Author: S. Kamal Hayder Kazmi

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]n economic indicator is a statistic about an economic activity. Economic indicators allow analysis of economic performance and predictions of future performance. Economic indicators include various indices, earnings reports, and economic summaries. [ads2] [padding right=”15%” left=”15%”][/padding][tie_list type=”plus”] PAKISTAN – ECONOMIC INDICATORS Overview Last Reference Previous Currency 105 Nov/17 105 Stock Market 40502 points Nov/17 40592 Government Bond 10Y 7.93 % Nov/17 7.93 GDP Annual Growth Rate 5.28 % Dec/16 4.58 GDP 284 USD Billion Dec/16 271 GDP Constant Prices 11777600 PKR Million Dec/16 11138200 Gross National Product 12465443 PKR Million Dec/16 11687052 Gross Fixed Capital Formation 1647268 PKR Million…

PAKISTAN MARKET INDICATOR EXCHANGE RATES Currency Activity Friday 6-Oct Friday 13-Oct Friday 20-Oct Friday 28-Oct Thurs 9-Nov Friday 17-Nov DOLLAR Buying 106.6 107.2 107.3 107.25 107.6 107.4 Selling 106.9 107.5 107.6 107.55 107.9 107.7 POUND Buying 139.5 141.5 141 140.5 141.25 141.5 Selling 141.25 143.25 142.75 142.25 143 143.25 EURO Buying 124.5 126.25 126.25 125 124.5 126.25 Selling 125.7 127.45 127.45 126.2 125.7 127.45 CANADIAN $ Buying 85 85 85.4 83.5 84.3 84.25 Selling 85.85 85.85 86.25 84.35 85.15 85.1 JAP YEN Buying 0.91 0.92 0.91 0.9 0.9 0.91 Selling 0.94 0.95 0.94 0.93 0.93 0.94 HK $ Buying 13.35…

OUTSTANDING DOMESTIC DEBT – (Rs. in billion) Details 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014(P) 2015(P) 2016(P) Floating Debt 2,399.1 3,235.4 4,143.1 5,196.2 4,610.9 4,612.6 4,964.5 Treasury Bills through Auction 1,274.1 1,817.6 2,383.4 2,921.0 1,758.6 2,331.3 2,689.6 Rollover of Treasury Bills discounted SBP 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Market Related Treasury Bills (MRTBs) 1,124.4 1,417.3 1,759.2 2,274.7 2,851.8 2,280.9 2,061.7 Bai Muajjal – – – – – – 212.6 Unfunded Debt 1,457.5 1,655.8 1,798.0 2,146.5 2,303.8 2,570.3 2,666.6 Defence Savings Certificates 224.7 234.5 241.8 271.7 284.6 300.8 305.7 Khas Deposit Certificates and Accounts 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6…

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he people of Pakistan mostly want to perform and adopt lifestyles from the other part of the world, specially the Western countries because most of them lived there such as USA, UK, Canada, Middle East, Australia and also the Scandinavian nations, studies revealed. As a results, these emigrants and their children totally influence to their cultural and society. It is said that Pakistani culture comprises of dissimilar cultures beginning from the Sindhis and Punjabis to the tribal cultures of the eastern most Pakistani regions. It is said that these cultures have powerfully been influenced by surrounding cultures of Central Asia,…

[dropcap]M[/dropcap]any educators state that studying in the same-sex education system makes a person lack in self-confidence. However, co-education builds confidence in students and makes them a complete person to live globally is the international set of norm of education. There are very few people who criticize the co-education system by many logics and precedents. In co-education environments students have more opportunity for learning and increase their skills also. We know that it is a modern concept and was first introduced in Switzerland but later on it spread globally. Educators in the different international or local conferences have mentioned that having…

US SHARES RETREAT AS MARKET PONDERS TAX CUT PROSPECTS Wall Street stocks fell early Friday, pausing after the prior session’s rally as investors tried to fuss out the prospects for President Donald Trump’s tax cut plan. The House of Representatives, as expected on Thursday approved its version of the tax reform legislation, while a key Senate panel cleared a different version. However, the path to a majority is considered much tougher in the upper chamber of Congress than in the House. Leading analysts vary in their assessment of the odds that Washington will ultimately succeed in passing the measure. About…

[dropcap]M[/dropcap]ANAGING ONESELF: REVOLUTION IN SOCIETY MANAGING ONESELF IS BASED ON THESE REALITIES: WORKERS ARE LIKELY TO OUTLIVE ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE KNOWLEDGE WORKER HAS MOBILITY. Managing oneself is a REVOLUTION in human affairs. It requires new and unprecedented things from the individual, and especially from the knowledge worker. For, in effect, it demands that each knowledge worker think and behave as a chief executive officer. It also requires an almost 180-degree change in the knowledge workers’ thoughts and actions from what most of us still take for granted as the way to think and the way to act. The shift from…

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]n economic indicator is a statistic about an economic activity. Economic indicators allow analysis of economic performance and predictions of future performance. Economic indicators include various indices, earnings reports, and economic summaries. [ads2] [padding right=”15%” left=”15%”][/padding][tie_list type=”plus”] PAKISTAN – ECONOMIC INDICATORS Overview Last Reference Previous Unemployment Rate 5.9 % Dec/16 5.9 Inflation Rate 3.8 % Oct/17 3.86 Interest Rate 5.75 % Oct/17 5.75 Balance of Trade -320278 PKR Million Oct/17 -294709 Government Debt to GDP 66.5 % Dec/16 63.2 MARKETS Currency 105 Nov/17 105 Stock Market 40817 points Nov/17 40663 Government Bond 10Y 7.93 % Nov/17 7.93 GDP GDP Annual…

PAKISTAN MARKET INDICATOR EXCHANGE RATES Currency Activity Thursday 28-Sep Friday 6-Oct Friday 13-Oct Friday 20-Oct Friday 28-Oct Thurs 9-Nov DOLLAR Buying 106.6 106.6 107.2 107.3 107.25 107.6 Selling 106.9 106.9 107.5 107.6 107.55 107.9 POUND Buying 141.5 139.5 141.5 141 140.5 141.25 Selling 143.25 141.25 143.25 142.75 142.25 143 EURO Buying 124.25 124.5 126.25 126.25 125 124.5 Selling 125.45 125.7 127.45 127.45 126.2 125.7 CANADIAN $ Buying 84.5 85 85 85.4 83.5 84.3 Selling 85.35 85.85 85.85 86.25 84.35 85.15 JAP YEN Buying 0.91 0.91 0.92 0.91 0.9 0.9 Selling 0.94 0.94 0.95 0.94 0.93 0.93 HK $ Buying 13.4…

INTEREST RATES IN PAKISTAN (%) Month SBP Reverse Repo Rate SBP Repo Rate SBP Policy (Target) Rate 11-Feb-13 9.50 7.00 – 24-Jun-13 9.00 6.50 – 16-Sep-13 9.50 7.00 – 18-Nov-13 10.00 7.50 – 17-Nov-14 9.50 7.00 – 26-Jan-15 8.50 6.00 – 24-Mar-15 8.00 5.50 – 25-May-15 7.00 5.00 6.50 14-Sep-15 6.50 4.50 6.00 23-May-16 till date 6.25 4.25 5.75 [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] DEMOGRAPHIC INDICATORS OF PAKISTAN Details 2017 Total Population (Million) 199.1 Urban Population (Million) 80.72 Rural Population (Million) 118.38 Total Fertility Rate (TFR) 3.0 Crude Birth Rate (Per thousand) 25.2 Crude Death Rate (Per thousand) 6.60 Population Growth…

[dropcap]R[/dropcap]oad accidents are very common in developing countries especially in Pakistan and the situation has become worsened day by day. Experts have mentioned in the different research reports that that mostly they (accidents) are caused by different factors such as careless driving, traffic rules violation, bad roads and faulty old vehicles. The Government of Pakistan should explore the factors that may helpful in the controlling of traffic rules violation and mitigation of road traffic accidents. The Government of Pakistan should also start effective awareness programs regarding traffic safety rules and also determine the effectiveness of law enforcement to control the…

[dropcap]R[/dropcap]ice is very famous commodity and ranks second among the staple food grain crops in Pakistan. Pakistan grows a relatively high quality of rice to fulfill domestic and export demand and even by this product the country earns large size of foreign exchange earnings. Researchers calculate that it accounts for 3.1 percent of the value added in agriculture and 0.6 percent of GDP. They also revealed that we have only two major rice-producing provinces such as; Sindh and Punjab. These provinces account for greater than 88 percent of total rice production. Due to its agro-climatic and soil presentations, Punjab is…

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]nternational studies revealed that approximately 80 percent of the world’s total proven natural gas reserves are placed in ten nations. Russia tops the list, holding about a quarter of world’s total gas reserves then comes Iran and Qatar. It has also been revealed that the worldwide natural gas consumption grew by 1.5 percent (63 bcm), quite a bit feebler than its ten years average (2.3 %); while worldwide gas production was basically flat (0.3 %), the weakest growth in gas output for thirty four year, other than in the immediate aftermath of the financial crisis. This sub-par growth went hand-in-hand…

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]ince 2000, the worldwide economic situation has been characterized by large global imbalances, in mainly elevated surpluses in the rapidly industrializing Asian states (notably China) and in northern Europe (Germany), paired with a large deficit in US. As the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has presently recorded in its 2017 external sector report, the persistence of large current account surpluses has been a previously unusual feature of the worldwide economy over the last 15 years. The IMF recorded that of 15 advanced states that had external surpluses during 2002, 12 still had them in 2008 and 11 still had them during…

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]ccording to latest World Bank report, Pakistan’s economy has the highest growth rate in the last ten years but considers corruption the major hurdle in ending extreme poverty. Corruption challenges the country has been facing since many years. The economic managers also revealed that country’s economy will be the top in the next 30 years if the Government of Pakistan comes successful in getting rid of corruption. No doubt, Pakistan is a developing state for which the eradication of corruption has become the voice of whole nation for its development. The Global Competitiveness Report 2017-18 also identifies corruption as the…

GULF MARKETS REBOUND A BIT AFTER SLIDE BECAUSE OF SAUDI GRAFT INQUIRY Gulf stock markets rebounded slightly on Thursday after a jittery week in which most dropped because of concern about Saudi Arabia’s anti-corruption purge, which could reduce Saudi fund flows to the region. The Saudi stock index spent most of the day lower before closing 0.3 percent higher. Similar trading patterns were seen every day this week after authorities announced the arrest of dozens of senior officials and businessmen in the investigation and froze over 1,700 domestic bank accounts. Wealthy Saudi individuals, fearful that they could be implicated in…

OIL MARKETS SPRING BACK AS OPEC, RUSSIA SUPPORT Oil prices held steady on Thursday after falling late in the previous session, supported by ongoing supply cuts led by OPEC and Russia. Brent futures were at $63.66 per barrel at 0246 GMT, up 17 cents, or 0.3 percent, from their last close, but about $1 off the over two-year high of $64.65 a barrel reached earlier this week. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was at $56.94 per barrel, up 13 cents, or 0.2 percent, but also some way off this week’s more than two-year high of $57.69 a barrel. [divider…

BALTIC SEA FREIGHT INDEX RISES The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, rose on Wednesday, mainly driven by increased rates for capesize vessels. The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize shipping vessels, rose 9 points, or 0.61 percent, to 1,486 points. The capesize index was up 158 points, or 5.1 percent, at 3,259 points, its highest percentage increase in over a month. Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 150,000-tonne cargoes such as iron ore and coal, rose $983 to $21,980. [divider style=”normal” top=”20″…

[dropcap]B[/dropcap]ALANCE CONTINUITY AND CHANGE PRECISELY BECAUSE CHANGE IS A CONSTANT, THE FOUNDATIONS HAVE TO BE EXTRA STRONG. The more an institution is organized to be a change leader, the more it will need to establish continuity internally and externally, the more it will need to balance rapid change and continuity. One way is to make partnership in change the basis of continuing relationships. Balancing change and continuity requires continuous work on information. Nothing disrupts continuity and corrupts relationships more than poor or unreliable information. It has to become routine for any enterprise to ask at any change, even the most…

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]n economic indicator is a statistic about an economic activity. Economic indicators allow analysis of economic performance and predictions of future performance. Economic indicators include various indices, earnings reports, and economic summaries. [ads2] [padding right=”15%” left=”15%”][/padding][tie_list type=”plus”] PAKISTAN – ECONOMIC INDICATORS Overview Last Reference Previous Unemployment Rate 5.9 % Dec/16 5.9 Inflation Rate 3.8 % Oct/17 3.86 Interest Rate 5.75 % Oct/17 5.75 Balance of Trade -294709 PKR Million Sep/17 -325042 Government Debt to GDP 66.5 % Dec/16 63.2 MARKETS Currency 105 Nov/17 105 Stock Market 41243 points Nov/17 41031 Government Bond 10Y 8.2 % Nov/17 8.2 GDP GDP Annual…

PAKISTAN MARKET INDICATOR EXCHANGE RATES Currency activity Friday 22-Sep Thursday 28-Sep Friday 6-Oct Friday 13-Oct Friday 20-Oct Friday 28-Oct DOLLAR Buying 106.7 106.6 106.6 107.2 107.3 107.25 Selling 107 106.9 106.9 107.5 107.6 107.55 POUND Buying 142 141.5 139.5 141.5 141 140.5 Selling 143.75 143.25 141.25 143.25 142.75 142.25 EURO Buying 125 124.25 124.5 126.25 126.25 125 Selling 126.2 125.45 125.7 127.45 127.45 126.2 CANADIAN $ Buying 85 84.5 85 85 85.4 83.5 Selling 85.85 85.35 85.85 85.85 86.25 84.35 JAP YEN Buying 0.92 0.91 0.91 0.92 0.91 0.9 Selling 0.95 0.94 0.94 0.95 0.94 0.93 HK $ Buying 13.4…

COUNTRY WISE FDI INFLOWS IN PAKISTAN ($ Million) Country 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 (Jul-Sep) USA 468.3 238.1 227.7 227.1 212.1 223.9 13.2 71.1 22.4 UK 294.6 207.1 205.8 633 157 169.6 151.6 68.9 12.2 U.A.E 242.7 284.2 36.6 22.5 -47.1 213.6 109.7 55.8 22.1 Japan 26.8 3.2 29.7 30.1 30.1 71.1 35.4 45.2 13.3 Hong Kong 9.9 125.6 80.3 242.6 228.5 136.2 93.3 25 0 Switzerland 170.6 110.5 127.1 149 209.8 -6.5 58 16.9 0.6 Saudi Arabia -133.8 6.5 -79.9 3.2 -40.1 -64.8 24 1.9 0.2 Germany 53 21.2 27.2 5.5 -5.7 -18.2 -10.6 -5.2…

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n any state, tax revenues are the most effective way to grow country’s domestic resource mobilization efforts by which the state increases its income to meet compulsory public expenditures. I would like to mention here that the developing states face lower tax collection as compared to target amount because of inefficiencies in tax collection procedure. If we talk about Pakistan where many factors are identified that affect tax collection in the country. Because of some major issues such as political backwardness, poor economic development, undefined taxation strategies and unsuitable institutional capacity, the Government of Pakistan is still not successful to…

[dropcap]E[/dropcap]conomic leaders of Pakistan calculating that the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio has been growing since FY 2008 and even mentioned that the portion of total debt which has a direct charge on government revenues also the debt attained from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is defined as public debt. Public debt has two major components like; domestic debt and external debt. The Government of Pakistan has mentioned in its statement that the gross public debt was Rs20,873 billion as at end March 2017 while net public debt was Rs18,893 billion. Gross public debt registered a rise of Rs1,194 billion during first…

NASDAQ, S&P 500 AT FRESH RECORDS AFTER STRONG TECH EARNINGS The Nasdaq and S&P 500 powered to fresh records Friday following blowout earnings from Amazon and other tech giants and a bullish update from Apple on its latest smartphone. At the closing bell, the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index stood at 6,698.85, up 2.2 percent. The broad-based S&P 500 rose 0.8 percent to 2,581.09, also a finishing record, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.1 percent to 23,434.16. [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] DISAPPOINTING FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES DRAG PAKISTAN STOCKS DOWN The stock market succumbed to political noise on a day when…

GROWING TEA PRODUCTION IN BANGLADESH The move by the government to increase tea production as well as improve the conditions of the tea gardens is quite timely and, thus, most welcome. Tea industry, apparently a trouble-free production sector, is reportedly showing signs that warrant urgent and steadfast actions to sustain its very existence in the not-too-remote future. This is not to say that this promising sector has so long been left to its own fate. Some extension activities have taken place, newer technologies have also been introduced to some tea estates. But absence of required investment, lack of gas and…

ASIA OIL 180-CST CASH PREMIUMS PARE GAINS Cash premiums of Asia’s 180-cst high-sulphur fuel oil gave up gains made in the previous session as buying interest for the lower viscosity fuel oil dried up following a 2017 record volume of cargo deals for the fuel seen in the previous session, trade sources said. Liquidity in the front-month visco spread was also limited on Wednesday, keeping the swap price differential between the 180-cst and 380-cst fuel oils little changed, broking sources said.One cargo trade was reported in the Platts window, totaling 20,000 tons of 380-cst fuel oil. [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″]…

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]HE INFANT NEW VENTURE BUSINESS ARE NOT PAID TO REFORM CUSTOMERS. Above all, the people who are running a new venture need to spend time outside: in the marketplace, with customers, and with their own sales force, looking and listing. The new venture needs to build in systematic practices to remind itself that a “product” or a “service” is defined by the customer, not by the producer. It needs to work continuously on challenging itself in respect to the utility and value that its products or services contribute to customers. The greatest danger for the new venture is to “know…

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]n economic indicator is a statistic about an economic activity. Economic indicators allow analysis of economic performance and predictions of future performance. Economic indicators include various indices, earnings reports, and economic summaries. [ads2] [padding right=”15%” left=”15%”][/padding][tie_list type=”plus”] PAKISTAN – ECONOMIC INDICATORS Overview Last Reference Previous Unemployment Rate 5.9 % Dec/16 5.9 Inflation Rate 3.86 % Sep/17 3.41 Interest Rate 5.75 % Sep/17 5.75 Balance of Trade -294709 PKR Million Sep/17 -325042 Government Debt to GDP 66.5 % Dec/16 63.2 MARKETS Currency 105 Oct/17 105 Stock Market 41105 points Oct/17 41409 Government Bond 10Y 8.2 % Oct/17 8.2 GDP GDP Annual…

PAKISTAN MARKET INDICATOR EXCHANGE RATES Currency Activity Friday 15-Sep Friday 22-Sep Thursday 28-Sep Friday 6-Oct Friday 13-Oct Friday 20-Oct DOLLAR Buying 106.75 106.7 106.6 106.6 107.2 107.3 Selling 107.05 107 106.9 106.9 107.5 107.6 POUND Buying 142.25 142 141.5 139.5 141.5 141 Selling 144 143.75 143.25 141.25 143.25 142.75 EURO Buying 125.25 125 124.25 124.5 126.25 126.25 Selling 126.45 126.2 125.45 125.7 127.45 127.45 CANADIAN $ Buying 86 85 84.5 85 85 85.4 Selling 86.85 85.85 85.35 85.85 85.85 86.25 JAP YEN Buying 0.93 0.92 0.91 0.91 0.92 0.91 Selling 0.96 0.95 0.94 0.94 0.95 0.94 HK $ Buying 13.4…

CREDIT/LOANS CLASSIFIED BY BORROWERS (Million Rupees) (Outstanding position at the end of month) Description June-16 Sep-16 June-17 Sep-17P 1. Credit to Government Sector (A+B) 8,109,481 8,284,194 9,129,520 9,387,904 A. SBP Credit to Government Sector (Net) 1,454,173 2,010,749 2,338,844 2,537,888 B. Scheduled Banks Credit to Government Sector (Net) 6,655,308 6,273,445 6,790,676 6,850,015 2. Credit to Non Governmnet Sector (A+B) 4,953,192 4,868,585 6,038,125 6,016,574 A. SBP Credit to Non Govt. Sector 32,603 32,493 132,628 132,104 B. Scheduled Banks Credit to Non Govt.Sector (I+II+III) 4,920,590 4,836,092 5,905,497 5,884,471 I. Credit to PSEs 749,837 762,746 1,012,310 1,001,939 II. Credit to NBFIs 128,901 130,203 138,894…

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]nternational experts have revealed that the worldwide Islamic funds market gaining favorable prospects as several growth drivers are expecting to bring it to the next stage of development. They also estimate that global Islamic assets under management amounted to US$70.8 billion and the number of Islamic funds reached 1,5353 mark at the close of Q1 2017. It is to mention that Malaysia accounted for 28.5 percent of the total Islamic funds, followed by Saudi Arabia and Luxembourg with 15.3 percent and 13.9 percent respectively. It is believed that greater innovation and collaboration has served to boost the Islamic capital market…

[dropcap]V[/dropcap]arious researchers have revealed that the banking and financial sector progress is mandatory for economic development in any country. Pakistani banks are trying to promote capital formation, investment in new enterprises, promotion of trade and industry, savings, and development of agriculture. Presently banking adepts in Pakistan have also calculated that during January to March 2017, the volume and value of large value transactions processed through PRISM (Pakistan Real time Interbank Settlement Mechanism) system were 253,795 and Rs69.8 trillion respectively. These transactions identified a fall of 4.1 percent in volume and a rise of 20.1 percent in value as compared to…

OPTIMISTIC STREAK CONTINUES AT PSX The stock market continued to be on the positive streak and finished last trading day of the week on a positive note. The market witnessed directionless trading in early hours, however, when it resumed business after midday break, the index shot up. Investors bought stocks at attractive valuations, taking the benchmark index above 42,000-point barrier. At close, the benchmark KSE 100-share Index registered an increase of 529.82 points or 1.27 percent to finish at 42,087.89 points. The banking sector gained as United Bank (+0.87%) and MCB Bank (+2.03%) closed positive. Fauji Fertilizer Company announced its…

OIL MARKETS FIRM ON TIGHTER US PRODUCTION, OPEC CUT Oil prices were firm on Thursday, supported by ongoing supply cuts led by OPEC, tensions in the Middle East and lower production in the United States as a result of hurricane-enforced closures. Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, were at $58.25, up 10 cents, or 0.2 percent, from their last close. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $52.11 per barrel, up 7 cents, or 0.1 percent. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said late on Wednesday that crude inventories fell by 5.7 million barrels in…

MEDIUM RANGE FREIGHT RATES TOUCH YEAR LOW Freight rates for Medium Range tankers have dropped and are again teetering on the edge of year-low levels a few weeks into the fourth quarter, with over tonnage pervasive and the gasoline arbitrage route westwards unattractive to traders as US stocks keep building. While the arb to the US is deemed to be “marginally” open, according to a trader, other routes out of Northwest Europe, such as trips to West Africa and the Persian Gulf, have taken a fair bit of the gasoline trade so far in October. The UK Continent-US Atlantic coast…

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]RACTICE COMES FIRST DECISION MAKERS NEED TO FACTOR INTO THEIR PRESENT DECISIONS THE “FUTURE THAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED.” Decision makers – in government, in the universities, in business, in the labor unions, in churches – need to factor into their present decisions the future that has already happened. For this they need to know what events have already occurred that do not fit into their present-day assumptions, and thereby create new realities. Intellectuals and scholars tend to believe that ideas come first, which then lead to new political, social, economic, psychological realities. This does happen, but it is the exception.…

PAKISTAN TRADES (Million US $) Period Exports (BOP) Growth Rate Imports (BOP) Growth Rate Balance of Trade 1974-75 977.59596 -4.1287766 2114.1717 41.596028 -1136.5758 1975-76 1162.0909 18.872311 2139.3838 1.1925295 -977.29293 1976-77 1131.7172 -2.6137144 2418.0808 13.026974 -1286.3636 1977-78 1496.8687 32.265262 3174.0404 31.262793 -1677.1717 1978-79 1644.2424 9.8454687 3815.8586 20.220857 -2171.6162 1979-80 2340.8081 42.363927 4856.5657 27.273209 -2515.7576 1980-81 2798.5859 19.556399 5563.4343 14.554908 -2764.8485 1981-82 2316.068 -17.241488 5771.072 3.7321855 -3455.004 1982-83 2626.5526 13.405674 5617.5501 -2.6601974 -2990.9976 1983-84 2665.4084 1.479347 5990.3577 6.6364801 -3324.9493 1984-85 2457.6679 -7.7939462 6016.9329 0.4436323 -3559.265 1985-86 2942.9507 19.745663 6000.4012 -0.2747523 -3057.4505 1986-87 3488.0858 18.523417 5793.1782 -3.4534867 -2305.0924 1987-88 4361.3207 25.03479 6917.3383 19.404895…

[dropcap]R[/dropcap]ising international oil and other commodity prices remains a concern. These prices are predicted to move in upward direction, which would be affecting local inflation especially in Pakistan. However, given the rise in agriculture production and enough food supplies, stable exchange rate, effectual monetary policy, inflation is predicted to remain below the target of this fiscal year. Presently, the Government of Pakistan mentioned in its report that CPI (consumer price index) inflation general rose by 3.9 percent on year-on-year (YoY) basis in September 2017 as against to a rise of 3.4 percent in the last month and 3.9 percent in…

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he proper implementation of fiscal and monetary policy can help reduce cyclical fluctuations and be able for the economy of a country to progress its GDP (gross domestic products) in the world. Many foreign economists foresee the economy of Pakistan is increasingly becoming vulnerable to external shocks and funding crisis, although it stuck to its earlier growth forecast for the country of 5.5 percent for the current FY2018, while some experts have also mentioned that Pakistan’s growth has enhanced, but the present government needs to address fiscal and external sector vulnerabilities that have reappeared with the wider current account deficit,…

PSX TOUCHES THE LOWEST FOR 2017 The stock market underwent a relentless battering in the last trading session of the week on Friday as the benchmark index dropped to a record low for the year. Undermined by endless political drama and concern over the mounting trade deficit as well as persistently falling foreign reserves, the KSE-100 index dropped from the word go. It plunged almost 750 points and hit an intra-day low of 39,478.05 points. However, as trading began after the midday break, the index posted a decent recovery with investors coming forward to pick stocks at attractive valuations. Despite…

OIL PRICES SURGE ON CHINESE IMPORT BOOST AND MIDEAST TENSIONS Oil prices firmed on Friday as bullish news from strong Chinese oil imports to turmoil in the Middle East put Brent on track for a more than 3 percent weekly gain. The developments added to other signs that the market was finally rebalancing after years of excess. Brent LCOc1 was at $57.42 at 1139 GMT, up $1.17. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 was at $51.59 per barrel, up 99 cents from its last settlement. The contracts were on track for weekly gains of more than 3 percent and…

MAQTA GATEWAY, A DIGITAL PLATFORM LAUNCHED Abu Dhabi Ports has launched Maqta Gateway, a digital platform which provides digital services to different entities including shipping agents, traders, freight forwarders, custom brokers among others to boost trade and efficiency. The new system was inaugurated in the presence of Shaikh Hamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court last Tuesday. Maqta Gateway provides customers with all the information they need about their transactions any time and from anywhere in the world. It provides customers with all the information they need about their transactions any time and from anywhere…

[dropcap]L[/dropcap]ONG-RANGE PLANNING THE FUTURE REQUIRES NOT JUST HAPPEN IF ONE WISHES HARD ENOUGH. The future requires decisions – now. It imposes risk – now. It requires action – now. It demands allocation of resources, and above all, of human resources – now. It requires work – now. The idea of long-range planning – and much of its reality – rests on a number of misunderstandings. The long range is largely made by short-run decisions. Unless the long range is built into, and based on, short-range plans and decisions, the most elaborate long-range plan will be an exercise in futility. And…

PAKISTAN MARKET INDICATOR EXCHANGE RATES CURRENCY ACTIVITY Friday 25-Aug Friday 8-Sep Friday 15-Sep Friday 22-Sep Thursday 28-Sep Friday 6-Oct DOLLAR Buying 107.55 107.35 106.75 106.7 106.6 106.6 Selling 107.85 107.65 107.05 107 106.9 106.9 POUND Buying 135.25 137.5 142.25 142 141.5 139.5 Selling 137 139.25 144 143.75 143.25 141.25 EURO Buying 124.25 126.5 125.25 125 124.25 124.5 Selling 125.45 127.7 126.45 126.2 125.45 125.7 CANADIAN $ Buying 83.5 86.5 86 85 84.5 85 Selling 84.35 87.35 86.85 85.85 85.35 85.85 JAP YEN Buying 0.95 0.96 0.93 0.92 0.91 0.91 Selling 0.98 0.99 0.96 0.95 0.94 0.94 HK $ Buying 13.4…

PAKISTAN’S TOP 10 RICHEST BUSINESSMEN IN 2017 1) Shahid Khan 2) Mian Muhammad Mansha 3) Asif Ali Zardari 4) Sir Anwar Pervez O.B.E 5) Nawaz Sharif 6) Sadruddin Hashwani 7) Malik Riaz Hussain 8) Nasir Schon 9) Abdul Razzak Yaqoob 10) Tariq Saigol [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] DOMINANT BUSINESS WOMEN OF PAKISTAN 1. Jehan Ara 2. Marium Afzal 3. Saba Gul 4. Roshaneh Zafar 5. Shahnaz Wazir Ali 6. Maria Umar 7. Saniya Waqar Shaffi 8. Ambarine Bukharey 9. Ms. Alia Khan 10. Kalsoom Lakhani 11- Rabia Garib 12- Sabeen Mahmood 13- Salaina Haroon 14- Samina Fazil 15- Nida Farid…

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]akistan State Oil (PSO), is the largest oil marketing company and is continuing to supply greater than its market share to ensure an uninterrupted availability of petroleum products in the entire country. Despite all the issues on liquidity front, the Company is providing its customers with fuel for transportation, energy for heat and light, retail services and petrochemicals products for industrial and individual needs. PSO’s after tax profitability has risen by Rs3.3 billion in FY 2016 as against to FY 2015. This rise was mostly because of: fall in finance cost by Rs3.9 billion on account of reduction in borrowing…

[dropcap]E[/dropcap]conomists believed that the brokerage companies run in competitive industry in which trading activities can be really impacted by the sustaining economic environment and business cycles. They also mention that the index volume can also be highly affected by event risk, especially resulting from regulatory and political developments of any country. Such factors can lead to greater volatility in earnings and productivity/profitability relative to other industries. The regulatory structure for broker companies, besides being a statutory requirement also is as significant for offering financier protection and curbing risk factors; strict adherence to the same is considered essential. In addition to…

PAKISTAN STOCKS TAKE A BREATHER AS INDEX RISES MARGINALLY The trading session provided some respite to the battered stock exchange despite volatile trading on Thursday with value buying in the opening and closing hours overcoming selling pressure to take the market up a notch. Ongoing political uncertainty also continued to dent investor interest amid thin trading in stocks listed on the KSE-100 index. At close, the benchmark KSE-100 index registered a rise of 7.49 points or 0.02 percent to stand at 40,468.49. Overall, trading volumes fell to 150 million shares compared with Wednesday’s tally of 192 million. Shares of 386…

OIL STABILIZES ON PREDICTIONS OF EXTENDED OUTPUT CUT, BUT US CRUDE EXPORTS DRAG Oil prices stabilized on Thursday on expectations that Saudi Arabia and Russia would extend production cuts, although record US exports dragged on the market. Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, were at $55.89 per barrel, up 9 cents, or 0.16 percent, from their previous close. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that a pledge by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other producers, including Russia, to cut oil output to boost prices could be extended to the end of 2018,…

PROVINCES PLAN TO LEVY TAX ON OIL TANKERS Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) Chairman Rahil Siddique said on Thursday that all four provincial tax bodies were on board to tax the powerful oil tanker operators and chalk out a strategy in that regard. “They blackmail the federal government through strikes which brings the entire country to a standstill,” he said while talking to the Lahore Economic Journalists Association. Such tactics would not work in the future, he emphasised and said a unanimous decision had been made to bring them under the tax net. “If the federal government protects them, then it…

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]RACTICE COMES FIRST DECISION MAKERS NEED TO FACTOR INTO THEIR PRESENT DECISIONS THE “FUTURE THAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED.” Decision makers – in government, in the universities, in business, in the labor unions, in churches – need to factor into their present decisions the future that has already happened. For this they need to know what events have already occurred that do not fit into their present-day assumptions, and thereby create new realities. Intellectuals and scholars tend to believe that ideas come first, which then lead to new political, social, economic, psychological realities. This does happen, but it is the exception.…

PAKISTAN MARKET INDICATORS EXCHANGE RATES Currency Activity Friday 18-Aug Friday 25-Aug Friday 8-Sep Friday 15-Sep Friday 22-Sep Thursday 28-Sep DOLLAR Buying 107.7 107.55 107.35 106.75 106.7 106.6 Selling 108 107.85 107.65 107.05 107 106.9 POUND Buying 136.25 135.25 137.5 142.25 142 141.5 Selling 138 137 139.25 144 143.75 143.25 EURO Buying 124.25 124.25 126.5 125.25 125 124.25 Selling 125.45 125.45 127.7 126.45 126.2 125.45 CANADIAN $ Buying 83.25 83.5 86.5 86 85 84.5 Selling 84.1 84.35 87.35 86.85 85.85 85.35 JAP YEN Buying 0.95 0.95 0.96 0.93 0.92 0.91 Selling 0.98 0.98 0.99 0.96 0.95 0.94 HK $ Buying 13.4…

SECTOR WISE FDI INFLOWS IN PAKISTAN ($ Million) Country 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 (Jul-Aug) Oil & Gas 740.6 512.2 629.4 559.6 502 300.5 248.9 157.6  30.6 Financial Business 163 310.1 64.4 314.2 192.8 256.4 289 64.3  13.5 Textiles 27.8 25.3 29.8 10 -0.2 43.9 20 15.1  1.5 Trade 117 53 25.3 5.7 -3.2 50.5 26.8 31.6  5.6 Construction 101.6 61.1 72.1 46 28.8 53.5 46.7 467.7  55.7 Power -120.6 155.8 -84.9 28.4 71.4 282.2 1,159.20 795.4  210.8 Chemicals 112.1 30.5 96.3 71.6 94.9 60.3 88.5 12.6 Transport 132 104.6 18.7 44.1 2.7 6.2 70.2 53.5…

[dropcap]G[/dropcap]wadar port is the gateway of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and one can believe that the progress of Gwadar port will bring economic gains to the province of Balochistan with potentially capable to act as industrial power house, an appropriate transit and transshipment hub in the region. Presently, it is becoming almost a proverbial to narrate Gwadar Deep Sea Port as a ‘game changer’ in trade and economic development in Pakistan. It is mentioned in the dissimilar reports that the economic advantages of Gwadar port, are: capitalizing the opportunities for trade with landlocked Central Asian Republics and Afghanistan; promotion of…

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Government of Pakistan proclaimed in their statistical report that Pakistan’s balance of trade in August, 2017 was (-) 3,086 million in US dollar. Although the balance of trade statistics cumulative from July-August, 2017 were recorded (-) $6,290 million. According to the provisional statistics compiled by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, in terms of US dollars the exports in August, 2017 was $1,866 million (provisional) as compared to $1,631 million (provisional) in July, 2017 showing an increase of 14.41 percent and by 12.89 percent as against to $1,653 million in August, 2016. Furthermore, exports during July-August 2017 was recorded at…

WALL STREET PARES GAINS AFTER DONALD OUTLINES TAX PLAN US stocks pared gains on Wednesday after President Donald Trump’s administration called for slashing tax rates but offered few details about how to pay for tax cuts without expanding the federal deficit. The plan proposed a 20 percent corporate income tax rate, a new 25 percent tax rate for pass-through businesses including partnerships and a reduced 35 percent top income tax rate for individual Americans. Six of the 11 major S&P indexes were higher, led by a 1.17 percent gain in the financial index. Shares of big banks, including Bank of…

OIL PRICES DECLINE AFTER SURPRISE FALL IN US INVENTORIES Oil prices fell on Thursday, with US crude giving up some of the previous session’s gains that were driven by a surprise fall in inventories, while Brent moved further away from recent 26-month highs. US West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) dipped 7 cents, or 0.2 percent, to $52.06 a barrel after rising 26 cents in the previous session to just below 5-month highs. Brent was down 11 cents, or 0.2 percent, at $57.79 a barrel, slipping further away from Tuesday’s more than two-year high of $59.49 following a near 1 percent…

EUROPEAN BUNKER PRICES REMAIN AT 2 YEAR HIGH European bunker prices have hit repeated two-year highs on strong gains in ICE Brent and gasoil futures over the last week. Crude and gasoil futures are driving bunker prices at the moment, there is nothing else really behind it. The hike in bunker prices has in turn boosted Supramax freight rates in the basin, which had already received firm support from strong Q4 expectations and tight tonnage in much of the North Atlantic. The Rotterdam to Aliaga scrap route, basis 45,000 mt, was assessed at $16/mt, the highest level since late April.…

[dropcap]M[/dropcap]ANAGING ONESELF: WHAT TO CONTRIBUTE? SUCCESSFUL CAREERS ARE NOT THE PRODUCTS OF LUCK OR PLANNING; THEY ARE BUILT BY PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO SEIZE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES THAT MATCH THEIR OWN STRENGTHS. Now that you have identified your strengths and work style you can begin to look for the right opportunities. These are the assignments that will enable you to use your strength, match your work style, and fit within your personal value system. They are also the assignments that help you to make the right contribution. But you first have to decide what your contribution should be. Figuring out…

PAKISTAN MARKET INDICATORS EXCHANGE RATES CURRENCY ACTIVITY FRIDAY 11-AUG FRIDAY 18-AUG FRIDAY 25-AUG FRIDAY 8-SEP FRIDAY 15-SEP FRIDAY 22-SEP DOLLAR Buying 107.85 107.7 107.55 107.35 106.75 106.7 Selling 108.15 108 107.85 107.65 107.05 107 POUND Buying 138.5 136.25 135.25 137.5 142.25 142 Selling 140.25 138 137 139.25 144 143.75 EURO Buying 125 124.25 124.25 126.5 125.25 125 Selling 126.2 125.45 125.45 127.7 126.45 126.2 CANADIAN $ Buying 83.8 83.25 83.5 86.5 86 85 Selling 84.65 84.1 84.35 87.35 86.85 85.85 JAP YEN Buying 0.95 0.95 0.95 0.96 0.93 0.92 Selling 0.98 0.98 0.98 0.99 0.96 0.95 HK $ Buying 13.4…

PAKISTANI WOMEN WHO MADE US PROUD 1. Syeda Ghulam Fatima 2. Marium Mukhtar 3. Muniba Mazari 4. Samya Arif 5. Dr Nergis Mavalvala 6. Fiza Farhan 7. Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy 8. Rukhsana Parveen and Sofia Javed 9. Minhal Sohail 10. Ikra Saleem Khan 11.Shazia Perveen 12. Malala Yousafzai 13. Samina Baig 14. Zenith Irfan 15. Twinkle Sohail 16. Namira Saleem [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] DOMINANT BUSINESS WOMEN OF PAKISTAN 1. Jehan Ara 2. Marium Afzal 3. Saba Gul 4. Roshaneh Zafar 5. Shahnaz Wazir Ali 6. Maria Umar 7. Saniya Waqar Shaffi 8. Ambarine Bukharey 9. Ms. Alia Khan 10.…

[dropcap]N[/dropcap]ational development should be balanced with equivalent distribution of resources to population both (males and females) in any country. Economists urge that the empowering women is vital to build stronger economies, attain globally planned targets for development and sustainability, and enhance the quality of life for women, men, families and communities. No doubt, the present Government of Pakistan is planned to meet SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and the goal is to get gender equality; ending all forms of discrimination against women and girls. The government is also a signatory of the UN Convention for Elimination of all forms of Discrimination…

[dropcap]E[/dropcap]very state is liable to increase the size of the economy and for its development offers different welfare programs apart for their major economic programs. The developing countries like Pakistan, despite its limited resources, offering Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), a flagship social protection program of the Government of Pakistan to give social assistance to women. The Government of Pakistan mentioned in its yearly report that the quarterly cash grant has been gradually improved by present government from Rs3,000 per family to Rs3,600 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2013-14, Rs4,500 in FY 2014-15, Rs4,700 in FY2015-16 and Rs4,834 in FY 2016-17.…

PAKISTAN STOCKS ALMOST FLAT Political uncertainty continued to influence investor sentiment, as the stock market ended marginally in the red with the index hovering in a narrow range on Friday. The KSE-100 Index fell over 200 points in the early hours, but reversed the fall and climbed to hit a high of 42,900 points before retreating after the break to end almost flat. At close, the benchmark KSE 100-share Index recorded a fall of 24.85 points or 0.06 percent to stand at 42,750.19. Overall, trading volumes fell to 132 million shares compared with Thursday’s tally of 165 million. Shares of…

MARKET TO REMAIN DULL ON UNCERTAIN POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SCENARIO The week ended 22nd September 2017 was lackluster at Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) and closed almost flat at 42,750 level. Domestic politics continued to impact market sentiments with Lahore High Court (LHC) order to make the Model Town report public adding to pressure on the ruling junta. Average daily traded volumes was up by 8.59%WoW to 170.63 million shares and volume leaders were WTL, TRG, DSL EPCL and KEL. Major gainers were: FFC, ABL, MCB, UBL and EFERT; while laggards included: HBL, EFOODS, LUCK, PIOC and DGKC. Foreign participation declined…

OIL RISES AS OPEC DEFERS EXTENSION OF OUTPUT CUTS Oil prices ended nearly 1 percent higher on Friday, close to their highest levels in months, as major producers meeting in Vienna said they may wait until January before deciding whether to extend output curbs beyond the first quarter. “I believe that January is the earliest date when we can actually, credibly speak about the state of the market,” Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other major producers finished meeting. Other ministers said a decision on extending cuts could be taken in…

HONG KONG CONTAINER THROUGHPUT DIPS 1.7PC Hong Kong’s container volume dipped slightly in August falling 1.7 percent to 1.76 million TEU compared to 1.79 million TEU in the same month last year, according to statistics from the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board. Most of Hong Kong’s volume is from the container terminals at Kwai Tsing that handled 1.34 million boxes in August, an increase of 3.5 per cent over the same month last year. However, boxes handled by the other terminals in Hong Kong saw a sharp decline of 15.5 per cent to 420,000 TEU compared to 497,000 TEU…

BUSINESS NOT FINANCIAL STRATEGY “THERE AIN’T NO BARGAINS,” AND “YOU GET AT MOST WHAT YOU PAY FOR.” Successful acquisitions are based upon business plans, not financial analyses. Acquisition targets must fit the business strategies of the acquiring company; otherwise, the acquisition is likely to fail. The worst acquisition record of the last decades of the twentieth century was that of Peter Grace, the longtime CEO of W. R. Grace. He was a brilliant man. He set out in the 1950s to build a world-class multinational through financially-based acquisitions. He assembled the ablest group of financial analysts and had them scout…

PAKISTAN MARKET INDICATORS EXCHANGE RATES CURRENCY ACTIVITY Friday 4-Aug Friday 11-Aug Friday 18-Aug Friday 25-Aug Friday 8-Sep Friday 15-Sep DOLLAR Buying 107.9 107.85 107.7 107.55 107.35 106.75 Selling 108.2 108.15 108 107.85 107.65 107.05 POUND Buying 140.25 138.5 136.25 135.25 137.5 142.25 Selling 142 140.25 138 137 139.25 144 EURO Buying 126 125 124.25 124.25 126.5 125.25 Selling 127.2 126.2 125.45 125.45 127.7 126.45 CANADIAN $ Buying 84.25 83.8 83.25 83.5 86.5 86 Selling 85.1 84.65 84.1 84.35 87.35 86.85 JAP YEN Buying 0.94 0.95 0.95 0.95 0.96 0.93 Selling 0.97 0.98 0.98 0.98 0.99 0.96 HK $ Buying 13.4…

PRODUCTION & SALE OF VEHICLES IN PAKISTAN Details Unit Feb’17 Mar’17 Apr’17 May’17 Jun’17 Cumulative 1300 and Above cc TOTAL CARS Prod. 17,071 18,394 15,861 17,074 10,684 79,084 Sale 17,119 18,295 15,863 17,478 12,870 81,625 TRUCKS TOTAL TRUCKS Prod. 502 601 746 869 608 3,326 Sale 638 644 728 805 645 3,460 BUSES TOTAL BUSES Prod. 85 90 68 82 75 400 Sale 96 88 101 99 77 461 LCVS, VANS & JEEPS (4X4) TOTAL JEEPS Prod. 152 232 860 1,020 838 3,102 Sale 237 243 739 989 995 3,203 TOTAL PICK-UPs Prod. 1,990 2,010 1,922 2,368 1,338 9,628 Sale…

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]ak Suzuki Motor Company Limited always endeavors to enhance profitability, sales and diversity in its operations by upgrading the existing products and introducing new products. The management of the Pak Suzuki introduced its first crossover ‘Suzuki Vitara’ on December 21, 2016 and 1400cc sedan ‘Suzuki Ciaz’ on February 8, 2017. The experts of the company predicts that introducing of ‘Ciaz’ and ‘Vitara’ would support Pak Suzuki to penetrate in higher segment vehicles. Pak Suzuki also introduced new Suzuki Cultus on April 22, 2017. The new Suzuki Cultus brings with power-packed features like ABS brakes, airbags, electronic power steering, electric windows…

[dropcap]E[/dropcap]conomic experts identified that healthy sales of vehicles in Pakistan during fiscal year 2016-17 enabled the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and the parts suppliers to operate at maximum capacities to meet the rising demand. It is also calculated that the total of 213,119 domestically manufactured units were sold in Pakistan during 2016-17 as against to 217,679 units sold previous year, showing a 2 percent drop. The sales growth appears dampened because of inclusion of 32,000 unit sales in previous year on account of Apna Rozgar Scheme. However, excluding the scheme from 2015-16, the growth in 2016-17 recorded a 15 percent…

PAKISTAN STOCKS END HIGHER AS FTSE, S&P REBALANCING PROVIDES TRIGGER Despite a volatile session, the Pakistan Stock Exchange ended in the green on Friday on the back of massive foreign buying due to the upcoming FTSE and S&P rebalancing that would see the inclusion of Pakistani companies in their emerging market indexes. At close, the benchmark KSE 100-share Index recorded a rise of 103.62 points or 0.24 percent to end at 42,787.19 points. It is said that the market remained volatile, making an intraday high/low of +331/ -145 points to close at 42,787 in anticipation of FTSE and S&P rebalancing…

OIL EASES, BUOYED BY HOPES FOR ROBUST DEMAND Oil prices eased on Thursday, but held on to most of their gains in the previous session when the market was buoyed by a forecast for firmer global oil demand by the International Energy Agency. London Brent crude for November delivery was down 13 cents, or 0.2 percent, at $55.03 a barrel by 0247 GMT, after rising 1.6 percent on Wednesday. NYMEX crude for October delivery was down 9 cents, or 0.2 percent, at $49.21, after a 2.2 percent gain in the previous session. Wednesday’s gains came despite US government data showing…

SINGAPORE MARINE FUELS SALES HIT RECORD Sales of marine fuels in August at Asia’s biggest ship fuelling port of Singapore rose 3.2 percent from a year ago to 4.364 million tons, but were down 0.7 percent from July. The latest sales volumes are the highest on record for the month of August and are the third highest for 2017. By Sept. 11, the Baltic Dry Index, an economic indicator which tracks the demand for shipping raw materials such as coal, iron and steel, climbed to its highest since November 2014 as trade activity improved. [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] BALTIC MAIN…

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]UCCESS ALWAYS CREATES NEW REALITIES ONLY THE FAIRY STORY ENDS “THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.” Success always obsoletes the very behavior that achieved it. It always creates new realities. It always creates, above all, its own and different problems. It is not easy for the management of a successful company to ask, “What is our business?” Everybody in the company thinks that the answer is so obvious as not to deserve discussion. It is never popular to argue with success, never popular to rock the boat. But the management that does not ask “What is our business?” when the company…

PAKISTAN MARKET INDICATORS EXCHANGE RATES CURRENCY ACTIVITY Friday 28-Jul Friday 4-Aug Friday 11-Aug Friday 18-Aug Friday 25-Aug Friday 8-Sep DOLLAR Buying 107.2 107.9 107.85 107.7 107.55 107.35 Selling 107.5 108.2 108.15 108 107.85 107.65 POUND Buying 139.25 140.25 138.5 136.25 135.25 137.5 Selling 141 142 140.25 138 137 139.25 EURO Buying 124.5 126 125 124.25 124.25 126.5 Selling 125.7 127.2 126.2 125.45 125.45 127.7 CANADIAN $ Buying 84.5 84.25 83.8 83.25 83.5 86.5 Selling 85.35 85.1 84.65 84.1 84.35 87.35 JAP YEN Buying 0.93 0.94 0.95 0.95 0.95 0.96 Selling 0.96 0.97 0.98 0.98 0.98 0.99 HK $ Buying 13.4…

PAKISTAN: EXPORT OF CEMENT AND CLINKER Financial year Cement Clinker Total Exports % age Incr/(Decr) Export Breakup Afghanistan Via Land India Via Sea & Land Other Countries Via Sea Other Countries Via Sea North Zone South Zone Quantity in Metric Tons Quantity in Metric Tons 2008-2009 3,148,306 634,455 6,061,035 908,690 10,752,486 39.34% 6,989,136 3,763,351 2009-2010 4,017,361 722,968 5,625,391 283,436 10,649,156 -0.96% 6,952,774 3,696,381 2010-2011 4,726,996 590,104 3,910,675 200,169 9,427,943 -11.47% 6,688,655 2,739,284 2011-2012 4,715,109 605,453 3,247,268 – 8,567,830 -9.12% 6,266,327 2,301,503 2012-2013 4,404,633 482,214 3,487,255 – 8,374,103 -2.26% 6,105,815 2,268,288 2013-2014 3,655,201 677,305 3,804,021 – 8,136,528 -2.84% 5,418,214 2,718,314 2014-2015…

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]nternational adepts revealed that the international steel production grew to 977.32 million ton during the first 7-month of 2017, up 4.6 percent from 933.97 million ton in the corresponding period last year. During July 2017, international steel production reached at 143.24 million ton, showing an increase of 6.3 percent over 134.79 million ton in the corresponding period last year. They also said that out of this China, the world’s premier steel producer registered an output of 74.02 million ton last month, up 10.3 percent over July 2016, when the country had produced 67.12 million ton. Furthermore, India’s crude steel output…

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]akistan’s manufacturing sector constitutes as the second largest sector of the country’s economy contributing 13.5 percent to GDP and generating biggest number of industrial career opportunities with technology transfer. In the manufacturing the role of All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) is unforgettable where the Association is continuously trying to upgrade the whole cement sector of Pakistan in the challenging economic environment. The Association calculated that though capacity utilization this July stood 87 percent as against to 61 percent previous year; it is not because of any so-called turnaround in exports. In fact, exports share in all dispatches declined from…

US SHARES DIP AS HURRICANE IRMA APPROACHES FLORIDA Wall Street stocks dipped early Friday as a monster-sized Hurricane Irma ripped through Caribbean and headed towards the United States. About 15 minutes into trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stood at 21,771.81, down 0.1 percent. The broad-based S&P 500 lost 0.1 percent at 2,462.35, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index shed 0.2 percent to 6,387.65. Credit reporting agency Equifax sank 13.2 percent after it disclosed that it suffered a hack that affected as many as 143 million US customers, nearly half the country’s population. [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] BRITAIN’S FTSE DECLINES…

CRUDE DIPS, GASOLINE SPIKES AS FLOODS KNOCK OUT QUARTER OF US REFINERIES Oil prices dipped on Wednesday but gasoline spiked to its highest since mid-2015 as flooding in the wake of Hurricane Harvey knocked out almost a quarter of US refineries, crimping demand for crude but raising fears of fuel shortages. Harvey, which has been downgraded to a storm, has caused massive floods across coastal Texas, including in Houston. It is now moving into Louisiana, where more floods are expected. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $46.35 per barrel at 0644 GMT, down 9 cents from their…

BALTIC MAIN INDEX GAINS NEARLY 3PC ON STRONGER VESSEL ACTIVITY The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index rose nearly 3 percent on Wednesday to post its biggest percentage rise in three weeks as rates for all vessel segments perked up. The overall index tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities was up 35 points at 1,250 points. The Baltic index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize shipping vessels, rose 2.88 percent to register its biggest one-day percentage rise since Aug. 17. The capesize index gained 125 points, or 5.4 percent, to 2,438 points. Average daily…

[dropcap]M[/dropcap]ANAGING ONESELF: IDENTIFY STRENGTHS IT TAKES FAR LESS ENERGY TO MOVE FROM FIRST-RATE PERFORMANCE TO EXCELLENCE THAN IT DOES TO MOVE FROM INCOMPETENCE TO MEDIOCRITY. You can learn to identify your strengths by using feedback analysis. This is a simple process in which you write down every one of your key decisions and key actions along with the results that you expect them to achieve. Nine to twelve months later, check the actual results against expectations. After two to three years of use, you will know your strengths by tracking those decisions and actions where actual results fell in line…

PAKISTAN MARKET INDICATORS EXCHANGE RATES CURRENCY ACTIVITY Friday 14-Jul Friday 21-Jul Friday 28-Jul Friday 4-Aug Friday 11-Aug Friday 18-Aug DOLLAR Buying 106.6 107.05 107.2 107.9 107.85 107.7 Selling 106.9 107.35 107.5 108.2 108.15 108 POUND Buying 137 138.25 139.25 140.25 138.5 136.25 Selling 138.75 140 141 142 140.25 138 EURO Buying 120.85 124 124.5 126 125 124.25 Selling 122.05 125.2 125.7 127.2 126.2 125.45 CANADIAN $ Buying 83 84.25 84.5 84.25 83.8 83.25 Selling 83.85 85.1 85.35 85.1 84.65 84.1 JAP YEN Buying 0.92 0.92 0.93 0.94 0.95 0.95 Selling 0.95 0.95 0.96 0.97 0.98 0.98 HK $ Buying 13.4…

3G/4G SUBSCRIBERS IN PAKISTAN Operator CMPak (Zong) PMCL (Jazz) Telenor PTML (Ufone) Warid Total Technology 3G 4G 3G LTE 3G 4G 3G LTE 2013-14 417,814 – 425,992 – 895 – 539,376 – 1,384,077 2014-15 2,898,094 105,128 3,656,345 – 4,162,616 – 2,570,283 106,211 13,498,677 2015-16 5,988,197 680,620 8,919,218 – 8,371,991 – 5,223,096 347,132 29,530,254 2016-17 8,640,333 4,041,766 12,443,340 937,209 10,453,885 607,013 4,960,486 – 42,084,032 [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] PER CAPITA INCOME IN PAKISTAN ($) FISCAL YEAR FY2011 FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017 Value 1274 1320 1334 1389 1514 1531 1629 PAKISTAN GDP PER CAPITA (PPP)…

[dropcap]F[/dropcap]or the last 70 years, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) Pakistan’s largest broadband services providers has embarked upon an ambitious transformation program for technology and customer services. Its network is being upgraded to provide reliable high speed internet and digital services to consumers and the corporate sector. The company is modernizing its shops and other customer service touch points and recently announced the partnership with iflix PTCL customers will get a one year access to iflix – the world’s leading Subscription Video on Demand (SVoD) service for emerging markets, offering users an unlimited access to thousands of TV shows, movies…

[dropcap]Nestlé[/dropcap] Pakistan is proud to offer healthy and quality of brands/products in the market and has high aims to be the leading health, nutrition and wellness company. No doubt, the company is the leading food and beverages in Pakistan and operates in many ways but people, products and brands are the main flag bearers of the company’s image, and the management continues to improve the quality of life of Pakistanis. The Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) has tested that Nestlé’s brands are good for human consumption. In this regard some food industry researchers are of the view…

PAKISTAN SHARES RECOVER ON SUPPORT FROM LOCAL INSTITUTIONS Pakistan stocks once again bounced back to recover some of the losses of the previous session and ended in the green in another volatile session on Friday. The KSE-100 Index declined over 400 points in the first 2-hour of trading, however, soon after it started to climb. The positivity continued even after midday break as the index shot up 500 points. It fell slightly before the end of trading, but still remained positive. At close, the benchmark KSE 100-share Index recorded an increase of 373.13 points or 0.88 percent at 42,641.75 points.…