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China’s export growth slowed in the first two months of 2025 compared to the end of 2024, a slackening observed after a late-year rush to front-load shipments ahead of additional tariffs from the United States that have since been enacted.Exports rose by 2.3 per cent from a year earlier to US$539.94 billion in the combined figures for January and February, according to customs data released on Friday.This represented a significant drop from the 10.7 per cent recorded in December and the 7.1 per cent seen over the same period in 2024.Zhiwei Zhang, president and chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management,…
A general view of the container terminal in Qianwan of Qingdao Port, a port in Shandong Province, China, March 17, 2023. CFOTO | Future Publishing | Getty ImagesChina’s exports growth slowed more than expected at the start of the year, data from the customs authority showed Friday, as higher U.S. tariffs partly offset momentum in the country’s rare bright spot.Exports in the January to February period rose 2.3% in U.S. dollar terms from a year earlier, significantly undershooting expectations of a 5% increase in a Reuters poll.That marked the slowest growth since April last year when exports increased by just 1.5%…
Broadcom shares were rewarded Thursday evening after the chipmaker delivered the kind of quarterly beats and strong guidance needed to ease investor fears about a potential slowdown in artificial intelligence semiconductor spending. Revenue in Broadcom’s fiscal 2025 first quarter increased 25% year over year to $14.92 billion, beating the consensus forecast of $14.61 billion, according to estimates compiled by LSEG. Adjusted earnings per share increased 45% from the year-ago period to $1.60, which exceeded the $1.49 expected, LSEG data showed. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) grew 41% year over year to $10.08 billion in the quarter,…
LAHORE: Taking notice of the dwindling cotton production, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a 15-member committee tasked with recommending measures in 30 days for the revival of the crop. Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research Rana Tanveer Hussain has been nominated as convener of the committee, which will take stock of the cotton crop situation and propose policy and administrative interventions for crop revival. It will also submit recommendations for proper grading and standardisation of cotton bales in line with international standards, especially contamination parameters. The body will also submit technical proposals to enhance cotton yield nationwide.…
ISLAMABAD: While urging quick decisions to arrest the sliding export patterns, textile leaders on Thursday asked Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb to order the prompt release of pending refunds of Rs329.5 billion. A delegation of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma), led by Chairman Kamran Arshad, apprised the finance minister of the challenges confronting textile exporters and called for their early resolution. Mr Arshad briefed the minister on pending refunds and sought policy steps to resolve the textile sector’s difficulties connected to taxation, energy, and finance. He said the association’s recommendations should be incorporated in the upcoming budget. Urges govt…
ISLAMABAD: The Appellate Bench of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has dismissed an appeal filed by VIS Credit Rating Company Ltd against the penalty imposed for multiple regulatory violations of Credit Rating Companies Regulations 2016. The appeal challenged the SECP’s order dated Oct 16, 2019 passed by Commissioner SMD under Section 159 of the Securities Act 2015, which determined the company’s non-compliance with several regulations. These violations included issues related to conflict of interest in rating assignments, failure to conduct an internal audit review, inadequate risk management policies and framework, absence of indicative rating, and lapses in…
ISLAMABAD: Following the recent visits of ‘President Trump’s advisers for digital assets’, the Ministry of Finance appears to have left the Ministry of Science and Technology high and dry over its months-long endeavour to be the custodian of virtual assets and cryptocurrencies. Sources told Dawn that the Ministry of Science, under Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, has been coordinating with a working group of almost two dozen senior civil and military officials from about 16 stakeholders to prepare for “virtual assets regulations in Pakistan” and had finalised a formal summary to the cabinet for discussions and approval. These stakeholders include the…
ISLAMABAD: While urging quick decisions to arrest the sliding export patterns, textile leaders on Thursday asked Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb to order the prompt release of pending refunds of Rs329.5 billion. A delegation of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma), led by Chairman Kamran Arshad, apprised the finance minister of the challenges confronting textile exporters and called for their early resolution. Mr Arshad briefed the minister on pending refunds and sought policy steps to resolve the textile sector’s difficulties connected to taxation, energy, and finance. He said the association’s recommendations should be incorporated in the upcoming budget. Urges govt…
Costco on Thursday reported another sturdy — if mixed — quarter, demonstrating that its focus on keeping prices low continues to bring more shoppers to its stores at an uncertain time for the U.S. economy. Total revenue in its second quarter of fiscal year 2025 rose 9% year over year to $63.72 billion, topping Wall Street expectations of $63.13 billion, according to estimates compiled by LSEG. Earnings per share (EPS) in the 12 weeks ended Feb. 16 came in at $4.02, missing the consensus of $4.11, LSEG data showed. The reported figure includes a 13-cent hit from foreign exchange rates,…
LAHORE: Pakistan’s automotive industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation, driven by localization efforts that have significantly reduced reliance on imports. The industry, contributing 2.8% to the nation’s GDP, has seen the localization rate for cars and Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) rise to 55% by 2024. This was shared by Ali Asghar Jamali, Chief Executive Officer, Indus Motor Company along with Abdul Waheed Khan, Director General, Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA). Abdul Waheed stated that since localization initiatives began in the 1990s in Pakistan, this shift has not only injected around $5 billion into the economy and has also created approximately…