News Archives for Business & Finance - 2025-12-19

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Business & Finance - 2025-12-19

Europe

Russian central bank cuts key rate to 16% as Putin speaks

Underlying measures of current price growth declined in November. However, inflation expectations have edged up in recent months

Published 19 Dec, 2025 09:07pm

Markets

‘Conditional subsidy’: experts say power tariff cut for industry, agriculture not enough

Under new tariff structure, price of additional electricity units for agriculture and industrial sectors was reduced to Rs22.98 per unit

Published 19 Dec, 2025 08:48pm

Stocks

Wall St climbs on tech strength, Nike tumbles on China miss

Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 258.52 points, or 0.54%, to 48,210.37

Published 19 Dec, 2025 08:27pm

Markets

India central bank minutes flag scope for more easing as growth seen slowing next year

The six-member monetary policy committee cut the key repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25% earlier this month

Published 19 Dec, 2025 07:20pm

Markets

YouTube largely back up after being down for thousands of users, Downdetector shows

Outage reports in the UK dropped to nearly 70 from more than 3,000, while Canada also reported quick restoration of the service

Updated 19 Dec, 2025 07:26pm

Stocks

UAE stocks mixed; Dubai rebounds as oil ticks up, Fed rate path in focus

Dubai’s benchmark index gained 0.6%, recovering from the previous session’s losses

Published 19 Dec, 2025 06:47pm

Commodities

Copper ticks higher as supply tightness in focus, heads for weekly gain

Benchmark three-month copper on the LME was up 0.1% at $11,787 per metric ton

Published 19 Dec, 2025 06:30pm

Energy

Global LNG: Asia spot prices fall to 20-month low on weak demand

Average LNG price for February delivery into northeast Asia was $9.50 per million British thermal units

Published 19 Dec, 2025 06:26pm

Markets

ICICI Prudential AMC notches $14.4 billion valuation on trading-debut spike

Its $1.2 billion IPO, which garnered bids worth $33 billion earlier this week to become the fourth most subscribed Indian IPO

Published 19 Dec, 2025 06:20pm

South Asia

China files WTO case against Indian tariffs, subsidies

The Indian tariffs and subsidies “give India’s domestic industries an unfair competitive advantage, harm Chinese interests” and were in violation of WTO rules

Published 19 Dec, 2025 06:16pm

Financial

India’s direct tax collections rise 8% y/y in April-December

India has set a direct tax collection target of 25.2 trillion rupees for the financial year ending March 31, 2026

Published 19 Dec, 2025 06:09pm

Financial

India mutual funds to further tilt towards short-end, steer clear of long bonds, managers say

Market participants believe that rate easing cycle is nearing its end, with possibility of one more rate cut in February

Published 19 Dec, 2025 06:05pm

Currency

Indian central bank intervened heavily to shore up rupee, traders say

Traders pointed to very heavy dollar sales from a large state-run bank

Published 19 Dec, 2025 06:00pm

Stocks

Sri Lankan shares fall, post weekly drop

CSE All Share index fell 0.64% to 22,149.09, taking weekly losses to 1.6%

Published 19 Dec, 2025 05:55pm

Commodities

Palm slips more than 1%, books second weekly fall

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

Published 19 Dec, 2025 05:52pm

Stocks

India Nifty 50 snaps four-session losing streak on Fed rate cut hopes

Nifty 50 rose 0.58% to 25,966.4 and BSE Sensex gained 0.53% to 84,929.36

Published 19 Dec, 2025 05:48pm

Currency

Indian Rupee soars past 90 per dollar as central bank reprises heavy-handed defence

Indian rupee closed at 89.27 per dollar, rising more than 1% on the day

Published 19 Dec, 2025 05:44pm

Financial

Weak auction demand fans supply worries, dragging India bonds down

Benchmark 10-year yield ended at 6.6017%

Published 19 Dec, 2025 05:39pm

Companies

PIA privatisation: Lucky Cement gets board nod to bid

PIA bidding scheduled for December 23, 2025

Published 19 Dec, 2025 03:57pm

Business & Finance

Pakistan’s telecom, VC firms seek tax relief

The finance minister acknowledged the telecom sector's critical role

Published 19 Dec, 2025 03:28pm

Companies

NLC installs modern scanners at Sost and Gabd to facilitate cross-border trade with China & Iran

To further facilitate cross-border trade and reinforce cargo security, the National Logistics Corporation (NLC) has...

Published 19 Dec, 2025 03:03pm

Companies

Bayer Pakistan continues its women’s health focus by launching new medication to treat endometriosis

Bayer Pakistan’s Pharmaceutical Division celebrated the commercial launch of a new product that adds on to its...

Updated 19 Dec, 2025 06:01pm

Markets

Pakistan targets $250 million for inaugural Panda bond, launch expected in January

Documentation and guarantees are in place, says Ministry of Finance

Updated 19 Dec, 2025 06:54pm

Companies

Fecto Cement plant operations resume after IHC orders reversal of suspension

Company says temporary suspension had no material adverse effect

Published 19 Dec, 2025 01:58pm

Commodities

Gold price drops by Rs900 per tola in Pakistan

International rate of gold declines by $9 to reach $4,325 per ounce

Published 19 Dec, 2025 12:49pm

Markets

Pakistan’s mobile phone imports surge 40.5% to $801mn in first five months of FY2025–26

On a Month-on-Month basis, Pakistan’s mobile phone imports saw a 8.30 percent growth,

Published 19 Dec, 2025 12:40pm

Markets

India’s Adani seeks to operate more airports as part of $11 billion expansion, exec says

Earlier this year, New Delhi outlined plans to lease out 11 airports, including at Amritsar and Varanasi

Published 19 Dec, 2025 11:45am

Business & Finance

UAE’s AD Ports Group sets up Pakistan logistics JV, takes majority control

AD Ports Group will acquire a 51% majority shareholding in the new entity

Published 19 Dec, 2025 11:40am

Business & Finance

Chaman traders flag economic losses amid prolonged Pak–Afghan border shutdowns

Issues raised to be taken up with relevant authorities, says Jam

Published 19 Dec, 2025 11:01am

Mutual Funds

India bonds seen opening steady as focus shifts to supply after infusion

Bond yields rise when prices fall

Published 19 Dec, 2025 11:00am

Forex

Yuan heads for longest weekly winning streak since June

The yuan traded in a narrow range and was at 7.0411

Published 19 Dec, 2025 10:57am

Stocks

China stocks inch higher, set to end week flat as investors await fresh cues

The CSI300 Index was up just 0.1% so far this week, while the Hang Seng Index was down 1.1%

Published 19 Dec, 2025 10:55am

Stocks

Australian shares climb as banks, real estate gain on softer US inflation

The S&P/ASX 200 index was up 0.6% at 8,653.30 points

Published 19 Dec, 2025 10:51am

Bullion Rate

Gold prices slip on lower US inflation figures, firmer dollar

Spot gold was down 0.3% at $4,318.19 an ounce

Published 19 Dec, 2025 10:44am

Forex

Australia, NZ dollars edge up on yen after BOJ’s widely expected hike

The kiwi rose 0.2% to 90 yen

Published 19 Dec, 2025 10:40am

Markets

Bank of Japan raises interest rates to 30-year high, signals more hikes

In a widely expected move, the BOJ raised short-term interest rates to 0.75% from 0.5% in the first increase since January

Published 19 Dec, 2025 10:36am

Mutual Funds

Japan’s 10-year bond yield hits 1999 high as BOJ hikes rates; tech leads Nikkei rally

The 10-year yield extended an earlier rise to climb as much as 5 basis points (bps) to 2.015%, the highest since August 1999

Published 19 Dec, 2025 10:31am

Stocks

KSE-100 Index loses momentum, sheds over 550 points

Benchmark index settles at 171,404.48

Updated 19 Dec, 2025 06:00pm

Exchange

Rupee inches up against US dollar

Currency settles at 280.25 against greenback

Updated 19 Dec, 2025 06:48pm

Companies

Nishat Group entities eye control of Rafhan Maize with plan to acquire up to 75.69% shares

Nishat Group is one of Pakistan’s largest and most diversified business conglomerates

Published 19 Dec, 2025 09:56am

Industry

LCCI hosts launch ceremony of BIPP’s annual report

LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) hosted the launch ceremony of the Annual Report of the...

Published 19 Dec, 2025 08:43am

Stocks

India shares to open higher as softer US inflation data spurs Fed cut hopes

The Gift Nifty futures were trading at 25,952.5 points

Published 19 Dec, 2025 08:28am

Business & Finance

Islamic banking: FPCCI, SBP BSC organise awareness session

LAHORE: An important awareness session on Islamic banking was organized jointly by the Federation of Pakistan...

Published 19 Dec, 2025 08:26am

Companies

‘Waste wise management bins’: Coca-Cola Pakistan partners with EPA

ISLAMABAD: Coca-Cola Pakistan has partnered for the waste wise management bins with the Environmental Protection...

Published 19 Dec, 2025 08:24am

Business & Finance

Documented tobacco cos appreciate govt’s efforts

ISLAMABAD: The documented tobacco companies have appreciated government’s efforts to clampdown on the illegal...

Published 19 Dec, 2025 08:21am

Industry

Accrued due to transporters’ strike: Business community for waiving demurrage, detention charges

KARACHI: Business Community has urged federal intervention to waive demurrage, detention charges accrued during ten...

Published 19 Dec, 2025 08:18am

Forex

Soft US inflation adds to RBI support in tentative Indian rupee recovery

The 1-month non-deliverable forward indicated the rupee will open slightly higher-to-flat versus the US dollar, having settled at 90.24 on Thursday

Published 19 Dec, 2025 08:16am

Forex

Fragile yen on tenterhooks ahead of BOJ

A dollar bought 155.59 yen early in the Asia morning, not too far from the yen's 10-month trough of 157.90 made in November

Published 19 Dec, 2025 08:14am

Energy

Oil prices little changed as market waits for news on possible Russia-Ukraine peace

Brent futures rose 13 cents or 0.2% to $59.95 per barrel

Updated 20 Dec, 2025 01:24am

Stocks

Asia stocks join Wall St rally, brace for BOJ hike

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japanadded 0.2%

Published 19 Dec, 2025 08:07am

Technology

China’s ByteDance signs deal to form joint venture to operate TikTok US app

The White House said in September the new joint venture will operate TikTok’s US app but questions remain about the deal.

Published 19 Dec, 2025 08:02am

Industry

All industrial schemes: Centre urged to include Chaman Industrial Zone

ISLAMABAD: The representatives of Chaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) on Thursday urged the federal...

Published 19 Dec, 2025 07:58am

Business & Finance

‘Taxes paid by responsible citizens are vital investments’

LAHORE: Parliamentary Secretary for Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control, Shehryar Malik has said that taxes paid...

Published 19 Dec, 2025 07:55am

Business & Finance

Trade, education, agri sectors: Governor, Dutch envoy discuss cooperation

LAHORE Ambassador of the Netherlands Robert Jan Siegert, called on Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan at the...

Published 19 Dec, 2025 07:51am

Business & Finance

‘NCC ready to support exporters to rein in emerging issues, threats’

FAISALABAD: Exporters would have to face critical challenges of a fully compliant chain in addition to certification...

Published 19 Dec, 2025 07:48am

Business & Finance

SECP operational despite absence of permanent chairman

ISLAMABAD: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) is functional and operational, but nowadays it...

Published 19 Dec, 2025 07:32am

Companies

SMBs in Pakistan: TikTok rolls out self-serve advertising solution

ISLAMABAD: TikTok has rolled out a new self-serve advertising solution in Pakistan to empower small and mid-size...

Published 19 Dec, 2025 07:21am

Business & Finance

Pakistan, IFC discuss how to strengthen strategic cooperation

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb met Thursday at the Finance Division...

Published 19 Dec, 2025 07:19am

Business & Finance

Unjustified taxes on paper hitting culture of reading: Minister

KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Education Syed Sardar Ali Shah has said that unjustified taxes imposed on paper are not...

Published 19 Dec, 2025 07:17am

Business & Finance

PM approves new strategy to boost Halal meat exports

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday approved a new strategy to boost the country’s Halal meat...

Published 19 Dec, 2025 07:07am

Cotton & Textile

Textile exports show dismal performance in 5MFY2025-26

ISLAMABAD: The country’s textile exports have shown dismal performance during the first five months ...