Business & Economy
Business & Economy
Pakistan opens formal talks with IMF review mission as Islamabad seeks $1.2 billion in disbursements
A visiting IMF team has begun formal review talks in Islamabad. Pakistan says it expects roughly $1.2 billion under two IMF facilities if the review concludes successfully, while the Fund is pressing for progress on sovereign wealth fund governance and procurement reforms.
RBI’s net bond sales hit Rs1 trillion this fiscal year, tightening liquidity and raising odds of a rate hike
The Reserve Bank of India has net sold Rs1 trillion of government debt so far in the current fiscal year, the largest annual net sale in more than a decade. The move is draining surplus rupee liquidity, pressuring government yields and increasing the likelihood of an interest rate rise at the upcoming policy meeting.
PBOC fine tunes short term liquidity with large reverse repos ahead of quarter end and National Day holiday
China’s central bank supplied hefty short term cash to markets on September 28 as quarter end and the week long National Day holiday approach, combining overnight, seven day and 14 day reverse repos to smooth money market strains even as net liquidity was modestly withdrawn after accounting for maturing facilities.
India cabinet approves new 'composite caps' framework to simplify FDI rules
The Union Cabinet approved a formal shift to composite caps for foreign investments, collapsing different foreign holding categories into a single sectoral ceiling. Officials and market participants say the move is intended to reduce regulatory friction and speed foreign capital flows into manufacturing, insurance and other strategic sectors.
China’s August industrial profit data due to be published, markets brace for signs on growth and property drag
Beijing is set to publish monthly industrial profit figures on September 28, 2026. Economists and investors will treat the release as a near‑term barometer of manufacturing momentum, corporate margins and the extent to which China’s struggling property sector is weighing on firms.
Pakistan markets cautious as stocks flat and rupee steadies amid oil worries and IMF review
Pakistan Stock Exchange closed the week largely unchanged as elevated oil prices and an IMF review weighed on investor sentiment. The rupee held near 277 to the dollar while foreign exchange reserves showed modest improvement, underscoring fragile stability ahead of key fiscal milestones.
Indian equities extend losing run to a third week as foreign selling, crude and yields weigh
Benchmark indices fell for a third consecutive week on September 27, 2026, pressured by sustained foreign institutional selling, higher global bond yields and elevated crude prices, even as domestic investors stepped in to cushion the fall.
Beijing announces fresh fiscal and industrial support to shore up property sector amid ongoing slowdown
China unveiled a targeted package of fiscal backstops and local-government measures on September 27, 2026, aimed at stabilizing the struggling property sector and preventing further spillovers to growth and local finances.
Pakistan launches National Faceless Centre as government pushes to widen tax base and meet IMF targets
The Federal Board of Revenue on September 26, 2026 announced a National Faceless Centre to centralize and digitalize tax assessment and dispute resolution. Officials say the move aims to reduce corruption, speed up refunds, and lift revenue collection in line with IMF commitments, but experts warn successful rollout will hinge on enforcement, connectivity and taxpayer trust.
IWG targets 400 flexible workspaces in India by 2029 as hybrid demand fuels landlord partnerships
Global flexible workspace operator IWG said it will more than triple its Indian footprint over the next three years, rolling out unmanned microhubs and specialised health focused spaces while leaning on partnership deals with local landlords.
Markets Price In RBA Rate Rise as Inflation Risks and Global Tightening Bite
Investor bets and bank forecasts pushed expectations of a Reserve Bank of Australia rate rise to near certainty on September 26, 2026, as policymakers weigh a tight labour market, rising fuel costs and global rate moves.
Federal Reserve Raises Rates as Policymakers Push to Tame Sticky Inflation, Hitting Corporate Costs and Markets
The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate in September, signaling a new phase of monetary tightening aimed at persistent inflation. The decision is reshaping borrowing costs for U.S. businesses, pushing up mortgage and corporate borrowing rates, and altering market expectations for growth and earnings.
Treasury Expands Bond Buybacks to $6 Billion as U.S. Seeks to Calm Rising Borrowing Costs
The U.S. Treasury said it will buy up to $6 billion of longer dated securities in a buyback operation, a step officials say is aimed at improving market functioning even as investors question how much it will slow the rise in long term yields.
Federal Reserve Raises Rates for First Time Since 2023, Cites Sticky Inflation and Energy Shock
The Federal Reserve on Sept. 16 raised its benchmark federal funds rate by 25 basis points — the first increase since 2023 — signaling the possibility of another hike later this year as oil-driven inflation and resilient domestic demand complicate policymakers’ path back to 2% price stability.