News

Oil prices extend gains as US-Iran war deadlock keeps supply off market

Oil prices extended gains on Thursday on concerns supply from the key Middle East producing region will remain bottled up for longer as talks to end ​the US-Israeli war against Iran have deadlocked. Brent crude futures for June rose $1.91, or 1.62%, ‌to $119.94 a barrel as of 0057 GMT after gaining 6.1% in the previous session. The June contract, which has increased for a ninth day, expires

Buying returns to bourse, KSE-100 up over 900 points in early trade

After days of selling pressure, buying returned to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) amid optimism over the release of funds from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with the benchmark KSE-100 gaining over 900 points during the opening minutes of trading on Wednesday. At 9:35am, the benchmark index was hovering at 169,329.62, up by 917.39 points or 0.54%. “Reclaiming and holding the 169,0

Stocks retreat on Iran, AI concerns as Fed meeting looms

Markets got off to an uneven start in Asian trading on Wednesday as worries about the Iran conflict and health of the AI sector ​dominated ahead of the Federal Reserve’s decision and earnings from tech megacap stocks later in the session. MSCI’s broadest index of ‌Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan eased 0.2%, retreating for a second day from record highs set on Monday, led by declines for Taiwa

SBP holds policy rate at 10.5% in first 2026 MPC meeting

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) decided on Monday to keep its benchmark policy rate unchanged at 10.5% in its first Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of 2026. SBP Governor Jameel Ahmad announced the decision in a press conference. Inflation in Pakistan could be above 7% in some months of the current fiscal year’s second half, he said. The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) would g

Diplomats seek stronger Pakistan-Asean trade

Diplomats and business leaders from across Southeast Asia gathered at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry on Monday for the ASEAN Trade & Tourism Conference where speakers called for stronger economic ties between Pakistan and the 10-member regional bloc and identified key barriers hindering greater trade and investment. Presiding over the conference, LCCI President Faheem-ur-Rehman Saigo