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Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Profit, dividend repatriation surges 117% MoM
China remained the largest foreign direct investor with investment of $373 million in the first 11 months of FY22. Photo: file Listen to article Repatriation of profits and dividends from foreign investment in Pakistan stood at $264 million in May 2025, showing a significant 71% year-on-year (YoY) decline but a sharp 117% month-on-month (MoM) increase, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). During the first 11 months of fiscal year 2024-25 (11MFY25), total repatriation reached $2.1 billion, reflecting a 16% YoY growth compared to $1.8 billion during the same period of last year, according to Arif Habib Limited. Among different sectors, the financial business segment led outflows in May with repatriation worth $76.4 million, despite a steep 76% YoY drop. The power sector followed with $56.5 million, down 51% YoY. On the contrary, the cement sector saw a notable surge of 229% YoY to $5.4 million while the chemical sector posted an even stronger increase of 929% YoY to $5.3 million. Moreover, repatriation from oil and gas exploration sector skyrocketed 997% YoY to $36.4 million whereas the transport sector registered a rise of 92% YoY to $1.9 million. Communication and beverage sectors witnessed sharp declines of 86% and 85% YoY, respectively. For the cumulative 11MFY25 period, the power sector remained the largest contributor with total repatriation of $396.2 million, followed by financial businesses at $364.6 million. A substantial growth was recorded in repatriation from oil and gas exploration firms (up 1,143%) and tobacco and cigarette sector (up 157%). On a monthly basis, profit and dividend repatriation peaked in May 2024 at $918 million while May 2025 marked a significant recovery over the previous month but its figure was considerably lower compared to last year's high. T-bills oversubscribed The State Bank conducted an auction of Market Treasury Bills (MTBs) with a tenor of 22 days on Wednesday. A total amount of Rs915.6 billion was raised against the target of Rs900 billion, exceeding by Rs15.6 billion. The cut-off yield stood at 11.3067% while the weighted average yield was slightly lower at 11.2952%. Currency in circulation saw a notable week-on-week (WoW) increase of 5.5% to reach Rs10.83 trillion as of June 6, 2025, according to data released by the SBP and compiled by AKD Securities. This represents an 18.9% increase so far in the current calendar year, reflecting heightened cash demand in the economy. Broad money (M2), however, remained largely flat on a weekly basis at Rs38.1 trillion, showing no significant change from the previous week. In calendar year 2025, M2 has risen 6.9%, primarily driven by a sharp rise in currency in circulation. Meanwhile, the Pakistani rupee posted a slight loss against the US dollar, slipping 0.05% in the inter-bank market on Wednesday. By the end of trading, the rupee closed at 283.55, down 14 paisa compared to the previous day's close at 283.41. Gold prices in Pakistan declined following stagnation in the international market where metal prices were little changed as investors waited for the Federal Reserve's policy decision and comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell while platinum surged to a more than four-year peak. In the local market, the price of gold per tola dropped Rs2,245 to settle at Rs383,055. Similarly, the price of 10 grams of gold fell Rs1,925, reaching Rs307,831, according to the All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association. In the global market, spot gold was steady at $3,387.89 an ounce by 1545 GMT, according to Reuters. Interactive Commodities Director Adnan Agar stated that the gold market remained uncertain, trading between $3,370 and $3,400, with its direction largely dependent on developments in the Israel-Iran conflict. If the war escalates with involvement of the US, gold prices are likely to surge. However, if tensions ease and peace talks progress, prices may stay range bound or decline. The upcoming US monetary policy decision could also influence prices, though any impact is expected to be limited if the outcome matches market expectations, Agar said.
Business Recorder
14-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
March FCA: KE seeks Rs5.02 interim negative adjustment
ISLAMABAD: K-Electric has requested a provisional negative adjustment of Rs5.02 per unit under the Fuel Cost Adjustment (FCA) mechanism for March 2025, which would result in a refund of Rs6.792 billion to its consumers. According to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), KE submitted in its calculation sheet (Note-2) that, following the determination of generation tariffs for its power plants post-June 2023, it has provided data related to partial load, open cycle operations, degradation curves, and startup costs. KE has sought approval for Rs15.6 billion covering the period from July 2023 to March 2025. Out of this amount, the Nepra has already set aside Rs9.6 billion in its FCA decisions for the months of November 2024 to January 2025. Feb FCA: Nepra indicates Rs3.64 relief The KE has also requested that the Nepra consider adjusting the accumulated actual fuel cost variations—specifically related to partial load, open cycle operations, degradation, and startup costs—from the negative fuel cost variation pool. This, KE argues, would ensure that consumers are not burdened with these costs at a later stage. The NEPRA has scheduled a public hearing on May 22, 2025 to deliberate on the proposed adjustment. For deliberation during the hearing, following issues have been framed which are as (i) whether the requested FCA is justified; (ii) whether KE has followed the merit order while giving dispatch to its power plants as well as power purchases from external sources; and (iii) whether the request of KE to consider adjustment of accumulated actualisation of fuel cost on account of partial load, open cycle and degradation curves along with startup cost from July to December 2024, from the negative fuel cost variation is justified? All the interested/affected parties have been invited to submit written/oral comments or objections as permissible under the law at the hearing. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
08-02-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Bourse closes flat amid investor caution
Listen to article KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Friday ended flat amid the ongoing corporate earnings season and investor caution ahead of the upcoming International Monetary Fund (IMF) review. Concerns over tax collection shortfall and overdue external debt payments kept the market in check. However, rising foreign exchange reserves, which reached $11.4 billion, along with expectations of further monetary easing provided support to market activity. The KSE-100 index registered a mixed trading session, fluctuating between the intra-day high of 604 points and intra-day low of -615 points. It closed marginally higher by 0.02% at 110,323. While stocks like Fauji Fertiliser Co, OGDC and Lucky Cement contributed positively, losses in Engro Holdings, Engro Fertilisers and MCB Bank dragged the index down. Analysts noted that despite selling pressure, recent corrections had made valuations attractive, hinting at a possible trend reversal in the near future. "Stocks closed flat in the earnings season amid worries over the outcome of IMF review later this month following tax collection shortfall and overdue external debt," said Arif Habib Corp MD Ahsan Mehanti. "Surge in forex reserves to $11.42 billion and expectations of further policy easing by the State Bank played the role of catalysts in positive close at the PSX." At the end of trading, the benchmark KSE-100 index recorded a marginal rise of 21.78 points, or 0.02%, settling at 110,322.94. Arif Habib Limited (AHL), in its report, highlighted that the KSE-100 index continued to trade below the 112,000 level and closed the week a little above 110,000, marking a 3.4% week-on-week decline. On Friday, key contributors to the index gains were Fauji Fertiliser Co (+1.7%), OGDC (+1.57%) and Lucky Cement (+1.24%). On the other hand, Engro Holdings (-2.09%), Engro Fertilisers (-0.99%) and MCB Bank (-0.75%) emerged as the biggest drags, AHL said. Topline Securities, in its market review, wrote that a range-bound session was observed where the KSE-100 index traded between the intra-day high of 604 points and intra-day low of -615 points. It finally settled at 110,323, up 0.02%. "This lacklustre activity can be attributed to the lack of triggers," it said. Overall trading volumes stood at 299.7 million shares, significantly lower than the previous session's tally of 598.9 million. Total traded value for the day was Rs15.6 billion, down from Rs25.6 billion in the previous session. A total of 446 companies were traded in the ready market, of which 144 stocks closed higher, 228 declined and 74 remained unchanged. WorldCall Telecom led the volume chart with 30.2 million shares, gaining Rs0.01 to close at Rs1.53. Silkbank followed with 22.2 million shares, losing Rs0.12 to close at Rs1.07 and K-Electric saw trading in 18.7 million shares, declining Rs0.03 to settle at Rs4.29. During the day, foreign investors sold shares worth Rs2.4 billion, according to the NCCPL.
