The US Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Wednesday, resisting pressure from President Donald Trump to implement cuts. In a 10-2 vote, the central bank maintained the federal funds rate at 3.50–3.75%, citing solid economic growth and stabilizing unemployment. Read More: Dollar faces pressure but remains dominant in global finance The Federal Open Market […]
Interest Rates
Stocks fall 580 points ahead of SBP policy decision
KARACHI: Pakistan’s stock market retreated on Monday after a volatile session, with investors opting to book profits ahead of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) monetary policy decision following a strong rally last week. Read More: SBP holds key rate at 10.5%, defying market expectations The benchmark KSE-100 index opened on a positive note and […]
Russia, Ukraine meet in UAE as Donbas dispute dominates talks
KYIV/ABU DHABI: Ukrainian and Russian negotiators met in Abu Dhabi on Friday for two days of talks aimed at resolving key territorial disputes, with no immediate sign of compromise over the four-year war sparked by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Read More: UAE sends 30 tonnes of aid for war-hit Ukraine The territorial status […]
PSX hits fresh record as index crosses 189,000
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) scaled a fresh all-time high on Friday, with the benchmark KSE-100 index crossing the 189,000-point mark amid volatile trading, as investor buying picked up ahead of a key monetary policy decision due next week. Read More: PSX rebounds, gains 655 points to close at 187,688 According to market data, the KSE-100 […]
PSX surges to new peak on rate-cut hopes
KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) climbed to a fresh all-time closing high on Monday, as investors brushed aside signs of economic weakness and continued accumulating equities in anticipation of another policy rate cut later this month. Read More: PSX reverses loss to gain over 1,500 points The benchmark index rallied as much as 2,783 points […]
Govt trims PIB yields amid strong demand
KARACHI: The government on Wednesday raised Rs546 billion through the sale of long-term Pakistan Investment Bonds (PIB) while sharply reducing cut-off yields by up to 70 basis points, pointing to expectations of lower interest rates ahead. Strong participation kept the borrowing within the Rs450bn auction target, although the government also secured additional sums through non-competitive […]
PSX crosses 182,000 as bullish trend continues despite economic challenges
KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) surged past the 182,000-mark on Monday as local investors drove a record-setting rally despite economic challenges, including declining exports and a widening trade deficit. Read More: PSX Slumps Amid Economic Concerns The benchmark KSE-100 index hit an intraday high of 184,000 before closing at 182,408.24, up 3,373 points or 1.88pc. The […]
Precious metals rally as silver tops $75, gold and platinum hit records
Gold, silver and platinum surged to record highs on Friday, driven by strong speculative momentum, thinning year-end liquidity and expectations of further US interest rate cuts, according to market analysts. Rising geopolitical tensions and a weaker US dollar also added to the rally across precious metals. Read More: Gold per tola jumps Rs2,000, setting new high […]
Bank of England cuts rates to 3.75% but signals caution
LONDON — The Bank of England (BoE) on Thursday lowered its benchmark interest rate to 3.75% from 4.0% after a narrow 5-4 vote by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). The move marks the fourth rate reduction this year but comes with a warning that further cuts could be limited as policymakers weigh the risks of […]
SBP rate cut draws mixed response from business groups
KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) decision to reduce the policy rate by 50 basis points to 10.50 per cent received mixed reactions on Monday. Foreign investors and business groups welcomed the move as cautious, while local business groups criticised it as insufficient to revive economic activity. Read More: SBP slashes key rate by 50bps in surprise […]