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Gold regains lost ground in Pakistan

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  • Gold price gains Rs2,800 per tola in Pakistan.
  • Bargain hunters are taking advantage of recent losses.
  • Silver price rise by Rs30 per tola.

Gold regained lost ground on Saturday, as bargain hunting trickled in after prices dropped a day earlier in response to the continued recovery of the Pakistani rupee against the US dollar.

Data released by the All-Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association (APSGJA) showed that the price of gold (24 carats) increased by Rs2,800 per tola and Rs2,400 per 10 grams to settle at Rs196,000 and Rs168,038, respectively.

The bargain hunters took advantage of recent losses, but the precious metal’s outlook was still clouded by prospects of further recovery of the rupee against the greenback as optimism regarding the revival of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme boosted the currency market’s sentiment.

Cumulatively, the precious commodity lost Rs2,400 per tola during the week ended February 18. 

Meanwhile, silver prices in the domestic market rose by Rs30 per tola and Rs25.72 per 10 grams to settle at Rs2,130 per tola and Rs1,826.13 per 10 grams, respectively.

In the international market, gold prices edged higher but were still on track for their third straight weekly dip, weighed down by an overall stronger dollar and bond yields following fresh hawkish rhetoric from US Federal Reserve officials. The price settled at $1,843 per ounce after gaining $19.

The dollar’s advance, paired with the hawkish outlook from members of the Fed, was weighing on the market, said Phillip Streible, chief market strategist at Blue Line Futures in Chicago.

Fed officials this week said the US central bank likely should have lifted interest rates more than it did early this month, with Fed Governor Michelle Bowman reiterating the 2% inflation goal.

Higher interest rates increase the opportunity cost of holding zero-yield bullion. Prices of the precious metal are down about 7.3% since its nine-month peak earlier this month.

Goldman Sachs said it expected the Fed to raise rates three more times this year by a quarter of a percentage point each.

Traders await next week’s release of the latest FOMC minutes and US GDP data for more clues on the path of rate hikes.

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Irfan Siddiqui meets with the PM and informs him about the Senate performance of the parliamentary party.

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The head of the Senate’s Foreign Affairs Standing Committee and the PML-N’s parliamentary leader paid Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif a visit in Islamabad.

Senator Irfan Siddiqui gave the Prime Minister an update on the Parliamentary Party’s Senate performance.

Additionally, Senator Irfan Siddiqui gave the Prime Minister an update on the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs’ performance.

He complimented the Prime Minister on his outstanding efforts to bring Pakistan’s economy back on track and meet its economic objectives.

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SIFC Increases Direct Foreign Investment: Investment in the Energy Sector Rises by 120%

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The Special Investment Facilitation Council is intended to help Pakistan’s energy sector attract $585.6 million in direct foreign investment in 2024–2025. The amount invested at the same time previous year was $266.3 million.

This is a notable 120% rise, mostly due to investments in gas exploration, oil, and power. Such expansion indicates heightened investor confidence and emphasizes the development potential in important areas.

The State Bank reports that foreign investment in other vital industries has increased by 48% to $771 million.

This advancement is a blatant testament to SIFC’s efficient investment procedure and quick project execution.

The purpose of the Special Investment Facilitation Council is to establish Pakistan as an investment hub by aggressively promoting regional trade and investment in the energy sector and other critical industries.

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Discos report losses of Rs239 billion.

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When compared to the same period last year, the data indicates that discos have decreased their losses in the first quarter of the current fiscal year.

The distribution businesses recorded losses of Rs239 billion in the first three months of the current fiscal year, a substantial decrease from the Rs308 billion losses sustained during the same period the previous year.

Additionally, the distribution businesses’ rate of recovery has improved. It has increased to 91% in the first quarter of this year from 84% in the same period last year, indicating success in revenue collection.

Regarding circular debt, the Power division observed a notable change. Last year, between July and October, the circular debt grew by Rs301 billion. Nonetheless, this year’s first four months saw a relatively modest increase in circular debt, totaling about Rs11 billion.

These enhancements show promising developments in the electricity sector’s financial health in Pakistan, where initiatives are being made to accelerate recovery rates and slow the expansion of circular debt.

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