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Finance: Addressing the root issues

Whether India will heed the counsel of global powers, including the United States, and how it will interpret Pakistan’s warning of a “swift, resolute and notch-up” response, as per the army chief, to any act of aggression remains unclear. Consequently, the risk of military escalation cannot be entirely ruled out despite intense diplomatic efforts aimed at averting a clash between the two nuclear-a

Global economy already feeling drag from Trump tariffs

US President Donald Trump’s tariffs are increasingly clogging up the wheels of a world economy which for decades were greased by predictable and relatively free trade. Big-name multinationals, right down to niche e-commerce players last week cut sales targets, warned of job cuts and reviewed their business plans, while major economies revised down growth prospects amid bleak data read-outs.

India starts work on hydro projects after suspending treaty with Pakistan, say sources

India has begun work to boost reservoir holding capacity at two hydroelectric projects in the India-occupied Kashmir, sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters, after fresh escalation with Pakistan led it to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty. Tensions between the two countries have spiked following the April 22 attack in occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 people, mostly tourists,

Escalating tensions with India to impact Pakistan’s economic growth: Moody’s

Global rating agency Moody’s on Monday said that escalating tensions between India and Pakistan would weigh on Pakistan’s economic growth. An attack on April 22 in occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in one of the deadliest assaults since 2000. India has implied cross-border links without evidence, while Pakistan has rejected the claim and called for a neutral probe.

SBP cuts interest rate by 100bps to 11pc

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) cut the policy rate on Monday to 11 per cent, amid trade and industry sectors advocating for a significant cut. The central bank’s policy rate, after being slashed by 1,000bps from 22pc since June 2024 in six intervals, previously stood at 12pc. April inflation stood at a low of 0.3pc, largely due to a high base a year ago. The reduction is also primarily att