News

PSX nears yet another milestone

The benchmark of listed companies hit another all-time high on Thursday, thanks to the improving macroeconomic outlook following the successful review of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. Topline Securities Ltd said the session commenced on a buoyant note and the momentum remained strong throughout the day. Market participants opted to switch their positions by booking profits

Foreign trade debate

THERE is a debate in Pakistan on the foreign trade strategy we should pursue: export promotion, or import substitution? In much of the world, especially Southeast Asia, the debate has been won by export promotion to spectacular effect. We, however, are still confused, trying to carry out the best of both strategies and ending up with the worst of both. Import substitution is a strategy that see

Karachi industry warns of zero-export days

The city’s industrialists on Tuesday warned the caretaker government of intensifying protests from the second week of December if it doesn’t reduce gas prices. “If the government fails to pay attention to the business community’s demand, we will display protest banners all over the city and observe no-export day twice and even thrice a week,” Businessmen Group Vice Chairman Jawed Bilwani told r

Oil falls as Opec+ delays meeting on output cuts

Oil prices tanked more than two per cent on Wednesday as Opec+ producers unexpectedly delayed a meeting on production cuts, raising questions about global crude supplies. Brent futures fell $2.02, or 2.5pc, to $80.43 a barrel by 12:35 p.m. (1735 GMT), after falling as low as $78.41. US West Texas Intermediate crude was down $2.04, or 2.6pc, at $75.73, after hitting a session low of $73.79. O

Auto financing drops by Rs104bn in 16 months

The amount of outstanding auto loans plunged for the 16th consecutive month to Rs264 billion at the end of October from Rs272bn in September, showing a drop of three per cent on a month-on-month basis and 23.5pc on a year-on-year basis. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) data showed that the total drop in the last 16 months was Rs104bn. At the end of June 2022, the auto financing stood at Rs368bn