News Archives for Business & Finance - 2026-03-30

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Business & Finance - 2026-03-30

Business & Finance

NIC Karachi hosts Pakistan Investor Summit 2026

Around 25 investors/ecosystem enablers engage directly with startups through curated meetings, discussions

Published 30 Mar, 2026 11:25pm

Markets

High fuel prices could drive shift to new energy vehicles, experts say

A rising fuel cost environment is encouraging customers to shift towards the New Energy Vehicles (NEVs), which could...

Published 30 Mar, 2026 11:13pm

Business & Finance

Gas supply disrupted in parts of Balochistan after pipeline sabotage: SSGC

Company says 18-inch diameter gas pipeline was damaged in a blast in Quetta

Published 30 Mar, 2026 10:20pm

Companies

India’s Bharti Airtel-owned Nxtra to raise $1 billion amid data center boom

Nxtra will deploy the funds to scale its infrastructure and expand the services it offers

Published 30 Mar, 2026 09:30pm

Companies

Telecom operator unveils $1bn investment plan in meeting with finance minister

Jazz, VEON officials meet Finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb

Published 30 Mar, 2026 09:29pm

USA

Powell says Fed can ‘wait and see’ how war affects inflation

As the Iran war enters its fifth week and U.S. gasoline prices rise to around an average of $4 a gallon

Published 30 Mar, 2026 09:25pm

Companies

Indian gas maker INOX Air Products plans $1 billion IPO, appoints bankers, sources say

INOX Air Products operates nearly 50 locations across the country, produces over 4,200 tonnes per day of liquid gases

Published 30 Mar, 2026 08:18pm

South Asia

India approves over $750 million in projects for electronic component manufacturing

The proposals cover mobile manufacturing, telecom, consumer electronics, automotive and hardware products

Published 30 Mar, 2026 07:59pm

South Asia

Bangladesh seeks US waiver to import Russian diesel as energy crisis deepens

Dhaka has requested a waiver similar to the one granted to India, proposing imports of up to 600,000 metric tons of Russian diesel

Published 30 Mar, 2026 07:48pm

Stocks

Gulf markets mixed amid escalating Middle East conflict

Dubai’s main share index dropped 1.2%

Published 30 Mar, 2026 07:34pm

Stocks

Sri Lankan shares drop for third straight session as industrial, consumer discretionary stocks weigh

CSE All-Share index fell 1.3% to 21,092.24

Published 30 Mar, 2026 07:29pm

Stocks

Wall St gains after recent selloff, Mideast conflict widens

S&P 500 Energy Index added 1.5% with Exxon Mobil and Chevron up 3% and 1.5%, respectively

Published 30 Mar, 2026 07:23pm

Companies

XED, India’s first GIFT city IPO, withdraws issue after weak demand

The roughly $12 million IPO of XED had received subscriptions for only about 5% of the shares

Published 30 Mar, 2026 07:17pm

Forex

India rupee recovery fades as corporates step in to exploit RBI-spurred dislocation

If you a corporate, you absolutely want to take advantage of these once-in-a-decade opportunities

Published 30 Mar, 2026 06:20pm

Commodities

Aluminium hits four-year peak after Iran attacks Middle East smelters

Benchmark aluminium on the London Metal Exchange traded 3.9% higher at $3,424.5 a metric ton

Published 30 Mar, 2026 05:43pm

Financial

India 10-year bond yield tops 7%, sees biggest monthly surge in 9 years

The 10-year bond yield breached the 7% level for the first time since July 2024 and ended 9 basis points higher at 7.0345%

Published 30 Mar, 2026 05:38pm

Business & Finance

PM Shehbaz says looking forward to inaugurating Pak-EU Business Forum next month

Both leaders express concern over ongoing hostilities in Middle East, their impact on global economy

Updated 30 Mar, 2026 05:52pm

Asia

Chinese container ships pass through Strait of Hormuz at second attempt, data shows

The vessels were sailing in close formation out of the strait and into open waters

Published 30 Mar, 2026 05:21pm

Financial

India bonds plunge in worst fiscal since 2023 as Mideast war outweighs RBI largesse

Elevated oil prices threaten to raise inflation and widen India’s current account deficit

Published 30 Mar, 2026 05:01pm

South Asia

India proposes to let financial creditors trigger insolvency bypassing tribunal

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill 2025, approved by the lower house of parliament on Monday

Published 30 Mar, 2026 04:56pm

Forex

Indian rupee falls past 95/USD, logs worst fiscal year drop in over a decade

Indian rupee kicked off the trading session at a one-week high of 93.59 per dollar

Published 30 Mar, 2026 04:27pm

Exchange

Rupee gains against US dollar

The local currency settles at 279.16 against the greenback

Updated 30 Mar, 2026 07:50pm

Commodities

Palm futures hit 15-month high on Indonesia biodiesel plans, crude rally

Dalian’s most-active soyoil contract rose 0.67%

Published 30 Mar, 2026 04:21pm

Stocks

Indian shares log worst month since March 2020 as Mideast war fans growth worries

Nifty 50 dropped 2.14% to a near one-year low of 22,331.4 and the BSE Sensex shed 2.22% to 71,947.55

Published 30 Mar, 2026 04:13pm

South Asia

India boosts renewable push amid gas supply disruptions, minister says

There are challenges in respect of availability and price volatility of natural gas due to the Middle East crisis

Published 30 Mar, 2026 04:07pm

South Asia

India’s April-February fiscal deficit at 80% of 2025/26 target

Net tax receipts at 21.5 trillion Indian rupees, up from 20.2 trillion rupees collected in the same period a year ago

Published 30 Mar, 2026 03:59pm

Energy

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation assures full facilitation to Pakistani oil vessels

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), a state-owned national oil company of Kuwait, is to ensure full facilitation to...

Published 30 Mar, 2026 03:50pm

Companies

PSO appoints Abdus Sami interim CEO as Syed Taha leaves for K-Electric

Sami is an MBA from LUMS

Published 30 Mar, 2026 03:13pm

Stocks

Banks, tech weigh down Australian shares; Gulf war keeps energy stocks up

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index closed down 0.7% at 8,461 points, after falling as much as 1.6% earlier

Published 30 Mar, 2026 02:21pm

Business & Finance

Jet fuel prices unaffected despite hike in high-octane levy: PM told

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was informed on Monday that the increase in levy on high-octane fuel used in luxury...

Published 30 Mar, 2026 02:17pm

Sponsored Content: Deepal S05 REEV delivers Pakistan’s lowest cost of driving in an era of rising fuel costs

Companies

South African rand firms on commodity boost

The rand traded at 17.0525 against the dollar , about 0.4% up from its previous close

Published 30 Mar, 2026 01:06pm

Stocks

European stocks steady ahead of inflation data

The pan-European STOXX 600 was flat at 574.98 points

Published 30 Mar, 2026 12:58pm

Financial

Gold price per tola gains Rs3,900 in Pakistan

Price of silver increases by Rs70 to reach Rs7,524 per tola

Updated 30 Mar, 2026 07:32pm

Forex

Thai baht/US dollar weaker on Monday

The baht was 0.15% lower at 32.95 versus the dollar, after trading in a range of 32.940 to 33.000

Published 30 Mar, 2026 12:46pm

Commodities

Soybeans, corn rebound on Iran war, US dryness

Wheat gained ground after closing largely unchanged in the last session

Published 30 Mar, 2026 12:25pm

Companies

Sazgar to roll out hybrid SUV ‘Tank-500’ by end-March

Pakistan’s auto market gradually shifts towards energy-efficient vehicles.

Published 30 Mar, 2026 12:17pm

Forex

Australia, NZ dollars extend losing streak as Mideast war hits global growth

With the break of chart support at $0.6897, it now risks a retreat to $0.6700, well below the recent top of $0.7187

Published 30 Mar, 2026 12:08pm

Commodities

Iron ore rangebound as investors assess rising costs against high portside stocks

The most-traded iron ore contract on China’s Dalian Commodity Exchange was up 0.37% at 815.5 yuan a metric ton

Published 30 Mar, 2026 12:03pm

Stocks

Japan’s Nikkei sinks on stagflation fears; benchmark JGB yields hit 27-year high

The Nikkei was down 4.6% at 50,936.13, as of the midday break

Published 30 Mar, 2026 11:59am

Stocks

South Korean shares fall over 3% on fears over widening Iran war

The benchmark KOSPI was down 182.39 points, or 3.35%, at 5,256.48

Published 30 Mar, 2026 11:56am

Markets

European airlines likely beat 2% green jet fuel target last year, sources say

Airlines had repeatedly warned that targets would be missed

Published 30 Mar, 2026 11:30am

Markets

Toyota’s global output falls for a fourth month in February on model change

Global vehicle production shrank 3.9% from the same month a year earlier to 749,673 vehicles

Published 30 Mar, 2026 11:26am

Forex

Yuan slides to three-week low as Iran war supports dollar

Its offshore counterpart traded at 6.924 yuan per dollar , down about 0.04% in Asian trade

Published 30 Mar, 2026 11:23am

Stocks

Shanghai stock index steady after 1% slide as Middle East tensions weigh

Hong Kong benchmark Hang Seng was down 0.9%, and the Hang Seng Tech Index lost 1.7%

Published 30 Mar, 2026 11:22am

Companies

Pakistan’s Honda bike assembler approves $20mn investment

Investment will be made to enhance capacity, automation and productivity

Updated 30 Mar, 2026 01:11pm

Mutual Funds

India 10-year bond yield set for biggest quarterly spike in four years

Bond yields move inversely to prices. Indian markets are shut on Tuesday for a local holiday

Published 30 Mar, 2026 11:20am

Commodities

Palm rises for third session on firm Chicago soyoil, crude and strong exports

The benchmark palm oil contract for June delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange was up 36 ringgit, or 0.78%, at 4,667 ringgit a metric ton

Published 30 Mar, 2026 11:00am

Companies

Engro Holdings board proposes buyback of up to 45mn shares

Engro Holdings Limited, one of Pakistan’s largest conglomerates, has announced plans to buy back up to 45 million of...

Published 30 Mar, 2026 10:25am

Stocks

KSE-100 drops over 3% amid geopolitical uncertainty

Focus remains on four-nation meeting in Islamabad, say experts

Updated 30 Mar, 2026 10:21pm

Stocks

Indian shares set to open lower, head for worst month in six years on Iran war

GIFT Nifty futures were trading at 22,564.5

Published 30 Mar, 2026 08:24am

Forex

Indian rupee set to climb amid arbitrage unwinding prompted by RBI position limits

*The rupee ‌has ⁠dropped more than 4% in March through Friday, putting it on course for its worst monthly performance in more than seven years

Published 30 Mar, 2026 08:22am

Bullion Rate

Gold falls as Houthi attack lifts oil, Fed rate-cut hopes dim

Spot gold fell 0.6% to $4,466.99 per ounce
US gold futures for April delivery shed 0.6% to $4,496.30

Updated 30 Mar, 2026 01:01pm

Stocks

Stocks dive in Asia, Brent crude heads for record monthly rise

The euro was stuck at $1.1500 , not far from the March trough of $1.1409

Published 30 Mar, 2026 08:11am

Forex

Dollar holds firm as risk of protracted Middle East war saps sentiment

Markets have been rattled this month ‌after the conflict effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for about a fifth of global oil and gas flows

Updated 30 Mar, 2026 10:22am

Energy

Brent heads for record monthly leap as Houthi attacks widen Gulf conflict

Brent crude futures jumped $1.98, or 1.8%, to $114.55 a barrel
US West Texas Intermediate was up $1.14, or 1.1%, at $100.78

Updated 30 Mar, 2026 05:17pm

Industry

BMP raises concerns over declining exports to EU

LAHORE: Pakistan’s export sector is facing mounting pressure as shipments to key European markets show signs of...

Published 30 Mar, 2026 04:48am

Industry

Business community leader says concerned at ME tensions

HYDERABAD: Muhammad Saleem Memon of the Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry has expressed serious...

Published 30 Mar, 2026 04:48am

World

UAE’s Emirates Global Aluminium also sustained damage: Bahrain’s Alba assesses damage after Iran strikes

ABU DHABI Aluminium Bahrain, which runs one of the world’s largest smelters, said on Sunday it was assessing the...

Published 30 Mar, 2026 04:48am

World

Trump’s approval rating drops amid Iran war and rising fuel prices

WASHINGTON: As the war in Iran threatens to imperil President Donald Trump’s legacy, the political stakes also are...

Updated 30 Mar, 2026 06:08am

Cotton & Textile

Weekly Cotton Review: Prices surge by Rs1000/maund, likely to soar to Rs20,000

KARACHI: Cotton prices in Pakistan have recorded an increase of one thousand rupees per maund, with ginners...

Published 30 Mar, 2026 04:48am

Money & Banking

ABL strengthens position via risk management, strategic capital allocation and diversification

KARACHI: Allied Bank continues to strengthen its competitive position through prudent risk management, strategic...

Published 30 Mar, 2026 04:48am

Companies

Revolut to base 40percent of its global workforce in India by 2026

BENGALURU: Europe-an fintech firm Revolut plans to have around 40percent of its global workforce based in India by...

Published 30 Mar, 2026 04:48am

Companies

Private credit poses limited systemic risk to broader financial markets despite strains, Barclays says

BENGALURU: Private credit has limited ability to cause significant losses that could hurt the broader financial...

Published 30 Mar, 2026 04:48am

Business & Finance

Iran conflict threatens to stall Germany’s economic growth, IMK says

BERLIN: A prolonged Iran war could bring German economic growth close to a standstill this year, the IMK institute...

Published 30 Mar, 2026 04:48am

Money & Banking

BOJ says core CPI excluding special factors up in Feb

TOKYO: The Bank of Japan said on Thursday the core consumer price index rose 2.2percent excluding special factors in...

Published 30 Mar, 2026 04:48am

Business & Finance

German consumer sentiment slumps in April on energy price fears, finds GfK

BERLIN: German consumer sentiment is set to deteriorate heading into April, as households brace for energy prices...

Published 30 Mar, 2026 04:48am

Mutual Funds

Chinese fund managers Huaan, HFT Investment to merge, local media reports

SHANGHAI: Chinese mutual fund manager Huaan Fund Management Co and smaller rival HFT Investment Management Co, both...

Published 30 Mar, 2026 04:48am

Business & Finance

China considers easing bank shareholding limits to boost capital, sources say

SHANGHAI: China is considering easing shareholding restrictions for some major investors, people with knowledge of...

Published 30 Mar, 2026 04:48am

Business & Finance

Minimal agreement on WTO reform in sight in Yaounde

YAOUNDÉ: Negotiations towards launching much-needed reform of the World Trade Organization appeared to be heading...

Updated 30 Mar, 2026 06:16am

Companies

Demand and risks for global data centre insurance growing: Swiss Re

ZURICH: Fast growth in data centre construction is pushing up insurance demand and risks for the sector, a report...

Published 30 Mar, 2026 04:48am

Commodities

Prices of daily kitchen items show upward trend

PESHAWAR: Upward trend in prices of daily kitchen items was witnessed in the retail market, said a weekly...

Published 30 Mar, 2026 04:48am

Industry

Central Asian States: Pakistan has potential to raise trade up to USD10bn: PFC

LAHORE: Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) Chief Executive Officer Mian Kashif Ashfaq said here Sunday that Pakistan...

Published 30 Mar, 2026 04:48am

Business & Finance

Sindh Governor, business leaders agree on joint strategy

KARACHI: Sindh Governor, Muhammad Nihal Hashmi, met 18-member business delegation, at the Governor House on Sunday,...

Published 30 Mar, 2026 04:48am

Companies

PEBS felicitates corporate partner on 70th anniversary

KARACHI: The Board of Directors of Pakistan Eye Bank Society warmly felicitated its corporate partner in legal...

Published 30 Mar, 2026 04:48am

Pakistan

PPRA: FESCO organises training

FAISALABAD: The Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) organised a two-day training session at its Regional...

Published 30 Mar, 2026 04:48am

Industry

OTCA protests against pipeline quota hike

KARACHI: The Oil Tanker Contractors Association Karachi (OTCA) has lodged a strong protest with the federal...

Published 30 Mar, 2026 04:48am

Business & Finance

Foreign oil firm case: FBR flags CTO Islamabad’s negligence before FTO

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has expressed serious concern that the Corporate Tax Office (CTO)...

Published 30 Mar, 2026 04:48am

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 24	163.83
USD to Swiss Franc / Jul 24	0.82
Pound Sterling to USD / Jul 24	1.33
Euro to USD / Jul 24	1.14
SOFR % / Jul 24	3.57

Stock	Volume
S&P 500 / Jul 24	7,411.98
India Sensex / Jul 24	76,059.77
Tokyo Nikkei / Jul 24	64,611.15
Nasdaq / Jul 24	24,975.82
Hang Seng / Jul 24	24,963.23
FTSE 100 / Jul 24	10,736.23
Dow Jones / Jul 24	51,947.25
Germany DAX 30 / Jul 24	25,099
France CAC40 / Jul 24	8,372.28

Item	Value
Crude Oil USD/Barrel / Jul 24	89.31
Karachi Cotton PKR/37.32 KG / Jul 24	18,680
Gold 10 Grams PKR / Jul 24	366,457
Gold Spot USD/Ounce / Jul 24	4,052.79
Cotton US¢/pound / Jul 24	79.98
Petrol/Litre / Jul 25	335.18
Diesel/Litre / Jul 25	383.46

Gainers
Losers
Leaders

Stock	Price
Media Times Ltd / Jul 24 Media Times Limited(MDTL)	6.38 ▲ 1 (18.59%)
First Punjab Modaraba / Jul 24 First Punjab Modaraba(FPJM)	10.44 ▲ 0.97 (10.24%)
First Fid. Leasing / Jul 24 First Fidelity Leasing Modaraba(FFLM)	14.92 ▲ 1.36 (10.03%)
First IBL Mod. / Jul 24 First IBL Modaraba(FIBLM)	15.15 ▲ 1.38 (10.02%)
Metro Steel / Jul 24 Metropolitan Steel Corporation Limited(MSCL)	22.41 ▲ 2.04 (10.01%)
UDL International / Jul 24 UDL International Limited(UDLI)	21.77 ▲ 1.98 (10.01%)
Asia Ins. / Jul 24 Asia Insurance Company Limited(ASIC)	54.95 ▲ 5 (10.01%)
Olympia Mills / Jul 24 Olympia Mills Limited(OML)	173.26 ▲ 15.75 (10%)
Fateh Sports / Jul 24 Fateh Sports Wear Limited(FSWL)	172.68 ▲ 15.7 (10%)
Ashfaq Textile / Jul 24 Ashfaq Textile Mills Limited(ASHT)	31.49 ▲ 2.86 (9.99%)

Stock	Price
Khairpur Sug. / Jul 24 Khairpur Sugar Mills Limited(KPUS)	1,105.08 ▼ -122.79 (-10%)
Shadman Cotton / Jul 24 Shadman Cotton Mills Limited(SHCM)	52.81 ▼ -5.84 (-9.96%)
Shams Textile / Jul 24 Shams Textile Mills Limited(STML)	53.26 ▼ -5.88 (-9.94%)
Power Cem(Pref) / Jul 24 Power Cement (Pref)(POWERPS)	23.51 ▼ -2.54 (-9.75%)
Janana De Malucho / Jul 24 Janana De Malucho Textile Mills Limited(JDMT)	139.77 ▼ -14.79 (-9.57%)
East West Ins. / Jul 24 East West Insurance Company Limited(EWIC)	48.10 ▼ -4.36 (-8.31%)
Elahi Cotton / Jul 24 Elahi Cotton Mills Limited(ELCM)	208.50 ▼ -18.84 (-8.29%)
J.A.Textile / Jul 24 J.A. Textile Mills Limited(JATM)	32.13 ▼ -2.85 (-8.15%)
Suhail Jute / Jul 24 Suhail Jute Mills Limited(SUHJ)	201.90 ▼ -17.58 (-8.01%)
Lotte Chemical / Jul 24 Lotte Chemical Pakistan Limited(LOTCHEM)	26.81 ▼ -2.31 (-7.93%)

Stock	Volume
Cnergyico PK / Jul 24 Cnergyico PK Limited(CNERGY)	59,327,773 ▲ 0.19
Trust Sec.& Brok. / Jul 24 Trust Securities & Brokerage Limited(TSBL)	36,977,902 ▲ 0
Kohinoor Spinning / Jul 24 Kohinoor Spinning Mills Limited(KOSM)	32,626,744 ▲ 0.51
Pak Refinery / Jul 24 Pakistan Refinery Limited(PRL)	24,565,429 ▲ 0.6
WorldCall Telecom / Jul 24 Worldcall Telecom Limited(WTL)	21,618,473 ▲ 0.01
B.O.Punjab / Jul 24 The Bank of Punjab(BOP)	20,591,638 ▼ -0.34
TPL Properties / Jul 24 TPL Properties Limited(TPLP)	19,232,151 ▼ -0.25
K-Electric Ltd. / Jul 24 K-Electric Limited(KEL)	18,140,027 ▲ 0.08
Media Times Ltd / Jul 24 Media Times Limited(MDTL)	15,731,176 ▲ 1
Waves Home Appliances / Jul 24 Waves Home Appliances Limited(WAVESAPP)	13,338,005 ▲ 0.56

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