Business

Gold eyes Rs175,000 per tola mark in Pakistan in speedy record-breaking run

Published

2 years ago

Farwa

Gold price jumps Rs2,200 per tola to settle at Rs174,900.
Per tola silver price also surpass Rs2,000 level for the first time.
Analyst cites shortage of dollar, global trend as reasons behind price hike.

Gold’s record rally is moving tantalisingly close to the psychologically key Rs175,000 level in Pakistan, powered by investors seeking cover from the political toll, as reflected in rupee weakness, faltering stocks and economic tensions.

According to All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association, the price of precious commodity jumped by Rs2,200 per tola and Rs1,886 per 10 grams to settle at Rs174,900 and Rs149,948, respectively.

Arif Habib Commodities Managing Director and CEO Ahsan Mehanti identified three reasons which have triggered a record-breaking spree in the local gold market, these include:

Unavailability of dollar in Pakistan
International phenomenon
Difference between interbank and open market exchange rate

The commodities expert explained that due to the unavailability of the greenback and speculation regarding the rupee-dollar parity investors have shifted their focus towards safe-haven assets.

Mehanti further added that the significant difference between exchange rates in interbank and open markets has also added fuel to the rising prices of the yellow metal as it is a common phenomenon that when rates in kerb markets are high gold prices also rise.

The association, however, mentioned that although gold hit an all-time high in Pakistan, its price still stood below cost. Gold is cheaper by Rs4,000 per tola compared to its price in Dubai.

Meanwhile, silver prices also registered gains and rose to an all-time high of Rs2,020 per tola and Rs1,731.82 per 10 grams after an increase of Rs40 and Rs34.29, respectively.

In the international market, gold prices settled at $1,796 after an increase of $3 per ounce.

Business

China Contributes 43 New Foreign Firms to the 6% Growth in SECP Registrations

Published

11 hours ago

Farwa

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan has registered 2,617 new firms this year, a 6% increase from 2023, with assistance from the Special Investment Facilitation Council. This increases the overall number of businesses that are registered to 231,111.

Non-profits, trade associations, and public unlisted firms make up 4% of these, while private limited corporations make up 55% and single-member companies 41%. It is noteworthy that 99.8% of the registrations were done online, demonstrating SECP’s attempts to digitise.

Real estate has 237 new businesses, services has 306, and trade has 377 new businesses. These are the main sectors exhibiting growth. While the healthcare and textile industries each had 49 new businesses, the education sector saw 101.

China contributed the most, adding 43 new companies, out of the 61 new companies that were registered as a result of foreign investment.

These recently registered businesses are anticipated to decrease imports, increase domestic production, and contribute to closing the trade deficit.

Business

PSX reaches an all-time high as the KSE-100 Index surpasses 86,000 points.

Published

12 hours ago

Farwa

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) has achieved a significant milestone, as the benchmark KSE-100 Index has attained an unprecedented peak.

On Tuesday at midday, the index ascended by 788 points, attaining a record high of 86,846 points. Following the ratification of the constitutional amendments, the stock market has increased by 1500 points over a span of two days.

Earlier today, the KSE-100 Index increased by 683 points, attaining a value of 86,741 points, before concluding at this new apex.

The bullish trend was apparent from the commencement of the trading session, with the index rising an additional 555 points to reach 86,612 points throughout the day. The reinstatement of the 86,500-point threshold signifies robust market performance.

Business

In three months, Pakistan’s IT exports increased by 33.54 percent.

Published

12 hours ago

Farwa

During the first three months of FY 2024-25 (July to September), Pakistan’s IT export remittances hit US$ 876 million, a notable 33.54 percent rise from US$ 656 million during the same period previous year (FY 2023-24).

In a statement, Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja stated that the amount of money sent home by the export of ICT services was US$ 292 million in September 2024, a 41.7% increase from US$ 206 million in the same month the previous year.

She stated that efforts to make it easier for businesses to conduct business in the nation are the reason why IT exports are rising and that actions are being taken to increase them.

In response to the Prime Minister’s directions, Shaza Fatima stated that the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, the Pakistan Software Export Board, and the IT industry are dedicated to boosting IT exports with the full assistance of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).

A trade surplus of US$ 764 million was recorded by the IT & ITeS sector in the first three months of FY 2024–25, accounting for 87.21 percent of all ICT export remittances.

Over the same period last year, this surplus represents a 36.67 percent gain over US$ 559 million. The services industry as a whole, however, experienced a trade deficit of US$ 699 million during this period.

The largest of all service sectors, ICT export remittances from July to September 2024, were US$ 656 million, followed by “other business services” at US$ 374 million.