The biggest shareholders in hotel chain PPHE have said they are in talks over options for the business, including selling stakes.

The company, which runs Park Plaza hotels in Europe, saw shares jump in early trading on Friday as a result.

It followed reports from Bloomberg that the process could lead to the business being taken private.

Founder Eli Papouchado and PPHE president Boris Ivesha confirmed they are planning “to hold a small handful of meetings with financial investors” over potential options for the business.

The shareholders, who own around 44% of the business, said options include investors “contributing growth capital to PPHE” and the “potential partial monetisation of their stakes”.

In a statement, they added: “The shareholders are not in discussions with any parties and are not in receipt of any offer for their collective stake in PPHE.

“There can be no certainty that any such offer will be made.”

Israeli hotelier Mr Papouchado’s family trust owns around 33% of the company.

The company, which has a property estate valued at £2.2 billion at the end of last year, also runs sites under the Art’otel brand, including London locations in Battersea Power Station and Hoxton.

Shares in the business rose by 10.5% to 1,658p on Friday morning, giving the company a market valuation of around £695 million.

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) continued its upward momentum on Friday, supported by favourable political and economic developments.

Investor confidence improved after the National Assembly approved the 27th Constitutional Amendment, while expectations strengthened regarding the IMF’s upcoming decision to release a $1.2 billion loan tranche next month.

By the break for Friday prayers, the KSE-100 index had surged 1,011.93 points, reaching 161,669.42 points.

During the session, 459 companies were active, of which 285 advanced, 133 declined, and 9 remained unchanged.

Market analysts observed that the passage of the constitutional amendment helped ease political uncertainty, lifting investor sentiment. The anticipated IMF loan tranche further fuelled optimism in the market.

A day earlier, on Thursday, the benchmark KSE-100 witnessed a robust rally, jumping 2,473.55 points — a 1.56% increase — to close at 160,657.50 points.

Trading volumes also remained strong, with 797.17 million shares worth Rs35.12 billion traded in the ready market, compared to 757.24 million shares worth Rs33.41 billion the previous session.

Market capitalisation climbed to Rs18.29 trillion from Rs18.07 trillion.

The most actively traded stocks included Bank Makramah, with 112.16 million shares at Rs5.59, followed by Dost Steels Ltd. with 48.73 million shares at Rs8.17, and F. Nat. Equities, which recorded 40.35 million shares at Rs19.63 per share.

The top gainers were Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited, which increased by Rs546.00 to close at Rs28,999.00, and ZIL Limited, rising by Rs53.24 to close at Rs585.64.

On the other hand, the major losers were PIA Holding Company LimitedB, which declined by Rs80.91 to settle at Rs24,452.05, and Gillette Pakistan Limited, decreasing by Rs50.04 to close at Rs450.39.

Out of 324 future market companies, 263 closed higher, 56 declined, and 5 remained unchanged.

Last Updated:November 14, 2025, 13:23 IST

India’s GDP is expected to sustain a 6.5% growth rate through 2027, compared with a projected 6.4% in 2026 and 7% in 2025

GDP Growth

Strong domestic demand, export diversification in response to US tariffs, and continued infrastructure spending will help India maintain its position as the world’s fastest-growing major economy over the next few years.

India’s GDP is expected to sustain a 6.5% growth rate through 2027, compared with a projected 6.4% in 2026 and 7% in 2025, Moody’s Ratings said in its Global Macro Outlook 2026–27 released on Thursday.

According to Moody’s, government-led capital expenditure and resilient household consumption will remain key growth drivers, even as private sector investment stays subdued.

“We expect Brazil and India — the fastest-growing G-20 economies — to grow at 2.0% and 6.5%, respectively, through 2027, supported by domestic and export diversification. India’s economic performance is underpinned by strong infrastructure spending and solid consumption, although business capex remains cautious,” the agency noted.

The report highlights how Indian exporters have adapted to evolving trade dynamics amid steep US tariffs.

“Despite 50% tariffs on select Indian goods, exporters have managed to redirect shipments — overall exports rose 6.75% in September even as exports to the US fell 11.9%,” Moody’s said.

The agency expects India to grow around 6.5% in 2026 and 2027, supported by a neutral-to-easy monetary policy stance and low inflation. Strong global investor sentiment has also cushioned external risks.

Moody’s outlook comes against a volatile global backdrop marked by diverging monetary policies, tariff tensions, and shifting trade alliances intensified by US President Donald Trump’s trade war.

Global GDP growth is forecast to slow to 2.5%–2.6% in 2026 and 2027 from 2.9% in 2024, with emerging markets continuing to outpace advanced economies.

The RBI projects India’s growth at 6.8% in FY26, while the finance ministry has estimated a 6.3%–6.8% range.

The US has imposed tariffs of up to 50% — including a 25% levy linked to India’s purchase of Russian oil — on certain steel, aluminium, and manufactured products. India has avoided retaliation, focusing instead on market diversification and trade negotiations with the EU and other partners.

The Moody’s report also noted that the RBI’s policy stance remains neutral-to-easy as inflation moderates. Retail inflation dropped to a record 0.25% in October from 1.54% in September amid broad easing in food and fuel prices.

The central bank has gradually shifted from tightening to easing over the past two years, delivering three rate cuts in 2025 — 25 bps each in February and April, followed by a 50 bps cut in June.

“Bond yields in major emerging economies have remained stable, supported by stronger inflation-targeting frameworks and deeper domestic markets,” Moody’s said. However, it warned that global bond markets remain fragile and highly sensitive to fiscal risks and geopolitical shifts.

Aparna Deb

Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a…Read More

Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a… Read More

Read More