News Archives for Business & Finance - 2026-10-01

Business & Finance - 2026-10-01

Business & Finance

Govt hikes petrol by Rs3.26, cuts diesel price by Rs1.01 per litre

Revised petrol prices are effective for October 2

Published 01 Oct, 2026 10:48pm

Business & Finance

Pakistan eyes B+ sovereign credit rating by Sept 2027: finance minister

Country has been rated at ‘B’ with stable outlook since July 2026 by S&P Global Ratings, while Moody’s raised Pakistan’s credit rating to ‘B3’ from ‘Caa1’ with a stable outlook in August 2026

Published 01 Oct, 2026 10:11pm

Business & Finance

SBP-held foreign exchange reserves rise $39m to $21.44bn

Total liquid foreign exchange reserves stand at $26.77 billion

Published 01 Oct, 2026 08:36pm

Companies

PepsiCo, Monster challenge India 'energy drink' label ban citing business impact

India's ban on "energy drink" labels has ignited a fierce legal battle with PepsiCo and Monster, impacting a rapidly growing market

Published 01 Oct, 2026 08:29pm

Stocks

Wall Street dips as surging Treasury yields outweigh software gains

Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 231.69 points, or 0.46%, to 50,674.36

Published 01 Oct, 2026 08:09pm

Markets

Lucky Motor opens bookings for all-new Kia Stonic Turbo

1.0L Turbo X priced at Rs5.49mn while 1.0L Turbo S costs Rs5.89mn

Published 01 Oct, 2026 07:56pm

Companies

Fashion brand Khaadi plans IPO next month: report

Company plans to raise between Rs6.2bn and Rs8.3bn.

Published 01 Oct, 2026 07:41pm

Stocks

Most Gulf bourses edge lower on mixed US-Iran cues

Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index dropped 0.5%

Published 01 Oct, 2026 07:18pm

Stocks

Indian firms defy stock market slump with record $25 billion half-year equity fundraise

Mainboard IPOs raised a record 942.05 billion rupees across 78 issues, 35% higher

Published 01 Oct, 2026 07:01pm

Business & Finance

HBL PMI: weaker new orders weigh on manufacturing activity

The HBL Pakistan Manufacturing PMI eased to 50.9 in September from 51.8 in August, marking the slowest expansion in...

Published 01 Oct, 2026 06:23pm

Commodities

Asia rice: Indian rice export prices rise to over one-year high on firm demand, production concerns

India’s 5% broken parboiled variety was quoted at $378-$384 per ton this week

Published 01 Oct, 2026 05:39pm

USA

US tells France and Germany to release diesel stocks or face US export ban, sources say

US pressures Europe to release diesel reserves, threatening an export ban to stabilize global fuel prices and aid US election goals

Published 01 Oct, 2026 05:05pm

Stocks

Sri Lankan shares snap 6-session losing streak on consumer, property gains

CSE All-Share index settled up 0.33% at 20,880.90

Published 01 Oct, 2026 04:31pm

Commodities

Global vegetable oil prices seen rising on tighter supply, says analyst Mielke

Tighter supply from Black Sea sunflower oil and South American soyoil will likely push global vegetable oil prices higher through 2027

Published 01 Oct, 2026 04:26pm

Commodities

India considers cutting import duties on pulses to cool prices, sources say

New Delhi currently imposes a 10% import tax on red lentils and chickpeas and 30% on yellow peas

Published 01 Oct, 2026 04:21pm

Exchange

Rupee registers gain against US dollar

Currency settles at 277.10 against greenback

Updated 01 Oct, 2026 07:28pm

Commodities

Palm oil falls to 11-week low on weak exports, rising output

Soyoil prices on the Chicago Board of Trade were down 0.59%

Published 01 Oct, 2026 04:12pm

Forex

Indian rupee drops to two-month low as global bond rout deepens, oil jumps

Indian rupee ended down 0.5% at 96.3150 per dollar

Published 01 Oct, 2026 04:03pm

Stocks

Indian benchmark shares post longest weekly losing run in 25 years

Nifty 50 dropped 3.1% and BSE Sensex dipped 2.7% in the holiday truncated week

Published 01 Oct, 2026 03:59pm

Companies

Kohinoor Energy, Chinese firm plan battery manufacturing in Pakistan

The project is currently envisaged in phases

Published 01 Oct, 2026 03:09pm

Commodities

Gold price per tola declines Rs3,000 in Pakistan

International rate of gold falls by $30 to reach $4,161 per ounce

Updated 01 Oct, 2026 06:45pm

Statistics

Pakistan inflation clocks in at 10.3% in September 2026

Consumer price index stood at 11.1% in August

Published 01 Oct, 2026 01:56pm

Companies

Putting better health in more hands: Reckitt Pakistan unveils Saaf Sehatmand Pakistan in partnership with Aga Khan Foundation

Powered by Dettol and Harpic, the flagship platform begins in schools to provide safe drinking water, rehabilitated toilets, handwashing facilities and hygiene education

Published 01 Oct, 2026 01:15pm

Energy

Pakistan’s solar boom adds pressure on Chinese-backed coal plants: report

Solar accounted for about 20% of Pakistan’s electricity generation in 2025, up from roughly 3% at the start of the decade

Published 01 Oct, 2026 01:14pm

Forex

South African rand weakens ahead of manufacturing survey and car sales data

The rand traded at 16.4875 against the dollar , down about 0.3% from its previous ⁠close

Published 01 Oct, 2026 12:46pm

Commodities

Indonesia January-August coal export volume down 9.33% y/y, data shows

The shipments were worth $16.58 billion, 4.31% higher than the corresponding period in 2025

Published 01 Oct, 2026 11:48am

Commodities

Corn futures fall amid high stocks

The most-active soybean contract on the Chicago Board of Trade was down 0.29% to $12.89-1/4 a bushel

Published 01 Oct, 2026 11:47am

Stocks

South Korea stocks slip despite stellar exports as oil worries weigh

The benchmark KOSPI was down 14.60 points, or 0.21%, at 6,823.44

Published 01 Oct, 2026 11:46am

Energy

Chinese refiners suspend Oct fuel exports, PetroChina cancels cargoes, sources say

As China looks to safeguard domestic supplies, state oil major PetroChina cancelled on Wednesday

Published 01 Oct, 2026 11:43am

Markets

Indonesia posts $3.55 billion trade surplus in August

The August surplus was the widest since September 2025, according to LSEG data

Published 01 Oct, 2026 11:41am

Markets

BOJ debated need for more rate hikes at September meeting, summary shows

Several opinions also pointed out that underlying inflation had reached, or was close to hitting, the BOJ’s target of 2%

Published 01 Oct, 2026 11:36am

Energy

Vietnam extends fuel tax relief measures until end-2026

The import tariff reductions include a cut in the preferential import duty on gasoline to 0% from 10%

Published 01 Oct, 2026 11:34am

Markets

Goldman Sachs pushes Fed rate hike forecast to December

The brokerage had previously forecast a 25-basis-point increase in October

Published 01 Oct, 2026 11:31am

Commodities

Russia steps up sunflower oil exports to China as war disrupts India trade

Sunflower oil, produced mainly in the Black Sea region, competes with palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia and soyoil from South America

Published 01 Oct, 2026 11:24am

Business & Finance

Pakistan explores PNSC container vessel to support exporters

Exporters say longer routes have increased transportation costs and delivery times to European and US markets

Published 01 Oct, 2026 11:02am

Markets

India's factory growth climbs to 7-month high on surging demand, PMI shows

The reading was the highest since February. A PMI reading above 50.0 indicates growth in activity

Published 01 Oct, 2026 11:01am

Commodities

Aluminium falls to 2-month low on Iran peace hopes, stronger dollar

Benchmark three-month aluminium on the London Metal Exchange was down 0.74% at $3,146 a metric ton

Published 01 Oct, 2026 10:56am

Markets

China’s Tencent leases 100,000 chips from Oracle to accelerate AI push, FT reports

The deal is estimated to be worth about $7 billion, with an upfront payment of about 30%, the report said

Published 01 Oct, 2026 10:55am

Mutual Funds

India bonds seen extending losses before debt sale as US yields weigh

The Indian benchmark 6.94% 2036 bond yield may trade in a 7.18%-7.26% range

Published 01 Oct, 2026 10:54am

Commodities

Palm oil extends falls on weaker soyoil and exports

Palm oil contract for December delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange lost 19 ringgit, or 0.41%, to 4,591 ringgit a metric ton

Published 01 Oct, 2026 10:53am

Mutual Funds

Japan bond yields rise as US Treasury selloff persists, BOJ outlook in focus

The benchmark 10-year JGB yield rose 5 basis points (bps) to 3.11%.

Published 01 Oct, 2026 10:50am

Forex

Thai baht/US dollar weaker on Thursday

The baht was 0.16% lower at 33.63 versus the dollar, after trading in a range of 33.600 to 33.710

Published 01 Oct, 2026 10:48am

Commodities

Soybeans rise ahead of USDA monthly report

Wheat and corn futures rose after booking monthly losses on Wednesday

Published 01 Oct, 2026 10:46am

Stocks

Banks and miners drag Australian shares lower

The S&P/ASX 200 index lost 1.3% to 8,671.60

Published 01 Oct, 2026 10:40am

Business & Finance

PM urges exporters to deliver, finmin presents reform agenda at PSX

Finance minister presents comprehensive review of the ongoing reform agenda

Updated 01 Oct, 2026 04:26pm

Stocks

Japan's Nikkei hits six-week high as Micron forecast lifts chip stocks

The Nikkei 225 Index rose 2.28% to 68,276.92, its highest since August 18

Published 01 Oct, 2026 10:37am

Stocks

Indian share benchmarks set for longest weekly losing run in 25 years

The Nifty 50 was down 0.28% at 22,558.95

Published 01 Oct, 2026 10:23am

Bullion Rate

Gold inches higher as softer US inflation dims October Fed hike bets

Spot gold rose 0.5% to $4,175.19 per ounce

Published 01 Oct, 2026 10:19am

Stocks

PSX: KSE-100 falls over 1,300 points amid selling pressure

Benchmark index settles at 168,636.85

Updated 01 Oct, 2026 07:17pm

Markets

Huawei unveils Mate 90 phones, leans on homegrown chip design to offset US curbs

Huawei consumer business chief Richard Yu said the company still faces constraints in the supply of advanced chips

Published 01 Oct, 2026 08:19am

Forex

Indian rupee to weaken as oil, US yields weigh; fading Fed hike bets offer no relief

The Indian rupee is expected to open in the 95.96 to 95.98 range, per traders, having settled at 95.83 to the dollar on Wednesday

Published 01 Oct, 2026 08:11am

Stocks

Asian stocks dip, bonds in focus after torrid September

Japan’s Nikkei though was up over 1% as chip-related shares rose

Published 01 Oct, 2026 08:08am

Forex

Dollar gets lift from higher yields

Against the dollar, the euro was marginally lower at $1.1330 in the early Asian session

Published 01 Oct, 2026 08:00am

Energy

Oil prices rise $3 as China suspends fuel exports

New front-month December Brent crude futures contract traded at $101.06 per barrel

Updated 01 Oct, 2026 08:37pm

Pakistan

Pakistan, China entering new phase of CPEC: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that Pakistan and China are entering a new phase of the...

Published 01 Oct, 2026 06:59am

Industry

Talat Mehmood elected KCCI President

KARACHI: Talat Mehmood, Aslam Pakhali and Atif Jameel-ur-Rehman have been elected as President, Senior Vice...

Published 01 Oct, 2026 06:57am

Industry

APTMA calls for a competitive business environment

LAHORE: The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has called on the government to restore a regionally...

Published 01 Oct, 2026 06:49am

Business & Finance

FBR busts Rs9.41bn wealth statement fraud

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has busted a fraud in which taxpayers illegally revised their old...

Published 01 Oct, 2026 06:45am

Energy

Govt considers allowing private firms to directly import LNG: report

KARACHI: Pakistan is considering allowing power plants and other private companies to directly import liquefied...

Published 01 Oct, 2026 06:43am

Energy

LPG price hiked by Rs20.68

ISLAMABAD: Gas consumers will face higher household fuel costs in October as the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority...

Published 01 Oct, 2026 06:41am

Taxes

Income tax returns surge 45pc YoY to 5.77m by Sept 30

ISLAMABAD: The number of income tax returns filed surged nearly 45 percent year-on-year to 5.77 million by September...

Published 01 Oct, 2026 06:40am

Energy

Oil prices rise by about USD1/bbl

NEW YORK: Oil prices rose by about USD1 a barrel on Wednesday, and logged steep monthly gains, on stalled US-Iran...

Published 01 Oct, 2026 06:36am

Energy

Petrol price reduced by 14 paise, HSD’s by Rs1.89

ISLAMABAD: The ex-depot petrol price has dropped by 14 paise to Rs387.40 per litre from Rs387.54 per litre, while...

Published 01 Oct, 2026 06:33am

Industry

Faisalabad’s role in policymaking to be enhanced: FCCI president

FAISALABAD: Newly elected President of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), Arif Ehsan Malik, has...