods and services worth Rs100,000 a year ago. Or in other words, if you have Rs100,000 now, you can buy goods and services that were worth Rs62,000 a year earlier. Infla

Dar promises pro-investor budget

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has said the government will announce a welfare-oriented, pro-investment and business-friendly budget for the next fiscal year. The government would provide as much relief to the public as possible, he claimed talking to a private news channel on Sunday. He said the government was introducing long-term policies aimed at sustainable economic growth and achieving econom