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Rupee snaps multisession losing streak

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  • Rupee mostly remains stable in Friday’s trade
  • Hopes of dollar inflows underpin buoyant close.
  • Dollar continues to outshine world currencies.

KARACHI: The rupee Friday closed the session a shade higher versus the US dollar, snapping the multi-day losing streak, mostly on bets of financial assistance from friendly countries and multilateral lenders, dealers said.

According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the rupee closed at 221.92 after an appreciation of Re0.03 or 0.01% in the interbank market compared to its Thursday’s closing of 221.95 against the dollar. 

The local unit ended at 221.95 per dollar after losing Re0.52 or 0.23% on Wednesday.

Moreover, the dollar has been gaining against major currencies after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signalled US interest rates will likely peak at a higher level than markets expected. 

On the other hand, the pound sterling sank after the Bank of England raised rates but warned of a “very challenging outlook.”

Analysts said the SBP’s allowing the exchange companies to trade 20% of remittances in the open market will ease pressure on the rupee.

The SBP on Thursday allowed exchange companies to trade 20% of remittances in the open market to ease pressure on the rupee.

Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar earlier this week announced clearance of Letters of Credit (LCs) up to $50,000, which spiked the dollar demand from importers.

Last week, the exchange businesses requested Dar to allow at least half of the remittances to be used by the open market. They expected that the possibility of receiving half of the remittances would lessen the demand for the dollar and lower its rate in the currency market.

“On our request, the governor State Bank of Pakistan has enabled the exchange companies to sell 20% of workers’ remittances to the general public,” said Malik Bostan, chairman of the Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan (ECAP) said in a statement.

Bostan, along with other members of ECAP held a meeting with governor SBP Jameel Ahmad and thanked him for helping exchange companies whenever they face any problem. 

“Due to the low rate of exchange companies, customers are selling in the black market instead of selling to exchange companies as their rate is 10 to 15 rupees more per dollar than exchange companies,” he said.

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An investigation was “launched” into PTA’s inability to get Rs. 78 billion back from Telcos

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The PTA has reportedly been instructed to reply to NAB by July 29. According to the enquiry, the national exchequer has suffered losses as a result of the delay in collecting dues.

The PTA has been asked to provide NAB with information about any pertinent records, court proceedings, and overdue bills. The NAB Karachi has summoned the PTA officials to appear with all pertinent documentation.

All of the principle sum has to be paid by the LDI firms, according to sources. But due to judicial stay orders, the collection of dues has been impeded.

These sources further state that a steering group has been established by the Ministry of IT to supervise the issue of dues recovery.

In a previous event, the tariffs levied on importing cell phones from outside were clarified by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

Contrary to what some internet reports claim, PTA clarified in response to recent news regarding the tariffs on mobile phone imports that there hasn’t been a formal decision to remove these levies in Pakistan.

the PTA.Pakistanis living abroad will be the only ones free from these levies, according to the PTA. A SIM card can be inserted and the phone restarted to temporarily register a device for non-PTA mobile subscribers.

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Weekly inflation in Pakistan increased by 0.17 percent.

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The SPI for the week under review in the aforementioned group was reported at 321.95 points, as opposed to 321.40 points during the previous week, according to the PBS statistics.

The SPI for the combined consumption group saw a 20.09 percent increase in the week under review compared to the same week the previous year.

The weekly SPI includes 51 necessary items for every spending group and 17 urban areas, with a base year of 2015–16 = 100.

The SPI for the lowest consumption category, which is up to Rs 17,732, grew by 0.08 percent from 311.97 points to 312.22 points this past week.

0.18 percent,The index of consumption for the lowest consumption groups, which are Rs 17,732-22,888, Rs 22,889-29,517, Rs 29,518-44,175 and above Rs 44,175; increased by 0.13 percent, 0.15 percent, 0.18 and 0.19 percent, respectively.

Nineteen (37.25%) of the fifty-one commodities had price increases over the week, eight (15.69%) had price decreases, and twenty-four (47.06%) had unchanged pricing.

On a weekly basis, the following commodities saw significant price decreases: tomatoes (9.19%), onions (2.14%), LPG (1.04%), bananas (0.53%), wheat flour (0.35%), potatoes (0.17%), pulse masoor (0.16%), and bread (0.05%).

Chicken (4.80%), garlic (2.01%), pulse gramme (1.87%), eggs (1.71%), beef (0.93%), gur (0.89%), pulse moong (0.84%), fresh milk (0.45%), firewood (0.23%), and cigarettes (0.12%) were among the items whose average prices increased significantly week over week.

The commodities that saw a year-over-year decline were: wheat flour (31.75%); cooking oil (13.44%); vegetable ghee 2.5 kg (10.42%); vegetable ghee 1 kg (9.85%); mustard oil (8.33%); eggs (5.82%); rice basmati broken (4.15%); and tea package (2.52%).

Gas prices for Q1 (570.00%), onions (96.01%), pulse gramme (40.39%), powered milk (39.11%), garlic (34.61%), pulse moong (29.77%), men’s sandals (25.01%), beef (23.52%), salt powder (23.28%), pulse mash (22.50%), and energy saver (17.96%) were among the commodities whose average prices increased year over year.

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The price of gold has drastically dropped in Pakistan.

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As per the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA), the cost of 24-karat gold per tola decreased by Rs 2,300, standing at Rs 250,500.

A kilogramme of 24-karat gold costing Rs1,972 less at the local market, making it worth Rs2114,763. Ten grammes of 22-karat gold had a price decrease to Rs196,866 as well.

After losing a significant $43 during the day, the rate per ounce of gold on the international market also decreased. It currently stands at $2,370.

On Thursday, the price of 24-karat silver also experienced a decline, falling by Rs60 to settle at Rs2,860 petal.

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