Tuesday, March 24 2026

Stocks up nearly 3% in Pakistan on Middle East diplomacy hopes
Positive momentum returned at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Monday, amid reports of a potential diplomatic breakthrough, with mediating nations, including Pakistan, working to convene high-level talks in Islamabad as early as this week to ease tensions in the Middle East. At 9:10am, the benchmark KSE-100 Index was hovering at 157,207.89, up by 4,467.52 points or 2.92%. Buying was observed in key sectors, including automobile assemblers, cement, commercial banks, oil and gas exploration companies, OMCs and power generation. Index-heavy stocks, including DGKC, HBL, MCB, FFC, MARI, OGDC, POL, PPL and PSO traded in the green.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators psx stock-exchanges

Gold price per tola plunges record Rs43,600 in Pakistan
Gold price per tola in Pakistan significantly fell by Rs43,600 in line with decline in the international rates. In the local market, gold price per tola reached Rs447,762 after witnessing record single-day decrease in the country. Similarly, 10-gram gold was sold at the rate of Rs383,883, according to rates shared by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA). The international rate of gold decreased by $436 to $4,250 per ounce (with a premium of $20).The price of silver decreased by Rs800 to reach Rs6,884 per tola.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators misc

Gold loses over 1% as dollar firms, Fed cut hopes fade
Gold prices fell more than 1% on Tuesday, extending their slide to ‌a tenth straight session, pressured by a firm US dollar and fading hopes for near-term Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. Spot gold fell 1.6% to $4,335.18 per ounce, as of 0227 GMT. The metal fell ​to its lowest level since November 24 on Monday. US gold futures for ​April delivery fell 1.6% to $4,336.10. The dollar strengthened, making greenback-priced bullion more expensive ⁠for holders of other currencies. Prices are down “as markets continued to drive up interest rates, ​reasoning that the war in Iran will drive inflation. That global central banks will ​turn more hawkish as a result has been pushing gold lower,” said Ilya Spivak, head of global macro at Tastylive.
Related news categories: business misc

Oil rises as markets assess supply risks after Iran denies US talks
Oil prices rose in early trade on Tuesday on ​supply fears, as Iran denied it had held talks with the United States to end the war in ‌the Gulf, contradicting President Donald Trump, who said a deal could be reached soon. Brent futures rose $1.06, or 1.1%, to $101 a barrel at 0001 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) climbed $1.58, or 1.8%, to $89.71. Crude futures dropped more than 10% on Monday, after Trump said he had ordered ​a five‑day delay to attacks he had threatened on Iran’s power plants, adding the US had held ​productive talks with unnamed Iranian officials that had produced “major points of agreement”. “By shelving the plan ⁠to strike Iranian power plants for five days, the U.S. effectively sucked much of the ‘war premium’ from the ​oil price,” said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.
Related news categories: business misc oilgas-exploration oilgas-marketing

PTA approves PTML–Telenor Pakistan merger plan
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has approved the proposed amalgamation of Pak Telecom Mobile Limited (PTML) and Telenor Pakistan (Private) Limited, each a wholly owned subsidiary of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL). The PTCL shared the information in a notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Tuesday. It said that the approvals were subject to the submission of an unconditional acceptance of the conditions within 15 days. “The proposed amalgamation shall be implemented through a scheme of arrangement in accordance with applicable laws,” the listed company informed the bourse.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators tech-comm