Business
Gold hits historic highs as prices climb beyond the reach of ordinary buyers | The Express Tribune
KARACHI:
Gold prices shot up to record levels in international and local markets, touching historic peak. In the international bullion market, the price of precious metal per ounce rose sharply by $35 to $3,890 on Wednesday.
Locally, the price of gold per tola increased by Rs3,500, bringing it to a record Rs410,278. Meanwhile, the price per 10 grams of gold rose by Rs3,001 touching Rs351,747, also marking a new high.
In recent months, gold prices in Pakistan have surged sharply, making the precious metal increasingly unaffordable for many people. Traditionally, gold plays a central role in weddings, festivals, and other cultural occasions, and it is often used as a store of wealth and a form of investment.
The rising costs have put significant pressure on middle-class families, who are finding it harder to purchase gold for dowries, gifts, or savings.
The surge in gold prices has drawn widespread attention, as the precious metal is increasingly seen as a safe haven amid global economic uncertainty. The increase has been influenced by fluctuating currency values, rising inflation, and ongoing geopolitical tensions, all of which have driven demand for gold as a secure store of value.
Gold prices fluctuate idepending on movements in international markets and changes in foreign exchange rates, keeping investors and consumers on alert.
Petrol up by Rs4.07
A day earlier, the federal government announced an increase in the prices of petroleum products, with the new rates taking effect from October 1. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Finance, the price of petrol has been raised by Rs4.07 per litre, while high-speed diesel has gone up by Rs4.04 per litre.
Following the price hike, petrol will now cost Rs268.68 per litre, up from Rs264.61. High-speed diesel will be priced at Rs276.81 per litre, up from the previous rate of Rs272.77.
These revised prices will remain in effect for the next 15 days. The increase is part of the government’s routine review of petroleum prices, which are influenced by fluctuations in international markets and exchange rate changes.
Toy maker Jellycat is planning to pay its owners £110m in dividends after it more than doubled its annual profit in 2024.
From eggs with sad faces to smiling peanuts, the Jellycat craze has made a big impact on the toy industry.
Its viral cuddly toys are sold all over the world and made the company a before-tax profit of £139m in 2024, up from £67m the previous year.
Chief executive, Arnaud Meysselle, said Jellycat was “humbled” by its growth and will continue to “bring more characters to life”.
Jellycat founder and chairman Thomas Gatacre said: “Our mission is simple: to create joy and try to be the most loved soft toy company in the world.”
First reported by the Financial Times, Jellycat’s most recent Companies House accounts show the firm saw a 66% increase in revenue to £333m for the year to 31 December.
The dividends the privately owned company plans to pay are a 75% increase from the £63m paid out to its owners the previous year.
Mr Gatacre said the Jellycat team has been running “faster than ever” to keep up with demand for the soft toys in 80 countries.
He added that the company is striving to make sure “every Jellycat arrives in tip top condition, build to last, and made responsibly”.
Jellycat’s success has been linked to its popularity on social media and a rise in adults buying toys for themselves.
As well as just selling the toys, Jellycat has a range of pop-up “experiences”.
Currently at London’s Selfridges, you can buy fish and chips soft toys, sold to you by an assistant pretending to fry and put salt and vinegar on your selected teddies.
In New York, you can visit a Jellycat diner and Paris has its own Jellycat patisserie with adults lining up to buy the toys.
Videos of such experiences have millions of views online, with fans essentially advertising to each other.
Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning on display at the New York International Auto Show on March 28, 2024.
Danielle DeVries | CNBC
DETROIT – Sales of electric vehicles and large SUVs drove Ford Motor‘s third-quarter sales up by 8.2%, the Detroit automaker reported Wednesday.
Ford said sales of all-electric vehicles increased by 30.2% during the period to a new quarterly record of more than 30,600 units. Its “electrified” vehicles, including EVs and hybrids, increased 20% compared with the same period a year earlier.
Sales of Ford’s SUVs increased nearly 10% during the quarter, including massive gains for its larger SUVs as well as the Mustang Mach E EV, which was up 51% from a year earlier.
EV sales during the third quarter are expected to be a record, as buyers pulled ahead plans to purchase a new zero-emissions vehicle ahead federal EV incentives of up to $7,500 ending in September.
Ford CEO Jim Farley on Tuesday said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if sales of EVs fell from an industry market share of around 10% to 12% this month — which is expected to be a record — to 5% after the incentive program ends.
Cox Automotive forecasts sales of EVs hit 410,000 during the third quarter, up 21% from a year earlier. That would easily be the highest amount of EVs ever sold in a quarter in the U.S., as well as a record 10% market share.
Sales of EVs as well as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles that also qualified for federal incentives are expected to assist in boosting third quarter vehicle sales up between 4% and 7%, according to forecasts from Cox and CarMax’s Edmunds.
This is breaking news. Please check back for additional details.
Last Updated:
The fee for biometric updates has increased from Rs 100 to Rs 125, a rise of Rs 25, marking UIDAI’s first Aadhaar service fee hike in nearly five years
The fee changes apply to updates of names, addresses, biometrics, and other details once an Aadhaar card is issued. (Representative/News18 Hindi)
The cost of updating or correcting Aadhaar cards has increased as the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) raises fees for Aadhaar-related services, effective October 1.
While there is still no fee for issuing a new Aadhaar card, the fee for updating an existing Aadhaar card has gone up from Rs 50 to Rs 75. Similarly, the fee for biometric updates has been raised from Rs 100 to Rs 125, meaning an additional charge of Rs 25. This marks the first fee increase by UIDAI in nearly five years.
Updates for Aadhaar cards for newborns will remain free. The fee changes apply to updates of names, addresses, biometrics, and other details once an Aadhaar card is issued. After issuing Aadhaar cards for newborns, a biometric update is required at age five, with subsequent updates needed between ages 5 and 7 and again between 15 and 17 years.
UIDAI has provided relief for children and adolescents aged 5 to 7 and 15 to 17 years by waiving the biometric update fee, which was previously Rs 50. Despite the fee waiver, these updates remain mandatory.
The fee for updating Aadhaar details through a machine delivered to your home or convenient address remains unchanged at Rs 700. To access this service, one must email UIDAI.
October 01, 2025, 17:50 IST
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