Business
ME peace deal hopes ignite strong PSX rally | The Express Tribune
KARACHI:
With growing hopes for a lasting peace agreement between the United States and Iran, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Wednesday staged a robust rally, during which it notched up gains of nearly 7,000 points, powered by deep investor interest in high-yielding stocks across the board.
In the morning, the market commenced trading on a vibrant note as investors rejoiced news reports that the US president had signalled a temporary pause in operations to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz following progress towards a broader agreement with Iran. The development injected a strong sense of relief into the financial landscape, prompting investors to return aggressively to equities.
During the session, the benchmark KSE-100 index oscillated between the intra-day high of 172,088.58 and low of 167,354.44. It ended trading with a staggering increase of 6,962.29 points, or 4.23%, to close at 171,704.76.
KTrade Securities equity trader Ahmed Sheraz noted that the KSE-100 delivered a powerful rebound, closing up 6,962 points (+4.23%), which marked a standout session with broad-based strength. Momentum remained firmly positive throughout the day, supported by strong KSE-100 volumes of 562 million shares, reflecting aggressive participation and renewed risk appetite after recent volatility.
Sector-wise, gains were widespread, where commercial banks, cement, exploration & production, and oil companies led the charge. Key index movers included UBL, Lucky Cement, Pakistan Petroleum, Fauji Fertiliser, OGDC, NBP and Hub Power; all contributing meaningfully to the upside and signalling institutional as well as retail alignment.
The rally was driven by a sharp drop in global oil prices – from around $126 per barrel to near $98 – amid easing Hormuz tensions and renewed progress in US-Iran negotiations. The market’s near-term direction hinges on geopolitical developments as a formal agreement could further stabilise oil prices and sustain the bullish momentum, while any setback may reintroduce volatility, Sheraz wrote.
According to Arif Habib Limited (AHL), the PSX hit 170k and “now it is en route to our short-term target of 175k, which seems obvious to everyone”. A total of 95 shares rose while five fell with UBL (+7.92%), Lucky Cement (+7.46%) and Pakistan Petroleum (+7.76%) contributing the most to the index gains.
International oil prices are down more than 10% day-on-day and equities around the world were surging following news that Iran was going to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and had agreed to a moratorium on nuclear enrichment with a full nuclear deal to be negotiated later.
Improving conditions are likely to support risk assets globally, as the worst-case scenario now appears to have been avoided. AHL predicted no change in outlook for the KSE-100 “with 175k in sight”.
Topline Securities, in its review, commented that the stock market staged a sharp rally as sentiment turned decisively positive following Trump’s signal of progress on a potential Iran deal, easing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. The benchmark index surged to the intra-day high of 7,346 points and closed at 171,705, up 6,962 points (+4.23%), as bulls dominated the session.
The momentum received an additional boost when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appreciated the timely de-escalation efforts. The endorsement cemented investor confidence, contributing to the rally. Meanwhile, a sharp decline in global oil prices provided a strong tailwind to the market, which eased concerns over external account pressure and inflationary risks. The drop in crude acted as a catalyst for cyclical plays, amplifying buying interest, Topline added.
Overall trading volumes increased to 1.20 billion shares compared with Tuesday’s total of 453.2 million. The value of shares traded during the day stood at Rs63 billion.
Shares of 489 companies were traded. Of these, 395 jumped, 67 declined and 27 remained unchanged.
Hascol Petroleum was the volume leader with trading in 103.5 million shares, gaining Rs1.14 to close at Rs22.69. Foreign investors sold shares worth Rs330.6 million, the National Clearing Company reported.
Business
Companies start getting tariff refunds after Supreme Court decision
Containers at the Port of Oakland in Oakland, California, US, on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Months after the Supreme Court ruled some tariffs were unconstitutional, the first round of tariff refunds has begun flowing in.
Oshkosh Corporation CFO Matt Field confirmed to CNBC that the company has started receiving tariff refunds as of Tuesday.
“Following acceptance of our initial filing, we have begun receiving payments on our tariff refund claims, representing an initial portion of our total claims submitted,” Field said.
The company has not yet verified its total refund amount, Field added.
Basic Fun, the company behind Care Bears and Tonka trucks, also told CNBC it began receiving tariff refunds on Tuesday.
CEO Jay Foreman said the refunds so far have only represented 5% of the company’s total claim on its early invoices.
“We will utilize the refund dollars to help support our 2026 cash flow and invest in our team. This is the toughest time of the year for toy companies,” Foreman said in a statement. “We’ll also be announcing to our staff that we will be increasing salaries to help offset cost of living increase, announcing promotions and larger merit increases. We are reinvesting the funds in our business and people.”
Logistics companies UPS, FedEx and DHL have previously said that they will file for tariff refunds on behalf of their customers, requiring no further action from them. The first phase of tariff refunds only covers requests for entries that CBP finalized within the past 80 days, though that process could take months to reach customers.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a court filing that it anticipated paying refunds of $35.46 billion on 8.3 million shipments, as of Monday morning.
In February, the Supreme Court invalidated President Donald Trump‘s tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977. In the months that followed, companies began filing for tariff refunds in a portal, called the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries.
In a radio interview with WABC on Tuesday morning, Trump called the tariff refund situation “crazy.”
“In theory, you have to pay the tariffs back. We’ll fight that,” Trump said. “We were taking in fortunes from people that hate us, countries and companies that hate us.”
Business
FinMin discusses budget preparations, macroeconomic outlook with IMF mission – SUCH TV
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday briefed the visiting International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission on the country’s macroeconomic outlook, fiscal strategy, reform priorities, and the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure sustainable economic stability and long-term growth.
The meeting with the visiting IMF mission, led by Mission Chief Iva Petrova, focused on Pakistan’s macroeconomic stabilisation efforts, preparations for the upcoming federal budget, and the broader reform agenda aimed at strengthening fiscal and external sustainability while fostering sustainable economic growth.
During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on maintaining reform momentum, preserving macroeconomic stability, and advancing structural reforms to promote investment, productivity, and export-led growth within a balanced and forward-looking policy framework.
The finance minister appreciated the IMF’s continued engagement and constructive dialogue with the government of Pakistan.
He particularly acknowledged the productive discussions initiated during the Spring Meetings held in Washington earlier this year.
Senator Aurangzeb shared encouraging developments regarding Pakistan’s external sector, highlighting positive trends in remittances and export performance.
He noted that recent data indicated improvement in exports on both a month-on-month and year-on-year basis, reflecting growing resilience in the economy and a gradual strengthening of macroeconomic fundamentals.
The minister emphasised that while economic stabilisation efforts had produced encouraging results, the government remained fully mindful of the structural challenges confronting the economy, particularly external liabilities and the need to accelerate sustainable, export-led growth.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to deepening reforms aimed at strengthening macroeconomic stability without compromising long-term growth prospects.
In this regard, he underscored the importance of moving Pakistan away from recurring boom-and-bust cycles through structural reforms, productivity enhancement, deregulation, and improved export competitiveness.
The minister further stated that the government’s reform agenda had been carefully calibrated in consultation with international experts and economists.
He emphasised that the ongoing policy measures were not driven by short-term considerations, but formed part of a broader and technically grounded economic transformation strategy endorsed at the highest level.
The IMF mission acknowledged the positive progress made by Pakistan in maintaining macroeconomic stability despite a challenging global and regional environment.
The Mission appreciated the government’s continued commitment to prudent economic management and reform implementation.
It emphasised the importance of sustaining reform momentum, maintaining fiscal discipline, and advancing structural reforms to support durable and inclusive economic growth.
Discussions during the meeting also focused on the broader macroeconomic framework, the government’s reform agenda, and priorities for the upcoming budget.
The mission reaffirmed its commitment to continued engagement and constructive cooperation with Pakistan in support of the country’s economic reform programme and long-term economic resilience.
Business
Tata Motors Q4 results: Net profit rises 34% to Rs 1,793 crore; revenue climbs on strong volume growth – The Times of India
Commercial vehicle maker Tata Motors Ltd on Wednesday reported a 33.8 per cent rise in consolidated net profit at Rs 1,793 crore for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2026, driven by strong volume growth.The company had posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 1,340 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year, Tata Motors said in a regulatory filing, as reported PTI.Total revenue from operations in the January-March quarter rose to Rs 26,098 crore from Rs 21,863 crore in the year-ago period.Vehicle wholesales during the quarter stood at 1.32 lakh units, up 25 per cent year-on-year.Total expenses in the quarter under review stood at Rs 24,134 crore.For FY26, consolidated net profit stood at Rs 3,030 crore compared with Rs 3,195 crore in FY25. The company said annual profit was impacted by exceptional items related to the new labour code and demerger-related costs.Total revenue from operations for FY26 increased to Rs 83,855 crore from Rs 58,217 crore in the previous financial year.For the full 2025-26 fiscal, total wholesales stood at 4.28 lakh units, up 14 per cent year-on-year.Commenting on the performance, Tata Motors MD and CEO Girish Wagh said FY26 marked a “clear inflection point” for the commercial vehicles industry, with volumes surpassing the pre-FY19 peak, supported by GST 2.0 reforms and sustained infrastructure spending.“For Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles, FY26 was a landmark year as we delivered milestones of revenues and profits and reinforced industry leadership and strengthened our market position,” he said.Wagh said the underlying demand fundamentals remain resilient despite geopolitical uncertainties signalling some moderation in the near term.“With strong business fundamentals, proactive risk mitigation, disciplined execution and a refreshed portfolio offering industry-leading TCO (total cost of ownership) and smart digital solutions, we remain agile and well positioned to sustain momentum through customer-centric solutions to create long-term stakeholder value,” he added.The company’s board has recommended a final dividend of Rs 4 per fully paid-up ordinary share of Rs 2 each for FY26, subject to shareholders’ approval.
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