Business

The KSE-100 Index surpasses 102,000 points as the PSX begins the week on a high note.

Published

3 months ago

Farwa

For the first time in recent memory, the benchmark KSE-100 Index broke beyond the 102,000 point level, kicking off the new trading week on a high note for the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX).

The index rose 835 points as of the morning session, hitting a new high of 102,192 points with an intraday peak of 102,288 points.

After a strong close to the previous week, when the index closed at 101,357 points, the PSX has continued its recent bullish performance with this upward trajectory.

Growing investor optimism has propelled the market’s rally, which has been supported by improved macroeconomic conditions, declining bond yields, and the ongoing flood of foreign capital into stocks.

The PSX has been strong because of a number of important elements. Since May 2024, the State Bank of Pakistan has lowered interest rates by a total of 700 basis points, which has improved market sentiment.

Mutual funds have invested more than $132 million in Pakistani stocks since January, indicating a move in investor preferences away from bonds and toward stocks.

Business

E&P Companies Will Invest $5 Billion in Pakistan’s Petroleum Industry

Published

3 days ago

Farwa

Over the next three years, local and foreign companies involved in Pakistan’s oil and gas exploration and production sector have shown a strong desire to invest more than $5 billion in the nation’s energy sector.

Recent changes to the Petroleum Policy and the implementation of an exclusive tight gas policy, which provide better incentives and a more investor-friendly regulatory framework, are credited with the increase in investor confidence.

These strategic changes are expected to boost domestic energy production, open up new avenues for growth, and draw large amounts of both domestic and foreign investment.

Business

With inflation slowing, the SBP is anticipated to lower the policy rate for the eighth time in a row.

Published

3 days ago

Farwa

Businesspeople anticipate another reduction in the policy rate when the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) releases the updated rate.

The interest rate for the upcoming two months will be announced by the central bank. It is still unclear if the rate will stay the same or be lowered to reflect stakeholder expectations.

According to experts, the policy rate will be lowered in order to further boost the nation’s economic sector.

Interest rates may be lowered for the seventh time in a row if the inflation rate declines significantly more than anticipated.

In its last six sessions, the MPC had cut the policy rate by 10 percent. In January 2025, it decreased the rate by one percent to 12pc.

12PC POLICY RATE

In January, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) announced cut in key policy rate by 100 basis points (bps) to 12 percent from 13pc in line with expectations of the business community.

The policy rate, which had been at 22 percent since June 2024, was slashed by 1,000 basis points to 12 percent.

The SBP governor said the decision was taken with careful consideration. “Although inflation is expected to decline next month (February), core inflation remains a pressing concern,” he stated.

Ahmed highlighted strong remittance inflows and robust export growth as key factors supporting the current account.