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Debt burden triples in a decade | The Express Tribune

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Debt burden triples in a decade | The Express Tribune



ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan’s debt burden has reached alarming levels, with every citizen is now burdened with Rs318,252 debt compared to Rs90,047 a decade ago, according to a new report by the Economic Policy & Business Development (EPBD) — an independent think tank providing strategic advice to policy makers on the economic policies ecosystem.

The report revealed that the country’s debt has been rising at an average annual rate of 13%, effectively tripling over the last 10 years. At the current pace, the burden doubles every six years.

Pakistan’s total debt now stands at 70.2% of the national economy, a ratio significantly higher than in other countries of the region. The report warned that the trend poses a serious threat to fiscal stability if corrective measures are not adopted swiftly.

It recommended that the government impose strict financial discipline, expand the tax net, and reduce the policy rate from 11% to 9%. A two-percentage point cut, it noted, could lower interest costs on loans by Rs12 trillion, provide fiscal space, and boost business competitiveness.



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Best Buy’s holiday sales disappoint, but retailer shows progress in growing profits

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Best Buy’s holiday sales disappoint, but retailer shows progress in growing profits


Sign at the main entrance to a Best Buy store in Venice, Florida.

Erik McGregor | Lightrocket | Getty Images

Best Buy posted mixed results on Tuesday as the retailer’s holiday-quarter sales declined and missed Wall Street’s expectations, but its earnings topped estimates as it showed improved profitability.

For the current fiscal year, the consumer electronics retailer expects revenue to range between $41.2 billion and $42.1 billion, compared with $41.69 billion in the most recent fiscal year. It expects adjusted earnings per share to range from $6.30 to $6.60, after it reported adjusted earnings per share of $6.43 for the previous fiscal year. 

Best Buy anticipates that comparable sales, a metric that tracks sales online and in stores open at least 14 months, will range from a decline of 1% to an increase of 1%.

In a news release, CEO Corie Barry said demand for consumer electronics remained lackluster during the gift-giving season, but the company’s internal data indicates that Best Buy’s market share in the industry “was at least flat.”

Chief Financial Officer Matt Bilunas said in his own statement that the company is “excited about the momentum in our business.” But he added that company leaders “expect to continue to navigate a mixed macro environment.” 

Shares jumped more than 10% in premarket trading.

Here’s how the retailer did for the fiscal fourth quarter compared with what Wall Street was expecting, according to a survey of analysts by LSEG:

  • Earnings per share: $2.61 adjusted vs. $2.47 expected
  • Revenue: $13.81 billion vs. $13.88 billion expected

In the three-month period that ended Jan. 31, Best Buy’s net income jumped to $541 million, or $2.56 per share, from $117 million, or 54 cents per share, in the year-ago quarter. Excluding one-time expenses, including charges for its health business, Best Buy reported adjusted earnings per share of $2.61. 

Revenue decreased from $13.95 billion in the year-ago quarter. Yet on an annual basis, revenue rose to $41.69 billion from $41.53 billion in the prior fiscal year. Best Buy’s annual revenue declined in the three previous fiscal years.

For about four years, Best Buy has pinned its slower sales on more price-sensitive U.S. consumers, a slower housing market and less tech innovation. All of those factors have caused some shoppers to delay tech purchases, particularly big-ticket items like new refrigerators. Higher tariffs have also added costs for Best Buy, since many consumer electronics are imported.

Comparable sales dropped 0.8% in the fourth quarter as the company saw softer sales of appliances and home theaters. Those declines were partially offset by sales growth in computing and mobile phones, the company said.

Best Buy has leaned into more profitable businesses, including selling ads and offering more merchandise through its third-party marketplace, which launched in August. Barry said in the company’s news release that Best Buy’s advertising partners nearly doubled compared to the prior year and she said the retailer has significantly increased the number of available products on the marketplace.

The company has a scheduled earnings call at 9 a.m. ET.



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US-Iran War: India Has Over 50 Days Of Crude Oil Stocks, In ‘Comfortable Position’: Report

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US-Iran War: India Has Over 50 Days Of Crude Oil Stocks, In ‘Comfortable Position’: Report


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The Indian government has over 50 days of crude oil stocks and is in a ‘comfortable position’. They remain cautiously optimistic about diversification.

Crude Oil

Crude Oil

US-Iran War: The Indian government has confirmed that the country has over 50 days of crude oil stocks and is in a ‘comfortable position’, according to a Moneycontrol report.

The MC report added that the government continues to be cautiously optimistic that it is capable of taking domestic steps and diversifying as the need arises.

The government’s comment plays down any concern arising over India’s energy security in crude oil amid the rising tension in the Middle East and complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Global crude shipments moving through the Strait of Hormuz have nearly ground to a halt, disrupting close to 86% of the usual east–west oil traffic and rattling energy markets worldwide.

According to maritime intelligence firms Windward and Kpler, the strategic chokepoint remains technically open, but vessel movement has slowed to a fraction of normal levels. On March 1, just three oil tankers transporting a combined 2.8 million barrels transited the strait — a steep 86% drop compared to the 2026 daily average of 19.8 million barrels.

By early March 2, activity had thinned further, with only one small tanker and a single cargo vessel recorded moving through the primary shipping lanes, underscoring the scale of the disruption.

Brent curde oil futures were also trading over USD 80 per barrel for the past two days, with anticipation to rise in three digit soon.

India is highly dependent on other countries for its crude oil requirements, with imports accounting for around 88–90 per cent of total demand. In 2024, India surpassed China as the world’s largest oil demand driver, driven by rising fuel consumption, particularly in transportation.

So, what happens if there is a large-scale disruption in crude oil supply? Is India prepared to handle such a situation, and for how long?

India has a dedicated special purpose vehicle called Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL), which is responsible for maintaining petroleum reserves for such emergencies.

The Government of India decided to establish 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of strategic crude oil storage across three locations.

ISPRL functions under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and the project was executed by Engineers India Limited (EIL). The strategic reserves are situated in Visakhapatnam, Mangalore, and Padur (near Udupi).

These crude oil storages are built in underground rock caverns along both the eastern and western coasts of India. Crude oil from these caverns can be supplied to Indian refineries through pipelines or a combination of pipelines and coastal transport.

Underground rock caverns are considered one of the safest methods for storing hydrocarbons.

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Gas and oil prices soar and shares tumble as crucial shipping lane threatened

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Gas and oil prices soar and shares tumble as crucial shipping lane threatened



Iranian official threatens to “set fire” to any ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.



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