News Archives for Business & Finance - 2026-03-16

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Business & Finance - 2026-03-16

Markets

Pakistan IT exports continue declining trend in February 2026

IT exports stood at $374 million in January 2026

Published 16 Mar, 2026 11:40pm

Markets

Pakistan’s REER index depreciates to 102.54 in February 2026

A REER above 100 means the country’s exports are uncompetitive, while imports are cheaper

Published 16 Mar, 2026 09:36pm

Forex

Energy supply worries to keep Indian rupee, bonds under strain

Indian rupee hit a record low of 92.4750 last week

Published 16 Mar, 2026 08:48pm

Stocks

Sri Lankan shares extend losing run on broader losses

CSE All-Share index settled 3.47% lower at 20,939.26 points

Published 16 Mar, 2026 07:53pm

Middle East

UAE crude output falls by more than half as Hormuz closure forces shut-ins

The UAE produced just under 3.4 million barrels per day in January, or more than 3% of global demand

Published 16 Mar, 2026 07:27pm

South Asia

As India seeks Hormuz safe passage, Tehran asks for return of seized tankers, sources say

Iran recently allowed two Indian liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tankers to pass through the strait

Published 16 Mar, 2026 07:19pm

Commodities

India’s sugar production up 10.4% so far this season

India is likely to produce 28.3 million tons of sugar in the current season ending in September

Published 16 Mar, 2026 07:01pm

Financial

Indian bonds end lower under pressure from oil, RBI absence

Benchmark 6.48% 2035 bond yield shut at 6.7059

Published 16 Mar, 2026 06:39pm

Energy

India’s LPG consumption declines due to shortages in wake of Iran war

India buys about 90% of its imports of LPG

Published 16 Mar, 2026 06:36pm

Markets

Pakistan govt expands Roshan Digital Account scheme to foreign nationals, institutional investors

Pakistan has decided to expand the Roshan Digital Account (RDA) framework to allow foreign nationals, as well as...

Published 16 Mar, 2026 06:13pm

Energy

Middle East oil benchmarks hit record highs as war cuts supply

Middle East crude exports to Asia fell to 11.665 million barrels per day (bpd) in March

Published 16 Mar, 2026 05:37pm

Energy

Shell says global LNG demand to rise at least 54% by 2040

Shell says global demand for LNG is expected to rise to between 630 million and 718 million metric tons

Published 16 Mar, 2026 05:27pm

Markets

Alibaba CEO takes helm of new AI-focused business group

Alibaba says its mission would be to 'create, deliver, and apply tokens,'

Published 16 Mar, 2026 05:24pm

Markets

Pakistan posts $427mn current account surplus in February 2026

Country posts current account deficit of $700 million during Jul-Feb FY26

Updated 16 Mar, 2026 11:42pm

Commodities

Industrial metals slide as oil surge fuel inflation, growth worries

Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange was down 0.1% at $12,765 a metric ton

Published 16 Mar, 2026 05:15pm

Business & Finance

‘Fuel stocks till mid-April fully secured’: Govt rules out petrol shortage

Procurement strategies "already moving towards greater diversification"

Published 16 Mar, 2026 05:12pm

Commodities

Palm hits over one-year high on Dalian palm olein, crude oil strength

Benchmark palm oil contract for June delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange gained 82 ringgit

Published 16 Mar, 2026 05:10pm

Forex

Indian rupee averts record low on state-run banks’ dollar sales; oil worries persist

Indian rupee closed at 92.42 per dollar

Published 16 Mar, 2026 05:05pm

Stocks

Index heavyweights, autos help Nifty, Sensex snap three-session losing run

Nifty 50 rose 1.11% to 23,408.80, while the BSE Sensex added 1.26% to 75,502.85

Published 16 Mar, 2026 05:02pm

South Asia

Mounting gas shortages disrupt some steel plants at India’s JSW, one unit may face shutdown

India is facing its worst gas crisis in decades after the Middle East conflict disrupted supply routes

Published 16 Mar, 2026 04:59pm

South Asia

India’s trade gap shrinks before Middle East turmoil disrupts commerce

This year has been challenging for Indian exports and there are logistical challenges due to the West Asia crisis

Published 16 Mar, 2026 04:55pm

Companies

JSW Steel unit eyes debut $1 billion short-term debt issue, bankers say

While the first issue is earmarked for foreign investors, most of the top mutual funds have tied up as anchor investors for the second option

Published 16 Mar, 2026 04:46pm

Energy

India may soften new grid-supply rules for renewable power producers

The power regulator - the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission - proposed tighter rules for wind and solar power producers

Published 16 Mar, 2026 04:43pm

Markets

CCP authorises share acquisition in Canada’s Jura Energy operating in Pakistan

Through this acquisition, IDL has increased its ownership stake in the company

Published 16 Mar, 2026 03:45pm

Exchange

Rupee records gain against US dollar

Currency settles at 279.30 against greenback

Updated 16 Mar, 2026 08:15pm

Business & Finance

Gulf instability threatens Pakistan’s export competitiveness, warn industrialists

FPCCI president says closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered alarm across Pakistan’s trade and industry landscape

Published 16 Mar, 2026 02:49pm

Commodities

Oil tanker sails to Pakistan after crossing tense Strait of Hormuz: report

Attacks targeting commercial vessels in or near the Strait of Hormuz have put the blockaded waterway on the front line of the Middle East war, with spreading economic repercussions

Updated 16 Mar, 2026 08:27pm

Commodities

South Korean milling group bought about 87,000 tons wheat from the US on Friday, traders say

Traders had estimated the purchase at 50,000 tons on Friday

Published 16 Mar, 2026 01:02pm

Companies

Industrialists warn Dnata’s ad-hoc cargo charges denting Pakistan’s export competitiveness

Gerry’s Dnata is Pakistan’s leading aviation ground services provider

Published 16 Mar, 2026 12:55pm

Commodities

Gold price drops by Rs1,800 per tola in Pakistan

International rate of gold declines by $18 to reach $5,000 per ounce

Published 16 Mar, 2026 12:47pm

Stocks

Most Gulf equities decline as Iran conflict fuels regional market uncertainty

Dubai’s main share index declined 2.5%

Updated 16 Mar, 2026 07:31pm

Markets

Taiwan tech giant Foxconn posts 24% jump in annual net profit

Foxconn said Monday its annual net profit jumped 24 percent year-on-year

Published 16 Mar, 2026 12:15pm

Business & Finance

Shadman Cotton Mills reappoints CEO, chairman

Both reappointed for a period of three years

Published 16 Mar, 2026 12:06pm

Commodities

Copper falls as higher oil prices stoke inflation fears

The most-active copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange declined 1.28% to 99,310 yuan a metric ton

Published 16 Mar, 2026 11:54am

Companies

Pakistan-based IT co lands $1.23mn contract with Australian utility

Pakistan-based IT company, Itanz Technologies Limited, has secured an international contract worth AU$1.75 million...

Published 16 Mar, 2026 11:16am

Stocks

Australian shares dip as miners weigh on market, rate hike fears loom

The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 0.6% to 8,565.40 points

Published 16 Mar, 2026 10:54am

Stocks

South Korean shares turn lower as Middle East crisis keeps oil elevated

The benchmark KOSPI was down 28.59 points, or 0.52%, at 5,458.65

Published 16 Mar, 2026 10:51am

Commodities

Chicago soybeans fall on potential Trump-Xi meeting delay

The most-active soybean contract on the Chicago Board of Trade fell 2.1% to $11.99-1/2 a bushel

Published 16 Mar, 2026 10:49am

Stocks

Chinese stocks fall as Iran war keeps investors edgy; Hong Kong rebounds

China’s blue-chip CSI300 Index fell 0.6% by the lunch break, while the Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.7%

Published 16 Mar, 2026 10:47am

Mutual Funds

Declining bias persists for Indian bonds as oil stays higher, no end to war visible

The benchmark 6.48% 2035 bond yield will likely hover between 6.67% and 6.70%

Published 16 Mar, 2026 10:45am

Stocks

Japan’s Nikkei falls a third day as Iran crisis stokes stagflation concerns

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Index fell 1.3% to 53,138.42 as of the midday break

Published 16 Mar, 2026 10:41am

Energy

China January-February crude oil throughput up 1.9% year-on-year

China combines data for January and February into one release to smooth out the impact of the Lunar New Year holidays

Published 16 Mar, 2026 10:39am

Commodities

Palm opens more than 1% higher on strong rival Dalian, export data

The benchmark palm oil contract for June delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange gained 76 ringgit, or 1.66%, to 4,648 ringgit

Published 16 Mar, 2026 10:37am

Forex

Australian dollar steady after turbulent week, with focus on hawkish RBA

The Aussie edged up 0.4% to $0.7010, after plunging 1.4% on Friday to finish the week 0.8% lower

Published 16 Mar, 2026 10:32am

Forex

China’s yuan steady, in sign of resilience, despite deepening Iran war

The onshore yuan changed hands at around 6.9000 per dollar at midday, barely changed from Friday's close

Published 16 Mar, 2026 10:30am

Commodities

Iron ore retreats as Chinese iron ore buyer eases buying ban

The most-traded May iron ore contract on China's Dalian Commodity Exchange traded 0.92% higher/lower at 807.5 yuan a metric ton

Published 16 Mar, 2026 10:23am

Stocks

Selling continues at bourse, KSE-100 down over 3%

Ongoing global conflict and deadlock with the IMF weigh heavily on market sentiments

Updated 16 Mar, 2026 09:09pm

Stocks

Asia shares wary, oil choppy on Hormuz doubts

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan edged down 0.1%

Published 16 Mar, 2026 08:38am

Forex

Dollar steady as markets brace for busy c.bank week amid Mideast war

The yen meanwhile languished near the 160-per-dollar level and last stood at 159.44

Updated 16 Mar, 2026 02:32pm

Stocks

Indian shares seen rebounding after sharply weekly drop on hopes of energy supply relief

GIFT Nifty futures were trading ‌at 23,257

Published 16 Mar, 2026 08:27am

Bullion Rate

Gold edges lower as higher energy prices dim rate‑cut hopes

Spot gold was down 0.2% at $5,007.58 per ounce
US gold futures for April delivery fell 1% to $5,011.10.

Updated 16 Mar, 2026 02:33pm

Forex

Indian rupee pinned to lifetime low on stubbornly high oil, heavy equity outflows

The 1-month non-deliverable forward indicated the rupee will open in the 92.42–92.48 range against the US dollar

Published 16 Mar, 2026 08:17am

Energy

Oil prices mixed amid attacks on Gulf export facilities

Brent crude futures were up 16 cents to $103.30 a barrel
US West Texas Intermediate crude was down $1.50

Updated 16 Mar, 2026 06:31pm

Energy

Iran holds the key to reopening global energy markets

DUBAI/BAGHDAD: When Saudi Aramco told its oil buyers in a letter this week that it had no clear idea which port it...