Business
IMF chief calls PM Shehbaz ‘man of word,’ lauds Pakistan for undertaking difficult reforms – SUCH TV
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Friday heaped praise on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for implementing difficult reforms aimed at Pakistan’s development.
Speaking after meeting PM Shehbaz on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, the IMF managing director said that Pakistan’s economy was improving after the government “embraced reforms seriously”.
“We are finally seeing the budget discipline bringing resources that can be deployed to improve [the] lives of people,” Georgieva said, adding that the IMF team was looking forward to continuing the implementation of Pakistan’s programme.
The IMF chief lauded PM Shehbaz for honouring his commitment to reforms, saying the lender has had very constructive engagements with Pakistan throughout the years.
“I highly respect the prime minister. He is serious; when he gives his word that something will be done, it gets done,” she added.
She also highlighted continued engagement with Islamabad during meetings focused on the reform agenda.
“We always use the time effectively to identify where progress is made, where there is still more to do,” she said. “And that was exactly the case this time. So, my high respect for the seriousness of the prime minister and his cabinet to carry forward difficult reforms for the betterment of Pakistan.”
Last year, the IMF disbursed $1.2 billion to Pakistan under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the climate-focused Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).
The global lender, in its meeting held on December 8, 2025, had approved $1.2 billion loan for Pakistan after completing the second review of the country’s economic reform programme under the EFF and the first review under the RSF.
During their meeting, PM Shehbaz apprised the IMF MD of Pakistan’s improving macro-economic indicators, stabilisation efforts, and progress on structural reforms. He underscored Pakistan’s commitment to fiscal discipline, revenue mobilisation, and sustainable growth.
The IMF managing director acknowledged and appreciated Pakistan’s reform efforts and emphasised the importance of maintaining reform momentum to ensure long-term economic resilience.
Both sides exchanged views on the global economic outlook, challenges faced by emerging economies and the importance of multilateral support in safeguarding economic stability.
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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