Business

Govt increases profit rates on saving schemes

Published

2 years ago

Farwa

CDNS says new rates effective from May 9.
Savings Account rates increase from 18.5% to 19.5%
Special Savings Certificates will now yield 17.4%.

The government has revised the rate of profit on national saving schemes by upto 1% to make the schemes lucrative and mobilise investment from the general public, The News reported Tuesday.

The Central Directorate of National Savings (CDNS) — which works under the Ministry of Finance — announced an increase in the rates of return on some of its National Savings schemes, effective from May 9, 2023.

Taking to his Twitter handle, CDNS Director General Hamid Raza Khalid wrote that the Savings Account rates have been raised from 18.5% to 19.5%.

Additionally, Special Savings Certificates will now yield 17.4% compared to the previous rate of 17.13%.

The rates on three-month Short Term Savings Certificates (STSC) have been increased to 20.84%, while the yield of six-month STSC has surged to 20.82%.

Rates on 1-year STSC have also been revised upward to 20.8%. Khalid said the rates on other schemes will remain unchanged.

	Current	Previous	Change
Defence Saving Certificates (DSC)	14.87%	14.87%	—
Bahbood Saving Certificates (BSC)	16.56%	16.56%	—
Regular Income Certificates (RIC)	12.84%	12.84%	—
Special Saving Certificates (SSC)	17.40%	17.13%	+27
Savings Account (SA)	19.50%	18.50%	+100
Pensioners Benefit Account (PBA)	16.56%	16.56%	—
Short Term Saving Certificates (STSC)	20.8%	19.82%	+98

The revision in the rates of National Savings schemes comes after the State Bank of Pakistan raised the key interest rate by 100 basis points, taking it to 21% last month.

This decision was made due to back-breaking inflation and is expected to remain high in the near future.

The CDNS, which offers saving certificates to individual investors, reinvests the money in government papers like Pakistan Investment Bonds (PIBs) and treasury bills (T-bills).

Business

With its second-largest surge ever, PSX approaches 114,000 points.

Published

18 hours ago

Farwa

Driven by renewed activity from both private and government financial institutions, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) saw its second-largest rally in history on Monday.

The market regained many important levels in a single trading session as it rose with previously unheard-of momentum.

Intraday trading saw a top increase of 4,676 points, and the PSX’s benchmark KSE-100 Index gained 4,411 points to settle at 113,924 points. This impressive rebound demonstrated significant investor confidence by reestablishing the 100,000, 111,000, 112,000, and 113,000-point levels.

The market also saw the 114,000-point limit reestablished during the trading session.

The positive tendency was reflected when the market’s heavyweight shares touched its upper circuits. Among the most busiest trading sessions in recent memory, an astounding 85.78 billion shares worth a total of Rs55 billion were exchanged.

Experts credited the spike to heightened institutional investor activity and hope for macroeconomic recovery. Considered a major market recovery, the rally demonstrated the market’s tenacity and development potential.

Business

In interbank trade, the Pakistani rupee beats the US dollar.

Published

1 week ago

Farwa

In the international exchange market, the US dollar has continued to weaken in relation to the Pakistani rupee.

The dollar fell to Rs278.10 from Rs278.17 at the beginning of interbank trading, according to currency dealers, a seven paisa loss.

In the meantime, there was a lot of turbulence in the stock market, but it recovered and moved into the positive zone. The KSE-100 index recovered momentum and reached 116,000 points after soaring 1,300 points.

Both currency and stock market swings, according to analysts, are a reflection of ongoing market adjustments and economic uncertainty.

Business

Phase II of CPEC: China-Pakistan Partnership Enters a New Era

Published

1 week ago

Farwa

The cornerstone of economic cooperation between the two brothers and all-weather friends is still the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the initiative’s flagship project.

In contrast to reports of a slowdown, recent events indicate a renewed vigour and strategic emphasis on pushing the second phase of CPEC, known as CPEC Phase-2, according to the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives.

According to the statement, this crucial stage seeks to reshape the foundation of bilateral ties via increased cooperation, cutting-edge technology transfer, and revolutionary socioeconomic initiatives.

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal is leading Pakistan’s participation in a number of high-profile gatherings in China, such as the 3rd Forum on China-Indian Ocean Region Development Cooperation in Kunming and the High-Level Seminar on CPEC-2 in Beijing.

His involvement demonstrates Pakistan’s commitment to reviving CPEC, resolving outstanding concerns, and developing a strong phase-2 roadmap that considers both countries’ long-term prosperity.

At the core of these interactions is China’s steadfast determination to turn CPEC into a strategic alliance that promotes development, progress, and connectivity.

Instead of being marginalised, CPEC is developing into a multifaceted framework with five main thematic corridors: the Opening-Up/Regional Connectivity Corridor, the Innovation Corridor, the Green Corridor, the Growth Corridor, and the Livelihood-Enhancing Corridor.

With the help of projects like these, the two countries will fortify their partnership, and CPEC phase-2 will become a model of global economic integration and collaboration that benefits not just China and Pakistan but the entire region.