Tuesday, December 16 2025

PSX at peak ahead of policy decision
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) opened the week on Monday with renewed optimism and rose to a record high above 170k, reflecting the extension of bullish momentum from the previous week. Investors remained somewhat upbeat ahead of the monetary policy announcement later in the day, when the central bank unexpectedly cut its policy rate by 50 basis points. The rally was largely driven by buying interest in energy stocks, alongside expectations of a reduction in the policy rate. The session saw wild swings as the KSE-100 index traded between the intra-day high of 171,002 and the low of 170,293, indicating active participation. At close, the benchmark index recorded a notable growth of 876.82 points, or 0.52%, and settled at 170,741.35. In its market wrap, KTrade Securities wrote that the PSX kicked off the week on a strong footing, extending the positive momentum seen in recent sessions. The KSE-100 index gained 877 points to close at 170,741, marking a new all-time high, as sustained buying interest kept the market firm throughout the day.
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Buying continues as MPC’s surprise rate cut lifts KSE-100 to fresh highs
Bulls continued to make further inroads at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), with the benchmark KSE-100 Index gaining nearly 800 points during the opening minutes of trading on Tuesday. At 9:35am, the benchmark index was hovering at 171,513.01, a gain of 771.67 points or 0.45%. Buying interest was observed across the board in key sectors, including automobile assembler, cement, fertiliser, oil and gas exploration companies, OMCs, power generation and refinery. Index-heavy stocks, including HUBCO, ARL, MARI, OGDC, POL, PPL, PSO, SNGP and SSGC, traded in the green. Investors rejoice after the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Monday, in a surprise move, cut the policy rate by 50 bps to support sustainable economic growth.
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Pakistan, Kuwait discuss expanding cooperation in petroleum sector
Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik held a meeting in Kuwait with Tariq Sulaiman Al-Roumi, Minister of Oil of the State of Kuwait, to discuss matters of mutual interest and strengthen bilateral cooperation in the petroleum sector. According to an official statement on Monday, the meeting was also attended by Sheikh Nawaf Al-Sabah, Chief Executive Officer of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), the CEO of KUFPEC and their senior management teams. The Pakistani delegation included Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) Managing Director Ahmed Hayat Lak and Pakistan State Oil (PSO) general manager (Supplies). The petroleum minister said the relationship between both countries was rooted in mutual respect, trust and decades-long cooperation, particularly in the petroleum sector.
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Pakistan shifts from aid to investment as economic reforms gain credibility
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb has said Pakistan is no longer seeking aid-based support and is shifting decisively towards trade- and investment-led engagement to secure long-term economic sustainability and mutually beneficial partnerships, especially with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. In an interview with CNN Business Arabia, he said this strategic direction, clearly articulated by the prime minister, reflects renewed economic confidence and reform momentum. He noted that Pakistan has remained on a comprehensive macroeconomic stabilisation programme for 18 months, producing measurable results. Inflation, which had peaked at 38%, has now fallen to single-digit levels.
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Digital payments drive Pakistan’s shift away from a cash-based economy
As digital payments reshape financial systems across emerging markets, Pakistan is undergoing one of the most significant transitions in its financial landscape. Speaking to The Express Tribune, JazzCash International Chairman and Veon Group Executive Committee Member Aamir Ibrahim said fintech solutions have become essential in countries where traditional banking has historically struggled to reach underserved populations. "In most frontier markets, mobile phones reached people long before banks did," Ibrahim noted. "That gap created an opportunity for fintechs to solve very basic, everyday problems – from making payments to opening a simple mobile wallet."
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