Tuesday, March 10 2026

KSE-100 surges over 11,000 points as Trump signals possible end to Middle East conflict
A day after witnessing intense selling pressure, buying interest returned at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) as US President Donald Trump predicted the war in the Middle East could end soon. The benchmark KSE-100 Index gained nearly 8% during the opening hours of trading on Tuesday. At 9:22am, the benchmark index was hovering at 155,783.89, up 9,303.75 points, or 6.35%. Following the increase, a Market Halt was triggered, and all equity-based markets were suspended. “All TRE Certificate Holders are hereby informed that due to a 5% increase in the KSE-30 index from the previous trading day close of the same, a Market Halt has been triggered as per PSX Regulations and all equity-based markets have been suspended accordingly,” read the notice. The market resumed trading at 10:22am. However, the index maintained its upward trajectory. Around 10:40am, the KSE-100 was hovering at 157,808.67, up by 11,328.53 points or 7.73%. Buying momentum was observed in key sectors, including automobile assemblers, cement, commercial banks, oil and gas exploration companies, OMCs and power generation. Index-heavy stocks, including ARL, HUBCO, MARI, OGDC, POL, PPL, HBL, NBP and UBL, traded in the green.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators psx stock-exchanges

Pakistan kicks off 5G spectrum auction
The federal government on Tuesday formally kicked off the long-awaited 5G spectrum auction, marking a major step towards the launch of next-generation mobile services and faster digital connectivity in the country. The auction process is being conducted by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), with the first round of bidding scheduled to last 60 minutes. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar jointly inaugurated the auction alongside PTA Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeez Ur Rehman. Officials said the first round of bidding will last 60 minutes, with three telecom operators, including Jazz, Zong and Ufone, participating in the auction.
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Asia markets rebound, oil dives as Trump says Iran war could end soon
Asian stocks rallied and oil prices plunged at the start ​of trading on Tuesday, following a volatile session for markets overnight after U.S. President Donald Trump declared the Middle East war ‌could be “over soon.” MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 2.6%, paring losses since the start of the conflict, while Brent crude futures fell as much as 10% to below $90 per barrel as trading resumed. US equity futures were more muted, with S&P 500 e-mini futures down 0.2% to pare Monday’s ​rebound. Trump’s remarks injected a burst of optimism that contrasted sharply with events in Iran, where hardliners rallied behind new Supreme ​Leader Mojtaba Khamenei in a pointed show of defiance. The competing signals whipsawed global markets on Monday: oil prices ⁠initially spiked and stocks on Wall Street tumbled before rebounding sharply after Trump’s comments and fresh reports suggesting Washington may soften sanctions on Russian ​energy.
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Inflation in Pakistan clocks in at 7% in February 2026
Pakistan’s headline inflation clocked in at 7% on a year-on-year (YoY) basis in February 2026, the highest since October 2024, showed Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) data on Monday, a reading in line with the Ministry of Finance’s estimate of 6-7%. The consumer price index (CPI) was recorded at 5.8% in January 2026. The CPI stood at 1.5% in February 2025. On month-on-month basis, it increased by 0.3% in February 2026 as compared to an increase of 0.4% in the previous month and a decrease of 0.8% in February 2025. This took 8MFY26 inflation at 5.46% against 5.85% in 8MFY25. CPI inflation (Urban) increased by 6.8% on year-on-year basis in February 2026 as compared to an increase of 5.8% in the previous month and an increased of 1.8% in February 2025.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators misc

Soneri Bank Baber Market branch achieves WWF-Pakistan’s certification
Soneri Bank announced that the Baber Market Branch, located in Landhi, Karachi received official certification under the WWF-Pakistan Green Office Programme, marking the Bank’s first certified Green Branch. This recognition reflects Soneri Bank’s strong commitment to environmental responsibility, sustainable operations, and alignment with the State Bank of Pakistan’s Green Banking Guidelines. The certification represents a significant milestone in Soneri Bank’s sustainability journey and reinforces its role as a responsible financial institution dedicated to reducing environmental impact while creating long-term social value. The Baber Market Branch was selected strategically to maximize environmental and social impact in Landhi, while promoting awareness around waste management, water conservation, and energy efficiency.
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