Tag: Monetary Policy Committee

  • PKR ends week in green, settles at Rs281.4 vs USD

    PKR ends week in green, settles at Rs281.4 vs USD

    The Pakistani rupee demonstrated resilience, marking its third consecutive session of gains against the US dollar with a 0.1 per cent appreciation in the inter-bank market on Friday. 

    According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the rupee concluded at Rs281.4, reflecting an increase of Re0.27.

    In a noteworthy development, the SBP’s foreign exchange reserves experienced a significant boost of $1.3 billion over a two-week period, attributed to official inflows from international financial institutions facilitated by the government of Pakistan. 

    The upward trajectory in the SBP’s foreign exchange reserves was evident in the final weeks of December. Inflows totaling $852 million were reported for the week ending December 22, 2023, followed by an additional $464 million by December 29, 2023. 

    Cumulatively, an impressive $1.316 billion contributed to the SBP’s reserves during this fortnight.

  • Pakistani rupee strengthens by 5 paisa, closes at PKR 281.67 against US dollar

    Pakistani rupee strengthens by 5 paisa, closes at PKR 281.67 against US dollar

    The Pakistani rupee (PKR) demonstrated a 5.08 paisa appreciation against the US dollar during Thursday’s interbank session, concluding at PKR 281.67 per USD, compared to the previous closing at PKR 281.72 per US dollar (USD).

    Throughout the day, the currency reached an intraday high (bid) of Rs281.84 and a low (ask) of Ra281.8. In the open market, Exchange Companies quoted the dollar at Rs281 for buying and Rs283 for selling.

    It’s noteworthy that the local unit concluded its 13-day historic winning streak against the greenback in the first trading session of 2024, experiencing a modest depreciation of 3.37 paisa against the US dollar.

    In contrast to major currencies, PKR gained 56.27 paisa against the Euro, closing at Rs308.07 compared to the previous value of Rs308.63. 

    The British Pound saw an increase of Rs1.25, concluding at Rs357.49 compared to Rs356.24 from the previous day.

    The Swiss franc recorded gains of 75.99 paisa, closing at Ra332.01 compared to Rs331.25 from the previous session. 

    Against the Japanese Yen, PKR gained 1.18 paisa, closing at 1.964 versus 1.9758 a day ago. The Chinese Yuan lost 4.96 paisa, closing at 39.38 against 39.43 from the previous session. 

    The Saudi Riyal closed at 75.1 with a loss of 1.75 paisa from its values of 75.12 a day ago, and the U.A.E Dirham decreased by 1.28 paisa from 76.69 to 76.71.

    In the current financial year, PKR has appreciated against the Dollar by 4.32 rupees or 1.53 per cent, while the current calendar year has seen PKR appreciate by 18.73 paisa or 0.07 per cent. 

    In the money market, the benchmark 6 Month Karachi Interbank Bid and Offer rates decreased by 6 bps to 21.16 and 21.41 per cent.

  • Interbank closing: Pakistani rupee resumes winning streak against US dollar

    Interbank closing: Pakistani rupee resumes winning streak against US dollar

    The Pakistani rupee exhibited resilience against the US dollar in the inter-bank market, marking a 0.06 per cent gain on Wednesday, reaching a settlement of Rs281.72, reflecting an increase of Re0.17, as reported by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). 

    This positive momentum follows a slight dip on Tuesday, when the rupee settled at Rs281.89 against the US dollar.

    Meanwhile, on the international front, the US dollar experienced a broad ascent on Wednesday, hovering near a two-week high against major peers. 

    This surge is attributed to various factors, including elevated US Treasury yields and a cautious shift in risk sentiment that impacted Wall Street.

    In another significant development, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is poised to implement stringent measures targeting non-filers during the current month. 

    The initial phase involves the blocking of mobile SIM cards and mobile phones for non-filers, with the issuance of the Income Tax General Order expected by January 15. 

    The FBR is also formulating a strategy to disconnect electricity and gas connections for non-filers, acknowledging a current lack of comprehensive data on the electricity connections of non-filers.

  • Pakistan repays $5.4 billion of $24.6 billion external debt

    Pakistan repays $5.4 billion of $24.6 billion external debt

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) governor revealed that Pakistan’s external debt obligations for Fiscal Year 2024 are $24.6 billion, as stated during the post-Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on Tuesday.

    Breaking down the figures, the principal amount is $20.7 billion, with an additional $3.9 billion accounting for interest.

    Notably, a total of $5.4 billion has already been repaid, encompassing a $4 billion principal payment and a $1.4 billion interest payment.

    As a result, the outstanding debt now stands at $19.2 billion, with plans to rollover $12.4 billion (with $9.3 billion already confirmed), according to the governor.

    This leaves a net remaining amount of $6.8 billion for the remaining seven months of the fiscal year. This comprises a $4.3 billion principal and a $2.5 billion interest payment.

    It’s crucial to note that the current foreign exchange reserves are relatively limited, standing at approximately $7 billion.

  • State Bank of Pakistan maintains policy rate at 22% despite inflation concerns 

    State Bank of Pakistan maintains policy rate at 22% despite inflation concerns 

    The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) convened today to deliberate on the prevailing economic conditions and has resolved to maintain the policy rate at 22 per cent for the fourth consecutive meeting. 

    This decision aligns with market expectations, as a majority of market participants were in agreement regarding the rate remaining unchanged. 

    The Monetary Policy Statement issued by the central bank indicates that the decision takes into consideration the impact of the recent increase in gas prices on November’s inflation, which exceeded the MPC’s earlier projections.  

    The Committee acknowledged the potential implications of this on the inflation outlook while also noting offsetting factors such as the recent decline in international oil prices and the improved availability of agricultural produce. 

    Additionally, the Committee conducted an assessment indicating that the real interest rate remains positive over a 12-month forward-looking horizon and anticipates a downward trajectory for inflation. 

    Key developments since the October meeting were considered by the MPC. Firstly, the successful completion of the staff-level agreement for the first review under the IMF SBA programme, which is expected to unlock financial inflows and enhance the SBP’s foreign exchange serves, 

    Secondly, the quarterly GDP growth for Q1–FY24 met the MPC’s expectations for a moderate economic recovery. 

    Lastly, consumer and business confidence surveys reflected positive sentiment improvements. Lastly, core inflation persists at elevated levels, showing a gradual reduction. 

    Considering these developments, the Committee determined that the existing monetary policy stance is conducive to achieving the inflation target of 5-7 per cent by the end of FY25. 

    The Committee emphasised that this assessment is contingent on the sustained implementation of targeted fiscal consolidation and the timely realisation of planned external inflows. 

  • PSX bounces back with gain of nearly 500 points

    PSX bounces back with gain of nearly 500 points

    The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) welcomed a resurgence of bullish activity as the KSE-100 Index marked a substantial gain of nearly 500 points in Tuesday’s trading session.

    At 1:55 pm, the benchmark index stood at 66,496.21, reflecting a noteworthy increase of 483.89 points, or 0.73 per cent. 

    The positive momentum was evident in key sectors such as cement, fertiliser, oil and gas exploration, OMCs, refineries, and power generation. However, a mixed trend characterised the automobile and commercial bank sectors.

    In contrast to the previous session, where profit-taking led to a 211-point dip in the KSE-100 Index, today’s bullish trend is attributed to favourable economic indicators. 

    Investors are keenly observing the upcoming International Monetary Fund (IMF) executive board meeting on January 11, 2024.

    Simultaneously, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is convening today, with market expectations leaning towards a maintenance of the key interest rate—a rate that reached an unprecedented 22 per cent in June and has remained unchanged for the past three meetings.

    Analysts note that investors have factored in the pinnacle of Pakistan’s interest rates, and optimism surrounds the anticipated successful conclusion of the IMF programme, contributing to the positive sentiment in both the stock markets and the currency.

  • Pakistani rupee experiences 11th consecutive session of decline against US dollar

    Pakistani rupee experiences 11th consecutive session of decline against US dollar

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    The Pakistani rupee faced its eleventh consecutive session of losses against the US dollar, depreciating by 0.34 per cent in the inter-bank market on Monday.

    According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the rupee settled at 285.29, marking a decline of Re0.98.

    In the preceding week, the rupee had also suffered losses against the US dollar, closing 1.33 per cent lower at 284.31 in the inter-bank market, equivalent to a decrease of Rs3.74. This marked the third consecutive week of declines for the local currency.

    Prior to this recent trend, the Pakistani rupee had maintained a positive trajectory for 28 consecutive sessions, one of the longest appreciation runs, gaining a cumulative 10.93 per cent since reaching a record low of 307.1 in the inter-bank market on September 5.

    This surge was largely attributed to efforts to combat smuggling and increased controls on exchange companies.

    However, the situation has since shifted in favour of the US dollar, with global currencies remaining stable on Monday but appearing poised to continue their recent uptrend. This comes as the US dollar retreated following a moderation in the Federal Reserve’s hawkish stance.

    Internationally, major global currencies showed stability early on Monday, with the US dollar index flat at 105.11 and the euro at $1.0726.

    The dollar index experienced its most significant decline since mid-July, falling over 1 per cent last week and reaching a six-week low.

    Weakness in US job data, softer global manufacturing figures, and declining longer-term Treasury yields also contributed to the dollar’s weakened position.

  • State Bank of Pakistan maintains 22% policy rate in line with market consensus

    State Bank of Pakistan maintains 22% policy rate in line with market consensus

    Following the consensus in the broader market, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) announced on Monday that it would maintain the key policy rate at 22 per cent, as stated in their press release.

    The Committee recognised that headline inflation, as expected, increased in September 2023 but anticipates a decline in October, followed by a sustained decrease, particularly in the latter half of the fiscal year.

    While the MPC acknowledged potential risks to the FY24 inflation outlook and the current account due to recent global oil price volatility and forthcoming gas tariff increases in November 2023, they also identified mitigating factors.

    These factors include targeted fiscal consolidation in the first quarter, enhanced availability of crucial commodities in the market, and the alignment of interbank and open market exchange rates.

    The MPC emphasised that the real policy rate, looking forward over a 12-month horizon, remains significantly positive.

    This is deemed appropriate to achieve the medium-term inflation target of 5-7 per cent by the end of FY25, contingent upon the sustained fiscal consolidation and timely realisation of planned external inflows, as articulated in the MPC statement.

  • State Bank of Pakistan set to announce policy rate decision today

    State Bank of Pakistan set to announce policy rate decision today

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) will soon unveil its latest monetary policy for the upcoming two months.

    In an official statement, the central bank declared that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of SBP will convene on Monday, October 30, 2023, to determine the monetary policy. SBP will then issue the Monetary Policy Statement via a press release on the same day.

    Currently, the State Bank’s policy rate stands at 22 per cent. Since October 2021, the central bank has increased its policy rate by a cumulative 1,500 basis points in an effort to combat rising inflation and bolster the external balance. This rate has remained unchanged since July 2023.

    The forthcoming policy rate announcement is poised to exert a substantial influence on Pakistan’s industries and inflation rate.

    In the most recent meeting held in July, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) resolved to maintain the interest rate at 22 per cent.

    The Monetary Policy Committee of the central bank meticulously assessed economic data and the prevailing inflation situation before opting to retain the interest rate. It’s worth noting that substantial progress has been achieved in the current account, thanks to government initiatives.

    This decision comes against the backdrop of Pakistan contending with a high inflation rate, currently pegged at 29.65 per cent.

  • Pakistani rupee continues to lose against US dollar

    Pakistani rupee continues to lose against US dollar

    The Pakistani rupee experienced a 0.16 per cent depreciation against the US dollar in the inter-bank market on Wednesday, settling at 279.88, marking a decrease of Re0.45, as reported by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

    The previous day, the rupee had depreciated by 0.11 per cent, closing at 279.43 against the US dollar. In a related development, the SBP anticipates an increase in remittances to Pakistan due to a notable rise in labour migration. 

    In fiscal years 2022 and 2023, Pakistan observed a significant surge in labour migration compared to the preceding two years, with around 0.8 million Pakistani workers registered through the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE) and Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC) during FY23.

    Internationally, the US dollar gained strength on Wednesday, supported by robust US economic data. Meanwhile, the euro faced challenges due to a dimming growth outlook in the Eurozone. US business output showed improvement in October, signalling a recovery from a five-month contraction, as reported on Tuesday. 

    In contrast, data from the same day indicated an unexpected downturn in business activity in the Eurozone. The euro, against the dollar, was up 0.05 per cent at $1.0595 but had declined by 0.75 per cent the previous day. This shift boosted the dollar index, which steadied at 106.23, moving away from a one-month low of 105.35 recorded in the previous session.

    Furthermore, oil prices remained above $88 on Wednesday, driven by concerns about escalating conflicts in the Middle East, which offset worries about reduced demand due to the gloomy economic prospects in Europe.