News Highlight Thursday, February 1, 2024

Budgetary requirements; Ijara Sukuk funding to help govt save Rs32bn per year – Neutral
https://epaper.brecorder.com/2024/02/01/1-page/983994-news.html

Inflation, surging expenditures persist: MoF – Negative
https://www.dawn.com/news/1810204/inflation-surging-expenditures-persist-mof

FBR suffers Rs9bn shortfall in January – Neutral
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40286787/fbr-suffers-rs9bn-shortfall-in-january

Petrol price raised by Rs13.55 – Negative
https://epaper.brecorder.com/2024/02/01/1-page/983987-news.html

LPG price increased by Re1/kg – Negative
https://epaper.brecorder.com/2024/02/01/7-page/984043-news.html

Oil, gas E&P firms allowed to sell 35pc of gas to third party instead of Sui companies – Negative
https://www.nation.com.pk/01-Feb-2024/oil-gas-e-p-firms-allowed-to-sell-35pc-of-gas-to-third-party-instead-of-sui-companies

Nepra voices its concern; Massive cut in use of power by industries – Neutral
https://epaper.brecorder.com/2024/02/01/1-page/983995-news.html

Transmission line; Govt seeks 13-month extension of WB loan-closing date – Neutral
https://epaper.brecorder.com/2024/02/01/1-page/983998-news.html

Farm sector gets Rs1.1 trillion loans in H1, nears half of annual target – Positive
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1153329-farm-sector-gets-rs1-1-trillion-loans-in-h1-nears-half-of-annual-target

ADs allowed to make import advance payments without prior SBP approval – Neutral
https://epaper.brecorder.com/2024/02/01/12-page/984085-news.html

Foreign investors withdraw $37m in January – Neutral
https://epaper.brecorder.com/2024/02/01/12-page/984076-news.html

Violence undermines poll process: US
https://www.dawn.com/news/1810222/violence-undermines-poll-process-us

Report on electoral poll: Pakistan is fifth largest democracy in world: Fafen
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1153473-report-on-electoral-poll-pakistan-is-fifth-largest-democracy-in-world-fafen

Oil settles lower on faltering China economy, US crude stock build
https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/oil-ticks-down-asian-trade-despite-rising-middle-east-tensions-2024-01-31/

Stocks Drop on Fed Rate-Cut Pushback, Earnings: Markets Wrap
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-31/stock-market-today-dow-s-p-live-updates

Exchange Rates:

WTI (Nymex)76.46 USD/bbl
BRENT (ICE)81.71 USD/bbl
ARAB LIGHT83.41 USD/bbl
R BAY COAL95.00 USD/TON
USDPKR279.50