Monetary policy

Central bank being urged to call emergency monetary policy meeting

Stands at 1.32%, prompts calls for cut in SBP’s key monetary policy rate

Says central bank provided indirect loans to govt leading to high inflation

Central bank takes cautious approach against likely uptick in inflation readings amid ongoing talks with IMF

KSE-100 index sheds 69.42 points, settles at 65,656.62

BI raised key policy rate by 250 basis points from Aug 2022 to Oct 2023

Marks departure from earlier predictions suggesting possibility of modest rate cut in Dec 2023

Leaves policy rate unchanged but signals it has peaked out at current level

Bitcoin fell 5% amid sell-off for cryptocurrencies due to a concern over tighter US monetary policy.

Monetary policy to remain flexible

Benchmark KSE-100 index climbs 593.25 points to settle at 45,450.31

Benchmark index advances 90.47 points to settle at 44,857.06

Benchmark index drops 116.42 points to settle at 45,868.04

Status quo of policy rate is in line with market expectations

Seek reduction in policy rate in line with regional trend

Benchmark KSE-100 index dives 554.66 points to settle at 39,632.52

Decision taken by central bank is in line with market expectations

State Bank of Pakistan aims to support manufacturing, industrial sectors to further enhance their capacity

Benchmark KSE-100 index gains 170 points to settle at 42,504.76

Benchmark KSE-100 index drops 64.14 points to settle at 42,282.28

Benchmark index crawls up 0.64 point to settle at 42,531.31

Decision comes on back of improved inflation outlook, downside risks to growth

Austerity measures, SBP’s double-digit policy rate hurt investors’ confidence

Emphasise on keeping economic activity alive to avert crisis

Improved inflation outlook provides central bank room to cut rate

Planning Commission terms Rs600b allocation for PSDP insufficient to boost economic growth

Experts predict SBP may slash interest rate by another 100-300bps

Revision comes due to deteriorating global and domestic outlook

Suggest increase in spending on health sector to tackle slowdown caused by COVID-19

IMF official says these countries should devalue currencies instead of giving credit concessions

SBP is terrified by the risk of even more hot money leaving the country

Pakistan not to renegotiate $6b package – a decision that may make tax collection target unrealistic

Move in line with expectations due to low inflation outlook, combating virus impact on economy

SBP says Islamabad prefers short-term loans, which seems contrary to facts

PM says government will facilitate construction sector; health, housing and justice systems remain priority areas

Cite low inflation reading, reduction in profit rate on debt securities

SBP Governor Reza Baqir tells PAC people do not want to come in tax net

State Bank will try to cut rate slowly to avoid capital outflow

Zubair pleads apex court to order govt to bring down policy rate to 6-7%

There is a tacit admission by the Governor that hot money flows are like a fair weather friend

Availability of working capital at such high rate led to a growing disinterest of business community in bank borrowing

Says Pakistan to miss projected economic growth rate of 3.5% due to poor crops production in 2019-20

Controlling high inflation may remain big challenge in short run

Announcement largely in line with market expectations

Anticipation comes due to lower-than-expected inflation reading for Aug

Central bank revises up inflation forecast to 11-12% for ongoing fiscal year

In the past six sessions, the currency dropped a cumulative Rs2.54, or 1.61%

May attract global fund managers but it will be at the cost of economy

US-based global research house says interest rate hike to help curb inflation, rupee to become stable

Increase comes in anticipation of acceleration in inflation under IMF’s loan programme