Business

Brent futures fell 0.7%, to $27.49 a barrel, while WTI rose 1.5%, to $20.17

Uptrend comes mainly due to price rise in global market

People reduce use of banknotes out of fear of contracting virus

Inquiry reveals independent power producers in Pakistan made excessive profit due to flawed policies

Finance adviser says comprehensive relief package will be offered to industry

Pakistan also expects to get $1.5b relief in shape of delay in repayment of loans to bilateral creditors

Benchmark index increases 87.27 points to settle at 31,329.46

Revision comes due to deteriorating global and domestic outlook

Increase comes due to official inflows

Both Brent, WTI contracts are poised for weekly losses of around 10%

Poor US economic figures spook investors, fuelling worries of full impact of pandemic

Predicts impact of the virus on the region will be severe, across the board, and unprecedented

Planning ministry says sponsors need to provide fresh analyses

Measures by OPEC+, others to cut output should allow demand to start exceeding supply

Financing aimed at enhancing water availability in Punjab

Businessmen argue cottage industries will be unable to pay 4% interest

Investors also fretted on news that US President Donald Trump had frozen US funding for the World Health Organization

Pakistan will have to pay $19b worth of debt, face big drop in remittances

Steel-maker earns Rs655.6m in Jul-Mar FY20

US crude stocks surge by 19m barrels in highest one-week increase

Power Division will discuss eight-point plan with IPPs in meeting on Thursday

Pakistan’s deficit can reach Rs4tr due to coronavirus impact, according to IMF findings

State Bank of Pakistan aims to mitigate risk of drop in foreign currency inflow

PTI govt planning to resume bilateral trade with Afghanistan

The move will free up more than $20 billion for the countries to spend on their health systems, Saudi Finance Minister

Spoilers will keep casting shadows on efforts of Pakistan, synergy so far to get out of the Grey List should continue

Benchmark index increases 0.06% to settle at 31,242.19

Demand to plummet by record 9.3m barrels per day for the year

Grim warnings over economic impact, US halting funding for WHO worries investors

Meeting comes after G7 nations express support for temporary halt to debt payments

Slumping demand due to coronavirus-related lockdowns also fuels decline

As COVID-19 sparks the steepest downturn in the global economy since the 1930s

The int’l money lender says unemployment rate in Pakistan will jump

IMF and World Bank have called for official creditors to provide relief

IMF board approves first batch of countries to receive grants

Hike in Toyota Yaris, Corolla and IMV variants comes on back of rupee depreciation

PM Imran Khan had promised immediate relief to improve liquidity of businesses

Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh says without it developing countries will be worst affected from COVID-19 pandemic

Increase comes on back of jump in prices in global market

Businessmen say revenue insufficient due to partial operation of export units amid coronavirus lockdown

State Bank of Pakistan says optimism is now subject to risks arising from spread of coronavirus

Move may hamper privatisation of state-run power plants

They present a list of demands to government including provision of cash grants and interest-free loans

World Economic Outlook’ says breathtaking downgrade will be followed by 5.8% growth in 2021

Benchmark index increases 0.61% to settle at 31,222.74

Predicted plunge in US shale output provides some support

Amount includes $23b principal loans, another $4.6b on account of interest payments

Recommends waiver on taxes on financial transactions made through mobile, internet

The OPEC+ group of oil producers agreed at the weekend to cut output by 9.7 million barrels per day in May

Finance minister says these will mitigate economic impact of COVID-19