Author: S. Kamal Hayder Kazmi

Pakistan’s insurance industry eyes transformation with tech-driven strategies and renewed government support Experts revealed that the Insurance is a fundamental component of economy and society. It underpins progress and assists power humanity forward more securely. However, the risk-averse nature of insurers’ cultures and their focus on underwriting margins and solvency have generally reinforced a restrained pace in terms of its own innovation and modernization. This has often resulted in unsustainable or non-optimal strategies to respond to less predictable spikes or dips in specific business lines and profitability. Active Borrowers, Active Savers, And Active Policyholders Details Micro-Credit Micro-Savings Micro-Insurance Active Borrowers…

Extreme weather events caused $4.2 trillion losses and killed 765,000+ people globally Pakistan ranks among most affected countries by climate change, floods, and extreme weather events The years 2023 and 2024 have shattered global temperature records, international experts analyzed. Last year was the warmest year on record, with a global average of 1.45°C (± 0.12°C) warmer than the 1850–1900 pre-industrial level. This trend has continued into 2024, with each month from June 2023 to June 2024 setting a new average temperature record for the respective month. Global sea surface temperatures set new records for 14 consecutive months (April 2023–May 2024).…

Life Insurance Statistics, Trends & Facts (2025) Key Life Insurance Statistics: Our Top Picks The global life insurance market was valued at $3.1 trillion in 2024. Hong Kong has the highest life insurance ownership rate globally at 79 percent. In both Hong Kong and India, 91percent of people believe life insurance is essential. 52percent of individuals cite cost as the main barrier to purchasing a life insurance policy. 72 percent of people overestimate the cost of basic life insurance coverage. How many people feel underinsured? 42percent of American adults say they need more life insurance or don’t have enough coverage.…

Market indicators are a series of technical indicators used by traders to predict the direction of the major financial indexes. Most market indicators are created by analyzing the number of companies that have reached new highs relative to the number that created new lows, also known as market breadth. FINANCIAL MARKET IN PAKISTAN Pakistan: Currency Rate As Per Open Market (May 08 2025) Currency Symbol Buying Selling Australian Dollar AUD 182.75 185 Bahrain Dinar BHD 737.4 745.4 Canadian Dollar CAD 202.6 205 China Yuan CNY 37.59 37.99 Danish Krone DKK 42.25 42.65 Euro EUR 318.75 321.5 Hong Kong Dollar HKD…

Stock Market Indexes Date Level Ch. This Week ch. Mon. ch. Ann. ch. YTD KSE Kyrgyz [+] 05/05/2025 4,808.29 0 0 -0.29% 45.41% 18.03% LSX Index [+] 05/05/2025 1,113.05 -0.52% -0.52% -1.24% 2.72% -3.22% OMX Riga [+] 05/06/2025 870.76 0.32% 0.32% 0.10% -33.02% 0.17% OMX Vilnius [+] 05/06/2025 1,183.98 0.46% 1.44% 2.90% 21.91% 11.12% LuxX [+] 05/05/2025 1,483.82 1.65% 1.65% 6.72% 6.92% 13.80% FBMKLCI [+] 05/05/2025 1,539.54 -0.19% -0.19% 2.35% -3.15% -6.26% MSE Malta [+] 05/02/2025 3,842.58 0.51% -0.71% -2.57% 1.71% 2.01% SEMDEX [+] 03/28/2025 2,486.75 -1.59% -1.59% -1.70% 17.07% 3.71% IPC MEXBOL [+] 05/05/2025 55,835.99 0.04% 0.04% 8.52% -2.27%…

CPI Countries Countries Date CPI Interannual Accum. since January United States [+] March 2025 2.4% 1.3% United Kingdom [+] March 2025 2.6% 0.7% Germany [+] March 2025 2.2% 0.6% France [+] April 2025 0.8% 0.9% Japan [+] March 2025 3.6% 0.4% Spain [+] April 2025 2.2% 1.3% Italy [+] March 2025 2.0% 1.2% Portugal [+] March 2025 1.9% 0.9% Greece [+] March 2025 2.4% 0.7% Ireland [+] March 2025 2.0% 0.7% Andorra [+] March 2025 2.1% 0.8% Armenia [+] March 2025 2.5% 2.0% Angola [+] March 2025 23.9% 4.7% Argentina [+] March 2025 55.9% 8.6% Austria [+] March 2025 2.9%…

In q1 2025, Indonesian economy under pressure, growth slows to 4.87pc Indonesia’s economy opened 2025 facing mounting domestic and international challenges, with growth slowing to 4.87 percent in the first quarter (Q1) − down from 5.11 percent in the same period last year. According to Syafruddin Karimi, an economist at the Department of Economics, State Andalas University, this slowdown reflects structural pressures that demand bold and strategic policy reforms. “The country can no longer rely on government spending and global markets alone,” Karimi said on Monday, May 5, 2025. Domestically, the government’s early-year fiscal efficiency measures − including cuts to…

Iranian arms ship makes northbound transit A sanctioned Iranian cargo vessel, which in the past is likely to have been involved with shipping arms to Syria, has just completed a northerly passage up the Red Sea. The Iranian-owned cargo vessel Elyana (IMO: 9165827) was located on May 3, underway and entering the southern end of the Suez Canal. As of the end of the day on Saturday, the AIS signal shows it has completed the Suez Canal transit. The 15,670 GT vessel set off from the Bandar Abbas commercial port on April 18, making a port call in Jebel Ali,…

European Union’s pulses market to reach 6.6m tons and $6.3b by 2035 The European Union pulses market is anticipated to see a steady rise in consumption over the period from 2024 to 2035, with a forecasted CAGR of +1.4 percent in volume and +2.9 percent in value. By the end of 2035, market volume is expected to reach 6.6M tons, with a projected value of $6.3 billion in nominal prices. Market Forecast Driven by increasing demand for pulses in the European Union, the market is expected to continue an upward consumption trend over the next decade. Market performance is forecast…

Resource-Allocation Decisions The allocation of capital and people determine whether the organization will do well or poorly. The allocation of capital and performing people converts into action all that management knows about its business – they determine whether the organization will do well or well or poorly. An organization should allocate human resources as purposefully and as thoughtfully as it allocates capital. To understand a capital investment, a company has to look at four measures: return on investment, payback period, cash flow, and discounted present value. Each of these four measures tells the executive something different about a prospective capital…

Despite a sharp March dip, cumulative FDI still rose by 14 per cent this year Policymakers in both developing and advanced economies agree that foreign direct investment (FDI) is a key element of a successful development strategy. There is no doubt that FDI plays an increasingly significant role in the development of capital-deficient developing countries. This is because it is not only a stable source of foreign inflows, but it also assists in technological transfer and employment generation. FDI offers a viable way for developing countries to increase their savings and achieve economic growth. FDI In Pakistan ($ Million) Country…

With sustainable practices and global ties, Sialkot’s sports goods industry eyes billion-dollar growth trajectory In Pakistan, Sialkot city is a major hub for sports goods manufacturing, particularly for hockey sticks and footballs. Its industrial significance is profound, as the city holds a stellar global reputation as a supplier of sports goods, surgical instruments, medical equipment, leather garments, gloves, and sportswear to leading international brands. Experts emphasise that Sialkot’s contribution to geographically diverse markets highlights its potential for further growth. Pakistan: Export receipts by sports goods (thousand US dollar) Commodity Jul-Jun Mar ( R) Feb ( R) Mar ( P) Jul-Mar…

Pakistan Super League Team City Owner Home ground Founded Islamabad United Islamabad Leonine Global Sports Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi 2015 Karachi Kings Karachi Salman Iqbal National Stadium, Karachi 2015 Lahore Qalandars Lahore Fawad Rana Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 2015 Multan Sultans Multan Ali Tareen Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan 2017 Peshawar Zalmi Peshawar Javed Afridi Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar 2015 Quetta Gladiators Quetta Nadeem Omar Bugti Stadium, Quetta 2015 PSL: Team Results Season 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 (No. of teams) (5) (5) (6) (6) (6) (6) (6) (6) (6) Hosts(s)Teams UAE UAEPakistan UAEPakistan UAEPakistan Pakistan PakistanUAE Pakistan…

Market indicators are a series of technical indicators used by traders to predict the direction of the major financial indexes. Most market indicators are created by analyzing the number of companies that have reached new highs relative to the number that created new lows, also known as market breadth. FINANCIAL MARKET IN PAKISTAN Pakistan: Currency Rate As Per Open Market ( Apr 24, 2025) Currency Symbol Buying Selling Australian Dollar AUD 180.75 183 Bahrain Dinar BHD 741.3 749.3 Canadian Dollar CAD 201 206 China Yuan CNY 37.59 37.99 Danish Krone DKK 42.42 42.82 Euro EUR 322.65 325.4 Hong Kong Dollar…

China shares drift China stock drifted and Hong Kong shares fell on Thursday as Washington signalled a willingness to lower tariffs against China, but ruled out unilateral moves, bewildering investors over how the damaging Sino-US trade war will evolve. China’s blue-chip CSI300 Index and the Shanghai Composite Index both erased early gains to end the morning session down 0.1 percent. Sovereign Ratings Details Moody’s ratings [+] S&P ratings [+] Fitch ratings [+] United States [+] Aaa AA+ AAA United Kingdom [+] Aa3 AA AA- Germany [+] Aaa AAA AAA France [+] Aa3 AA- AA- Japan [+] A1 A+ A Spain…

Stock Market Indexes Details Date Level Ch. This Week ch. Mon. ch. Ann. ch. YTD JCI Jakarta [+] 04/21/2025 6,445.97 0.12% 0.12% 3.00% -9.05% -8.95% TA-35 [+] 04/21/2025 2,461.08 -1.18% -1.18% -1.62% 27.26% 2.76% ASE Amman [+] 04/21/2025 2,515.85 -0.30% -0.30% -4.12% 2.77% 1.09% KASE [+] 04/22/2025 5,570.30 0.02% 0.08% -1.45% 13.12% -0.14% KSW Kuwait [+] 04/21/2025 8,423.07 -0.05% -0.05% -1.45% 9.23% 7.45% KSE Kyrgyz [+] 04/21/2025 4,864.49 0 0 0.83% 51.24% 19.41% LSX Index [+] 04/21/2025 1,105.31 -0.42% -0.42% -0.47% 1.26% -3.89% IPC MEXBOL [+] 04/21/2025 53,758.75 1.40% 1.40% 2.06% -3.77% 8.50% MSE TOP-20 [+] 04/21/2025 48,177.15 1.27% 1.27%…

Economic relationship between Türkiye and GCC countries The economic relationship between Türkiye and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries has evolved significantly since the resolution of the Gulf crisis in 2021. The de-escalation and normalisation processes which followed the al-Ula Agreement have created a fertile ground for deeper collaboration, with both sides focusing on enhancing trade, investment, and broader economic cooperation. Despite the potential, there is much untapped opportunity that could elevate these economic ties to new heights. Moreover, the Trump 2.0 era may open new avenues for GCC-Türkiye relations by encouraging pragmatic economic partnerships, reducing reliance on traditional alliances,…

CPI Countries Countries Date CPI Interannual Accum. since January United States [+] March 2025 2.4% 1.3% United Kingdom [+] March 2025 2.6% 0.7% Germany [+] March 2025 2.2% 0.6% France [+] March 2025 0.8% 0.4% Japan [+] March 2025 3.6% 0.4% Spain [+] March 2025 2.3% 0.6% Italy [+] March 2025 2.0% 1.2% Portugal [+] March 2025 1.9% 0.9% Greece [+] March 2025 2.4% 0.7% Ireland [+] March 2025 2.0% 0.7% Andorra [+] March 2025 2.1% 0.8% Armenia [+] March 2025 2.5% 2.0% Angola [+] March 2025 23.9% 4.7% Argentina [+] March 2025 55.9% 8.6% Austria [+] March 2025…

Into the world, resilient Chinese economy injects certainty amid rising protectionism Despite headwinds of rising protectionism, increasing signals point to a good start for China’s economy for the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, injecting much-needed certainty and confidence into the world. The Chinese economic momentum is highlighted by domestic demand, industrial production and foreign trade, and driven by pro-growth policies, innovation, and structural adjustment. The Chinese government has prioritized such tasks as boosting domestic demand, developing new quality productive forces, implementing landmark reform measures, and expanding high-standard opening up, for this year. Foreign trade remains one of the bright spots…

$1B foreign loan deal reached at interest rate of 7.6 pc Pakistan and two foreign commercial banks have reached an understanding for a $1 billion loan at an interest rate of around 7.6 percent, which Islamabad is obtaining on the back of Asian Development Bank (ADB) guarantee due to its low credit rating. The final term sheet and loan disbursement are subject to the approval of the ADB’s $500 million guarantee, which the board of the Manila-based lending agency will approve on May 28. Pakistan can borrow up to $1.5 billion foreign commercial loan against the $500 million guarantee, said…

USTR port fees counterproductive: WSC The World Shipping Council (WSC) said it has concerns about the US Trade Representative’s (USTR) proposed port fee system, branding the regime “counterproductive” and warning that it risks harming US consumers and businesses “without delivering meaningful progress toward revitalising the US maritime industry”. USTR published its proposed fee structure ahead of the Easter holiday, a regime which would see Chinese-owned, -operated and -built ships calling US ports paying fees from October 2025 based on the vessel’s net tonnage and/or containers discharged, increasing annually. Further fees were also announced for car carriers, as well as a…

Milk supply resilient amid worldwide volatility As April draws to a close and we approach the final month of the 2024/25 dairy season, New Zealand continues to deliver solid year-on-year gains in milk production – even as the natural decline in volumes typical of this time of year begins to take hold. March production figures surprised on the upside, with a 0.8 percent increase in milksolids compared to the same month last year. This result, paired with two consecutive positive Global Dairy Trade (GDT) Events, suggests a firm finish to the current season and a strong foundation for the one…

Information on Cost and Value We cannot achieve results until we have information on cost and value. Basic structural information is focused upon the value that is created for customers and the resources used to do so. The concepts and tools of accounting are now in the throes of its most fundamental change. The new accounting tools are not just different views of recording transactions but represent different concepts of what business is and what results are. So even the executive far removed from any work in accounting, such as a research manager in a development laboratory, needs to understand…

Pakistan’s rice exports thrive in key markets like Iran, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)’s latest new report on global grain production, in 2025 Global wheat production could reach 796 million tonnes. This shows an increase of 1 per cent over the previous year. Wheat production in the European Union, especially France and Germany, may increase. FAO has projected more wheat sowing in these areas. However, dry situations in Eastern Europe and heavy rains in the west could affect wheat yields. Wheat acreage in the US is expected to increase, but…

Govt aims for fiscal discipline through budget surplus, inflation control, and debt restructuring In the shaping economic growth, sources recorded that external debt plays both a positive and negative role, chiefly of the developing countries. External debt is helpful when the government utilises it for investment-oriented projects like power, infrastructure and the agricultural sector. On the other hand, it would affect negatively when it is used for private and public consumption purposes, which do not bring any return. Additionally, a low level of external debt impacts economic growth positively, but this relationship becomes negative at a higher level. Pakistan’s External…

Ranked: The Top 20 Most Valuable Brands Ranking Name Country Brand Value Annual Change in Brand Value 1 Apple U.S. $574.5B 11% 2 Microsoft U.S. $461.1B 35% 3 Google U.S. $413.0B 24% 4 Amazon U.S. $356.4B 15% 5 Walmart U.S. $137.2B 42% 6 Samsung Group South Korea $110.6B 11% 7 TikTok/Douyin China $105.8B 26% 8 Facebook U.S. $91.5B 21% 9 NVIDIA U.S. $87.9B 98% 10 State Grid Corporation of China China $85.6B 20% 11 T Germany $85.3B 16% 12 Instagram U.S. $79.9B 13% 13 ICBC China $79.1B 10% 14 China Construction Bank China $78.4B 19% 15 Verizon U.S. $72.3B 1%…

Market indicators are a series of technical indicators used by traders to predict the direction of the major financial indexes. Most market indicators are created by analyzing the number of companies that have reached new highs relative to the number that created new lows, also known as market breadth. FINANCIAL MARKET IN PAKISTAN Pakistan: Currency Rate As Per Open Market (Apr 10 2025) Currency Symbol Buying Selling Australian Dollar AUD 174 176.25 Bahrain Dinar BHD 738.85 746.85 Canadian Dollar CAD 199.35 201.75 China Yuan CNY 37.59 37.99 Danish Krone DKK 40.15 40.55 Euro EUR 307.4 310.15 Hong Kong Dollar HKD…

Saudi outperforms Gulf peers in early trade Saudi Arabia’s stock market led most of its Gulf peers higher early on Thursday, tracking global shares, after U.S. President Donald Trump’s unexpected decision to temporarily suspend most of his recently imposed tariffs. Trump on Wednesday announced a 90-day pause on many of his new duties, however, raised the tariff rate for China to 125 percent effective immediately, from the previously announced 104 percent that took effect earlier on Wednesday. Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index jumped 4 percent, buoyed by a 3.8 percent rise in Al Rajhi Bank and a 3.9 percent increase in…

Stock Market Indexes Details Date Level Ch. This Week ch. Mon. ch. Ann. ch. YTD TA-35 [+] 04/08/2025 2,407.62 1.46% -1.67% -2.41% 20.33% 0.53% ASE Amman [+] 04/08/2025 2,565.28 0.74% 0.76% -1.78% 5.26% 3.07% KASE [+] 04/09/2025 5,441.78 -1.46% -1.47% -3.72% 8.82% -2.44% KSW Kuwait [+] 04/08/2025 8,302.45 3.08% 2.42% -4.17% 5.64% 5.92% KSE Kyrgyz [+] 04/08/2025 4,822.23 0 0.00% 3.47% 59.33% 18.37% LSX Index [+] 04/08/2025 1,110.32 -0.35% -1.48% -0.88% -4.76% -3.46% OMX Riga [+] 04/09/2025 862.57 0.28% -0.84% -3.41% -35.00% -0.77% OMX Vilnius [+] 04/09/2025 1,137.09 0.32% -1.18% -0.33% 17.83% 6.72% LuxX [+] 04/08/2025 1,399.48 2.81% 0.65% -11.73%…

CPI Countries Countries Date CPI Interannual Accum. since January United States [+] February 2025 2.8% 1.1% United Kingdom [+] February 2025 2.8% 0.3% Germany [+] February 2025 2.3% 0.3% France [+] March 2025 0.8% 0.4% Japan [+] February 2025 3.7% 0.1% Spain [+] March 2025 2.3% 0.7% Italy [+] March 2025 2.0% 1.2% Portugal [+] February 2025 2.4% -0.6% Greece [+] February 2025 2.5% -0.8% Ireland [+] February 2025 1.8% 0.1% Andorra [+] February 2025 2.3% -0.3% Armenia [+] February 2025 2.1% 1.5% Angola [+] February 2025 25.3% 3.3% Argentina [+] February 2025 66.9% 4.7% Austria [+] February 2025 3.2%…

UN Report: climate shocks could cause 6pc economic loss in Asia-Pacific A new United Nations report warns that climate shocks could lead to annual economic losses (AAL) of at least 6 percent in one-third of countries in the Asia-Pacific region, underscoring the region’s significant vulnerability to climate change. The report, titled Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2025: Understanding the Macroeconomic Implications of Climate Change, published by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) on Tuesday, highlights how many developing economies in the region are struggling to manage the macroeconomic repercussions of…

Norway’s 1st bio-methanol feeders enter service Norway marked a milestone in its efforts to be a leader in green shipping with the introduction of the first of two vessels that will be powered with bio-methanol. The containerships which are operating in a partnership between North Sea Container Line and MPC Container Ships will expand Norway’s trade with Europe while also lowering emissions. Seafarers shouldn’t have to decide between shore leave and rest As the International Labour Organization (ILO) meets to consider changes to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), leading maritime charity?Stella Maris UK?is calling for urgent protections to stop seafarers…

Finland annual share of natural resources People in Finland have consumed their share of the Earth’s natural resources by Sunday, 6 April, according to WWF, the World Wildlife Fund. Each year, Overshoot Day marks the point at which the planet’s annual biocapacity would be exhausted if everyone consumed as much as the residents of that country. Finns consume their share of the Earth’s natural resources at a faster rate than the majority of the world’s population. On Overshoot Day, the consumption of natural resources exceeds the planet’s ability to regenerate renewable resources and absorb the greenhouse gas emissions caused by…

Simulated Decentralization The main rule is to look simulated decentralization as a last resort only. Whenever a unit can be set up as a business, no design principle can match federal decentralization. We have learned, however, that a great many large companies cannot be divided into genuine businesses. Yet they have clearly outgrown the limits of size and complexity of the functional or of the team structure. These are the companies that are increasingly turning to “simulated decentralization” as the answer to their organization problem. Simulated decentralization forms structural units that are not businesses but which are still up as…

Country’s rising exports supported by textile and rice industries, imports rise amid economic expansion According to the latest Global Trade Update published by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the global trade is set to reach a record $33 trillion in 2024. This $1 trillion increase, reflecting 3.3 percent yearly growth, highlights resilience in global trade despite persistent challenges. Statistics analysed that robust growth in services trade, up 7 percent for the year, accounted for half of the expansion, while goods trade grew 2 percent but remained below its 2022 peak. It is recorded that developing states, traditionally strong drivers of…

Ramazan-driven demand pressures household budgets and essential commodity prices Presently the government of Pakistan strictly continues to monitor price fluctuations as inflation trends impact household budgets during the holy month of Ramazan in 2025. Statistics showed that inflation rises by 0.22 percent in second week of Ramazan, with prices of 12 essential items, including live broiler chicken, tomatoes, and sugar, witnessing a surge. As per the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), inflation on an annual basis recorded a fall of 1.97 percent for the week ending March 13, 2025. Core Inflation In Pakistan (%) (Base 2015-16) Periods NFNE Trimmed Urban…

Gross Domestic Product Of Pakistan (at constant basic prices of 2015-16) (Rs. Million) S. No Sector/Industry 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 GDP Growth Rate (%) 5.77 6.18 -0.22 2.50 A Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (1 to 4) 8,424,041 8,778,647 8,975,069 9,529,625   1. Crops ( i+ii+iii) 2,849,148 3,083,439 3,047,425 3,360,378 i) Important Crops 1,593,985 1,681,708 1,689,304 1,978,505 ii) Other Crops 1,152,009 1,289,069 1,271,187 1,253,882 iii) Cotton Ginning 103,154 112,662 86,934 127,991 2. Livestock 5,269,009 5,387,611 5,587,106 5,829,657 3. Forestry 183,877 185,162 217,372 215,428 4. Fishing 122,007 122,435 123,166 124,162 B Industrial Activities ( 1 to 4 ) 6,935,438 7,421,583 7,141,326 7,023,320…

Market indicators are a series of technical indicators used by traders to predict the direction of the major financial indexes. Most market indicators are created by analyzing the number of companies that have reached new highs relative to the number that created new lows, also known as market breadth. FINANCIAL MARKET IN PAKISTAN Pakistan: Currency Rate As Per Open Market (Mar 18, 2025) Currency Symbol Buying Selling Australian Dollar AUD 177.5 179.75 Bahrain Dinar BHD 741.75 749.75 Canadian Dollar CAD 196.85 199.25 China Yuan CNY 37.55 37.95 Danish Krone DKK 38.45 38.85 Euro EUR 305.5 308.25 Hong Kong Dollar HKD…

Most Gulf stocks in red on regional tensions Most major stock markets in the Gulf fell in early trade on Tuesday amid rising geopolitical tensions in the region, with the Saudi index on course to end a three-session winning streak. Israeli air strikes on Gaza killed more than 300 people, Palestinian health authorities said, threatening a complete collapse of a two-month ceasefire as Israel vowed to use force to free its remaining hostages in the enclave. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump’s vowed to continue the US assault on Yemen’s Houthis unless they ended their attacks on ships in the Red Sea.…

Stock Market Indexes Details Date Level Ch. This Week ch. Mon. ch. Ann. ch. YTD HANG SENG [+] 03/17/2025 24,145.57 0.77% 0.77% 6.76% 44.40% 20.37% BUX [+] 03/17/2025 89,265.59 1.59% 1.59% 1.72% 37.36% 12.53% ICEX [+] 03/17/2025 2,212.67 0.00% 0.00% -9.85% 1.24% -7.37% NIFTY [+] 03/17/2025 22,508.75 0.50% 0.50% -1.96% 2.20% -4.90% JCI Jakarta [+] 03/17/2025 6,471.95 -0.67% -0.67% -5.25% -11.68% -8.59% TA-35 [+] 03/17/2025 2,530.37 0.77% 0.77% 1.52% 32.71% 5.65% ASE Amman [+] 03/17/2025 2,614.04 -0.02% -0.02% 1.00% 4.57% 5.03% KASE [+] 03/17/2025 5,638.19 0.27% 0.27% 1.65% 12.86% 1.08% KSW Kuwait [+] 03/16/2025 8,425.98 -0.59% -1.67% -1.66% 3.39% 7.49%…

CPI Countries Countries Date CPI Interannual Accum. since January United States [+] Feb-25 2.80% 1.10% United Kingdom [+] Jan-25 3.00% -0.20% Germany [+] Feb-25 2.30% 0.30% France [+] Feb-25 0.80% 0.10% Japan [+] Jan-25 4.00% 0.50% Spain [+] Feb-25 3.00% 0.60% Italy [+] Feb-25 1.70% 0.80% Portugal [+] Feb-25 2.40% -0.60% Greece [+] Feb-25 2.50% -0.80% Ireland [+] Feb-25 1.80% 0.10% Andorra [+] Feb-25 2.30% -0.30% Armenia [+] Feb-25 2.10% 1.50% Angola [+] Feb-25 25.30% 3.30% Argentina [+] Feb-25 66.90% 4.70% Austria [+] Jan-25 3.20% 1.00% Australia [+] Dec-24 2.40% 2.40% Belgium [+] Feb-25 3.60% 1.60% Bulgaria [+] Feb-25 4.00%…

China spending billions to get people to open their wallets? The Chinese government has promised new child care subsidies, increased wages and better paid leave to revive a slowing economy. That is on top of a $41bn discount programme for all sorts of things, from dishwashers and home decor to electric vehicles and smartwatches. Beijing is going on a spending spree that will encourage Chinese people to crack open their wallets. Simply put, they are not spending enough. Monday brought some positive news. Official data said retail sales grew 4 percent in the first two months of 2025, a positive…

Australia fines bulker A court in Australia sided with its maritime authorities and ordered the owners of a bulker to pay a fine as well as court costs for failing to follow safety directions. The fine comes after the Australian Maritime Authority (AMSA) last year banned the vessel from sailing to Australia also related to safety issues in 2023. KMAX Leader, a Liberia-flagged bulk carrier, arrived at the Port of Gladstone in October 2023 reporting propulsion issues. Through the port agency, Universal Shipping Alliance, AMSA was advised the vessel would require eight to 10 days to complete repairs. Instead, the…

OPEC+ is supporting a potentially disastrous rise in oil production? Oil prices have fallen fast since the 3 March announcement from OPEC+ that it will go ahead with a planned rise in its collective oil production. The prospect of increased supply from the group has added to the bearish tone created by rising supply from other key producers and from uncertain demand projections from the world’s biggest importer of oil, China. Lower oil and gas prices is precisely what Donald Trump wants to see in his second term as U.S. president, but with budget breakeven oil prices much higher than…

Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish-American industrialist and the greatest philanthropist in this speech, is known to be the most influential person whose greatest contribution in expanding the American steel industry in 19th century makes him immortal. He donated his most fortune to establishing schools, Libraries and universities across the United States and Europe. He was a self-made man for his economic, cultural as well as intellectual developments. He is often considered to be the second richest man in the history after John D. Rockefeller. From his young age he would love to listen about famous Scottish heroes such as Rob Roy,…

Pakistan’s Islamic microfinance industry reached Rs 27.1 billion in assets, aiding economic growth and poverty alleviation Murabaha, Mudarabah, Musharakah, and Qard Hasan offer ethical financing, promoting financial stability in underserved communities In the developing world international industry experts examined that lacking of access to financial services is considered as one of the major constraints on inclusive economic growth. It is the main constraint on the growth of micro, small and medium businesses – often the single source of income for poor households, which hampered employment opportunities, economic growth and shared prosperity. It is said that Islamic microfinance shows the confluence…

Islamic Fintech sector surges to $180 billion by 2026, driven by innovation, regulation, and investment trends worldwide In accordance with Shariah principles, international experts revealed that Islamic Fintech is a rapidly growing sector that leverages technology to deliver financial services. This innovative method is reshaping the way Islamic finance is conducted, providing greater accessibility, efficiency, and inclusivity. Islamic Fintech solutions encompass a broad range of services, counting digital payments, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer lending, wealth management, and insurance. By combining traditional Islamic financial rules with cutting-edge technology, Islamic Fintech aims to meet the evolving needs of Muslim consumers and businesses while upholding…

Pakistan: Industry Progress And Market Share (Amount in Rs billion) Particulars Islamic Banking IndustryProgress Growth (YoY) Share in Overall Banking Industry (%) Sep-23 Jun-24 Sep-24 Sep-23 Jun-24 Sep-24 Sep-23 Jun-24 Sep-24 Assets 8,416 9,689 9,881 21.9 19.4 17.4 19.6 18.8 19.0 Deposits 6,160 7,363 7,596 22.7 25.4 23.3 22.5 22.7 23.2 Investments (net) 3,928 4,489 4,803 39.2 29.3 22.3 16.9 14.5 15.2 Financing (net) 3,026 3,449 3,252 1.4 3.8 7.5 26.1 28.6 27.3 Number of Islamic Banking Institutions 22 22 22 – – – – – – Number of Branches 4,666 5,196 5,333 11.3 14.6 14.3 – – – Number…

Market indicators are a series of technical indicators used by traders to predict the direction of the major financial indexes. Most market indicators are created by analyzing the number of companies that have reached new highs relative to the number that created new lows, also known as market breadth. FINANCIAL MARKET IN PAKISTAN Pakistan: Currency Rate As Per Open Market( Mar 06, 2025) Currency Symbol Buying Selling Australian Dollar AUD 174.35 176.6 Bahrain Dinar BHD 738.95 746.95 Canadian Dollar CAD 193.95 196.35 China Yuan CNY 37.55 37.95 Danish Krone DKK 38.45 38.85 Euro EUR 292.85 295.6 Hong Kong Dollar HKD…

Banks, energy stocks pull down Australian shares Australian shares fell on Thursday, dragged down by energy and bank stock, while investors assessed the economic implications of the country’s top trading partner China unlocking more fiscal stimulus. The S&P/ASX 200 index dropped 0.6percent to hit 8,096, as of 1205 GMT. The benchmark fell 0.7percent on Wednesday. Australia’s top trading partner China unleashed more stimulus on Wednesday, as it looks to defend its economy from the ramifications of a tariff face-off with the US Energy stocks slumped about 2.5percent, after crude oil prices settled down to their lowest in months as the…

Stock Market Indexes Details Date Level Ch. This Week ch. Mon. ch. Ann. ch. YTD ASE Amman [+] 03/04/2025 2,582.17 -0.19% -0.40% -1.44% 4.59% 3.75% KASE [+] 03/04/2025 5,638.97 0.01% 0.33% 1.21% 16.49% 1.09% KSW Kuwait [+] 03/03/2025 8,767.04 0.40% 0.40% 4.31% 7.50% 11.84% KSE Kyrgyz [+] 03/03/2025 4,636.08 0 0 -0.72% 66.09% 13.80% LSX Index [+] 03/04/2025 1,131.76 -1.63% -1.61% -0.05% -4.25% -1.59% OMX Riga [+] 03/04/2025 876.73 -0.74% -0.44% 1.29% -34.24% 0.85% OMX Vilnius [+] 03/04/2025 1,120.08 -3.26% -3.37% -1.71% 17.04% 5.12% LuxX [+] 03/03/2025 1,520.40 1.61% 1.61% 12.67% 2.80% 16.60% FBMKLCI [+] 03/04/2025 1,555.66 -1.00% -1.21% -0.57%…

CPI Countries Countries Date CPI Interannual Accum. since January United States [+] January 2025 3.0% 0.7% United Kingdom [+] January 2025 3.0% -0.2% Germany [+] January 2025 2.3% -0.2% France [+] February 2025 0.8% 0.1% Japan [+] January 2025 4.0% 0.5% Spain [+] February 2025 3.0% 0.6% Italy [+] February 2025 1.7% 0.8% Portugal [+] January 2025 2.5% -0.5% Greece [+] January 2025 2.7% -0.7% Ireland [+] January 2025 1.9% -0.7% Andorra [+] January 2025 2.7% -0.3% Armenia [+] January 2025 1.7% 1.4% Angola [+] January 2025 26.5% 1.7% Argentina [+] January 2025 84.5% 2.2% Austria [+] January 2025 3.2%…

China targets 5pc growth China has set an economic growth target for this year of “around 5 percent” and pledged to pump billions of dollars into its ailing economy, which is now facing a trade war with the US. Its leaders unveiled the plan as thousands of delegates attend the National People’s Congress, a rubber-stamp parliament, which passes decisions already made behind closed doors. But the week-long gathering is closely watched for clues on Beijing’s policy changes – and this year is more significant than most. President Xi Jinping had already been battling persistently low consumption, a property crisis and…

Issue of false flags continues to grow The issue of false flags continues to grow and promises to take center stage in an upcoming meeting of the IMO Legal Committee scheduled for the last week of April. Citing the dangers and the required steps, France and the Netherlands submitted proposals which are drawing attention as they highlighted two previously unheard-of registries. France’s note to the IMO Secretariat calls out the “Maritime Administration of Matthew Island” citing it as the latest example of fraudulent registries. It has sent everyone scurrying to the Internet and reference sources to answer the question: where…

Coal production from captive, commercial mines rises 32.5 pc Commercial mining was introduced as part of the economic reforms process to attract more investment and better technology in the mining sector. The Ministry of Coal has now launched roadshows for the 12th round of commercial coal mine auctions, expected to commence in the second week of March. The latest roadshow was launched in which the Ministry of Coal engaged with stakeholders. The event follows the successful roadshows held earlier in Kolkata and Mumbai for further reinforcing the government’s commitment to enhancing domestic coal production and ensuring energy security. Last month…

Richard Branson’S five crucial tips for a successful business Richard Branson, who founded the Virgin Group in the 1970s and controls more than 400 companies today, says there is no shortcut to success in business. Or maybe he just hasn’t found one yet. Sir Richard Branson has given his five “rough guidelines for creating a successful business”. “After five decades in business, I’m often asked if there is a shortcut to success. Unfortunately there isn’t — or if there is, I haven’t found it yet. Creating a successful and profitable business takes time, since you build your reputation as customers…

Companies with strong CSR attract foreign investment, improve governance, and ensure long-term sustainability. The companies in today’s globally competitive market must present themselves as socially responsible. In socially beneficial programmes, active involvement is one strategy companies employ to achieve competitive advantage in pursuing their goals. Multinational companies often have no choice but to play significant roles in the social issues of their respective nations. If they do not, various government regulations on environmental security and labor laws can pose as great costs to them. No doubt, corporate social responsibility (CSR) has come to be an integral element of planning to…

Pakistan has 38 million beggars, receiving Rs 32 billion daily, creating a $42 billion economic drain yearly Since the existence of human society, begging has been initiated as social practice. For human society, it is viewed as one of the oldest challenges. Though, there is no any evidence is revealed that begging is existed in primitive societies because of close social ties and strong family system and the weaker social structure and family support system had the foundation of begging as a social problem. Begging remains a glaring reminder of poverty in Pakistan. For many, offering a few rupees to…

Human Development Index In Pakistan Country/ Region HDI Rank (HDI) Value (2022) Average Annual HDI Growth (%) [1990-2022] Life Expectancy at Birth (years) Expected Years of Schooling (years) Mean Years of Schooling (years) (GNI) per capita (2017 PPP $) Inequality-adjusted HDI (2010-2022) SDG-3 SDG-4.3 SDG-4.4 SDG-8.5 Gini-coefficient World – 0.739 0.65 72.0 13.0 8.7 17,254 – South Asia – 0.641 1.15 68.4 11.9 6.6 6,972 – Sri Lanka 78 0.780 0.62 76.6 13.6 11.2 11,899 37.7 Iran 78 0.780 0.76 74.6 14.1 10.7 14,770 40.9 China 75 0.788 1.55 78.6 15.2 8.1 18,025 37.1 India 134 0.644 1.24 67.7 12.6…

Market indicators are a series of technical indicators used by traders to predict the direction of the major financial indexes. Most market indicators are created by analyzing the number of companies that have reached new highs relative to the number that created new lows, also known as market breadth. FINANCIAL MARKET IN PAKISTAN Pakistan: Currency Rate As Per Open Market (Feb 25, 2025) Currency Symbol Buying Selling Australian Dollar AUD 179 181.25 Bahrain Dinar BHD 738.35 746.35 Canadian Dollar CAD 197.6 200 China Yuan CNY 37.59 37.99 Danish Krone DKK 38.48 38.88 Euro EUR 292.75 295.5 Hong Kong Dollar HKD…

Most Gulf stocks ease on weak earnings Most stock markets in the Gulf fell in early trade on Tuesday due to lacklustre earnings and concerns about U.S. investment curbs on China. U.S. President Donald Trump ordered to restrict Chinese investments in strategic areas such as chips, artificial intelligence and aerospace. Also weighing on sentiment was Trump’s indication that proposed tariffs on Mexico and Canada were still set to start next week, although investors had hoped negotiations would forestall the threat. Saudi Arabia’s benchmark stock index dropped 0.5 percent, with ACWA Power Company retreating 3.2 percent. ACWA Power reported annual profit…

Stock Market Indexes Details Date Level Ch. This Week ch. Mon. ch. Ann. ch. YTD HANG SENG [+] 02/25/2025 23,015.75 -1.40% -1.97% 14.70% 37.61% 14.73% BUX [+] 02/24/2025 86,635.86 -1.57% -1.57% 1.72% 30.75% 9.21% ICEX [+] 02/24/2025 2,365.80 -1.45% -1.45% -3.96% 4.15% -0.96% NIFTY [+] 02/24/2025 22,553.35 -1.06% -1.06% -2.33% 1.53% -4.72% JCI Jakarta [+] 02/25/2025 6,585.94 -2.42% -3.19% -8.10% -9.72% -6.98% TA-35 [+] 02/24/2025 2,463.64 -2.03% -2.03% -2.15% 28.68% 2.87% ASE Amman [+] 02/24/2025 2,592.38 -0.21% -0.21% -1.73% 5.16% 4.16% KASE [+] 02/25/2025 5,593.94 -0.24% -0.26% -2.30% 18.61% 0.28% KSW Kuwait [+] 02/24/2025 8,693.06 0.03% 0.03% 6.47% 6.95% 10.90%…

CPI Countries Countries Date CPI Interannual Accum. since January United States [+] January 2025 3.0% 0.7% United Kingdom [+] January 2025 3.0% -0.2% Germany [+] January 2025 2.3% -0.2% France [+] January 2025 1.4% -0.1% Japan [+] January 2025 4.0% 0.5% Spain [+] January 2025 2.9% 0.2% Italy [+] January 2025 1.5% 0.6% Portugal [+] January 2025 2.5% -0.5% Greece [+] January 2025 2.7% -0.7% Ireland [+] January 2025 1.9% -0.7% Andorra [+] January 2025 2.7% -0.3% Armenia [+] January 2025 1.7% 1.4% Angola [+] January 2025 26.5% 1.7% Argentina [+] January 2025 84.5% 2.2% Austria [+] December 2024 2.0%…

Bangladesh’s economy stabilising on exports and remittances Bangladesh’s economy has gradually been recovering from political instability and a banking loan scam, according to a review by the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI). “Exports posted robust growth during the period as did the earnings from remittance inflows. The slide experienced by the foreign exchange reserves was halted, and the exchange rate of Bangladeshi Taka (BDT) against US dollars stabilised, although some volatility in the reserve position continues to persist,” said the review. Improved trade and current account balance, along with the overall balance of payments situation, have allowed for…

Ukraine’s dry bulk exports surge Three years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a dramatic shift in Black Sea shipping patterns has emerged, with Ukraine’s dry bulk shipments surging 87 percent year-over-year despite ongoing regional tensions, according to shipping industry association BIMCO. The remarkable recovery stems from Ukraine’s successful implementation of a coastal corridor initiative launched in August 2023, follow Russia’s withdrawal from the UN-brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative. Despite Russian attacks on vessels in September and October 2023, this alternative route has proven effective, though overall volumes remain 36 percent below pre-war levels, BIMCO says. “Three years after Russia’s invasion…

Ukraine’s natural resources are at centre stage in the ongoing war Three years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the world now knows the exact price for American military support of Ukraine. During a recent interview with Fox News, United States President Donald Trump put a $500 billion price tag on American aid to the war-torn country. But there was a catch: the exchange should be made in the form of Ukraine’s valuable natural resources, including rare earth minerals. “We have to get something. We can’t continue to pay this money,” Trump said in the interview. OGDCL boosts daily oil production…

Elon greatest motivational speeches and powerful lessons on life Elon Musk is one of the greatest minds alive on our planet and here is one of his greatest motivational speeches ever. His name is probably going to be remembered along Einstein, Tesla, and the likes. The amazing thing is that he’s just not a great engineer, but also an equally great entrepreneur. He has disrupted multiple industries at once – the automotive industry, the oil industry, the aerospace industry, the military-industrial complex the energy utilities – and he’s actually succeeding at all of them. This Elon Musk motivational speech teaches…

Raast and mobile banking systems processed record transactions, driving Pakistan’s digital payment growth The economists recorded that Pakistan stands at a promising crossroads to target growth 2.0. The year 2025, marking the second quarter of the incumbent International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, begins on a stronger footing. Even the exchange rate shows newfound stability, steady at Rs 278 to the dollar. Presently as per the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Pakistan has a well-developed digital payments ecosystem comprising of a well-functioning real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system, a state of the art instant payment system, Raast, 24/7 online digital payment…

Country’s IT sector thrives, generating billions in exports and attracting international investment for future growth According to the Ministry of Finance, the 2023 Global Services Location Index by Kearney ranks Pakistan as the world’s most financially attractive IT outsourcing destination. Additionally, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has identified Pakistan as the second most significant supplier of digital labour in software development and technology services. The third most significant digital labour supplier includes clerical and data entry services, creative and multimedia services, professional services, sales and marketing support services, software development and technology services, and writing and translation services. In addition,…

Pakistan: Advances Classified By Securities/ Borrowers Details Outstanding Amount in Billion Rs. Security/ Borrower December-2024P Foreign Banks Private Sector Banks Public Sector Banks Specialized Banks All Banks 1. Foreign Constituents – 8.2 0.2 – 8.4 2. Domestic Constituents 414.6 12,354.1 2,688.4 140.9 15,598.1 I. Government 362.1 1,077.1 255.2 – 1,694.4 II. Non-Financial Public Sector Enterprises (NFPSE) – 1,041.7 540.4 – 1,582.2 III. Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NBFIs) – 1,615.1 215.0 0.1 1,830.3 IV. Private Sector (Business) 52.1 7,672.5 1,380.2 138.0 9,242.8 i. Gold Bullion, Gold, And Silver Ornaments, Precious Metals – 2.6 91.0 – 93.6 ii. Securities, Shares And Other…

Market indicators are a series of technical indicators used by traders to predict the direction of the major financial indexes. Most market indicators are created by analyzing the number of companies that have reached new highs relative to the number that created new lows, also known as market breadth. FINANCIAL MARKET IN PAKISTAN Pakistan: Currency Rate As Per Open Market (Feb 06, 2025) Currency Symbol Buying Selling Australian Dollar AUD 175.75 178 Bahrain Dinar BHD 738.6 746.6 Canadian Dollar CAD 195.6 198 China Yuan CNY 37.59 37.99 Danish Krone DKK 38.06 38.46 Euro EUR 290 292.75 Hong Kong Dollar HKD…

Saudi Arabia stocks higher at close of trade Saudi Arabia stock were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Real Estate Development, Cement and Energy & Utilities sectors led shares higher. At the close in Saudi Arabia, the Tadawul All Share gained 0.15 percent. The best performers of the session on the Tadawul All Share were Al Masane Al Kobra Mining Company CJSC, which rose 7.49 percent or 4.80 points to trade at 68.90 at the close. Meanwhile, Thimar Development Holding Co added 5.76 percent or 3.10 points to end at 56.90 and Makkah Construction&Development Co was…

Stock Market Indexes Details Date Level Ch. This Week ch. Mon. ch. Ann. ch. YTD BUX [+] 02/05/2025 84,192.98 -0.88% -1.52% 5.54% 29.87% 6.13% ICEX [+] 02/05/2025 2,436.12 -0.42% -1.23% 0.89% 5.79% 1.98% NIFTY [+] 02/05/2025 23,696.30 -0.18% 0.91% -1.28% 8.84% 0.11% JCI Jakarta [+] 02/06/2025 6,864.32 -2.28% -3.44% -3.05% -5.29% -3.05% TA-35 [+] 02/05/2025 2,508.99 1.34% 2.46% 3.91% 37.92% 4.76% ASE Amman [+] 02/06/2025 2,603.66 -0.23% -0.47% 1.67% 5.91% 4.62% KASE [+] 02/06/2025 5,541.71 -0.21% -1.82% -2.41% 27.64% -0.65% KSW Kuwait [+] 02/05/2025 8,442.90 -0.11% 1.10% 7.05% 6.43% 7.71% KSE Kyrgyz [+] 02/05/2025 4,615.69 -1.16% -0.08% 13.30% 71.24% 13.30%…

CPI Countries Countries Date CPI Interannual Accum. since January United States [+] December 2024 2.9% 2.9% United Kingdom [+] December 2024 2.5% 2.6% Germany [+] December 2024 2.6% 2.6% France [+] January 2025 1.4% -0.1% Japan [+] December 2024 3.7% 3.7% Spain [+] January 2025 3.0% 0.2% Italy [+] January 2025 1.5% 0.6% Portugal [+] December 2024 3.0% 3.0% Greece [+] December 2024 2.6% 2.6% Ireland [+] December 2024 1.4% 1.4% Andorra [+] December 2024 2.6% 2.6% Armenia [+] December 2024 0.3% 1.5% Angola [+] December 2024 27.5% 27.5% Argentina [+] December 2024 117.8% 117.8% Austria [+] December 2024 2.0%…

Asia-pacific office market faces headwinds The Asia-Pacific office market experienced a challenging year in 2024, with prime rents resuming their decline after a brief period of stability. Global consultancy Knight Frank’s Asia-Pacific Prime Office Rental Index for Q4 2024 shows a 1.6 percent drop in prime office rents over the full year, an improvement from the 2.4 percent decrease observed in 2023. Despite the overall trend of declining prime rents in Asia-Pacific, 16 out of 23 monitored cities reported stable or increasing rents year-on-year, with Australian cities and Japan showing particular resilience. Australian markets are projected to see some of…

Ships for America In early February, for the past 30 years, New York’s shipping elite have gathered at what is known as the “HACC NACC” event, a one-day conference arranged jointly by the Hellenic American and Norwegian American Chambers of Commerce. Not surprisingly, matters related to National Security and Economic Protectionism dominated the 202 program- titled “Staying Afloat in a Dangerous World”. The tone for the day was set by the Keynote Address Senator Mark Kelly (Democrat – Arizona), delivered virtually due to “a lot of things going on in Washington DC”, in the words of Dan Tadros, Chief Operating…

Tea production falls amid bad weather After a record high output in 2023, the country’s tea production declined last year because of unfavourable weather conditions and tea estates opting for quality improvement to secure better rates. Tea production stood at 9.30 crore kilogrammes in 2024, down from 10.2 crore kilogrammes the previous year, according to the Bangladesh Tea Board (BTB). Pijush Dutta, a member of research and development at the BTB, said the decline was mainly due to erratic rainfall last year, which made weather conditions unsuitable for tea cultivation. The tea industry in Bangladesh dates back 184 years. Most…

Matthew Boulton; a success story of entrepreneur Matthew Boulton was a pioneer in manufacturing, he was far from wealthy; his father was a toy maker at the time of his birth. Matthew attended a local school and upon leaving; he joined his father’s business. At the age of 21yrs Matthew married Mary Robinson the daughter of a wealthy Mercer (Mercer; a silk, linen and fustian textile merchant). Eventually he took charge of his father’s business (1757) When his father died, he later gained interest in precious metals; leaving behind the toy trade altogether. With a new trade under his belt…

Govt’s measures, initiatives to combat hazardous pollution levels in Lahore, other districts Government officials in Pakistan acknowledge that the country faces a severe air pollution crisis, with some urban areas enduring hazardous pollution levels year-round. Children are particularly vulnerable to air and water pollution, which can lead to lifelong health issues, including diseases, disabilities, cognitive impairments, and even death. In highly urbanized cities like Lahore, Karachi, and Peshawar, over a million people face an elevated risk of premature mortality due to air pollution. The United Nations has warned that highly polluted air in Pakistan’s most populous province, Punjab, is posing…

OECD and FAO predict 13% rise in global cereal production by 2027 to meet population demand No doubt, agriculture can help reduce poverty, raise incomes and improve food security for 80 per cent of the world’s poor, who live in rural areas and work mainly in farming. The World Bank Group is a leading financier of agriculture. Agricultural development is one of the most powerful tools to end extreme poverty, boost shared prosperity, and feed a projected 10 billion people by 2050. An increase in the population creates more demand for food. According to the Agricultural Outlook by the Organization…

World Hunger By The Numbers 1. The world produces enough food to feed all of its 8 billion people, yet 733 million people (1 in 11) go hungry every day. 2. Hunger rates in Africa are especially high, with 1 out of 5 people going hungry each day. 3. 2.8 billion people around the world cannot afford a healthy diet — 35% of the global population. 4. In low-income countries, 71.5% of people cannot afford a healthy diet. In high-income countries, that figure drops to 6.3%. 5. According to the 2024 Global Hunger Index, hunger levels are ranked Serious in…

Market indicators are a series of technical indicators used by traders to predict the direction of the major financial indexes. Most market indicators are created by analyzing the number of companies that have reached new highs relative to the number that created new lows, also known as market breadth. FINANCIAL MARKET IN PAKISTAN Pakistan: Currency Rate As Per Open Market (Jan 17, 2025) Currency Symbol Buying Selling Australian Dollar AUD 173.75 176 Bahrain Dinar BHD 739.1 747.1 Canadian Dollar CAD 195.6 198 China Yuan CNY 37.59 37.99 Danish Krone DKK 37.97 38.37 Euro EUR 287.75 290.5 Hong Kong Dollar HKD…

Most Gulf markets gain on hopes of fed rate cut Most stock markets in the Gulf rose in early trade on Thursday, as softer US core inflation data maintained the possibility of future interest rate reductions by the Federal Reserve. Data showed on Wednesday the US consumer price index (CPI) rose 2.9 percent year on year in December, meeting expectations, while core inflation increased by 3.2 percent, marginally below the predicted 3.3 percent. Investors drew encouragement from the inflation data, which was further bolstered by Tuesday’s release of US producer price data showing moderate growth in December. Monetary policy in…

Stock Market Indexes Details Date Level Ch. This Week ch. Mon. ch. Ann. ch. YTD HANG SENG [+] 01/16/2025 19,522.89 1.23% 2.41% -1.38% 23.05% -2.68% BUX [+] 01/16/2025 84,091.42 0.19% 2.85% 5.48% 32.86% 6.01% ICEX [+] 01/16/2025 2,457.13 1.04% 0.19% 4.59% 12.12% 2.86% NIFTY [+] 01/16/2025 23,350.50 0.53% -0.35% -5.27% 5.98% -1.35% JCI Jakarta [+] 01/16/2025 7,107.52 0.39% 0.26% -2.08% -1.87% 0.39% TA-35 [+] 01/16/2025 2,525.39 0.41% 3.07% 7.72% 38.40% 5.45% ASE Amman [+] 01/16/2025 2,625.13 0.47% 1.51% 8.06% 6.20% 5.48% KASE [+] 01/16/2025 5,759.54 -0.22% -0.30% 3.69% 32.28% 3.25% KSW Kuwait [+] 01/15/2025 8,009.66 0.07% 0.46% 2.22% 0.28% 2.18%…

CPI Countries Countries Date CPI Interannual Accum. since January United States [+] December 2024 2.9% 2.9% United Kingdom [+] December 2024 2.5% 2.6% Germany [+] December 2024 2.6% 2.6% France [+] December 2024 1.4% 1.4% Japan [+] November 2024 2.9% 3.0% Spain [+] December 2024 2.8% 2.8% Italy [+] December 2024 1.3% 1.3% Portugal [+] December 2024 3.0% 3.0% Greece [+] December 2024 2.6% 2.6% Ireland [+] November 2024 1.0% 0.5% Andorra [+] December 2024 2.6% 2.6% Armenia [+] December 2024 0.3% 1.5% Angola [+] December 2024 27.5% 27.5% Argentina [+] December 2024 117.8% 117.8% Austria [+] November 2024 1.9%…

In some economies, international studies analyzed, such as Australia and Japan, what spending growth there was in 2024 was almost entirely due to inflation. In 2025, battered consumers will be more likely to open their wallets as inflation continues to come down in response to the recent interest rate hike cycle. The rebound will only be moderate, however: The high level of prices will still register strongly in consumer psyches, even if the rate of inflation drops. Inflation will notably ease in the Philippines and India, as long as the good harvests that are expected materialize. This will have the…

In Venezuela false flag shadow tanker detained The Maritime Authority in Guyana is confirming media reports that a tanker being detained in Venezuela was flying a false flag and not legitimately linked to Guyana. The Venezuelan military authorities reportedly detained the vessel over the weekend for sailing in the country’s waters without permission. According to the Venezuelan newspaper Ultimas Noticias, the incident occurred on January 12 at the port of Guamache on Margarita Island, which sits about 25 miles off the coast of Venezuela. The authorities inspected the vessel and ordered the detention claiming the vessel was “not authorized to…

Global oil demand Global oil demand rose seasonally in 4Q24, posting robust annual growth of 1.5 mb/d – the strongest level since 4Q23 and 260 kb/d higher than our previous forecast. Lower fuel prices, colder weather across the Northern Hemisphere and abundant petrochemical feedstocks all combined to boost consumption. Annual growth is now assessed at 940 kb/d for 2024, accelerating to 1.05 mb/d in 2025 as the economic outlook improves marginally. China makes major breakthroughs in minerals related The Ministry of Natural Resources announced on Tuesday that driven by a new round of strategic initiatives aimed at breakthroughs in mineral…

Powerful emotional speech by bill gates Truly speaking, success is everyone’s mission. Life is full of challenges and opportunities, but only for those who actually struggle to grab the opportunities and overcome the challenges. Hard work and dedication are required in the journey to success. Without being passionate and the willingness to work hard, no one can achieve success. There can be several occasions when you may have to deliver Speech on Success in your life such as School, College and University levels. Title: ‘There Is More To Life Than Work’: Bill Gates Delivers Emotional Message To Graduates About Learning…

IEA projects solar PV to become the world’s largest electricity source, reaching 4.7 terawatts by 2050 Women represent 40% of the solar PV workforce, significantly higher than other renewable and energy sectors According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), renewable capacity will meet 35 per cent of global power generation by 2025. The IEA foresees solar PV to reach 4.7 terawatts (4,674 GW) by 2050 in its high-renewable scenario, of which greater than half will be deployed in China and India, making solar power the world’s largest source of electricity. This growth is expected to continue, with IEA projecting that…