Author: S. Kamal Hayder Kazmi

Hong Kong stocks finish week with more losses Hong Kong stocks finished a tough week with another loss Friday as 2024 got off to a terrible start for equities, with a forecast-beating US jobs report denting hopes for an early interest rate cut. The Hang Seng Index sank 0.66 percent, or 110.65 points to 16,535.33. The Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.85 percent, or 25.17 points, to 2,929.18, and the Shenzhen Composite Index on China’s second exchange sank 1.34 percent, or 24.08 points, to 1,773.43. London stocks fall The UK’s FTSE 100 fell on Friday, set to mark losses in the…

Stock Market Indexes Details Date Level Ch. This Week ch. Mon. ch. Ann. ch. YTD NSX Namibia [+] 12/29/2024 1,633.30 4.42% 4.42% 4.42% 0 0.13% AEX [+] 12/29/2024 786.82 0.83% 0.83% 0.83% 0 0 NZX 50 [+] 01/04/2024 11,721.78 0.24% -0.41% 3.52% 0.76% -0.41% MBI10 [+] 01/05/2024 6,220.83 0 1.71% 2.11% 7.99% 1.71% OSEBX [+] 12/29/2024 1,306.61 -1.25% -1.25% -1.25% 0 0 MSM30 [+] 12/31/2024 4,514.07 -1.43% -1.43% -1.43% 0 0 KSE100 [+] 01/04/2024 64,655.19 0.01% 3.53% 3.32% 59.49% 3.53% BVPSI [+] 11/18/2022 394.82 0.18% 1.41% 1.01% 3.25% 0 S&P/BVL Peru [+] 01/04/2024 25,679.61 0.47% -1.08% 15.07% 17.96% -1.08% PSEi…

CPI Countries Countries Date CPI Interannual Accum. since January Colombia [+] November 2023 10.2% 8.8% Costa Rica [+] September 2022 10.4% 8.4% Czechia [+] November 2023 7.3% 7.3% Denmark [+] November 2023 0.6% 1.2% Dominican Republic [+] December 2023 3.6% 3.6% Ecuador [+] November 2023 1.5% 1.4% Estonia [+] November 2023 4.0% 4.1% Iceland [+] December 2023 7.8% 7.8% Jordan [+] February 2023 4.3% 0.3% Kenya [+] November 2023 6.8% 6.2% Kyrgyzstan [+] November 2023 8.0% 6.9% Cambodia [+] August 2023 3.2% 3.7% South Korea [+] November 2023 3.3% 3.2% Kazakhstan [+] December 2023 9.8% 9.8% Laos [+] November 2023…

Bangladesh to become 20th largest economy by 2038 Bangladesh is poised for significant growth, with projections placing it as the 20th largest economy in the world by 2038, according to a forecast by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR). This marks a 17-place jump from Bangladesh’s current 37th position in 2023. Bangladesh’s economy has shown resilience and steady growth despite global challenges. In the fiscal 2021-22 (FY22), the country experienced an expansion of 7.1 percent, and while growth moderated to 6 percent in FY23, it still left the output 25.6 percent above pre-pandemic levels. However, this deceleration in…

2023 ends with two major shipping passages experiencing disruptions Shipping’s two major shipping passages, forged through decades of works and lives lost under construction, the Panama Canal and the Suez Canal, facing serious disruption, thus, impacting freight rates and the flow of goods. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker said that “as 2023 draws to a close, the global shipping industry confronts significant challenges due to environmental and geopolitical issues impacting the Panama and Suez Canals. These pivotal maritime passages are experiencing disruptions that compel the industry to adapt, affecting global trade routes and logistics rapidly”. According to Research Analyst…

Iron ore price climbs to multi-month high on upbeat Chinese data Iron ore futures climbed to multi-month highs on Tuesday, with sentiment boosted by upbeat economic data in top consumer China and mounting expectations of a flurry of pre-holiday replenishment from steelmakers in the coming weeks. The Most-Traded May iron ore contract on China’s Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) ended daytime trading 2.93 percent higher at 1,002 yuan ($140.58) a metric ton, the highest since August 2021. PFA shuts four dairy production units The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has stopped the production of four dairy units and issued notices to 232…

Role of the Bystander The bystander sees things neither actor nor audience notices. Bystanders have no history of their own. They are on the stage but are not part of the action. They are not even audience. The fortunes of the play and every actor in it depend on the audience, whereas the reaction of the bystander has no effect except on himself. But standing in the wings – much like the fireman in the theater – the bystander sees things neither actor nor audience notices. Above all, he sees differently from the way actors or audiences see. Bystanders reflect,…

Presently, the global economy faces higher energy prices which may remain intact because of the Russian-Ukraine war. The war has led to significant disruptions to the production and trade of commodities for which Russia and Ukraine are key exporters. World Bank’s (WB) forecasts showed that the war in Ukraine is set to trigger the largest commodity shock. This would contribute to a huge price surge for energy-related goods including oil and natural gas. Furthermore, energy prices are set to increase more than 50 per cent, pushing up costs for households and businesses. This situation has raised concerns at the global…

Foreign reserves are capital deposits controlled by central banks or monetary authorities with the intention of accumulating a set of reserve currencies. Since international reserves are used to measure a country’s capacity to meet its foreign currency obligations, they function as an economic indicator. Liquid Foreign Exchange Reserves In 2023 (Million US$) End Period Net Reserves with SBP Net Reserves with Banks Total Liquid FX Reserves (Month end ) January 3,086.2 5,655.5 8,741.7 February 3,814.1 5,453.8 9,267.9 March 4,208.0 4,955.6 9,163.6 April 4,458.3 4,998.6 9,456.9 May 4,090.7 5,422.3 9,513.0 June 4,445.1 4,714.9 9,160.0 July 8,153.8 5,309.9 13,463.7 August 7,849.3 5,321.8…

Quarterly Growth Rates of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at Constant Basic Prices (Seasonally Un-Adjusted-YOY) (%) Sector/ Industry FY 2022-23 FY24 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 A. Agriculture Sector (1 to 4) 0.30 3.58 3.90 1.32 5.06 1. Crops (i+ii+iii) -7.37 4.69 3.18 -5.81 6.13 i. Important Crops -11.50 9.34 9.08 -8.52 11.16 ii. Other Crops -1.15 -0.36 -1.02 -1.19 0.11 iii. Cotton Ginning & miscellaneous -14.33 -23.77 -27.51 -25.79 5.08 2. Livestock 3.96 2.32 3.92 4.37 4.55 3. Forestry 13.37 15.82 15.41 12.36 7.07 4. Fishing 1.30 1.42 1.34 1.48 0.48 B. Industrial Sector (1 to 4) -1.63 0.39 -4.61 -8.79 2.48…

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 ( Dec 22, 2023) Currency Symbol Buying Selling Australian Dollar AUD 188 190 Bahrain Dinar BHD 745.89 753.89 Canadian Dollar CAD 210 212 China Yuan CNY 39.82 40.22 Danish Krone DKK 41.4 41.8 Euro EUR 309.5 312.5 Hong Kong Dollar…

Hong Kong shares open higher Hong Kong stocks resumed their week’s rally Friday after US data further stoked expectations the Federal Reserve will slash interest rates next year. The Hang Seng Index rose 0.73 percent, or 121.93 points, to 16,743.06. The Shanghai Composite Index was flat, inching up 0.57 points, to 2,919.29, and the Shenzhen Composite Index on China’s second exchange dipped 0.05 percent, or 0.95 points, to 1,800.54. Asia shares see slim weekly gain, await US inflation Asian Stocks were poised to eke out gains for the final full trading week of the year on Friday, while the dollar…

Stock Market Indexes Details Date Level Ch. This Week ch. Mon. ch. Ann. ch. YTD MSE TOP-20 [+] 12/20/2023 39,037.18 0.30% 0.22% 6.30% 5.69% 3.92% MONEX20 [+] 12/21/2023 15,536.96 -0.01% -0.01% 0.13% 13.60% 9.87% MASI [+] 12/21/2023 12,182.82 -0.52% 0.47% 1.72% 11.25% 13.64% MYANPIX [+] 12/21/2023 365.62 0.17% 0.32% -0.25% -8.12% -7.82% NSX Namibia [+] 12/30/2023 1,631.10 5.60% 5.60% 0.87% 0 0 AEX [+] 12/21/2023 789.88 -0.48% -0.41% 4.13% 11.32% 14.64% NZX 50 [+] 12/29/2023 11,473.24 -1.33% -1.33% 2.11% -0.99% 0 MBI10 [+] 12/21/2023 6,094.20 0.27% 0.05% 2.22% 8.51% 7.82% OSEBX [+] 12/21/2023 1,292.59 -0.34% -0.30% 0.30% 7.70% 8.71% TASI…

CPI Countries Countries Date CPI Interannual Accum. since January United States [+] November 2023 3.1% 3.5% United Kingdom [+] November 2023 3.9% 3.5% Germany [+] November 2023 3.2% 3.6% France [+] November 2023 3.4% 3.5% Japan [+] October 2023 3.3% 2.9% Spain [+] November 2023 3.2% 3.1% Italy [+] November 2023 0.8% 0.5% Portugal [+] November 2023 1.5% 1.8% Greece [+] November 2023 3.0% 3.6% Ireland [+] November 2023 3.9% 4.1% Argentina [+] November 2023 160.9% 148.2% Austria [+] October 2023 5.4% 4.9% Australia [+] September 2023 5.4% 3.4% Brazil [+] November 2023 3.9% 3.1% Belarus [+] January 2022 10.4%…

ADB cuts Bangladesh’s GDP growth forecast to 6.2pc in fy24 Bangladesh’s economic growth is set to decelerate by 0.3 percentage points to 6.2percent in the current fiscal year as the economy slows and uncertainties over the January election prevail, says the ADB. The Revised growth forecast from the Asian Development Bank came Tuesday in its flagship report Asian Development Outlook for December 2023. In the last projection in September, the Manila-based lender had forecast that Bangladesh’s gross domestic product (GDP) would grow at 6.5percent. The Growth has been revised down due to moderate growth in exports and manufacturing amid an…

Maritime disruptions in the Suez Canal and Red Sea Attacks on container ships in the Red Sea and Suez Canal have caused major shipping lines worldwide to suspend their transits in the area, which is a strategic rendezvous point. A domino effect on world trade is expected, which is of concern to the industry, as around 10 percent of global trade passes through the Red Sea, including 30 percent of global container traffic. This includes possible delays in cargo movement in different regions, increased pressure on alternative transport routes and increased demand for transport services in unaffected areas. According to…

Revolutionizing rice yield prediction The Increasing global demand for staple crops, projected to rise by 60 percent by 2050, is a pressing issue intensified by population growth, income increases, and biofuel usage. To meet this demand sustainably, intensifying existing cropland to minimize environmental impacts and yield gaps is critical. Traditional methods like self-reporting and crop cutting are either inaccurate or impractical, and while remote sensing technologies offer potential, their application remains limited in these regions. The advent of machine learning, specifically, deep learning with convolutional neural networks (CNNs), presents a promising avenue. This technology has shown proficiency in image analysis,…

The Transnational Company Successful transnational companies see themselves as separate, non national entities. Most companies doing international business today are still organized as traditional multinationals. But the transformation into transnational companies has begun, and it is moving fast. The products or services may be the same, but the structure is fundamentally different. In a transnational company there is only one economic unit, the world. Selling, servicing, research, finance, marketing, pricing, and management are conducted in contemplation of the world market. One of America’s leading engineering companies, for instance, makes one critical part for al its forty-three plants worldwide in one…

The people of Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are bound in historical ties of love, brotherhood and the hearts of the people of both countries beat together. Experts recorded that after China and the United States, the UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trade partner. It is also viewed as an ideal export destination in the South Asian country, through policymakers because of its geographical proximity to Pakistan which reduces freight and transportation costs. Statistics showed that the Gulf country is also home to an estimated 1.8 million Pakistani expatriates and after Saudi Arabia, the second-largest source of remittances for…

 UAE-Pakistan reaffirm their strong commitment to further reinforce the bonds of friendship In 2023 the global economy is expected to grow by 3.0 per cent, before slowing down to 2.7 per cent in 2024. A disproportionate share of global growth in 2023-24 is expected to continue to come from Asia, despite the weaker-than-expected recovery in China. As we know the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a high-income developing market economy. Dubai in UAE, has gained worldwide recognition for its thriving business environment and remarkable economic growth. At the heart of Dubai’s success lies its unique work culture, shaped through a…

Export Receipts UAE (Thousand US Dollar) State Bank Of Pakistan Country Jul-Jun Oct Sep (R) Oct (P) Jul-Oct FY22 FY23 FY23 FY24 FY24 FY23 FY24 P U. A. E. Abudhabi 75,856 77,921 5,123 10,325 5,805 27,097 26,678 U. A. E. Ajman 64,535 14,459 1,113 1,939 2,487 5,778 6,605 U. A. E. Dubai 1,598,401 1,329,087 117,897 133,898 140,218 449,891 521,881 U. A. E. Fujairah 1,683 6,273 0 209 119 178 27,895 U. A. E. Ras Al Khaimah 11,255 8,490 2,172 27,023 316 3,831 28,496 U. A. E. Sharjah 95,725 39,289 2,678 3,198 3,857 12,001 13,340 U. A. E. Ummal Quwain 1,536…

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 ( December 08, 2023) Currency Symbol Buying Selling Australian Dollar AUD 187.2 189 Bahrain Dinar BHD 755.82 763.82 Canadian Dollar CAD 209 211 China Yuan CNY 39.82 40.22 Danish Krone DKK 41.14 41.54 Euro EUR 307 310 Hong Kong Dollar…

Energy shares boost UK’s FTSE 100 The UK’s FTSE 100 index gained in early trade on Friday, lifted by rising energy stocks on higher crude oil prices, while global miner Anglo American dropped after saying it expects lower 2024 production. By 0807 GMT, the blue-chip FTSE 100 rose 0.1 percent, while more domestically focussed FTSE 250 midcap index was flat. Heavyweight energy stocks gained 0.7 percent, tracking strength in crude oil prices after Saudi Arabia and Russia called for more OPEC+ members to join output cuts. The Exporter-Heavy FTSE 100 is set to log marginal weekly losses, while the midcap…

Stock Market Indexes Details Date Level Ch. This Week ch. Mon. ch. Ann. ch. YTD MSE TOP-20 [+] 12/07/2023 37,274.63 1.64% 1.49% 2.11% 5.07% -0.77% MONEX20 [+] 12/07/2023 15,604.52 0 0.62% 0.64% 22.67% 10.35% MASI [+] 12/07/2023 11,827.02 0.59% 0.67% -1.35% 4.75% 10.32% MYANPIX [+] 12/08/2023 364.99 0.31% 0.49% -1.28% -9.27% -7.97% NSX Namibia [+] 12/30/2023 1,631.10 -0.23% -0.23% 0.87% 0 0 AEX [+] 12/07/2023 776.34 0.02% 0.64% 5.52% 8.07% 12.67% NZX 50 [+] 12/29/2023 11,473.24 0.15% 0.15% 2.11% -0.99% 0 MBI10 [+] 12/07/2023 6,094.32 0.06% 0.66% 3.73% 8.01% 7.82% OSEBX [+] 12/07/2023 1,287.64 -0.28% -1.28% 1.83% 8.86% 8.30% MSM30…

CPI Countries Countries Date CPI Interannual Accum. Since January United States [+] October 2023 3.2% 3.7% United Kingdom [+] October 2023 4.6% 3.8% Germany [+] October 2023 3.8% 4.1% France [+] November 2023 3.4% 3.5% Japan [+] October 2023 3.3% 2.9% Spain [+] November 2023 3.2% 3.1% Belarus [+] January 2022 10.4% 1.5% Czechia [+] October 2023 8.5% 7.2% Denmark [+] October 2023 0.1% 1.6% Norway [+] October 2023 4.1% 4.1% New Zealand [+] September 2023 5.7% 4.2% Panama [+] October 2023 2.1% 1.8% Peru [+] September 2022 8.8% 6.9% Philippines [+] October 2023 4.9% 3.6% Pakistan [+] December 2023…

World bank says Philippines economy to grow 5.6pc this year The Philippine economy is expected to grow 5.6 percent this year and 5.8 percent next year, the World Bank said on Tuesday, as a subdued global economy, higher inflation and the lingering impact of the coronavirus pandemic weigh on its prospects. The Projections, in the bank’s Philippines Economic Update, are below the government’s 6 percent-7 percent GDP growth target for the year, and its 6.5 percent-8 percent forecast for next year and through to 2028. “The Philippines is subject to global economic forces. And also domestically we’ve just had the…

Newbuildings: more orders for dry bulk carriers More Dry Bulk carriers have been on the shipowners’ radar over the past week. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Allied said that “on the dry side, we can report an order from Akmar for an Ultramax vessel with DACKS, bringing its total at the yard to three such vessels, and up to 2 firm vessels from Greek buyers at Nantong Xiangyu. Despite the fairly consistent contracting seen within the Ultramax sector over the quarter so far, around 20 vessels, bulker newbuilding orders have seen a decline year on year which has been…

US oil production: record output at low prices a troubling combination As Saudi Arabia makes production cuts, its US oil rivals make hay. American production, recently measured at 13.2mn barrels a day, has hit an all-time high. This is slightly more than the previous peak in 2019. At the same time, benchmark Brent and WTI prices have fallen back from $90 a barrel in the early autumn to less than $80. US onshore producers risk entrapment in a cycle of inefficient drilling, forsaking positive cash flow for greater volumes and market share. High production could also make the Biden administration…

Knowledge and Technology The new technology embraces and feeds off the entire array of human knowledge’s. The search for knowledge, as well as the teaching thereof, has traditionally been dissociated from application. Both have been organized by subject, that is, according to what appeared to be the logic of knowledge itself. The faculties and departments of the university, its degrees, its specializations, indeed the entire organization of higher learning, have been subject-focused. They have been, to use the language of the experts on organization, based upon “product,” rather than on “market” or “end use.” Now we are increasingly organizing knowledge…

According to the Economic Survey of Pakistan FY2022, the banking sector performed reasonably well during FY22 for instance, asset-base of the banking sector enlarged by 19.1 per cent (YoY) in FY2022 (19.6 per cent growth in FY21). The expansion was chiefly because of rise in investments and advances. During the period under review, advances registered robust growth with major push from domestic private advances with growth of 16.4 per cent on YoY basis. Highlights Of The Banking Sector Industry FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 FY22 Key Variables (Rs. billion) Total Assets 15,831 18,342 19,682 21,991 25,124 30058 35,796 Investments…

Shariah-compliant financing likely to move faster than conventional funding According to S&P Global Ratings the global Islamic finance industry is expected to grow by approximately 10 per cent in 2023-24 despite the economic slowdown, after recording a similar expansion in 2022 chiefly led through the GCC countries. Statistics showed that the sector in 2022 continued to enlarge, with assets up by 9.4 per cent compared with 12.2 per cent in 2021, supported by growth in banking assets and the Sukuk industry. Financing Products By Islamic Banks (per cent Share) Mode of Financing CY17 CY18 CY19 CY20 CY21 CY22 Murabaha 13.2…

Based on the provisional figures of imports and exports compiled by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the balance of trade in September, 2023 was (-) 451,872 million in terms of Rupees and (-) 1,518 million in US dollars. The Balance of trade figures cumulative from July-September, 2023/FY2023-24 were recorded (-) 1,547,230 million in terms of Rupees and (-) 5,317 million in US dollars. According to the provisional figures compiled by PBS, exports from Pakistan during September, 2023 worth to Rs.737,295 million (provisional) as compared to Rs. 695,136 million in August, 2023 and Rs. 561,643 million during September, 2022 explaining…

Remittances inflows have increased significantly in recent years and have become the main financial external inflow in some developing countries, surpassing other inflows that traditionally play an important role in these countries, such as official development assistance and foreign direct investment. Furthermore, Remittances have become significant private financial resources for households in countries of origin of migration although they cannot be considered as a substitute for foreign direct investment (FDI), official development assistance (ODA), debt relief or other public sources of finance development. According to the World Bank’s latest Migration and Development Brief released on June 13, 2023, remittance flows…

A comprehensive commitment to SDG 4 through infrastructure upgrades, teacher capacity building and digital transformation According to the Economic Survey of Pakistan FY2022, human’s ability to learn is one of the distinguished features among other species and at the same time, the nations that are advanced in education, are leading the world. In every aspect of life no one can deny the significance of education. For changing the patterns of thought in the individuals and nations, education is a tool. Including Pakistan it occupies top priority in the social sector of developing nations. Historically, because of various challenges and issues…

In Pakistan the universal health coverage had been introduced. For this, the WHO in Pakistan is supporting Pakistan in offering medical equipment, ambulances and mobile units, labour rooms and improving primary and secondary health facilities. Pakistan: Federal And Provincial Health Expenditure (Rs million) Fiscal Years Public Sector Expenditure (Federal + Provincial) Health Expenditure as % of GDP Current Expenditure Development Expenditure Total Health Expenditures 2015-16 192,704 75,249 267,953 0.7 2016-17 229,957 99,005 328,962 0.8 2017-18 329,033 87,434 416,467 1.1 2018-19 363,154 58,624 421,778 1.0 2019-20 427,915 77,496 505,411 1.1 2020-21 494,606 91,664 586,270 1.0 2021-22 (P) 712,289 207,129 919,418 1.4…

As a distinct source for software development Pakistan’s Information Technology (IT) sector is establishing itself in developing into BPO and freelancing. In recent years experts recorded that Pakistan’s IT industry has witnessed remarkable growth after strong human capital, competitive cost advantage, and a growing ecosystem of startups and tech companies. The Government of Pakistan moreover, has taken various measures to enhance and support the IT sector by organising special technology parks and zones to offer a conducive environment for IT firms to conduct operations. As a consequence, these measures have not only encouraged investments in the industry but also facilitated…

In the telecom sector in Pakistan the business and investment environment challenging for some time and urgent policy reform is needed to ensure that connectivity continues to drive economic activity and digitalisation. As the telecom sector’s cost structure is dollarised in terms of spectrum fee, capex, fuel, electricity, etc, the companies also face a massive blow with the depreciation of local currency. Moreover, a breakdown of loans obtained through the private sector during FY2023 showed that telecom is among the highest borrowers, with a total loan of Rs 63.2 billion, and the highest fixed investment among all sectors, amounting to…

Pakistan’s total assets of the industry up 14.5 per cent, standing at Rs 2.421 trillion The insurance sector is made up of companies that offer risk management in the form of insurance contracts. The basic concept of insurance is that one party, the insurer, will guarantee payment for an uncertain future event. Meanwhile, another party, the insured or the policyholder, pays a smaller premium to the insurer in exchange for that protection on that uncertain future occurrence, according to researchers. During 2023, total global insurance market premiums increased by 3.4 per cent in real terms. The Non-life sector posted 2.6…

As the global cement market size reached US$ 363.2 billion in 2022, international researchers expect the market will reach US$ 518.5 billion mark by 2028, showing a growth rate (CAGR) of 6.22 per cent during 2023-2028. By rapid urbanisation, infrastructure development, favourable government initiatives and strategies, rising disposable incomes, and growing construction activities, chiefly in emerging economies, the global cement market is witnessing robust growth driven. On the other hand, it is also important to note that the global cement market is anticipated to rise at a considerable rate during the forecast period, between 2023 and 2030. Researcher also analysed…

Fertilisers play a significant role in the growth and productiveness of crops. Fertilisers are an essential contributor towards the agriculture sector of any country. International experts analysed that the global Fertiliser market witnessed unprecedented turmoil in 2022, mainly because of Western sanctions against the Russian and Belarussian economies related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. High prices have driven farmers to cut down the use of fertilisers, which threatens to hinder grain production in some states. Prices presently have drifted downward, but there are signs that the storm has yet to pass, and new challenges could be around the corner. The…

Pakistan: Gross National Product At Constant Basic Prices Of 2015-16 (Rs million Sectors) Details 2019-20 2020-21 F 2021-22 R 2022-23 P % Change 2021-22/ 2020-21 2022-23/ 2021-22 A. Agriculture 8,137,860 8,424,041 8,783,832 8,919,979 4.27 1.55 1. Crops 2,692,121 2,849,148 3,082,432 3,005,611 8.19 (2.49) i). Important Crops 1,506,263 1,593,985 1,680,279 1,626,473 5.41 (3.20) ii). Other Crops 1,067,179 1,152,009 1,289,491 1,292,401 11.93 0.23 iii). Cotton Ginning 118,679 103,154 112,662 86,737 9.22 (23.01) 2. Livestock 5,146,701 5,269,009 5,387,611 5,591,294 2.25 3.78 3. Forestry 177,917 183,877 191,354 198,881 4.07 3.93 4. Fishing 121,121 122,007 122,435 124,193 0.35 1.44 B. Industrial Sector 6,409,967 6,935,438 7,409,040…

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 (November 10 2023) Currency Symbol Buying Selling Australian Dollar AUD 185 186.8 Bahrain Dinar BHD 758.95 766.95 Canadian Dollar CAD 208 210 China Yuan CNY 39.32 39.72 Danish Krone DKK 40.89 41.29 Euro EUR 307.5 309.5 Hong Kong Dollar HKD…

Asian stocks slide as Hawkish Powell comments weigh Asian stocks fell to their lowest in a week on Friday, while the dollar was firm as elevated Treasury yields weighed on sentiment after hawkish comments from US Fed Chair Jerome Powell extinguished expectations of a peak in interest rates. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 1 percent to a one-week low of 486.39, while Japan’s Nikkei was 0.50 percent lower. US Federal Reserve officials including Powell said on Thursday they are still not sure interest rates are high enough to finish the battle with inflation. The Fed is…

Stock Market Indexes Details Date Level Ch. This Week ch. Mon. ch. Ann. ch. YTD TA-35 [+] 11/09/2023 1,704.43 -0.61% -1.15% -1.39% -11.65% -5.15% ASE Amman [+] 11/09/2023 2,388.89 0.37% -0.63% -2.82% -2.09% -4.51% KASE [+] 11/10/2023 4,066.07 0.03% 0.27% 0.21% 33.04% 25.05% KSW Kuwait [+] 11/09/2023 7,233.76 0.53% -0.50% -0.03% -14.93% -10.87% KSE Kyrgyz [+] 11/10/2023 2,643.45 1.54% 1.54% 0 34.30% 14.31% LSX Index [+] 11/09/2023 1,073.93 0 3.42% -0.88% 26.07% 49.72% S&P/BVL Peru [+] 11/09/2023 21,697.64 0.17% 1.15% -2.68% -0.53% 1.72% PSEi [+] 12/29/2023 6,566.39 6.56% 6.56% 6.56% 0 0 WIG20 [+] 11/09/2023 2,170.91 1.43% -0.29% 13.70% 32.04%…

CPI Countries Countries Date CPI Interannual Accum. since January United States [+] September 2023 3.7% 3.7% United Kingdom [+] September 2023 6.7% 3.8% Germany [+] October 2023 3.8% 4.1% France [+] October 2023 4.0% 3.7% Japan [+] September 2023 3.0% 2.0% Spain [+] October 2023 3.5% 3.5% Italy [+] October 2023 1.8% 1.0% Maldives [+] December 2022 1.4% 1.4% Mexico [+] October 2023 4.3% 3.3% Mozambique [+] September 2023 4.6% 2.4% Nigeria [+] September 2023 26.7% 21.4% Nicaragua [+] September 2023 7.2% 3.4% Netherlands [+] October 2023 -0.4% 2.2% Norway [+] September 2023 3.3% 3.1% New Zealand [+] September 2023…

IMF upgrades China’s 2023, 2024 GDP growth forecasts China’s economy is set to grow 5.4 percent this year, having made a “strong” post-COVID recovery, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday, making an upward revision to its earlier forecast of 5 percent growth, while expecting slower growth next year. The IMF said continued weakness in the property sector and subdued external demand could restrict gross domestic product growth to 4.6 percent in 2024, which was still better than the 4.2 percent forecast contained in its World Economic Outlook (WEO), published in October. The Upward revision followed a decision by China…

FBX index November 2023: ramping up the uncertainty As if the container shipping capacity wasn’t sufficiently unpredictable, the past month has seen the uncertainty taken up a notch for 2024. Let us start with the element for which there is the least uncertainty: overcapacity. Carriers are taking delivery of a substantial amount of new capacity both this year and in 2024. In rough terms the global fleet stands to grow 8 percent over the next two years measured on a year-on-year basis. At the same time the year-on-year growth for Jan-Aug 2023 was -3.3 percent measured in TEU and -2.5…

Consumer affairs SECY urges Brazil to grow pulses Union consumer affairs secretary Rohit Kumar Singh on Thursday emphasized the need for a partnership between India and Brazil for the import of pulses and urged businessmen and officials of Brazil to grow pulses, especially tur (pigeon pea) and urad (black gram) to cater to the demand of India’s 1.4 billion population amid falling production and growing demand. Addressing a conference on “the future of India-Brazil relations in the agribusiness sector”, Singh said, “I, as consumer affairs secretary, need to ensure that food items are available in the country for our 1.4…

Feedback: Key to Continuous Learning To know one’s strengths, to know how to improve them, and to know what one cannot do – are the keys to continuous learning. Whenever a Jesuit priest or a Calvinist pastor does anything of significance (for instance, making a key decision), he is expected to write down what results he anticipates. Nine months later, he then feeds back from the actual results to these anticipations. This very soon shows him what he did well and what his strengths are. It also shows him what he has to learn and what habits he has to…

Pakistan has developed in the services and manufacturing sectors, but agriculture still remains one of the most significant components of the country’s economic mix. As a consequence, in the sector it is even more concerning when one observes the scale of systematic negligence, which has prevented it from reaching anywhere close to its potential. Consequent upon the Floods-2022, the Government of Pakistan mentioned that the Rabi season crops have shown higher yield, which compensated the crop damages of the Kharif season, leading to an overall growth of agriculture sector to 1.55 per cent. As such, the production growth of sugarcane…

International researchers analysed the 2024 global export forecast of rice is lowered 3.4 million tonnes to 52.9 million tonnes, with exports from India lowered 4.0 million tonnes to 19.0 million tonnes. The 2024 export reduction for India was partially offset by increased export forecasts for Pakistan, Brazil, Russia, and Vietnam. Pakistan: Yield Per Hectare Of Major Agricultural Crops (Kg/Hectare) Fiscal Year Wheat Rice Sugarcane Maize Gram Cotton 2010-11 2,833 2,039 55,981 3,806 471 725 2011-12 2,714 2,396 55,196 3,991 282 815 2012-13 2,796 2,398 56,466 3,981 757 769 2013-14 2,824 2,437 57,511 4,233 420 774 2014-15 2,726 2,422 55,062 4,323…

Pakistan: Production Index Of Important Crops Fiscal Year Food crops Cash crop Fiber crop Wheat Maize Rice Sugarcane Cotton Base Year 2005-06 2005-06 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 2006-07 109.5 99.3 98.0 122.6 98.7 2007-08 98.5 115.9 100.3 143.1 89.5 2008-09 113.0 115.5 125.3 112.0 90.8 2009-10 109.6 104.9 124.1 110.5 99.2 2010-11 118.5 119.2 87.0 123.8 88.0 2011-12 110.3 139.5 111.1 130.7 104.4 2012-13 113.8 135.7 99.8 142.7 100.1 2013-14 122.1 159.0 122.6 151.0 98.1 2014-15 117.9 158.7 126.2 140.7 107.2 Base Year 2015-16 2015-16 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 2016-17 104.1 116.4 100.7 115.3 107.6 2017-18 97.8 112.0…

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 (Oct 20 2023) Currency Symbol Buying Selling Australian Dollar AUD 175.15 176.9 Bahrain Dinar BHD 735.47 743.47 Canadian Dollar CAD 204 206 China Yuan CNY 37.98 38.38 Danish Krone DKK 39.03 39.43 Euro EUR 295.1 298 Hong Kong Dollar HKD…

Tokyo shares drop on Middle East crisis Tokyo stocks tracked Wall Street lower Thursday on worries that the battle between Israel and Hamas could spill over into a wider regional conflict. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index lost 1.91 percent, or 611.63 points, to 31,430.62, while the broader Topix index slipped 1.36 percent, or 31.18 points, to 2,264.16. The dollar stood at 149.72 yen against 149.93 yen in New York late Wednesday. “A broad range of shares faced selling pressure as investors’ caution strengthened. US yields climbed on the back of the escalation of the Middle East situations,” IwaiCosmo Securities said.…

Stock Market Indexes Date Level Ch. This Week ch. Mon. ch. Ann. ch. YTD SPX Fiji [+] 10/20/2023 8,246.76 0.09% 0.73% 0.54% 8.29% 4.02% OMX25 [+] 10/19/2023 4,082.53 -1.56% -3.88% -6.56% -10.82% -15.40% GSE Ghana [+] 08/30/2023 3,099.49 0.82% 0.98% 4.37% 23.89% 26.83% HANG SENG [+] 12/30/2023 19,781.41 14.65% 14.65% 14.65% 0 0 BUX [+] 12/30/2023 43,793.76 -23.27% -23.27% -23.27% 0 0 ICEX [+] 10/20/2023 1,834.58 0 -2.88% -5.86% -14.63% -16.59% NIFTY [+] 10/19/2023 19,624.70 -0.24% -0.64% -2.53% 12.06% 8.39% JCI Jakarta [+] 10/19/2023 6,846.43 -1.18% -1.16% -1.92% -0.20% -0.06% TA-35 [+] 10/19/2023 1,669.43 -1.85% -2.56% -9.22% -11.76% -7.09% ASE…

CPI Countries Countries Date CPI Interannual Accum. since January United States [+] September 2023 3.7% 3.7% United Kingdom [+] September 2023 6.7% 3.8% Germany [+] September 2023 4.5% 4.1% France [+] September 2023 4.9% 3.6% Japan [+] August 2023 3.1% 1.7% Spain [+] September 2023 3.5% 3.1% Italy [+] September 2023 5.3% 1.1% Portugal [+] September 2023 3.6% 2.4% Greece [+] September 2023 1.6% 3.4% Ireland [+] September 2023 6.4% 4.6% Andorra [+] September 2023 6.1% 4.9% Armenia [+] September 2023 2.8% -2.3% Angola [+] September 2023 15.0% 12.2% Argentina [+] September 2023 138.3% 103.2% Austria [+] August 2023 7.4%…

Bangladesh’s economy to rebound after national elections The Economy of the country will see a positive upturn following the upcoming national elections, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) Chairman Professor Shibli Rubayat Ul Islam said. Speaking at a programme at Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the BSEC chief said the country’s capital market was held back for over two decades. He said the capital market is very technical and many people could not understand its importance. “Currently the market is moving forward. The market scope has increased a lot. New products are being launched. However, this market needs further development if…

New fuels, new challenges Shipping need’s for decarbonization has increased the needs for alternative fuels and the supply chains to support them. For the most part, both of these prerequisites don’t exist today. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker said that “the maritime industry is on the verge of a significant transformation as it navigates through complex challenges and opportunities in 2023. After a period marked by disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions, the sector is expected to experience a rebound in global seaborne trade. This resurgence is not happening in isolation; it is paralleled by an…

Global coal industry could lose almost a million jobs by 2050 The Global coal industry could shed almost a million jobs between now and 2050, as existing mines around the world shutter while cheaper wind and solar power become more readily available, the Global Energy Monitor said in a report Tuesday. The Losses, projected to affect more than a third (37 percent) of the industry’s 2.7 million coal miners worldwide, could occur even without ambitious climate targets or pledges to phase out coal. More than 400,000 workers operate mines that could be depleted or discontinued after 2035, and up to…

Management: The Central Social Function Non economic institutions need a yardstick that does for them what profitability does for business. Non business institutions flock in increasing number to business management to learn from it how to manage themselves. The hospital, the armed service, the Catholic diocese, the civil service – all want to go to school for business management. This does not mean that business management can be transferred to other, non business institutions. On the contrary, the first thing these institutions have to learn from business management is that management begins with the setting of objectives and that, therefore,…

 Pakistan’s solar energy market size set to increase from 1.3 GW in 2023 to 9.77 GW by 2028 To promote and develop cost-effective local renewable energy sources, Pakistan has approved the framework guidelines for fast-track solar initiatives in 2022. It is expected to reduce local price volatility because of less reliance on the worldwide market and ease the foreign exchange requirements. It is said that this framework covers three main aspects such as solar PV energy substitution for expensive imported fossil fuels, solar PV generation on 11 kV feeders, and public buildings solarisation. To attain a 60 per cent energy…

Medium-term fiscal plans must align macroeconomic policies The global economy is expected to grow by 3.0 per cent in 2023, before slowing down to 2.7 per cent in 2024. Despite the weaker-than-expected recovery in China, in 2023-24 a disproportionate share of worldwide growth is expected to continue to come from Asia. After a stronger-than-expected start to 2023, assisted by lower energy prices and the full reopening of China after Covid ease, worldwide growth is expected to moderate, a study by international experts showed. According to experts, the impact of tighter monetary policy is becoming increasingly visible, business and consumer confidence…

Pakistan: Quantum Index Of Selected Large-Scale Manufacturing Items (YOY Growth) (Base Year: FY2016) (P) S. No. Descriptions of Items Weight Adjusted Weight July 2022 2023 A Manufacturing of Food 10.7 13.6 -14.8 10.0 B Manufacturing of Beverages 3.8 4.9 -2.5 -6.7 C Manufacturing of Tobacco 2.1 2.6 -75.5 54.0 D Manufacturing of Textile 18.2 23.2 -2.2 -22.0 E Manufacture of Wearing Apparel 6.1 7.8 48.5 30.8 F Manufacturing of Leather Products 1.2 1.6 16.5 -2.0 G Manufacturing of Wood Products 0.2 0.2 2.9 -4.5 H Manufacturing of Paper & Board 1.6 2.1 18.6 -15.4 I Manufacturing of Coke & Petroleum…

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 ( Oct 06 2023) Currency Symbol Buying Selling Australian Dollar AUD 178.2 180 Bahrain Dinar BHD 757.11 765.11 Canadian Dollar CAD 210 212 China Yuan CNY 39.1 39.5 Danish Krone DKK 39.69 40.09 Euro EUR 297 300 Hong Kong Dollar…

Saudi Arabia stocks lower at close of trade; tadawul all share down 0.70pc Saudi Arabia stocks were lower after the close on Thursday, as losses in the Energy & Utilities, Real Estate Development and Financial Services sectors led shares lower. At the close in Saudi Arabia, the Tadawul All Share lost 0.70 percent to hit a new 6-months low. Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Saudi Arabia Stock Exchange by 151 to 113 and 22 ended unchanged. Crude oil for November delivery was down 0.36 percent or 0.30 to $83.92 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for…

Stock Market Indexes Details Date Level Ch. This Week ch. Mon. ch. Ann. ch. YTD ICEX [+] 10/06/2023 1,897.16 0 -1.74% -6.49% -14.02% -13.74% NIFTY [+] 10/05/2023 19,545.75 0.56% -0.47% -0.15% 13.15% 7.96% JCI Jakarta [+] 10/05/2023 6,874.83 -0.17% -0.94% -1.67% -2.83% 0.35% TA-35 [+] 10/05/2023 1,830.65 -0.49% -2.20% -0.84% -0.40% 1.88% ASE Amman [+] 10/05/2023 2,471.46 0.74% 2.44% 2.63% -0.07% -1.20% KASE [+] 10/06/2023 4,070.56 -0.06% -0.81% 5.52% 30.25% 25.18% KSW Kuwait [+] 10/05/2023 7,401.70 -0.77% -1.99% -2.63% -8.94% -8.80% KSE Kyrgyz [+] 10/06/2023 2,567.34 0 -2.84% -15.08% 36.13% 11.02% LSX Index [+] 10/05/2023 1,071.63 0.44% 0.86% 5.91% 29.90%…

CPI Countries Countries Date CPI Interannual Accum. since January Brazil [+] August 2023 4.1% 2.8% Belarus [+] January 2022 10.4% 1.5% Belize [+] August 2023 3.4% 2.8% Canada [+] August 2023 4.0% 3.7% Switzerland [+] August 2023 1.6% 1.9% Chile [+] August 2023 5.3% 2.6% China [+] August 2023 0.1% 0.5% Ghana [+] July 2023 10.4% 17.3% Equatorial Guinea [+] August 2023 1.4% 0.9% Guatemala [+] August 2023 4.5% 2.9% Honduras [+] December 2022 9.8% 9.8% Hungary [+] August 2023 16.4% 5.6% Indonesia [+] August 2023 3.3% 1.4% Israel [+] August 2023 4.1% 3.0% Peru [+] September 2022 8.8% 6.9%…

World bank lowers Bangladesh’s economic growth projection for fy24 The World Bank on Tuesday said Bangladesh’s economy may grow at a slower pace in the current FY24 than it did in the previous fiscal year as it faced economic headwinds such as high inflation, external payment pressure, financial sector vulnerabilities and uncertainty. In their latest report, “Bangladesh Development Update- New Frontiers in Poverty Reduction”, it also stated that Bangladesh has had a good recovery record, especially post-Covid-19 pandemic period. To bring that space again and to overcome these challenges, Bangladesh should not delay in reforming its financial sector, and must…

Canada-India row: navigating the downside risks to dry bulk? The Impact on dry bulk shipping demand is likely to be minimal as the bilateral relations between Canada and India crumbled to an all-time low. The Political row between Canada and India escalated last week, with both countries taking diplomatic actions to take a stance. The trade talks between the two countries have already been halted. However, Drewry expects a minimal impact on dry bulk shipping, even if trade between them deteriorates further. Ship recycling activity enters slow season The Ship recycling market hasn’t shown any signs of vibrancy over the…

Korea zinc expands nickel production Korea Zinc, the world’s largest zinc smelter by output, is expanding its nickel business and embracing battery materials to drive growth as it aims to capitalise on US efforts to reduce dependence on China in the global electric vehicle supply chain. “This China decoupling momentum is creating great opportunities for us and Korea as a whole,” Park Ki-deok, the president of the South Korean company, told the Financial Times. “We are the best alternative to China to meet the IRA conditions.” The Inflation Reduction Act, US president Joe Biden’s flagship climate legislation, offers billions of…

Organizational Inertia All organizations need a discipline that makes them face up to reality. All organizations need to know that virtually no program or activity will perform effectively for a long time without modification and redesign. Eventually every activity becomes obsolete. Among organizations that ignore this fact, the worst offender if government. Indeed, the inability to stop doing anything is the central disease of government and a major reason why government today is sick. Hospitals and universities are only a little better than government in getting rid of yesterday. Businessmen are just as sentimental about yesterday as bureaucrats. They are…

Globalization, through international trade, has facilitated the exchange of goods and services across borders. This has brought about both positive and negative consequences. On the positive side, globalization has allowed nations to benefit from specialization, where countries focus on producing goods and services they are most efficient at, leading to increased productivity and economic growth. It has also encouraged the spread of knowledge and new technologies, promoting innovation and development. Balancing the advantages of globalization with addressing its negative consequences remains a complex challenge for governments and policymakers worldwide. It requires a thoughtful and nuanced approach to ensure that the…

The close friendship and multi-dimensional relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are indeed significant. The planned $25 billion investment from Saudi Arabia in various sectors, including agriculture, mining, and IT, will likely have a substantial impact on Pakistan’s economy. This investment is not only a testament to the strong political and economic ties but also demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s commitment to boosting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Pakistan. Furthermore, the presence of over 2 million Pakistani expatriates in Saudi Arabia and their role as the largest source of remittances for Pakistan adds another layer of importance to this relationship. These remittances…

Pakistan: Export Receipts By Saudi Arabia (Thousand US $) Year Jan-11 Feb-11 Mar-11 Apr-11 May-11 Apr-17 May-17 Jun-17 Jul-17 Aug-17 Value 30,586 30,919 37,029 35,410 40,162 27,099 30,790 28,276 25,235 31,075 Year Jun-11 Jul-11 Aug-11 Sep-11 Oct-11 Sep-17 Oct-17 Nov-17 Dec-17 Jan-18 Value 44,454 35,481 41,033 37,826 32,815 23,065 27,618 29,531 27,631 27,507 Year Nov-11 Dec-11 Jan-12 Feb-12 Mar-12 Feb-18 Mar-18 Apr-18 May-18 Jun-18 Value 30,375 34,909 35,581 35,710 41,015 25,323 26,351 27,220 26,569 20,371 Year Apr-12 May-12 Jun-12 Jul-12 Aug-12 Jul-18 Aug-18 Sep-18 Oct-18 Nov-18 Value 47,047 49,313 34,751 38,824 39,038 27,008 22,527 23,398 28,466 23,220 Year Sep-12 Oct-12…

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 (Sep 22 2023) Currency Symbol Buying Selling Australian Dollar AUD 198 200 Bahrain Dinar BHD 781.13 789.13 Canadian Dollar CAD 220 222.2 China Yuan CNY 40.22 40.62 Danish Krone DKK 42.35 42.75 Euro EUR 317 320 Hong Kong Dollar HKD…

China stocks hit 10-month low on hawkish US Fed stance China and Hong Kong stocks slipped further on Thursday as risk sentiment was hit after the US Federal Reserve signalled another rate hike by year-end and much tighter monetary policy through 2024 than previously expected. China’s blue-chip CSI 300 Index declined 0.9 percent to close at its lowest since November 2022, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 1.3 percent. Asian stocks followed Wall Street’s lacklustre lead, dipping across the board as the Fed stiffened its hawkish monetary policy stance, pressuring markets. The Fed held interest rates steady, as expected,…

Stock Market Indexes Details Date Level Ch. This Week ch. Mon. ch. Ann. ch. YTD OMX Riga [+] 12/30/2023 1,152.80 -13.29% -13.29% -13.29% -0.10% -0.10% OMX Vilnius [+] 12/30/2023 947.14 0.61% 0.61% 0.61% -0.01% -0.01% LuxX [+] 09/21/2023 1,427.30 -0.35% -0.16% -0.37% 6.99% -2.29% FBMKLCI [+] 12/30/2023 1,495.49 3.26% 3.26% 3.26% 0 0 MSE Malta [+] 12/30/2023 3,554.18 -3.74% -3.74% -3.74% 0 0 SEMDEX [+] 12/30/2023 2,055.25 -1.56% -1.56% -1.56% 0 0 IPC MEXBOL [+] 12/30/2023 48,463.86 -6.72% -6.72% -6.72% 0 0 MSE TOP-20 [+] 09/18/2023 34,826.47 -0.55% -0.55% -3.12% -1.87% -7.29% MONEX20 [+] 09/21/2023 14,899.87 0.88% 0.44% -0.33% 29.01%…

CPI Countries Countries Date CPI Interannual Accum. since January United States [+] August 2023 3.7% 3.5% United Kingdom [+] August 2023 6.7% 3.2% Germany [+] August 2023 6.1% 3.8% France [+] August 2023 4.8% 4.1% Japan [+] August 2023 3.1% 1.7% Spain [+] August 2023 2.6% 3.0% Italy [+] August 2023 5.5% 1.0% Belize [+] July 2023 2.8% 1.6% Canada [+] August 2023 4.0% 3.7% Switzerland [+] August 2023 1.6% 1.9% Chile [+] August 2023 5.3% 2.6% Netherlands [+] August 2023 3.0% 2.2% Norway [+] August 2023 4.8% 3.2% New Zealand [+] June 2023 6.0% 2.3% Panama [+] August 2023…

China’s economic malaise was perfectly predictable There is very little doubt that the Chinese economy is currently in dire straits. Not only have property prices fallen for two years now, but there are also concerns about the economy entering a period of deflation (or persistently falling prices). A deflationary spiral works in the same way as an inflationary one, except in reverse. As prices fall, households cut back on spending in anticipation of prices falling further; firms cut back on hiring and investments in expectation of future reductions in wages and other costs. Such decisions may be individually rational, but…

Blank sailing trends will persist This analytical piece provides an in-depth examination of current trends in blank sailings across major shipping routes, encompassing the Transpacific, Transatlantic, and Asia-North Europe & Mediterranean trades. Shipping firms cancel or exclude planned journeys for various reasons, including seasonal demand shifts, trade imbalances, port congestion, labor disputes, adverse weather, or unforeseen events like the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021-2022, carriers added extra voyages to meet rising demand, but supply chain issues caused ships to get stuck in port queues, resulting in numerous cancellations despite increased capacity. Newbuilding activity settles down Newbuilding ordering activity was on the…

Rice gap hybrid rice production to increase crop yield The price of rice has increased to 8.7 percent in August from 4.2 percent in July 2023, or double the amount, according to a Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) report. To respond to this situation, Dr. Frisco Malabanan, MRIDP Productivity enhancement focal person, said hybrid rice will assure food supply sufficiency in the country as the population increases over time. Hybrid rice, espoused by the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program (MRIDP), is expected to increase production per area with a reduced production cost. Malabanan said the increase in population requires a concomitant…

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; other wise, 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 CEP 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…

The investors did not have high expectations from their businesses under the struggling economy but keep running the businesses under making minimum investment just to avoid a halt to activities, said experts. Through clearing the way for profit repatriation to headquarters abroad the experts also emphasised that the Government of Pakistan should have given top priority to foreign financiers, which would have given them confidence and encouraged the investors to pour more capital. Net FDI in Pakistan ($ Million) Sector 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24(July) Oil & Gas 249 146 372 349.8 311.4 251 195.3 135.1…

The Global GDP growth according to the WTO forecast for April 2023, was expected to be 2.4 per cent in 2023. Both trade and growth are below the last 12 years averages of 2.6 and 2.7 per cent, respectively. In this situation, countries need to have strong trade integrations besides abstaining from trade barriers. The trade growth was projected to be 1.7 per cent in 2023, higher from earlier forecast of 1.0 per cent in October 2022. The slowdown in trade growth was because of weak global demand in 2022. A similar situation can also be observed in the regional…

Over a period of time, inflation is on the increase in the general price level of goods and services along with worrying economic stability. Economists recorded that in the economy the demand-supply imbalance creates inflation. Since the emergence of industrialisation and globalisation of markets, local also global factors are responsible for inflationary pressure. It has been noted that the Russia-Ukraine war, disruptions in the global supply chain, overloaded ports, logistical challenges and strong merchandise demand in recent years have intensified inflationary pressures. Inflation grew in 2022 considerably in many countries around the world. According to data released by World of…

Composition of GDP (at current prices) in Pakistan: Expenditure Approach Details FY2021 FY2022 FY2023 FY2021 FY2022 FY2023 FY2021 FY2022 FY2023 As percent of GDP (MP) Growth Rates (%) Point Contribution Household Consumption 82.49 84.85 83.43 20.37 22.72 24.95 16.40 18.75 21.17 NPISH Consumption 0.97 0.89 0.80 11.03 9.77 13.66 0.11 0.09 0.12 General Government Consumption 10.93 10.50 9.73 8.89 14.60 17.84 1.05 1.60 1.87 Total Consumption [C] 94.39 96.24 93.96 18.82 21.65 24.07 17.56 20.44 23.16 Gross Fixed Investment 12.82 14.01 11.92 14.93 30.35 8.14 1.96 3.89 1.14 Private 9.85 10.54 8.81 12.62 27.66 6.18 1.30 2.73 0.65 Public including…

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 Currency Rate As Per Open Market (Sep 08, 2023) Currency Symbol Buying Selling Australian Dollar AUD 198 200 Bahrain Dinar BHD 816.3 824.3 Canadian Dollar CAD 228.8 230 China Yuan CNY 41.79 42.19 Danish Krone DKK 44.04 44.44 Euro EUR 323.8 327 Hong Kong Dollar HKD 39.15…

Nasdaq heads for fourth day of losses Stocks opened mixed Thursday as concerns over further interest-rate hikes loom and a tech selloff continues. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 55 points, or 0.2 percent. The S&P 500 dropped 0.6 percent, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite fell 1.4 percent. It was the fourth straight day of declines for the Nasdaq as Apple (ticker: AAPL) shares tumbled. News yesterday that China banned the use of iPhones for central government officials at work was continuing to weigh heavily on the stock. Recent hawkish comments from Federal Reserve officials did not shut down the…

Stock Market Indexes Details Date Level Ch. This Week ch. Mon. ch. Ann. ch. YTD BUX [+] 12/30/2023 43,793.76 -21.64% -21.64% -21.64% 0 0 ICEX [+] 09/08/2023 2,011.64 0 -2.91% -2.28% -16.82% -8.54% NIFTY [+] 09/07/2023 19,727.05 0.59% 1.50% 0.66% 11.93% 8.96% JCI Jakarta [+] 09/07/2023 6,954.81 -0.59% -0.33% 0.99% -3.23% 1.52% TA-35 [+] 09/07/2023 1,826.54 -0.72% -1.15% -2.45% -7.29% 1.65% ASE Amman [+] 09/07/2023 2,411.01 0.44% -0.12% -1.36% -2.79% -3.62% KASE [+] 09/08/2023 3,875.72 0.04% 0.62% 3.23% 23.23% 19.19% KSW Kuwait [+] 09/07/2023 7,691.23 0.69% 0.01% -3.74% -8.95% -5.23% KSE Kyrgyz [+] 09/07/2023 3,023.20 0 0 1.82% 56.05% 30.73%…

CPI Countries Countries Date CPI Interannual Accum. since January United States [+] July 2023 3.2% 3.0% United Kingdom [+] July 2023 6.8% 2.9% Germany [+] August 2023 6.1% 3.8% France [+] August 2023 4.8% 4.1% Norway [+] July 2023 5.4% 4.0% New Zealand [+] June 2023 6.0% 2.3% Panama [+] July 2023 0.6% 1.6% Peru [+] September 2022 8.8% 6.9% Philippines [+] July 2023 4.7% 1.5% Pakistan [+] December 2023 0% 0% Poland [+] July 2023 10.8% 5.4% State of Palestine [+] December 2018 0.3% 0.3% Paraguay [+] August 2023 2.9% 2.0% Romania [+] July 2023 9.4% 4.4% Russia [+]…