Tuesday, April 07 2026

Selling returns to bourse, KSE-100 down 1,700 points
Selling pressure was observed at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), with the benchmark KSE-100 Index shedding over 1,700 points during the opening minutes of trading on Tuesday. At 9:40am, the benchmark index was hovering at 149,481.28, down by 1,726.53 points or 1.14%. Selling was observed in key sectors, including automobile assemblers, cement, commercial banks, fertiliser, oil and gas exploration companies, OMCs, power generation and refinery. Index-heavy stocks, including ARL, HUBCO, MARI, OGDC, POL, PPL, PSO, FFC, HBL, MCB, NBP and UBL, traded in the red. “The psychological barrier of 150k has been shattered as a ‘perfect storm’ of geopolitical ultimatums and domestic fiscal pressures triggers a massive sell-off,” said Behtari Capital. “With the Trump-Iran deadline hours away and a massive $3.5 billion FX drain looming, the market is in wait-and-see mode. Focus on high-yield, export-oriented IT stocks that are benefiting from SBP’s recent easing,” it added.
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Gold price per tola gains Rs1,100 in Pakistan
Gold prices in Pakistan increased on Monday in line with their gain in the international market. In the local market, gold price per tola reached Rs491,462 after a gain of Rs1,100 during the day. Similarly, 10-gram gold was sold at Rs421,349 after it increased by Rs943, according to rates shared by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA). On Saturday, gold prices remained stable at Rs490,362. The international rate of gold was up by $11 to reach $4,687 per ounce (with a premium of $20). Meanwhile, the price of silver decreased by Rs50 to reach Rs7,744 per tola.
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Rupee gains ground against US dollar
The Pakistani rupee registered marginal gain, appreciating 0.01% against the US dollar in the inter-bank market on Monday. At close, the local currency settled at 279.07, a gain of Re0.03, against the greenback. On Friday, the local unit closed at 279.10. Meanwhile, the US dollar was steady on Monday, while the yen flirted with the crucial 160 per dollar level as nervous investors took ​stock of the escalating Iran war. The euro eased 0.13% to $1.151 in early trading, while sterling last fetched $1.3187. ​The dollar index, which measures the US currency against six rivals, was at 100.2. The Australian dollar was 0.13% higher at $0.6893, wobbling near the two-month low it hit last week.Additionally, oil prices were little changed in choppy trade on Monday. Oil prices inched up in choppy ​trade on Monday, as investors awaited clarity on the status of talks between the US and Iran and remained ‌wary about sustained supply losses due to shipping disruptions.
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PIA limits operations, ends discounts amid hike in jet fuel
The management of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has decided to end all discounts amid rising oil prices in the international market. The development came during a high-level meeting held on Monday, the national carrier said in an official statement. “In a high-level meeting, a plan has been prepared to deal with the continuously rising prices and potential losses,” read the statement, adding that PIA has taken a policy decision to end all discounts. “Only children and infants will continue to receive concessions,” it said. The national carrier has also suspended its Beijing and Kuala Lumpur operations from 11 April and 14 April, respectively.
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Weak grid holding back solar boom in Pakistan: report
The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has highlighted that outdated grid infrastructure is acting as a critical bottleneck to the country’s solar energy expansion, urging authorities to take urgent modernisation measures to support rising distributed generation and unlock the sector’s full potential. The CCP it its study on the solar market, proposed targeted reforms to remove entry barriers, enhance market transparency, and boost investment in the solar sector. The study, titled “Unlocking Green Potential: A Market Competition Study of Solar Energy in Pakistan,” identified key structural challenges and outlined practical measures to strengthen grid infrastructure, improve policy clarity, and enforce quality standards, aimed at fostering competition and driving sustainable growth in the sector.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators power-gen-dist