News Archives for Business & Finance - 2026-03-17

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Business & Finance - 2026-03-17

Companies

Yango gets transport network company operating licence in Punjab

Licensing framework expected to help strengthen oversight, while introducing enhanced safety, verification, and compliance standards intended to protect both partner drivers and passengers

Published 17 Mar, 2026 10:57pm

Stocks

Dubai leads Gulf stock market advance as investors reassess regional risks

Dubai’s main share index reversed early losses to close 4.1% higher

Published 17 Mar, 2026 09:03pm

Stocks

Sri Lankan shares extend losing streak

CSE All-Share index settled 2.49% lower at 20,418.09 points

Published 17 Mar, 2026 08:58pm

Energy

India: Cooking gas crunch hits home

War in the Middle East is straining supply of a fuel that has become indispensable to millions of Indian homes,...

Published 17 Mar, 2026 08:33pm

Middle East

Gulf banks face $307 billion deposit flight risk if war worsens, S&P says

Report says, it had seen no evidence of major outflows of foreign or local funding from banks in the Gulf

Published 17 Mar, 2026 08:09pm

Stocks

Wall St rises as Fed meeting, Middle East conflict in focus

Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 321.19 points

Published 17 Mar, 2026 08:02pm

Financial

Indian pension house corners bulk of SBI’s 60.5-billion-rupee bond sale, bankers say

State Bank of India raised 60.51 billion rupees, after getting bids of around 99 billion rupees

Published 17 Mar, 2026 07:54pm

Financial

India bonds unchanged as elevated oil, heavy state supply keep up pressure

Benchmark 6.48% 2035 bond yield, which has risen 5 basis points over this period

Published 17 Mar, 2026 07:50pm

Commodities

Copper slips as Iran war, rising stocks stoke demand fears

Benchmark LME three-month copper was down 0.5% to $12,790 per metric ton

Published 17 Mar, 2026 07:38pm

Commodities

Palm falls over 1% as soyoil, uncertain Indonesian policy weigh

Benchmark palm oil contract for June delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange slid 71 ringgit

Published 17 Mar, 2026 05:53pm

Energy

India fuel retailers seek advance payments from dealers as global price surges

About 90% of the country’s 101,470 retail fuel stations are linked to state refiners and retailer

Published 17 Mar, 2026 05:24pm

Money & Banking

Muted demand for India’s RBI cash infusion signals need for flexible operations, analysts say

Reserve Bank of India infused 480 billion rupees against an offer of 1.50 trillion Indian rupees

Published 17 Mar, 2026 05:15pm

Forex

Indian rupee stays on defensive with traders glued to oil moves

Indian rupee closed at 92.37 per dollar

Published 17 Mar, 2026 05:11pm

Stocks

Indian shares rise; higher crude caps gains

Nifty 50 rose 0.74% to 23,581.15, while the BSE Sensex gained 0.75% to 76,070.84

Published 17 Mar, 2026 05:03pm

South Asia

India probes fragrance giants Givaudan, Firmenich, IFF over deals not to poach workers

The fragrance case is India’s first touching on labour practices

Published 17 Mar, 2026 05:00pm

Pakistan

PM tells petroleum ministry to resolve fuel supply issues

Reviews a meeting on implementation of fuel conservation and austerity measures in view of the regional situation

Updated 17 Mar, 2026 08:59pm

Stocks

European shares open steady as Middle East conflict drags on

The pan-European benchmark STOXX 600 was flat at 598.11 points

Published 17 Mar, 2026 02:24pm

Energy

Pakistan expands domestic power generation as Asian LNG shortages bite

Pakistan aims to boost power generated from domestic sources

Published 17 Mar, 2026 02:05pm

Companies

SECP issues show-cause notices to 41 SOEs over legal violations

SECP found that 33 SOEs have not filed their annual audited accounts

Published 17 Mar, 2026 01:41pm

Business & Finance

Pakistan-Iran trade continues uninterrupted despite regional tensions: envoy

Muhammad Mudassir Tipu, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran, on Tuesday acknowledged continued trade facilitation by Iran,...

Published 17 Mar, 2026 01:10pm

Financial

Gold per tola gains Rs1,000 in Pakistan

Reaches Rs523,762

Updated 17 Mar, 2026 01:34pm

Companies

Pakistani egg processor advances expansion with new facility

Barkat Frisian Agro Limited has moved closer to scaling up operations, completing the trial run of its Faisalabad...

Published 17 Mar, 2026 12:13pm

Energy

Thailand seeking to buy crude oil from Russia, minister says

Thailand has oil reserves for 96 days and will discuss fuel prices later on Tuesday

Published 17 Mar, 2026 11:10am

Technology

SadaPay faces backlash over faulty account deductions, blames partner system error

SadaPay, a Pakistani fintech firm, acknowledged a system issue that led to incorrect deductions and negative...

Published 17 Mar, 2026 10:59am

Markets

Bank of Japan chief stresses need to hit 2% inflation backed by wage gains

The remarks came ahead of the central bank’s two-day policy meeting ending on Thursday

Published 17 Mar, 2026 10:56am

Commodities

Aluminium rises on Guinea quota fears, oil caps gains

The most-active aluminium contract added 0.14% to 25,125 yuan ($3,650.83) a metric ton

Published 17 Mar, 2026 10:53am

Stocks

China, HK markets climb on strong financials as traders shift from oil stocks

Hong Kong benchmark Hang Seng was up 1%

Published 17 Mar, 2026 10:48am

Markets

Australia central bank hikes rates in tight call as Iran war stokes inflation risk

Including at the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank, are widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged

Published 17 Mar, 2026 10:46am

Stocks

South Korea shares extend rally as chips rise on Nvidia optimism

The benchmark KOSPI was up 151.70 points, or 2.73%, at 5,701.55

Published 17 Mar, 2026 10:44am

Mutual Funds

Japanese government bonds rally as demand increases at 20-year debt sale

The benchmark 10-year JGB yield fell 1.5 basis points to 2.260%, while the 20-year yield slid 1 bp to 3.135%

Published 17 Mar, 2026 10:42am

Mutual Funds

India bonds under pressure as state debt supply swells, oil stays elevated

The benchmark 6.48% 2035 bond yield was at 6.7118%

Published 17 Mar, 2026 10:41am

Forex

Aussie dollar eases as RBA hikes rate; currencies drift on war uncertainty

The Reserve Bank of Australia raised its cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.1% as inflation re-accelerated

Published 17 Mar, 2026 10:40am

Forex

China’s yuan firms as focus shifts to global central bank meetings

The spot yuan opened at 6.8880 per dollar and was trading at 6.8834

Published 17 Mar, 2026 10:38am

Commodities

Iron ore firms as demand for finished steel products in China recovers

The most-traded May iron ore contract on China's Dalian Commodity Exchange traded 1.56% higher at 12.5 yuan a metric ton

Published 17 Mar, 2026 10:37am

Commodities

Soybeans rise after biggest drop since 2023 on potential Trump-Xi meeting delay

Wheat and corn climbed more than 1% each

Published 17 Mar, 2026 10:35am

Commodities

Palm opens lower on weaker Dalian oils

The benchmark palm oil contract for June delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange slid 32 ringgit, or 0.69%, to 4,622 ringgit a metric ton

Published 17 Mar, 2026 10:34am

Forex

Thai baht/US dollar weaker on Tuesday

The baht was 0.4% lower at 32.44 versus the dollar, after trading in a range of 32.330 to 32.520

Published 17 Mar, 2026 10:32am

Stocks

Japan’s Nikkei gains after overnight decline of oil prices

The broader Topix was up 1.18% at 3,653.43

Published 17 Mar, 2026 10:30am

Stocks

Miners, banks lift Australian shares as investors await RBA decision

The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.3% to 8,609.50

Published 17 Mar, 2026 10:28am

Business & Finance

Pakistan ensures fuel availability through ‘most of’ April amid improving external indicators

Schehzad says strengthening macro fundamentals is helping build buffers and a stronger foundation to face future challenges

Published 17 Mar, 2026 10:11am

Stocks

Volatility at bourse, KSE-100 closes above 150,000 level

Benchmark index settles at 150,016.16

Updated 17 Mar, 2026 03:29pm

Stocks

India stock benchmarks set for muted open; crude-driven volatility to remain high

GIFT Nifty futures were trading at 23,450

Published 17 Mar, 2026 08:45am

Forex

Mild relief for Indian rupee likely on oil rally halt, slightly improved risk tone to aid

The 1-month non-deliverable forward indicated the rupee will open in the 92.35-92.40 range versus the US dollar, having settled at 92.42 on Monday

Published 17 Mar, 2026 08:42am

Bullion Rate

Gold firms as investors assess Middle East fallout ahead of policy decisions

Spot gold firmed 0.4% to $5,023.19 per ounce

Published 17 Mar, 2026 08:38am

Stocks

Asia stocks attempt a rebound with central banks in the spotlight

Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.3%. S&P 500 e-mini futures slipped 0.3%

Published 17 Mar, 2026 08:31am

Forex

Currency markets drift ahead of RBA meeting as oil uncertainty weighs

The euro was 0.12% lower at $1.1492 in ‌Asian trading
Sterling was also down 0.1% at $1.33, pulling back the sharp gains from the previous session

Published 17 Mar, 2026 08:27am

Energy

Oil prices rise more than 1% after renewed Iranian attacks on UAE

Brent crude futures gained $1.73, or 1.7%, to $101.94 a barrel
US West Texas Intermediate crude advanced by $1.23

Updated 17 Mar, 2026 07:44pm

Pakistan

PM directs Railways to increase freight trains

KARACHI: Pakistan Railways has started contacting chambers of commerce and other trade organizations to avail the...

Published 17 Mar, 2026 08:10am

Industry

Minerals Investment Forum now in Nov

ISLAMABAD - The organisers of the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 (PMIF26) have announced that the Forum,...

Published 17 Mar, 2026 08:02am

Commodities

LME electronic trading resumes after nearly 3-hour outage

LONDON: Electronic trading on the London Metal Exchange’s LME Select platform resumed at 1730 GMT on Monday after an...

Published 17 Mar, 2026 07:59am

Money & Banking

23rd March: Bank holiday

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and all banks will remain closed on March 23, 2026 (Monday) being public...

Published 17 Mar, 2026 07:51am

Money & Banking

Banks’ Eid holidays

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and all banks will remain closed on 20th and 21st March, 2026 (Friday and...

Published 17 Mar, 2026 07:50am

Business & Finance

BIS urges central banks not to rush reactions to energy price spike

LONDON: The body that advises the world’s central banks has urged policymakers not to rush reactions to the Iran...

Updated 17 Mar, 2026 08:47am

Europe

Britain unveils jobs drive for young people to tackle high unemployment

LONDON: Britain will invest an additional 1 billion pounds (USD1.3 billion) to unlock jobs for young people, the...

Updated 17 Mar, 2026 08:47am

Industry

Letter sent to CM Maryam: PHMA-North zone slams proposed 0.9pc Infrastructure Development Cess

LAHORE: The Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PHMA) North Zone on Monday sent a letter to...

Published 17 Mar, 2026 05:57am

Business & Finance

PRA registration made mandatory for food businesses

LAHORE: The Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) has made it mandatory for food businesses to obtain registration with the...

Published 17 Mar, 2026 05:57am

Industry

Budget allocation: Senate panel defers approval to Quetta Expo Centre

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Commerce on Monday deferred approval of the budget allocation for the...

Published 17 Mar, 2026 05:57am

Taxes

Federal Excise Act, Federal Excise Rules: FBR moves FCC for enforcement of tax authorities’ powers

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has approached the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), seeking...

Published 17 Mar, 2026 05:57am

Industry

ME conflict: FPCCI urges govt to help protect trade, industry

KARACHI: Atif Ikram Sheikh, President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), has stressed...

Published 17 Mar, 2026 05:57am

Industry

BMP slams Gerry’s Dnata for imposing ad hoc handling charge on export cargoes

KARACHI: Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, Chairman BMP-Progressive and Senior Vice President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of...

Updated 17 Mar, 2026 08:41am

Industry

UBG president advocates for full use of Thar coal resources

KARACHI: President of United Business Group (UBG) and former president of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of...

Updated 17 Mar, 2026 08:41am

Companies

PIA, other airlines increase fares by around 10 to 14pc

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and several other airlines operating in Pakistan have increased...

Updated 17 Mar, 2026 08:40am

Companies

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

ISLAMABAD: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has authorised the acquisition of shares of Jura Energy...

Published 17 Mar, 2026 05:57am

Business & Finance

FBR to launch digital e-Bilty system, end paper documents

ISLAMABAD: The flagship project of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), i.e., Cargo Tracking System (CTS), will...

Published 17 Mar, 2026 05:57am

Business & Finance

FBR urged not to implement/extend Single Portal/Single Return with PRAs

ISLAMABAD: Provincial tax authorities have urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) not to further implement/extend...

Published 17 Mar, 2026 05:57am

Business & Finance

Govt decides to expand RDA framework

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to expand the Roshan Digital Account (RDA) framework to allow foreign...

Published 17 Mar, 2026 05:57am

Business & Finance

C/A posts record surplus in Feb

KARACHI: Pakistan’s current account continued to perform well and posted a record surplus in February 2026, mainly...

Published 17 Mar, 2026 05:57am

Energy

Oil prices slide 3pc

NEW YORK: Oil prices slid about 3 percent on Monday after some vessels sailed through the critical Strait of Hormuz,...

Published 17 Mar, 2026 05:57am

Energy

Pakistan-bound oil tanker passes through Hormuz Strait amid Iran war

Iran has attacked several ships in the Gulf, in effect closing the strait

Updated 17 Mar, 2026 02:05am

Previous Day

BR100
BR30
KSE100
KSE30
KMI30

1D 5D 3M 6M 1Y

Forex
World
Commodity

Currency	Rate
USD PKR Interbank Selling / Jul 24	278.07
USD PKR Interbank Buying / Jul 24	277.87
USD to Japanese Yen / Jul 27	163.55
USD to Swiss Franc / Jul 27	0.81
Pound Sterling to USD / Jul 27	1.34
Euro to USD / Jul 27	1.14
SOFR % / Jul 24	3.57

Stock	Volume
S&P 500 / Jul 24	7,411.98
Nasdaq / Jul 24	24,975.82
Dow Jones / Jul 24	51,947.25
India Sensex / Jul 27	76,744.88
Tokyo Nikkei / Jul 27	64,771.01
Hang Seng / Jul 27	25,112.38
FTSE 100 / Jul 27	10,773.82
Germany DAX 30 / Jul 27	25,432.98
France CAC40 / Jul 27	8,448.93

Item	Value
Karachi Cotton PKR/37.32 KG / Jul 24	18,680
Gold 10 Grams PKR / Jul 24	366,457
Petrol/Litre / Jul 27	335.18
Crude Oil USD/Barrel / Jul 27	83.71
Gold Spot USD/Ounce / Jul 27	4,095.93
Diesel/Litre / Jul 27	383.46
Cotton US¢/pound / Jul 27	80.58

Gainers
Losers
Leaders

Stock	Price
First IBL Mod. / Jul 27 First IBL Modaraba(FIBLM)	16.67 ▲ 1.52 (10.03%)
Oilboy Energy / Jul 27 Oilboy Energy Limited(OBOY)	16.71 ▲ 1.52 (10.01%)
Crescent Cotton / Jul 27 Crescent Cotton Mills Limited(CCM)	55.61 ▲ 5.06 (10.01%)
Ashfaq Textile / Jul 27 Ashfaq Textile Mills Limited(ASHT)	34.64 ▲ 3.15 (10%)
Aisha Steel(ConPS) / Jul 27 Aisha Steel(ConPS)(ASLPS)	26.61 ▲ 2.42 (10%)
Berger Paints / Jul 27 Berger Paints Pakistan Limited(BERG)	107.29 ▲ 9.75 (10%)
Fateh Sports / Jul 27 Fateh Sports Wear Limited(FSWL)	189.95 ▲ 17.27 (10%)
Metro Steel / Jul 27 Metropolitan Steel Corporation Limited(MSCL)	24.65 ▲ 2.24 (10%)
Pak.Int.Cont.. / Jul 27 Pakistan International Container(PICT)	57.99 ▲ 5.27 (10%)
Buxly Paints / Jul 27 Buxly Paints Limited(BUXL)	181.74 ▲ 16.52 (10%)

Stock	Price
Olympia Mills / Jul 27 Olympia Mills Limited(OML)	155.93 ▼ -17.33 (-10%)
Ahmad Hassan / Jul 27 Ahmad Hassan Textile Mills Limited(AHTM)	99.49 ▼ -11.05 (-10%)
Asia Ins. / Jul 27 Asia Insurance Company Limited(ASIC)	49.46 ▼ -5.49 (-9.99%)
The Thal Ind.Corp. / Jul 27 The Thal Industries Corporation Limited(TICL)	985 ▼ -102.65 (-9.44%)
Shahtaj Textile / Jul 27 Shahtaj Textile Limited(STJT)	143 ▼ -10.5 (-6.84%)
JS Investments / Jul 27 JS Investments Limited(JSIL)	41.76 ▼ -2.82 (-6.33%)
PIA Holding Co.B / Jul 27 PIA Holding Company Limited B(PIAHCLB)	16,624 ▼ -1044 (-5.91%)
Popular Islamic / Jul 27 Popular Islamic Modaraba(PIM)	22.47 ▼ -1.3 (-5.47%)
National Silk / Jul 27 The National Silk & Rayon Mills Limited(NSRM)	238 ▼ -13.32 (-5.3%)
Pak Gulf Leasing / Jul 27 Pak-Gulf Leasing Company Limited(PGLC)	15.10 ▼ -0.81 (-5.09%)

Stock	Volume
Trust Sec.& Brok. / Jul 27 Trust Securities & Brokerage Limited(TSBL)	27,058,397 ▲ 0.17
Cnergyico PK / Jul 27 Cnergyico PK Limited(CNERGY)	24,136,797 ▲ 0.37
Media Times Ltd / Jul 27 Media Times Limited(MDTL)	22,265,475 ▼ -0.09
TPL Properties / Jul 27 TPL Properties Limited(TPLP)	20,815,406 ▲ 0.39
TPL Corp Ltd / Jul 27 TPL Corp Limited(TPL)	13,342,937 ▲ 0.96
B.O.Punjab / Jul 27 The Bank of Punjab(BOP)	9,818,549 ▲ 1.26
Kohinoor Spinning / Jul 27 Kohinoor Spinning Mills Limited(KOSM)	7,445,029 ▲ 0.25
K-Electric Ltd. / Jul 27 K-Electric Limited(KEL)	6,710,280 ▲ 0.25
Maple Leaf Cement / Jul 27 Maple Leaf Cement Factory Limited(MLCF)	6,589,343 ▲ 4.99
Pak Refinery / Jul 27 Pakistan Refinery Limited(PRL)	6,038,115 ▲ 1.55

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