News Archives for Business & Finance - 2026-07-20

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Business & Finance - 2026-07-20

Business & Finance

Pakistan cuts petrol price by Re0.35, raises diesel's by Rs5.71 per litre for one day

New prices come into effect at midnight

Updated 21 Jul, 2026 01:06am

Technology

Pakistan freelancers’ earnings surge past $3bn in three years

Earnings rise sharply from $505mn in FY24 to $984mn in FY25 and record $1.76bn in FY26

Updated 20 Jul, 2026 10:33pm

Business & Finance

Petroleum dealers back daily fuel pricing reform, seek higher margins

Minister says existing weekly pricing formula was also based on a seven-day average

Published 20 Jul, 2026 07:36pm

Stocks

Most Gulf bourses gain on US-Iran negotiation hopes; regional risks cap gains

Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index added 0.2%

Published 20 Jul, 2026 07:10pm

Money & Banking

India's PNB eyes faster credit growth in fiscal 2028 after pruning low-yield loans, CEO says

We expect faster credit growth in fiscal 2028 once the portfolio clean-up is complete, says Chandra

Published 20 Jul, 2026 07:01pm

Energy

India's HPCL invites LNG suppliers for spot and long-term import deals

HPCL operates an LNG import and regassification facility at Chhara in western India with annual capacity of 5 million metric tons

Published 20 Jul, 2026 06:35pm

Energy

India says no plan now to raise ethanol mix in gasoline from 20%

The 20% ethanol-blended petrol, called E20, becomes the only fuel sold at India's 90,000 petrol pumps at the end of last year

Published 20 Jul, 2026 06:15pm

Commodities

India says coal power plants have adequate stocks despite rising demand

Coal stocks at power plants stood at 42.8 million tonnes as of July 12, enough for 14 days of operation at an 85% plant load factor

Published 20 Jul, 2026 05:58pm

South Asia

India's infrastructure output rises 5% y/y in June under new series

Infrastructure output had grown a revised 3.2% in May from a year earlier

Published 20 Jul, 2026 05:45pm

Financial

India bonds steady after swinging with oil

Benchmark 6.94% 2036 bond yield settled at 6.7770%, down from the day’s high of 6.8315%

Published 20 Jul, 2026 05:30pm

Stocks

Sri Lankan shares slip as communication services, healthcare weigh

CSE All-Share index settled down 0.9% at 21,208.10

Published 20 Jul, 2026 05:14pm

Money & Banking

India's EXIM Bank plans $300 million dollar bond sale under RBI hedging facility

EXIM Bank plans to raise $300 million in dollar bonds, leveraging an RBI facility to cut currency risk and encourage foreign capital.

Published 20 Jul, 2026 05:01pm

South Asia

Sri Lanka's central bank likely to hold rates to control inflation

The CBSL sets an inflation target of 5% for this year

Published 20 Jul, 2026 04:55pm

Commodities

China imports at nine-month high buoy copper prices

Benchmark copper on the LME was up 0.5% to $13,593.5 a metric ton

Published 20 Jul, 2026 04:47pm

Commodities

Palm oil climbs to near one-month peak as crude, Dalian oils gain

Dalian’s most-active soyoil contract gained 0.58%

Published 20 Jul, 2026 04:44pm

Currency

Indian rupee hits two-month low, oil prices remain focal point

Indian rupee close out the session at 96.4450 per dollar, down nearly 0.2%

Published 20 Jul, 2026 04:31pm

Stocks

Margin worries for private banks, Middle East war drag down Indian shares

Nifty 50 fell 0.39% to 24,238.5, while the BSE Sensex shed 0.57% to 77,708.52

Published 20 Jul, 2026 04:28pm

Stocks

HDFC leads Indian banks lower as weak margin disappoints

India’s private bank shares slid 2.3%, financials declined 1.2% and the Nifty banks index fell 1%

Published 20 Jul, 2026 04:13pm

Financial

India says no proposal to offer long-term tax relief for domestic equity investors

Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) have sold about US$28.03 billion worth of Indian equities so far in 2026

Published 20 Jul, 2026 04:09pm

Companies

CCP fines inspection firm Rs5mn for fraudulent use of Bureau Veritas trademark, logo

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has imposed Rs5 million penalty on M/s MCI-Bureau of Inspection &...

Published 20 Jul, 2026 04:05pm

Exchange

Pakistani rupee records gain against US dollar

Settles at 277.95

Updated 20 Jul, 2026 09:06pm

Financial

Gold price per tola gains Rs300 in Pakistan

Reaches Rs424,536

Updated 20 Jul, 2026 06:33pm

Business & Finance

PM Shehbaz directs plan for Rohri–Multan ML-1 upgradation

Chairs a meeting to review progress on the Pakistan Railways Transformation Plan

Updated 20 Jul, 2026 09:38pm

Commodities

South korea’s nofi tenders to buy up to 138,000 metric tons corn, traders say

The deadline for submission of price offers in the tender is Tuesday, July 21

Published 20 Jul, 2026 02:08pm

Companies

What the arrival of 2,000 BYD vehicles signals for Pakistan's EV market

Pakistan's record BYD EV shipment highlights rising consumer demand, though infrastructure gaps remain a key challenge

Updated 20 Jul, 2026 04:16pm

Forex

Sterling steady as Burnham set to become prime minister

Sterling was last little changed against the dollar at $1.3457

Published 20 Jul, 2026 12:25pm

Forex

South African rand steady as investors await central bank guidance

The rand traded at 16.54 against the dollar , little changed from its previous close of 16.52

Published 20 Jul, 2026 12:14pm

Commodities

China June refined copper imports hit nine-month high as domestic supply falls

In the first half of 2026, total imports slid by 14.3% from the year before to 1.41 million tons

Published 20 Jul, 2026 11:59am

Energy

Regional supply disruptions force Agritech to halt urea plant

Agritech's urea plant ceased operations on July 18, 2026, after SNGPL suspended gas supply due to regional issues

Published 20 Jul, 2026 11:55am

Commodities

French wheat crop sheds 7.6% after heatwave hit yields, Argus says

France’s soft wheat crop is expected to fall to 30.80 million metric tons this year, down 7.6% from 2025

Published 20 Jul, 2026 11:44am

Forex

Oil rally rolls on, casting a fresh shadow on the Indian rupee

The Indian rupee is expected to slip past 96.50 per US dollar at open

Published 20 Jul, 2026 11:15am

Commodities

China's June US soybean imports fall 21%, Brazil shipments rise 14%

China also began purchasing new-crop US soybeans after a May 14–15 summit this year between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping

Published 20 Jul, 2026 11:12am

Mutual Funds

Oil pain to drag Indian bonds lower

The benchmark 6.94% 2036 bond yield is expected to trade between 6.80% and 6.85%, a private-bank trader said

Published 20 Jul, 2026 11:10am

Forex

Thai baht/US dollar weaker on Monday

The baht was 0.12% lower at 33.64 versus the dollar, after trading in a range of 33.645 to 33.700

Published 20 Jul, 2026 11:07am

Commodities

Palm oil gains on surging crude prices, El Niño worries

Palm oil contract for October delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange was up 39 ringgit, or 0.85%, at 4,636 ringgit ($1,134.33) a metric ton

Published 20 Jul, 2026 11:05am

Energy

China's June crude imports from Middle East tumble; Russian volumes steady

China's June crude imports slumped 41.3% to their lowest point in almost a decade

Published 20 Jul, 2026 11:03am

Forex

China's yuan firms against a directionless dollar

On Monday, the onshore yuan changed hands at 6.7719 per dollar in late morning trading

Published 20 Jul, 2026 10:57am

Stocks

China stocks rebound on signs of state support; tech share slide continues

The large-cap CSI300 Index was up 1.6% by the lunch break

Published 20 Jul, 2026 10:54am

Stocks

Australian shares edge higher as energy stocks rise on oil supply worries

The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.2% to 8,809.8

Published 20 Jul, 2026 10:47am

Forex

Australia, NZ dollars wobble on war jitters, kiwi inflation data in focus

The Aussie hit a four-day low of $0.6960 before reversing the losses to be 0.1% higher at $0.6988

Published 20 Jul, 2026 10:43am

Business & Finance

Govt appoints Humaira Zia Mufti as PECO chairperson

PECO discloses in a notice to the PSX

Updated 20 Jul, 2026 11:40am

Stocks

Volatility at PSX, KSE-100 settles marginally higher

Benchmark index settles at 175,927.73

Updated 20 Jul, 2026 06:44pm

Markets

Samsung Biologics to launch $1.8 billion all-cash bid for PolyPeptide

The tender offer is ⁠expected to launch by the end of August and close by year-end, Samsung Biologics said

Published 20 Jul, 2026 08:09am

Forex

India FX traders eye oil prices, RBI defence; bonds bulls await index decision

The Indian rupee closed at 96.28 per dollar on Friday, down about 1% on the week, its steepest drop since ‌May, the month in which the currency hit its all time-low of 96.96.

Published 20 Jul, 2026 07:55am

Stocks

Indian shares may open a tad lower on Mideast concerns; earnings in focus

GIFT Nifty futures GIFc1 were trading at 24,297.5

Published 20 Jul, 2026 07:49am

Energy

Oil steadies as hopes of renewed US-Iran negotiations offset Houthi threat

Brent crude futures were up 18 cents, or 0.2%, at $88.28 a barrel

Updated 20 Jul, 2026 05:46pm

Forex

Dollar firmer as US-Iran conflict intensifies, Brent hits $90

The US dollar climbed 0.1% to 162.48 yen , the greenback's strongest level since July 9, as geopolitical tensions rose and investors sought safe-haven assets

Published 20 Jul, 2026 07:41am

Stocks

Asia shares shaky as oil climbs, earnings loom

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dipped 0.3%

Published 20 Jul, 2026 07:37am

Bullion Rate

Gold slips as oil prices advance, Fed rate-hike voices grow

Spot gold was down 0.4% at $4,000.55 per ounce

Published 20 Jul, 2026 07:33am

Taxes

Tribunal proceedings: LTBA body flags tax matter

ISLAMABAD: The Public Interest Litigation Committee (PILC) of the Lahore Tax Bar Association (LTBA) has formally...

Published 20 Jul, 2026 05:50am

Cotton & Textile

Weekly Cotton Review: Production surges 77pc despite textile sector woes

KARACHI: Pakistan’s cotton production has surged by 77 percent, reaching five hundred and twenty-eight thousand...

Published 20 Jul, 2026 05:50am

Companies

HBL wins ‘Pakistan’s Best Bank 2026’ award by Euromoney

KARACHI: Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026 has awarded HBL the accolade of ‘Pakistan’s Best Bank’. The Bank has...

Published 20 Jul, 2026 05:50am

Pakistan

40 drugs not available in market due to pending govt price approvals

KARACHI: Around 40 medicines that have already been registered in Pakistan remain unavailable to patients because...

Published 20 Jul, 2026 05:50am

Industry

BMP slams govt’s decision of daily fuel pricing mechanism

LAHORE: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s Businessmen Panel (BMP) has strongly...

Published 20 Jul, 2026 05:50am

Pakistan

Karachi needs dedicated freight corridors: PDP

KARACHI: Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Altaf Shakoor has said Pakistan should adopt a long-term strategy...

Published 20 Jul, 2026 05:50am

Pakistan

‘Transparent wheat policy vital for food security’

HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry President, Muhammad Saleem Memon, has demanded...

Published 20 Jul, 2026 05:50am

Business & Finance

Establishment of paper mill in KP demanded

PESHAWAR: Printers and publishers have called for the establishment of a paper mill in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to reduce...

Updated 20 Jul, 2026 08:10am

Business & Finance

Food exporters’ team leaves for Dubai to boost exports

LAHORE: A delegation of food exporters from south Punjab departed for Dubai on Sunday to explore business...

Published 20 Jul, 2026 05:50am

Business & Finance

Homeopathic, herbal industries: Inclusion of alternative medicine sector will catalyze growth

LAHORE: The historic inclusion of the alternative medicine sector in the first Pak-China Business-to-Business (B2B)...

Published 20 Jul, 2026 05:50am

Business & Finance

Legal experts concerned over remarks of FTO

ISLAMABAD: Legal and tax practitioners have expressed concern following an observation issued by the Federal Tax...

Published 20 Jul, 2026 05:50am

Business & Finance

P@SHA hails record USD4.6bn IT exports

KARACHI: The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) on Sunday hailed Pakistan’s record $4.6 billion in...

Published 20 Jul, 2026 05:50am

Pakistan

South Air begins flights from Sukkur

SUKKUR: The commencement of South Air flight operations at Begum Nusrat Bhutto Airport marked a significant...

Published 20 Jul, 2026 05:50am

Business & Finance

KP govt completes two mini-micro hydel projects

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government completed two mini-micro hydropower projects of 342 kilowatts in Upper...

Updated 20 Jul, 2026 07:38am

Commodities

Prices of essential food items remain high

PESHAWAR: Prices of essential food commodities remained high in the retail market. No change in prices of live...

Published 20 Jul, 2026 05:50am

Taxes

Updated tax laws omit footnotes on replaced legal provisions

ISLAMABAD: The updated Sales Tax Act, 1990 and Federal Excise Act, 2005 has not mentioned brief explanatory...

Published 20 Jul, 2026 05:50am

Previous Day

BR100
BR30
KSE100
KSE30
KMI30

1D 5D 3M 6M 1Y

Forex
World
Commodity

Currency	Rate
USD PKR Interbank Selling / Oct 2	277.27
USD PKR Interbank Buying / Oct 2	277.07
USD to Japanese Yen / Oct 5	157.79
USD to Swiss Franc / Oct 5	0.83
Pound Sterling to USD / Oct 5	1.32
Euro to USD / Oct 5	1.12
SOFR % / Oct 1	3.87

Stock	Volume
S&P 500 / Oct 2	7,722.72
Nasdaq / Oct 2	27,190.86
Dow Jones / Oct 2	51,176.96
India Sensex / Oct 5	71,914.66
Tokyo Nikkei / Oct 5	69,928.05
Hang Seng / Oct 5	23,971.07
FTSE 100 / Oct 5	10,478.45
Germany DAX 30 / Oct 5	25,202.68
France CAC40 / Oct 5	7,824.92

Item	Value
Petrol/Litre / Oct 5	392.76
Crude Oil USD/Barrel / Oct 5	89.90
Karachi Cotton PKR/37.32 KG / Oct 5	18,080
Gold 10 Grams PKR / Oct 5	375,116
Gold Spot USD/Ounce / Oct 5	4,152.43
Diesel/Litre / Oct 5	399.64
Cotton US¢/pound / Oct 5	79.45

Gainers
Losers
Leaders

Stock	Price
D.S. Ind. Ltd. / Oct 5 D.S. Industries Limited(DSIL)	18.98 ▲ 1.73 (10.03%)
Paramount Mod / Oct 5 First Paramount Modaraba(FPRM)	13.05 ▲ 1.19 (10.03%)
Shadman Cotton / Oct 5 Shadman Cotton Mills Limited(SHCM)	61.23 ▲ 5.57 (10.01%)
Dadex Eternit / Oct 5 Dadex Eternit Limited(DADX)	144.55 ▲ 13.14 (10%)
Pakistan Credit Rating Agency / Oct 5 The Pakistan Credit Rating Agency Ltd(GEMPACRA)	48 ▲ 4.33 (9.92%)
Popular Islamic / Oct 5 Popular Islamic Modaraba(PIM)	79.02 ▲ 7.05 (9.8%)
Aisha Steel (CPS) / Oct 5 Aisha Steel Mills Limited (CPS)(ASLCPS)	76.93 ▲ 6.29 (8.9%)
Pak Synthetics / Oct 5 Pakistan Synthetics Limited(PSYL)	183.95 ▲ 11.61 (6.74%)
Sana Ind / Oct 5 Sana Industries Limited(SNAI)	34.31 ▲ 2.12 (6.59%)
Aruj Industries / Oct 5 Aruj Industries Limited(ARUJ)	9.65 ▲ 0.59 (6.51%)

Stock	Price
Globe Residency / Oct 5 Globe Residency REIT(GRR)	17.07 ▼ -5.11 (-23.04%)
Arpak Int. / Oct 5 Arpak International Investments Ltd.(ARPAK)	127.64 ▼ -14.18 (-10%)
Asim Textile / Oct 5 Asim Textile Mills Limited(ASTM)	100.89 ▼ -11.21 (-10%)
Buxly Paints / Oct 5 Buxly Paints Limited(BUXL)	376.71 ▼ -41.86 (-10%)
Mandviwala / Oct 5 Mandviwala Mauser Plastic Industries(MWMP)	83.93 ▼ -9.33 (-10%)
Olympia Mills / Oct 5 Olympia Mills Limited(OML)	70.02 ▼ -7.78 (-10%)
The Thal Ind.Corp. / Oct 5 The Thal Industries Corporation Limited(TICL)	827.01 ▼ -91.89 (-10%)
Ashfaq Textile / Oct 5 Ashfaq Textile Mills Limited(ASHT)	36.87 ▼ -4.09 (-9.99%)
First Punjab Modaraba / Oct 5 First Punjab Modaraba(FPJM)	21.18 ▼ -2.35 (-9.99%)
Ghani Chemworld Limited(PRS) / Oct 5 Ghani Chemworld Limited(PRS)(GCWLPRS)	107 ▼ -11.83 (-9.96%)

Stock	Volume
F. Nat.Equities / Oct 5 First National Equities Limited(FNEL)	50,252,398 ▼ -0.05
Pak Int.Bulk / Oct 5 Pakistan International Bulk Terminal(PIBTL)	30,666,758 ▼ -1.01
Cnergyico PK / Oct 5 Cnergyico PK Limited(CNERGY)	30,042,022 ▼ -0.51
K-Electric Ltd. / Oct 5 K-Electric Limited(KEL)	22,178,384 ▼ -0.35
WorldCall Telecom / Oct 5 Worldcall Telecom Limited(WTL)	21,656,746 ▼ -0.01
Tasdeeq Info. Serv. / Oct 5 Tasdeeq Information Services Limited(TISL)	11,248,437 ▼ -0.2
Pak Refinery / Oct 5 Pakistan Refinery Limited(PRL)	10,892,431 ▼ -2.93
Waves Home Appliances / Oct 5 Waves Home Appliances Limited(WAVESAPP)	10,856,405 ▼ -0.56
TPL Corp Ltd / Oct 5 TPL Corp Limited(TPL)	9,355,175 ▼ -0.35
D.S. Ind. Ltd. / Oct 5 D.S. Industries Limited(DSIL)	9,057,129 ▲ 1.73

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