News Archives for Business & Finance - 2026-03-19

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Business & Finance - 2026-03-19

Energy

Iran attacks wipe out 17% of Qatar’s LNG capacity for up to five years, QatarEnergy CEO says

QatarEnergy will have to declare force majeure on long-term contracts for up to five years for LNG supplies bound

Published 19 Mar, 2026 09:35pm

World

IMF says prolonged increase in energy prices could boost inflation, lower growth

Julie Kozack cited an IMF 'rule of thumb' which held that every 10% increase in energy prices

Published 19 Mar, 2026 09:05pm

Stocks

Wall Street bank capital to fall 4.8% under new rules, in win for industry

Capital levels at larger regional banks such as PNC and Truist would fall by 5.2%

Published 19 Mar, 2026 08:55pm

Stocks

Foreign selloff in financials hammers India’s Nifty 50 to worst fortnight since COVID-19 crash

Foreign portfolio investors offloaded stocks worth 527.04 billion Indian rupees

Published 19 Mar, 2026 08:19pm

Markets

Pakistan govt doubles EFS utilisation period to 18 months

Longer utilisation period expected to reduce the exporters cost

Published 19 Mar, 2026 08:18pm

Markets

India’s HDFC Bank says chairman exit may be over rift with management; stock falls

Shares of HDFC Bank fell as much as 8.7%

Published 19 Mar, 2026 08:11pm

Commodities

India weighs rule to maximise output at imported-coal plants, sources say

India has power plants built to run on imported coal that could generate nearly 17 gigawatts

Published 19 Mar, 2026 08:02pm

Markets

India’s largest asset manager SBI Funds Management files for IPO

SBI will sell a 6.3% stake, while Europe’s biggest fund manager, Amundi, will sell a 3.7% stake.

Published 19 Mar, 2026 07:55pm

Markets

Energy prices soar, Iran and US trade threats after Qatar gas hit

DOHA: Oil and gas prices soared Thursday after Iran hit the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in...

Published 19 Mar, 2026 07:02pm

Business & Finance

SBP-held foreign reserves rise $13mn to $16.35bn

Total liquid foreign exchange reserves stand at $21.70 billion

Published 19 Mar, 2026 05:46pm

Stocks

Sri Lankan shares close lower, broad losses weigh

CSE All-Share index settled 1.82% lower at 20,264.01 points

Published 19 Mar, 2026 05:35pm

Energy

Russia to supply energy with mutually acceptable payment practices, Sorokin says

'We are cooperating with our Indian partners and working on a mutually beneficial basis,' Sorokin tells

Published 19 Mar, 2026 05:27pm

South Asia

India in talks with Russia, Belarus, Morocco to boost fertiliser imports, sources say

The Middle East accounts for roughly half of India’s DAP and urea imports

Published 19 Mar, 2026 05:21pm

Markets

India’s auto boom at risk as Iran-Israel war chokes gas supplies, straining supply chains

At this point in time it is about survival. First and foremost we need to ensure production continues

Published 19 Mar, 2026 05:16pm

Commodities

Copper hits weakest in three months as oil jumps, inventories rise

Benchmark three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange gave up 2.5% to $12,091 a metric ton

Published 19 Mar, 2026 05:09pm

Commodities

Palm closes more than 1% higher, logs third week of gains

Benchmark palm oil contract for June delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange gained 84 ringgit, or 1.86%, to 4,612 ringgit a metric ton

Published 19 Mar, 2026 05:06pm

Energy

India solar to quadruple, wind to triple over a decade, power ministry adviser says

CEA estimated that total non-fossil fuel capacity would reach 786 gigawatts by 2035-36

Published 19 Mar, 2026 05:01pm

Energy

India orders oil, gas firms to share import, export data

India has been hit hard by the jump in crude prices and disruption in oil and gas supplies

Published 19 Mar, 2026 04:56pm

South Asia

Novo Nordisk patent expiry opens door to cheaper weight-loss drugs in India

This could lead to misuse, poor titration and unmanaged side effects and eventually regulatory tightening

Published 19 Mar, 2026 04:41pm

Markets

JSW unit seeks government help to secure gas supplies amid shortages

Any disruption in our production will have an adverse impact on our downstream customers and may lead to supply deficit in these sectors

Published 19 Mar, 2026 04:35pm

Stocks

Indian shares log steepest fall in nearly 2 years as HDFC Bank, oil spike weigh

Nifty 50 fell 3.26% to 23,002.15 points, while the BSE Sensex also lost as much to settle at 74,207.24

Published 19 Mar, 2026 04:26pm

Exchange

Rupee registers gain against US dollar

Currency settles at 279.25 against greenback

Published 19 Mar, 2026 03:52pm

Money & Banking

Digital channels drive 92% of retail payments in Pakistan: SBP

SBP highlights significant strides in Pakistan’s journey toward a cashless and digitally inclusive economy

Published 19 Mar, 2026 03:22pm

Energy

European gas prices jump 35% after strikes on Qatar LNG hub

The Dutch TTF natural gas contract, considered the European benchmark, jumped to 74 euros, before paring gains slightly

Published 19 Mar, 2026 01:37pm

Commodities

Gold price drops by Rs24,300 per tola in Pakistan

International rate of gold declines by $243 to reach $4,767 per ounce

Published 19 Mar, 2026 01:10pm

Forex

Indian rupee weakens in NDF, set to slide past 93 as oil surges

The 1-month USD/INR NDF was quoted at about 93.70 to the dollar

Published 19 Mar, 2026 11:49am

Markets

Pakistan’s delivery riders race for Eid, but Iran war squeezes earnings

Now, with the US-Israeli war on Iran choking oil supplies, petrol prices have surged above 320 rupees per litre and Mohsin’s earnings have shrunk to around 1,100 rupees

Published 19 Mar, 2026 11:45am

Markets

AstraZeneca says it will build cell therapy base, innovation centre in Shanghai

CAR-T therapies modify a patient’s immune cells to recognise a specific target and destroy cancer cells

Published 19 Mar, 2026 11:38am

Energy

Mari Energies discovers gas in Sindh

Mari Energies Limited (MariEnergies), one of Pakistan’s largest E&P companies, announced on Thursday the...

Published 19 Mar, 2026 11:38am

Energy

Saudi Aramco-Exxon refinery SAMREF in Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu targeted, source says

Yanbu is currently the only export outlet for any crude oil out of Gulf Arab countries as Iran has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz

Published 19 Mar, 2026 11:35am

Forex

Thai baht/US dollar weaker on Thursday

The baht was 0.12% lower at 32.81 versus the dollar, after trading in a range of 32.770 to 32.840

Published 19 Mar, 2026 11:26am

Commodities

Chicago soybeans extend gains as soyoil prices rally

Wheat and corn futures edged higher

Published 19 Mar, 2026 11:15am

Markets

Malaysia’s February exports rise 10.8% y/y, below forecast

Imports in February grew 8.2% from a year earlier, the data showed, in line with the poll forecast of an 8% increase

Published 19 Mar, 2026 11:13am

Commodities

MPOC sees crude palm oil staying above $1,130/ton on rising energy prices

Palm oil prices will be supported by elevated energy prices and a favourable palm oil-gasoil spread, the council said

Published 19 Mar, 2026 11:09am

Forex

Australia, NZ dollars regain some footing amid Middle East shocks

The kiwi dollar also added 0.4% to $0.5823, having fallen 1.0% overnight and away from a top of $0.5872

Published 19 Mar, 2026 11:08am

Stocks

Miners, banks weigh heavy on Australian shares; energy shines

The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 1.5% to 8,509.30 points

Published 19 Mar, 2026 11:05am

Stocks

Indian shares fall on oil spike, hawkish Fed; HDFC Bank leads losses

The Nifty 50 was down 2.44% at 23,197.75

Published 19 Mar, 2026 11:00am

Bullion Rate

Gold rises off one-month low on softer dollar; hawkish Fed caps gains

Spot gold added 0.8% to $4,856.82 per ounce
US gold futures for April delivery shed 0.8% to $4,858.60

Published 19 Mar, 2026 10:58am

Stocks

Stocks slump, oil gains on worsening war in Middle East

In stocks, Japan’s Nikkei was down 2.5%, while South Korean equities sank 2.5%

Published 19 Mar, 2026 10:51am

Forex

Yen under pressure as BOJ and Fed hold rates steady

The yen was 0.1% firmer at 159.655 per dollar

Published 19 Mar, 2026 10:47am

Stocks

KSE-100 sheds over 1,500 points amid geopolitical tensions

Benchmark index loses over 1%

Updated 19 Mar, 2026 04:03pm

Commodities

Oil jumps above $119 a barrel on Middle East energy attacks

Brent futures were up $7.39, or 6.9%, at $114.77 a barrel
US WTI crude was up 27 cents, or 0.3%, at $96.59 a barrel

Updated 19 Mar, 2026 05:32pm

Business & Finance

Export cargo by GHAs: FPCCI concerned at imposition of additional charges

LAHORE: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) have expressed serious concern over the...