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The recent homecoming of Tarique Rahman, the de facto leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and heir to one of the country’s most powerful political families, is widely expected to reshape the political trajectory ahead of February’s national election.Analysts say his return after 17 years in exile could consolidate the BNP’s position as the dominant electoral force, while tempering a volatile political climate unsettled by unrest and tensions with India following the overthrow of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s government.Rahman returned last week amid Bangladesh’s preparations for the February election under an interim administration formed after Hasina was forced…
Gold prices fell by nearly 2% in the European market on Monday at the start of the final trading week of 2025, retreating from their all-time highs amid accelerating correction and profit-taking activity, in addition to pressure from the continued recovery of the US dollar in foreign exchange markets. The decline was also driven by reduced safe-haven demand following positive developments in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, after US President Donald Trump said that both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy are showing genuine willingness to reach an agreement to end the war, noting that negotiations have entered their…
Pakistan is emerging as a potential beneficiary of the global race for critical minerals, with rising US interest in antimony opening a window for the country’s mining sector, reported the Financial Times (FT) on Monday. According to the report, Pakistan, which was largely viewed as a source of raw ore destined for Chinese buyers, is now drawing attention from American defence-linked companies seeking to diversify supply chains away from China. “For years, the only buyers for the antimony Jabbar Khan sourced from wildcat traders in Afghanistan were secretive Chinese intermediaries, who bargained hard over the price. “Now, Khan, chief operating…
The Japanese yen recouped some of its losses on Monday after retreating late last week, as markets assessed the timing of further interest rate hikes in Japan and the likelihood of official intervention, while thin year-end trading left European currencies largely stable. A summary of opinions from Bank of Japan policymakers at their December meeting, published on Monday, showed that members discussed the need to continue raising interest rates. Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said last week that Japan has full freedom to act against excessive moves in the yen. Bart Wakabayashi, head of State Street’s Tokyo branch,…
The Club’s top 10 things to watch Monday, Dec. 29 1. Stock futures fell early this morning as Wall Street kicks off another holiday-shortened trading week. This comes on the heels of the S & P 500 reaching several record highs last week. The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq will be closed on Thursday for New Year’s Day. 2. Investors will receive key economic data prints this week . On Wednesday afternoon, the Federal Open Market Committee will release minutes from its December meeting. These can provide greater clarity on what’s next for interest rates after the U.S.…
Gold dominated Pakistan’s asset landscape in 2025, emerging as the best-performing investment as both domestic and international prices posted sharp gains over the year. In Pakistan, gold delivered an exceptional 73% return in PKR terms, Topline Securities revealed in its report, with prices rising from Rs233,711 per 10 grams at the start of the year to Rs405,402 per 10 grams by late December. “In the international market, gold prices also increased from $2,612 per ounce on December 31, 2024, to $4,503 per ounce on December 26, 2025,” read the report. The surge is driven by strong investor demand amid geopolitical…
Gold prices fell by nearly 2% in the European market on Monday at the start of the final trading week of 2025, retreating from their all-time highs amid accelerating correction and profit-taking activity, in addition to pressure from the continued recovery of the US dollar in foreign exchange markets. The decline was also driven by reduced safe-haven demand following positive developments in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, after US President Donald Trump said that both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy are showing genuine willingness to reach an agreement to end the war, noting that negotiations have entered their…
Precious metals pulled back on Monday, with silver trading near the $80 per ounce mark after hitting a record high earlier in the day and gold easing from near record highs, on profit-booking and geopolitical tailwinds cooling safe-haven demand. Spot gold was down 0.4% at $4,512.30 per ounce, as of 0426 GMT, after hitting a record high of $4,549.71 on Friday. US gold futures for February delivery lost 0.4% to $4,535.10 per ounce. Spot silver was up 0.7% at $79.68 per ounce, after retreating from an all-time high of $83.62 hit earlier in the session. “A combination of profit-taking and…
Gold prices fell by nearly 2% in the European market on Monday at the start of the final trading week of 2025, retreating from their all-time highs amid accelerating correction and profit-taking activity, in addition to pressure from the continued recovery of the US dollar in foreign exchange markets. The decline was also driven by reduced safe-haven demand following positive developments in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, after US President Donald Trump said that both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy are showing genuine willingness to reach an agreement to end the war, noting that negotiations have entered their…
Rupee’s Performance Against US Dollar Since 04 March 2025 The Pakistani rupee recorded marginal improvement against the US dollar in the inter-bank market on Monday. At close, the local currency settled at 280.16, a gain of Re0.01 against the greenback. During the previous week, the Pakistan rupee posted marginal gain as it appreciated by Re0.08 or 0.03% against the US dollar in the inter-bank market. The local unit closed at 280.17, against 280.25 it had closed the week earlier against the greenback, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). Internationally, the Japanese yen recovered some ground on Monday following…