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Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Stocks emerge as best-performing asset class in Pakistan for FY25
Stocks emerged as the top-performing asset class in FY25 with a return exceeding 55%, led by aggressive monetary easing, improved market liquidity, and the unlocking of fundamental value across key sectors, said Arif Habib Limited (AHL). 'The KSE-100 exhibits the strongest performance across all asset classes, boasting a FY25 return of 55.58%, significantly outperforming gold (47.56%), T-Bills (12.68%), Defence Saving Certificates (12.61%), bank deposits (12.60%), PIBs (11.97%), and USD/PKR (1.91%),' AHL said, in its report on Friday. As per the brokerage house, the KSE-100's (benchmark index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange) returns consistently outshine those of other major asset categories. 'Even the historical gains from gold and T-Bills in recent times have been unable to match the impressive surge of the equity market.' It added that the KSE-100's CAGR, or Compound Annual Growth Rate, is higher than all other asset classes in every long-term benchmark, from a 5-year holding period to a 20-year holding period. 'This performance suggests that the KSE-100, particularly the equity market, is the most lucrative asset class for investors with a long-term horizon in Pakistan,' it added. KSE-100 in FY25 During the outgoing fiscal, the KSE-100 Index delivered a stellar performance, surging by 58.6% in PKR terms and an impressive 55.5% in USD terms to close at 124,379, up from 78,445 at the end of FY24. 'This remarkable rally was driven by aggressive monetary easing, improved market liquidity, and the unlocking of fundamental value across key sectors,' said AHL. The brokerage house shared that FY25 also witnessed record market participation, with the highest-ever trading volumes and the highest traded value since FY21. During FY25, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) slashed the policy rate from 21.5% to 11%, marking one of the most aggressive easing cycles in the country's history. Moreover, Fitch Ratings upgraded Pakistan's credit rating from CCC+ to B- following successful staff-level agreements with the IMF on the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility and the $1.3 billion Resilience and Sustainability Facility. Meanwhile, the PKR depreciated by a modest 1.9% against the USD FY25. However, despite the gains, geopolitical tensions jolted the market during the year, with sharp declines triggered by escalations between Pakistan and India in May'25, and Iran and Israel in Jun'25. 'However, subsequent ceasefires fueled some of the strongest market rallies in recent history,' it said.
Express Tribune
21-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Profit rates revised for National Savings schemes
The Central Directorate of National Savings (CDNS) has reduced rates of return on several National Savings Schemes (NSS), with cuts up to 100 basis points (bps), it was reported on Wednesday The Savings Account (SA) rate dropped by 100bps to 9.50% from 10.50%, according to Topline Securities. Defence Saving Certificates (DSC) returns fell by 21bps to 11.91% from 12.12%, while Bahbood Savings Certificates (BSC) declined by 24bps to 13.44% from 13.68%. Rates for Pensioners Benefit Account (PBA) and Shuhda Family Welfare Account (SFWA) were also lowered by 24bps each, now standing at 13.44%. Similarly, Regular Income Certificates (RIC) returns decreased by 18bps to 11.52% from 11.70%.
Business Recorder
17-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
FBR issues licensing procedure for aspiring freight forwarders
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has laid down strict procedure for persons intended to obtain licences to operate as freight forwarders. The FBR has issued an SRO 814(I)/2025 on Friday to notify draft amendments in the Customs Rules 2001. According to the proposed amendments, upon receipt of application, the licensing authority shall issue license subject to fulfilment of the following specified conditions. The freight forwarder shall deposit a sum of Rs 200,000 as security deposit for operating in one customs station and Rs500,000 as security deposit for operating in more than one customs station, in the shape of Defence Saving Certificates, pledged to the Collector of Customs. He shall execute a bond for ensuring good conduct and to follow customs rules and regulations. The licensee shall apply to the licensing authority as set out in form-C for the grant of Customs permit to such clerks as he/she employs for transacting business at the customs station such as custom house, seaport, airport, rail station or land customs station. A licensee (freight forwarder) shall act as an intermediary between the cargo owner and the earner and exercise due diligence and take reasonable measures in the performance of freight forwarding services. He shall arrange inland transportation of goods, maintaining effective communication with the exporter/transport companies so as to ensure that the goods are timely delivered to the port/airport and manage multimodal transportation in a situation where the goods are required to be delivered to the destination through sea, land and/or air route, simultaneously. A licensee will conduct negotiation of freight rates on exporter/importer with the carriers. He will also arranging storage and warehousing facility for the goods as and when required by the exporter/importer; (h) prepare and process documents related to all shipment activities, including issuing their own house bill of lading/airway bill, new rules added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
