News

Records tumble: KSE-100 crosses 178,000 level in early trade

There was no stopping the bulls at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), with the benchmark KSE-100 Index etching new records, hitting the 178,000 level for the first time during the opening hours of trading on Friday. At 11:05am, the benchmark index was hovering at 178,715.38, an increase of 2,359.89 points or 1.34%. Buying interest was observed in key sectors, including automobile assemblers,

Forex reserves stand at $21.012bn

Pakistan’s total liquid foreign exchange reserves stood at USD 21.012 billion as of December 26, 2025, showing a marginal decline from USD 21.023 billion recorded a week earlier on December 19, according to statistic released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). The reserves position reflected a mixed trend during the week. Foreign exchange reserves held by the SBP rose by USD 13 million to USD

PTCL Group injects Rs15bn capital into U Bank

Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), the parent company of U Microfinance Bank Limited (U Bank), has approved a capital injection of Rs 15 billion (approximately USD53 million) into the Bank, one of the largest equity injection transactions in the industry. The capital injection is intended to support U Bank’s sustained growth trajectory and the development of its digital banking

Precious metals kick off the New Year higher after a robust 2025 rally

Precious metals kick-started the New Year on a strong note on Friday, resuming their rally after unprecedented gains in 2025, as geopolitical tensions and hopes of lower interest rates this year kept safe-haven demand intact. Spot gold climbed 1.3% to $4,372.02 per ounce as of 0357 GMT, after hitting a record high of $4,549.71 on December 26. It fell to a two-week low on Wednesday. US gold f

Oil inches up following biggest annual loss since 2020

Oil prices edged up on the first day of trade in 2026, after last year posting their biggest annual loss since 2020, as Ukrainian drones targeted Russian oil facilities and a US blockade pressured Venezuela’s exports. Brent crude futures climbed 35 cents on Friday to $61.20 a barrel by 0409 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $57.76 a barrel, up 34 cents. Russia and Ukraine ha