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PSX breaks 150k barrier, hits another record | The Express Tribune

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PSX breaks 150k barrier, hits another record | The Express Tribune



KARACHI:

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) soared past another record on Tuesday, breaking the 150,000 mark for the first time ever during intra-day trading.

Analysts remarked that bullish momentum from previous sessions continued, driven by strong institutional inflows, particularly in banking and cement sectors. Additionally, investor sentiment was bolstered by a positive economic outlook from both Fitch and Moody’s and the government’s attempts to settle the circular debt.

The sustained momentum propelled the KSE-100 index to the intra-day high of 150,323, before it closed at 149,770.75, an increase of 1,574.32 points, or 1.06%.

According to Ahsan Mehanti of Arif Habib Corp, stocks closed at an all-time high as investors weighed Fitch and Moody’s robust economic outlook, with Fitch projecting growth of 3.5% for FY27. Additionally, the government’s plans to cut Rs2.6 trillion worth of circular debt alongside upbeat data of exports, cement dispatches and rupee stability drove the PSX to the record close, he noted.

At the end of trading, the benchmark KSE-100 index recorded an increase of 1,574.32 points, or 1.06%, and settled at 149,770.75.

In its market review, Topline Securities remarked that the bullish momentum from previous sessions continued, driven by strong institutional inflows, particularly in banking and cement sectors. According to a Topline analyst, cement sales are gaining momentum in August and earnings could exceed expectations.

The sustained optimism propelled the benchmark KSE-100 index to intra-day high of 150,323, up 2,127 points, before it closed at an all-time high of 149,771, marking a net gain of 1,574 points, it said.

The rally was largely fuelled by index heavyweights including Bank AL Habib, UBL, Lucky Cement, Meezan Bank and Engro Corporation, which contributed 1,306 points to the index’s upward trajectory.

In its commentary, Arif Habib Limited (AHL) stated that the KSE-100 witnessed another strong session, with the index unlocking 150,000 points intra-day. Some 60 shares rose while 40 fell, with Bank AL Habib (+10%), Lucky Cement (+4.13%) and Meezan Bank (+3.63%) contributing the most to index gains.

On the flip side, Fauji Fertiliser Company (-0.75%), Oil and Gas Development Company (-1.58%) and Hub Power (-1.38%) were the biggest drags, it said.

Systems Limited (-1.51%) announced its 1HCY25 earnings per share (EPS) of Rs3.52, an increase of 59%, which was in line with expectations. The increase was primarily driven by higher technology services’ exports and improved gross margins, AHL noted.

Additionally, Pakistan State Oil (PSO) reported FY25 EPS of Rs45.11, an increase of 33% year-on-year, and dividend per share of Rs10, which was also in line with expectations.

Kot Addu Power Co and Fauji Foundation jointly submitted an offer to Pharaon Investment to buy its 84.06% stake in Attock Cement (-1.48%). Moreover, Oil and Gas Development Company (-1.58%) and Pakistan Petroleum (-1.57%), in separate meetings, approved an increase in pro rata funding commitment, including the project cost to $715 million.

“Near term support rises to 147,500-148,300 points, against which immediate gains are anticipated to continue,” AHL concluded.

AHL Deputy Head of Trading Ali Najib remarked that the KSE-100 index sustained its bullish streak, briefly unlocking the 150k milestone intra-day before closing the session higher, reflecting renewed investor optimism. Macro developments also lent support as Fitch’s improved outlook on Pakistan’s banking sector boosted sentiment, citing stronger capital buffers, improving credit growth potential and a healthier macro backdrop, he stated.

Overall trading volumes increased to 809.1 million shares compared with Monday’s tally of 610.3 million. Traded value stood at Rs48.4 billion. Shares of 483 companies were traded. Of these, 265 stocks closed higher, 194 dropped and 24 remained unchanged.

WorldCall Telecom was the volume leader with trading in 52.3 million shares, gaining Rs0.05 to close at Rs1.45. It was followed by The Bank of Punjab with 46.1 million shares, gaining Rs0.33 to close at Rs14.76 and Fauji Cement with 43.7 million shares, gaining Rs2.98 to close at Rs53.48. Foreign investors sold shares worth Rs488 million, the National Clearing Company reported.



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Serial rail fare evader faces jail over 112 unpaid tickets

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Serial rail fare evader faces jail over 112 unpaid tickets


One of Britain’s most prolific rail fare dodgers could face jail after admitting dozens of travel offences.

Charles Brohiri, 29, pleaded guilty to travelling without buying a ticket a total of 112 times over a two-year period, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard.

He could be ordered to pay more than £18,000 in unpaid fares and legal costs, the court was told.

He will be sentenced next month.

District Judge Nina Tempia warned Brohiri “could face a custodial sentence because of the number of offences he has committed”.

He pleaded guilty to 76 offences on Thursday.

It came after he was convicted in his absence of 36 charges at a previous hearing.

During Thursday’s hearing, Judge Tempia dismissed a bid by Brohiri’s lawyers to have the 36 convictions overturned.

They had argued the prosecutions were unlawful because they had not been brought by a qualified legal professional.

But Judge Tempia rejected the argument, saying there had been “no abuse of this court’s process”.



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JSW Likely To Launch Jetour T2 SUV In India This Year: Reports

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JSW Likely To Launch Jetour T2 SUV In India This Year: Reports


JSW Jetour T2 Launch: JSW Motors Limited, the passenger vehicle arm of the JSW Group, is reportedly preparing to enter the Indian car market this year. It has partnered with Jetour, a China-based automotive brand owned by Chery Automobile, and the Jetour T2 SUV could be the company’s first product, according to the reports.

Media reports suggest that the launch will happen independently and not under the JSW MG Motor India joint venture. The SUV will wear a JSW badge and name, instead of the Jetour branding. The upcoming SUV will be assembled at JSW’s upcoming greenfield manufacturing facility in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra. 

According to the reports, the company plans to have the vehicle on sale by the third quarter of this year. With this move, JSW aims to establish itself as a standalone carmaker in India.

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Expected Powertrain

The SUV is likely to arrive with a 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid setup. Internationally, this hybrid powertrain is offered with both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options. It is still unclear which version will be introduced in India.

Design

In terms of design, the T2 is a large and rugged-looking SUV. It has a boxy and upright stance, similar to vehicles like the Land Rover Defender. Despite its tough appearance, it uses a monocoque chassis instead of a ladder-frame construction. 

Size

The SUV measures around 4.7 metres in length and nearly 2 metres in width. This makes it larger than the Tata Safari, even though it is a five-seater. A longer 7-seat version is also sold in some markets.

Price

Pricing details for India are yet to be announced. For reference, the front-wheel-drive five-seat T2 i-DM is priced at AED 1,44,000 (around Rs 35 lakh) in the UAE.

Jetour

Jetour is a brand owned by Chinese automaker Chery. Launched in 2018, it focuses mainly on SUVs and is present in markets across China, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America.



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John Swinney under fire over ‘smallest tax cut in history’ after Scottish Budget

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John Swinney under fire over ‘smallest tax cut in history’ after Scottish Budget



John Swinney has been pressed over whether this week’s Scottish Budget gives some workers the “smallest tax cut in history” – with Tory leader Russell Findlay branding the reduction “miserly” and “insulting”.

The Scottish Conservative leader challenged the First Minister after Tuesday’s Holyrood Budget effectively cut taxes for lower earners, by increasing the threshold for the basic and intermediate bands of income tax.

But Mr Findlay said that would leave workers at most £31.75 a year better off – saying this amounts to a saving of just £61p a week

“That wouldn’t even buy you a bag of peanuts,” the Scottish Tory leader said.

“John Swinney’s Budget might even have broken a world record, because a Scottish Government tax adviser says it ‘maybe the smallest tax cut in history’.”

Raising the “miserly cut” at First Minister’s Questions in the Scottish Parliament, Mr Findlay demanded to know if the SNP leader believed his “insulting tax cut will actually help Scotland’s struggling households”.

The attack came as the Tory accused the SNP government of increasing taxes on higher earners, with its freeze on higher income tax thresholds, which will pull more Scots into these brackets.

This is needed to pay for the “SNP’s out of control, unaffordable benefits bill”, the Conservative added.

Mr Findlay said: “The Scottish Conservatives will not back and cannot back a Budget that does nothing to help Scotland’s workers and businesses.

“It hammers people with higher taxes to fund a bloated benefits system.”

Hitting out at Labour – whose leader Anas Sarwar has already declared they will not block the government’s Budget – Mr Findlay said: “It is absolutely mind-blowing that Labour and other so-called opposition parties will let this SNP boorach of a budget pass.

“Don’t the people of Scotland deserve lower taxes, fairer benefits and a government focused on economic growth?”

Mr Swinney said the Budget “delivers on the priorities of the people of Scotland” by “strengthening our National Health Service and supporting people and businesses with the challenges of the cost of living”.

He insisted income tax decisions in the Budget would mean that in 2026-27 “55% of Scottish taxpayers are now expected to pay less income tax than if they lived in England”.

The First Minister went on to say that showed “the people of Scotland have a Government that is on their side”.

Referring to polls putting his party on course to win the Holyrood elections in May, the SNP leader added that “all the current indications show the people of Scotland want to have this Government here for the long term”.

Benefits funding is “keeping children out of poverty”, he told MSPs, adding the Budget contained a “range of measures” that would build on existing support.

The First Minister said: “What that is a demonstration of is a Government that is on the side of the people of Scotland and I am proud of the measures we set out in the Budget on Tuesday.”

Meanwhile he said the Tories wanted to make tax cuts that would cost £1 billion, with “not a scrap of detail about how that would be delivered”.

With the weekly leaders’ question time clash coming less than 48 hours after the draft 2026-27 Budget was unveiled, the First Minister also faced questions from Scottish Labour’s Anas Sarwar, who insisted that the proposals “lacks ambition for Scotland”.

Pressing his SNP rival, the Scottish Labour leader said: “While he brags about his £6 a year tax cut for the lowest paid, one million Scots including nurses, teachers and police officers face being forced to pay more.

“Even his own tax adviser says this is a political stunt. So why does John Swinney believe that someone earning £33,500 has the broadest shoulders and therefore should pay more tax in Scotland?”

Mr Swinney, however, said that many public sector workers would be better off in Scotland.

He told the Scottish Labour leader: “A band six nurse at the bottom of the scale will take home an additional £1,994 after tax compared to the same band in England.

“A qualified teacher at the bottom of the band will take home £6,365 more after tax in Scotland than the equivalent in England. There are the facts for Mr Sarwar.”



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