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Aurangzeb Pushes Pakistan’s Economic and Digital Agenda in Washington Talks – SUCH TV

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Aurangzeb Pushes Pakistan’s Economic and Digital Agenda in Washington Talks – SUCH TV



Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, held a series of high-level meetings in Washington, DC, focusing on deepening economic cooperation and promoting Pakistan’s digital and financial agenda.

On the sidelines of the IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings, he met World Bank President Ajay Banga, highlighting Pakistan’s PM’s UNGA engagement, flood-response efforts, and post-assessment support.

He also briefed on provincial MoUs under the Country Partnership Framework and sought additional support through the International Development Association (IDA), while discussing reforms in the gas and power sectors for long-term efficiency.

Senator Aurangzeb also met Dr. Adnan Chilwan, Group CEO of Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), appreciating DIB’s role as the leading arranger of Pakistan’s sovereign Sukuk.

He highlighted the recent IMF Staff Level Agreement (SLA) and international ratings upgrades as indicators of Pakistan’s improving economic outlook.

The minister also discussed ongoing privatisation efforts, including the First Women Bank, and plans to diversify funding across USD, Panda, and Sukuk markets.

The finance minister further met with management teams from Sharjah Islamic Bank and Ajman Bank, thanking them for their support in Pakistan’s recent financial initiatives. He briefed them on the government’s plan to issue its inaugural Panda Bond in China and emphasised coordination with the Debt Management Office (DMO) for further collaboration.

In discussions with Dr. Hajar El Haddaoui, Director General of the Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO), Senator Aurangzeb highlighted Pakistan’s digital transformation, focusing on IT, payment rails, and digitisation of government payments.

He welcomed DCO’s expansion in Pakistan and stressed capacity building, skills development, and inclusive digital frameworks.

Finally, Aurangzeb met with the TCX Currency Exchange Fund delegation, led by Chief Investment Officer Othman Boukrami, briefing them on Pakistan’s plans to extend debt maturities and access international capital markets through Panda Bonds, Eurobonds, and International Sukuk.

The finance czar assured the TCX team of a detailed follow-up on submitted proposals to enhance future cooperation.

Aurangzeb also met with officials from Fitch Ratings and thanked the agency for upgrading Pakistan’s credit rating to B- with a stable outlook, and expressed satisfaction that all three major international rating agencies were now aligned in their assessments.

He briefed the Fitch team on the recently announced SLA with the IMF and highlighted Pakistan’s progress on key structural reforms in taxation, energy, privatisation, and state-owned enterprises.

He underscored the government’s resolve to expedite the privatisation process to enhance efficiency and fiscal sustainability.

Senator Aurangzeb also apprised the team of the government’s ongoing efforts to issue Panda Bonds in the Chinese market and referred to successful trade and tariff negotiations with the US Administration, which resulted in competitive tariff rates for Pakistan.

The meeting concluded with an interactive exchange, during which the finance minister responded to queries from the Fitch team and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining macroeconomic stability and sustaining reform momentum.



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Toy sellers’ keep close watch on under 16s social media ban

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Toy sellers’ keep close watch on under 16s social media ban


Kevin PeacheyCost of living correspondent

Getty Images A Lego creation of a Formula 1 car and driver taken from above.Getty Images

The link between toys and sports has proved successful for the sector

UK toy sales have risen for the first time in five years, but sellers are braced for the potential impact of any social media ban for under-16s.

The value of toy sales rose by 6% last year, compared with the previous year, according to research company Circana, bringing some much-needed cheer for a sector that has struggled since the pandemic.

The rebound has been driven by the so-called kidult market – which relates to players over the age of 12, some of whom are influenced by trends on social media.

But experts gathered at the annual Toy Fair in London on Tuesday said that films, video games and playground chat could still help push further growth in 2026.

Cost of living pressures have loomed over families in recent years, although spending on children – particularly at Christmas – has remained a priority for many.

Covid lockdowns brought a boost to the sector when toys and games became central to keeping children and adults entertained at home.

Sales dipped since then, until last year when the number of toys sold rose by 1% compared with 2024, according to Circana.

With kidults spending more, the value of sales rose by 6% – the first increase since 2020, according to Circana. It valued the UK market at £3.9bn last year.

Melissa Symonds, executive director of UK toys at Circana, described last year as a “clear turning point” for the sector.

Cinema, streaming, video game and sport tie-ins – such as Minecraft and Formula 1 – all proved successful.

Symonds said that excluding the unusual circumstances of the pandemic, last year recorded the first organic growth since 2016.

Social media trends

Kidults accounted for 17% of the toy market in 2016, but this had risen to 30% by last year.

Building sets, predominantly Lego, has appealed to adults, but trends amplified on social media have also led to a 12% growth in collectibles across generations. Pokémon, K-Pop Demon Hunters, and Hello Kitty have all proved to be “market-moving trends”, according to Circana.

Symonds said the industry would be considering the impact of the social media ban for under-16s in Australia, and the potential for a similar ban in the UK.

She said manufacturers and retailers may need to reconsider how some of these toys were marketed if bans were brought in more widely.

Kerri Atherton, from the British Toy and Hobby Association – which is hosting its annual trade fair at London’s Olympia, said it was still too early to know what the fallout would be.

She described 2025 as a pivotal moment for the UK toy sector, but said businesses and consumers still faced financial challenges going into 2026.



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Bank of England must ‘be very alert’ to Trump tensions, says governor

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Bank of England must ‘be very alert’ to Trump tensions, says governor



The governor of the Bank of England has said the central bank has “to be very alert” to the potential impact from heightened geopolitical tensions as President Donald Trump seeks to seize control of Greenland.

Andrew Bailey told MPs at Parliament’s Treasury Committee that the tensions would have consequences for global financial stability.

However, he highlighted that the Bank believes global financial markets have been “more muted” in response to Mr Trump’s plans and his threats to hit opposing countries with tariffs.

Earlier this week, the President said the UK and other countries pushing back would face 10% tariffs on all products from next month, with this to increase to 25% from June 1, until a deal is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland.

On Tuesday, Mr Bailey said: “The level of geopolitical uncertainty and geopolitical issues is a big consideration because they can have financial stability consequences.

“Let me put that in a bit of context in two respects. One, having said that, growth in the world economy was a lot more stable than we thought it would be.

“The second point is about financial markets and is a fairly similar point, that we worry considerably about how markets react to those things.

“Market reactions have actually been more muted than we would have feared and expected.

“Overriding those points, I take neither of those as a point of assurance. We have to be very alert to these things.”

Financial markets have been weaker so far this week as investors and traders digest Mr Trump’s tariff threats, which would cause further trade disruption.

The FTSE 100 Index dropped by around 120 points soon after opening on Tuesday, falling by 1.2% to 10,075 points.

This followed a 0.4% fall on Monday while Germany’s Dax and France’s Cac 40 also slid in value.



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Silver prices soar! White metal adds over Rs 85,000 so far in 2026; is it the right time to buy? – The Times of India

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Silver prices soar! White metal adds over Rs 85,000 so far in 2026; is it the right time to buy? – The Times of India


Silver made a stellar debut in 2026, soaring over 35%, or nearly Rs 85,000 per kg, investors rush towards the precious metal amid tightening supplies and escalating geopolitical tensions involving the US, Iran and Greenland. The white metal’s momentum further strengthened after MCX silver futures decisively crossed the Rs 3 lakh per kg milestone. During the latest trading session, prices advanced by more than 2.5%, rising nearly Rs 8,000 to settle at Rs 3,19,949 per kg. The fresh uptick followed renewed strains between the US and the European Union after US President Donald Trump threatened to acquire Greenland and impose punitive tariffs on Europe. Here’s what experts are sayingAamir Makda, commodity and currency analyst at Choice Broking, told ET, “silver at $94 per troy ounce, a level once considered unthinkable, is driven by a “perfect storm” of industrial scarcity and geopolitical shifts. Looking at Technical charts, we are expecting further upward momentum in Silver and immediate support would be at 20-DEMA level placed at Rs 255,100,” Makda, however, flagged early signs of fatigue in the rally. “Although in recent sessions, with a price up move, a bearish RSI divergence has emerged, and it is a classic “Red flag” warning,” he said, explaining that while prices are making new highs, the underlying momentum is weakening. He also highlighted a drop in open interest to 9,850 lots in the March contract, even as prices climbed, indicating long unwinding in silver. Traders holding long positions, he said, should consider booking profits at current levels. Jigar Trivedi, senior analyst at Reliance Securities, said the market may now enter a phase of time-based consolidation. While he acknowledged the possibility of near-term consolidation, Trivedi said the prevailing political and geopolitical environment could still push prices higher, potentially towards the psychological level of $100 per ounce. He noted that the broader international trend remains firmly bullish, though the risk–reward equation currently stands evenly balanced at 1:1 after the sharp rise over the past 13–14 months. In rupee terms, he identified Rs 3,30,000 per kg as the next important resistance. From an investment lens, the recent breakout is being seen as part of a longer-term structural trend rather than a short-lived spike. Justin Khoo, Senior Market Analyst at VT Market, said the move is supported by supply constraints and strong industrial demand, particularly from solar energy, electronics and electric vehicle segments. While elevated prices increase volatility, he said investors should focus on strategic positioning instead of chasing record highs. Tactical profit-taking may suit short-term traders, but for long-term investors, he said silver continues to act as a hedge against inflation and market uncertainty. Khoo added that the broader approach should be to buy on meaningful declines while maintaining core holdings, with risk management remaining central. Although the trend still points to further upside, disciplined entry and exit strategies are increasingly important at current levels. Akshat Garg, head of research and product at Choice Wealth, said new investors could consider silver ETFs as part of a diversified multi-asset portfolio to tap into the metal’s structural strengths. Existing investors, he said, should avoid exiting at current levels, as the underlying support remains intact.Garg further added citing experts that new investors should allocate 5–10% to silver and gold ETFs within a broader portfolio, viewing the exposure as diversification rather than a momentum-driven trade. Existing holders, he said, should remain invested through volatility, as institutional flows, ETF participation and long-term fundamentals continue to provide support through 2026. Analysts also point to silver’s dual identity as both a monetary hedge and an industrial commodity. With more than half of demand now coming from sectors such as solar power, electric vehicles, data centres and electrification, and with supply constrained by limited mine output and recycling, the market remains tight. This structure, they say, positions silver to potentially outperform gold during growth phases while still offering protection during volatile periods.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)



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