News Archives for Business & Finance - 2025-12-18

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Business & Finance - 2025-12-18

Companies

Trump Media announces merger with fusion power company

Trump Media’s share price has slumped by about 70% in the past year but was up nearly 25% after the announcement

Published 18 Dec, 2025 08:20pm

Money & Banking

Bank of England cuts interest rate after UK inflation slides

Thursday's decision marks the sixth reduction since the BoE began a trimming cycle in August 2024

Published 18 Dec, 2025 07:40pm

Markets

Pakistan’s central bank reserves hit 3.9-year high on IMF inflow

State Bank of Pakistan received $1.2bn tranche from International Monetary Fund last week

Updated 18 Dec, 2025 10:44pm

Stocks

Most Gulf stock markets rise as oil prices hold steady

Saudi Arabia’s benchmark stock index rose 0.4% after touching its lowest level in about two years

Published 18 Dec, 2025 07:04pm

Middle East

Saudi Arabia proposes to host WTO meeting in 2028

Bangladesh, Kuwait, Russia, Cameroon, and Thailand were among the countries that supported the proposal to host the meeting in Riyadh

Published 18 Dec, 2025 06:58pm

Companies

Zara turns to AI to generate fashion imagery using real-life models

We are using artificial intelligence only to complement our existing processes

Published 18 Dec, 2025 06:17pm

Business & Finance

CM Murad meets ABAD delegation, vows zero tolerance for land grabbing, extortion

Police brief ABAD delegation on progress made in 10 extortion cases so far

Published 18 Dec, 2025 06:04pm

Energy

Chennai Petroleum Corp to raise capacity at key Manali refinery, exec says

CPCL 2.0 will be a different version of what industry has seen it as a standalone refinery

Published 18 Dec, 2025 05:14pm

South Asia

IndiGo faces India antitrust scrutiny after mass flight cancellations

The airline, which controls more than 60% of India’s domestic market

Published 18 Dec, 2025 05:09pm

Financial

India bonds rise after RBI completes planned debt purchases

Benchmark 10-year yield ended at 6.5738%, after closing at 6.5995% on Wednesday

Published 18 Dec, 2025 05:04pm

Stocks

IT stocks drag Sri Lanka shares lower

CSE All Share index inched down 0.17% to 22,292.57

Published 18 Dec, 2025 05:02pm

Commodities

Copper steady as traders trim positions, eye US data

Copper has gained almost 34% in 2025 and hit an all-time peak of $11,952 last week

Published 18 Dec, 2025 04:57pm

South Asia

India signs trade pact with Oman as it expands Middle East ties

This (pact) will set a new pace of our trade, add new trust to our investments and open doors to new opportunities in many sectors

Published 18 Dec, 2025 04:50pm

Markets

India’s Mirae Asset to tactically buy more short-tenor debt on attractive rates

The fund house manages debt assets worth around 300 billion Indian rupees

Published 18 Dec, 2025 04:43pm

Markets

India to revamp M&A rules to protect retail investors, expedite deals

The reforms aim to level the playing field for smaller and retail investors and expedite deals

Published 18 Dec, 2025 04:37pm

Commodities

Asia rice: Thai rates hit seven-month high on China purchase deal

Thailand’s 5% broken rice was quoted at $415 per metric ton

Published 18 Dec, 2025 04:33pm

Commodities

Palm closes higher on bargain buying, soyoil spread

Palm oil tracks price movements of rival edible oils, as it competes for a share of the global vegetable oils market

Published 18 Dec, 2025 04:28pm

Forex

Indian rupee extends intervention-spurred rise, merchant flows dominate

Indian rupee closed at 90.24, 0.1% stronger than Wednesday’s close of 90.38 per dollar

Published 18 Dec, 2025 04:26pm

Stocks

Indian shares close lower after struggling for direction; IT gains cap losses

Nifty 50 eased 0.01% to 25,815.55 points and the BSE Sensex lost 0.09% to 84,481.81

Published 18 Dec, 2025 04:23pm

Commodities

India to tackle sugar surplus with higher exports, ethanol diversion

The government will try to contain the sugar surplus through all possible measures

Published 18 Dec, 2025 04:20pm

Commodities

Iranian company issues tender to buy 10,000 tons rice from Pakistan, traders say

Type 1121 white basmati rice is sought

Published 18 Dec, 2025 04:17pm

Technology

Pakistan, Ant Group discuss expanding digital payments & financial tech

Meeting focused on accelerating Pakistan’s transition towards a cashless and digitally enabled economy

Published 18 Dec, 2025 03:47pm

Business & Finance

Pakistan eyes halal meat export surge as PM approves new policy, certification support

Pakistan’s halal meat production currently stands at 6mn metric tonnes, forum told

Published 18 Dec, 2025 03:21pm

Financial

Gold per tola gains Rs2,200 in Pakistan

Reaches Rs455,762

Published 18 Dec, 2025 01:22pm

Industry

Maple Leaf Cement to acquire majority stake in Pioneer Cement for $270.5mn

The move will give MLCF management control of Pioneer Cement.

Published 18 Dec, 2025 01:13pm

Commodities

Copper prices diverge as US rate outlook, AI sentiment weigh

The most-traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange closed 0.23% higher at 92,600 yuan

Published 18 Dec, 2025 01:10pm

Commodities

China aluminium imports decline 14% y/y, custom data shows

The world’s top metals consumer imported 240,000 metric tons of unwrought aluminium and aluminium products last month

Published 18 Dec, 2025 01:09pm

Commodities

Wheat holds near 8-week lows after China cancels purchases from US

Corn rose for a second day due to strong US export demand, though pressure from low wheat prices limited gains

Published 18 Dec, 2025 12:19pm

Money & Banking

IFC, Fatima Fertilizer announce $60mn renewable liquidity facility to support Pakistan’s agriculture

The new facility allows the company to import essential materials and run at full capacity

Published 18 Dec, 2025 12:17pm

Forex

South African rand steady ahead of producer inflation data

The rand traded at 16.7675 against the dollar, little changed from its previous close of 16.7750

Published 18 Dec, 2025 12:17pm

Industry

Chinese group eyes €2bn integrated maritime project at Pakistan’s Port Qasim

If approved, project could represent one of the largest investments in Pakistan’s maritime sector

Updated 18 Dec, 2025 04:22pm

Stocks

Japan’s Nikkei slips to 3-week low on tech sell-off over AI-business outlook

The Nikkei was down 1.4% at 48,830.26

Published 18 Dec, 2025 11:36am

Forex

China’s yuan edges higher ahead of US inflation print, near 14-month high

The spot yuan opened at 7.0450 per dollar and was last trading at 7.0428 as of 0249

Published 18 Dec, 2025 11:35am

Mutual Funds

India bonds barely move with all eyes on RBI debt purchase

The benchmark 10-year yield was at 6.5914%

Published 18 Dec, 2025 11:21am

Stocks

Chinese stocks flat as tech drags, investors seek defensive plays

In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index weakened 0.4%

Published 18 Dec, 2025 11:19am

Energy

China’s November refined oil exports dropped 2.2% yoy; LNG imports surged 13.6%

From January to November, China exported 52.65 million metric tons of refined oil, down 3.2% year-on-year

Published 18 Dec, 2025 11:16am

Technology

Watch online videos to purchase Bitcoin, says Pakistan’s crypto chief

Bilal bin Saqib, the head of Pakistan’s newly established virtual assets regulator, has come under criticism after...

Updated 18 Dec, 2025 02:28pm

Commodities

Palm rises on bargain buying, soyoil spread

The benchmark palm oil contract for March delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange gained 30 ringgit, or 0.76%, to 3,996 ringgit

Published 18 Dec, 2025 11:05am

Stocks

Australian shares close flat, Woodside tumbles as CEO leaves for BP

The S&P/ASX 200 index fell as much as 0.4% before closing unchanged at 8,588.20 following a three-day slide

Published 18 Dec, 2025 11:03am

Bullion Rate

Gold steady ahead of key US inflation data; silver near record highs

Spot gold was down 0.1% at $4,334.70 an ounce

Published 18 Dec, 2025 11:01am

Exchange

Rupee registers marginal improvement against US dollar

Local currency settles at 280.26 against greenback

Updated 18 Dec, 2025 08:24pm

Exchange

New all-time high, KSE-100 settles near 172,000 level

Benchmark index gains nearly 1%

Updated 18 Dec, 2025 08:06pm

Energy

US allows oil sales from Russia’s Sakhalin-2 project through June 18

The general license, issued by the US Treasury Department, is important for US ally Japan, which gets about 9% of its LNG from Russia

Published 18 Dec, 2025 08:29am

Forex

Indian rupee traders on alert for RBI follow-through amid risk-off mood

The 1-month non-deliverable forward indicated the rupee will open in the 90.35-90.45 range versus the US dollar, having settled at 90.38 on Wednesday

Published 18 Dec, 2025 08:13am

Stocks

Indian stock benchmarks seen opening muted after three days of losses

The Gift Nifty futures were trading at 25,871 points

Published 18 Dec, 2025 08:09am

Stocks

Tech jitters dent stocks before central banks take centre stage

Japan's Nikkei was down 1.2%

Published 18 Dec, 2025 08:07am

Energy

Oil prices steady as market assesses reports of possible US sanctions on Russia, Venezuela blockade

Brent crude dropped 1 cent to $59.67 per barrel

Updated 18 Dec, 2025 06:27pm

Pakistan

PCB collaborates with Pepsi on women’s cricket

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has collaborated with Pepsi to launch the Playboard initiative, a...

Published 18 Dec, 2025 07:57am

Forex

Dollar holds gains against sterling, yen as central bank decisions loom

The dollar index , which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies including the yen and the euro

Published 18 Dec, 2025 07:57am

Business & Finance

Speaker says farmers constitute backbone of national economy

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Wednesday said that farmers are the backbone of national...

Published 18 Dec, 2025 07:54am

Business & Finance

MLM, referral marketing, Pyramid & Ponzi schemes termed illegal

ISLAMABAD: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Wednesday officially declared Multi-Level...

Published 18 Dec, 2025 07:52am

Industry

Transporters’ strike ends in Punjab: LCCI lauds Punjab govt’s timely steps & positive role

LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) held a press conference to discuss the issues faced by...

Published 18 Dec, 2025 07:51am

Industry

Mauritius HC visits LCCI: ‘There’s need to work together to address trade imbalance issues’

LAHORE: The High Commissioner of Mauritius, Munsoo Kurrimbaccus, said that the image of Pakistan presented to the...

Published 18 Dec, 2025 07:43am

Companies

Pak-origin ABHI introduces first world-class asset product with Zignaly

KARACHI: Pakistani-origin fintech ABHI announced a partnership to introduce Zignaly’s first Real-World Asset (RWA)...

Published 18 Dec, 2025 07:32am

Energy

Venezuela says oil exports continue normally despite Trump ‘blockade’

CARACAS: Venezuela struck a defiant note Wednesday, insisting that crude oil exports were not impacted by US...

Published 18 Dec, 2025 07:26am

Commodities

Silver tops USD66 for first time; gold up 1pc on soft US labour market

NEW YORK: Silver prices briefly surpassed USD66 an ounce to a record high on Wednesday, while gold firmed, as hopes...

Updated 18 Dec, 2025 06:23am

Business & Finance

Following realtors’ outcry: FBR suspends controversial SRO till Jan 31st

ISLAMABAD: After hue and cry of the business community/real estate sector, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has...