Business
PSX jumps 1,200 points on IMF hopes | The Express Tribune
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) opened the week on a strong note as bullish sentiment dominated trading throughout the session. Investor confidence was buoyed by expectations that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board would approve the long-awaited $1 billion disbursement for Pakistan later in the day, a development widely seen as pivotal for shaping the country’s near-term economic trajectory.
The benchmark index recorded a high of 168,755.19 and a low of 167,386.44, ultimately gaining 1,217.67 points, or 0.73%, to settle at 168,303.25. The market’s broad-based rally reflected optimism across key sectors, particularly cement, banking and fertiliser and energy.
The anticipated IMF approval has reduced uncertainty in the market, encouraging both institutional and individual investors to take fresh positions. The IMF inflow is expected to strengthen Pakistan’s external account position, support the currency, and guide fiscal reforms—all factors contributing to Monday’s upbeat performance.
KTrade Securities wrote in its market wrap that PSX kicked off the week with a solid upside, opening with a gap-up followed by a controlled consolidation phase. KSE-100 index advanced 1,217 points (+0.73%) to close at 168,303, keeping momentum firmly on the front foot.
Read: Bringing $3b investment back to PSX
Leadership came from Fauji Fertiliser, with additional strength from Systems Limited, National Bank of Pakistan, Pakistan Telecommunication, DG Khan Cement, and Pakistan Petroleum, helping sustain broader confidence.
Market participation stayed healthy, with All-Share volumes clocking in at 781 million shares. Looking ahead, sentiment remains constructive as investors position themselves ahead of today’s IMF board meeting and the expected tranche approval. On the domestic front, the operational launch of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) office added another layer of optimism, likely enhancing investor confidence.
Overall trading volume increased to 783million against last week’s close of 686.8million. Value of traded shares stood at Rs49.9billion. Shares of 482 companies were traded. Of these 244 closed higher, 197 fell and 41 remained unchanged. Pakistan Telecommunication was the volume leader with trading in 60.9million shares, gaining Rs4.44 to close at Rs49.57.
Business
EV maker Lucid suspends production guidance amid incoming CEO’s business review
The Lucid logo is shown at the Los Angeles Auto show on Nov. 20, 2025.
Mike Blake | Reuters
DETROIT — Lucid Group suspended its vehicle production guidance for the year as its incoming CEO evaluates the all-electric vehicle manufacturer’s business operations, including the potential for lower output of EVs.
The company on Tuesday also said it needs to lower its “elevated inventory” of vehicles, which for automakers has historically meant decreasing or idling vehicle production.
A company spokesman told CNBC that there is currently no plan to idle its sole U.S. plant in Arizona, but incoming CEO Silvio Napoli said he is continuing to evaluate Lucid’s business.
“An essential objective over time is to build a more cost-efficient company, one that progresses in funding its own growth. That means being rigorous in delivering our commitments,” Napoli said Tuesday on Lucid’s quarterly results call with investors. “In simple words, this means making clear choices on where to invest and, just as importantly, where not to.”
Napoli said he plans to review the company’s operations over the next several weeks before updating investors on the company’s guidance when Lucid reports its second-quarter results at an unspecified date.
The company’s prior production guidance was between 25,000 to 27,000 units in 2026. Lucid executives said plans for cost-cutting, autonomous vehicles with Uber and Nuro, and the company’s “path to profitability” outlined in an investor day in March remain intact.
Lucid has produced roughly 3,200 more vehicles than it has sold since 2024, according to its annual production and deliveries. That includes a difference of roughly 2,000 units last year and 2,400 vehicles during the first quarter of 2026.
The pulled guidance occurred as the company reported first-quarter results that were in line with preliminary results released by the company a month ago, but that still significantly missed Wall Street’s expectations.
“We ended the quarter with elevated inventory that we expect to convert to revenue and cash as deliveries normalize, while maintaining alignment between production and sales cadence. Our focus is on disciplined execution — driving structural cost improvements, managing capital efficiently, and improving operating leverage as we scale,” Lucid CFO Taoufiq Boussaid said in a statement.
Here’s how the company performed in the first quarter compared with average estimates compiled by LSEG:
- Loss per share: $3.46 vs. a loss of $2.64 expected
- Revenue: $282.5 million vs. $440.4 million expected
The company’s revenue increased roughly 20% year-over-year but was far lower than the 87.4% jump analysts were expecting, according to LSEG.
The all-electric vehicle maker said a seat supplier issue “significantly affected” deliveries of its crucial Lucid Gravity SUV during the quarter that resulted in a stop-sale of the vehicle due to safety concerns.
Boussaid said the seat issue caused a more than $200 million revenue impairment during the first quarter.
Lucid produced 5,500 vehicles and delivered 3,093 vehicles in the first quarter of 2026.
The automaker, which is heavily backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, said it has sufficient liquidity through the second half of 2027. It ended the first quarter with approximately $4.7 billion, including a recent capital raise and delayed draw term loan provided by PIF.
Lucid on Tuesday said production of a new vehicle plant in Saudi Arabia continues despite the ongoing war in nearby Iran. The company said it has not experienced any significant interruptions to the facility other than some delays in shipping.
The company also said it is adjusting its production reporting to count vehicles once they complete the company’s “factory gating process,” which includes vehicles that may not be completely built and are sent to operations elsewhere for completion.
Business
Long-term borrowing costs in UK reach 28-year high amid rising inflation
Britain’s long-term borrowing costs have surged to their highest level since 1998, driven by escalating inflation worries and political uncertainty ahead of this week’s local elections.
On Tuesday afternoon, the yield on 30-year UK government bonds, known as gilts, hit a 28-year peak, climbing 0.14 percentage points to 5.798%.
This increase in yield signifies a drop in bond prices, as the two move inversely. Consequently, the government faces higher expenses when seeking to borrow from financial markets.
The yield on 10-year gilts also rose, lifting by 0.15 percentage points to 5.122%, though this remains below recent highs reported last month.
In contrast, US 10-year treasury notes were flat on Tuesday, despite a steady increase over recent weeks.
Gilt yields have grown amid growing predictions that the conflict in Iran will drive higher inflation due to spiking energy costs, which is then likely to cause the Bank of England to increase interest rates.
City traders currently expect the central bank to vote for at least two interest rate hikes in the coming months, despite the Bank maintaining the current rate of 3.75% last week.
The rise in gilt yields means the Government will face higher debt interest costs, providing more strain on the Chancellor’s spending powers.
It comes amid a backdrop of significant pressure on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in the run-up to the UK local elections.
The pound was broadly flat at 1.353 versus the dollar on Tuesday.
Business
Border politics – how similar jobs in the same firm deliver different tax bills
Workers in southern Scotland can find themselves paying more tax than colleagues who live south of the border.
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