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BR Research » Banking

The brave new banking world
Banking

The brave new banking world

‘Banks want to play tech companies,’ read a headline in this newspaper earlier this month. Given a private sector ch
Updated 20 Nov, 2019 06:21am
NBP 9MCY19: Sound and strong
Banking

NBP 9MCY19: Sound and strong

National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) has continued its strong performance, as reflected by strong profit numbers for 9MCY19.
Updated 31 Oct, 2019 08:11am
Bank Alfalah: upbeat profits
Banking

Bank Alfalah: upbeat profits

Bank Alfalah Limited (BAFL) posted double digit year-on-year growth in pretax profits for 9MCY19, despite the challengin
Updated 28 Oct, 2019 06:47am
Bank Al Habib profits grow
Banking

Bank Al Habib profits grow

Bank Al Habib Limited (BAHL) is doing pretty well. It posted a sizable 30 percent year-on-year increase in pre-tax profi
Updated 25 Oct, 2019 06:02am
ABL goes smooth
Banking

ABL goes smooth

Allied Bank Limited (ABL) announced its 9MCY19 financial results last week, accompanied with an interim dividend of Rs2
Updated 21 Oct, 2019 06:25am
All is well at MCB
Banking

All is well at MCB

The challenging economic conditions seem to have done no harm to MCB Bank’s profits. The bank also continued with the ri
Updated 18 Oct, 2019 06:02am
Profits grow at UBL
Banking

Profits grow at UBL

UBL announced its 9MCY19 financial results yesterday, making good strides, accompanied with an interim dividend of Rs3/s
Updated 17 Oct, 2019 07:25am
HBL: pretax profits up
Banking

HBL: pretax profits up

Having had a slightly challenging 2QCY19, in terms of profitability, the country’s largest commercial bank, HBL stag
Updated 16 Oct, 2019 06:40am
NBP – impressive again
Banking

NBP – impressive again

National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) keeps churning profits, and 1HCY19 was no different. Save from a higher effective tax ra
Updated 02 Sep, 2019 05:17am
JSBL 1HCY19
Banking

JSBL 1HCY19

JS Bank Limited has had it tough in 2019 so far. That should not come as a surprise as most sectors have had it tough th
Updated 28 Aug, 2019 06:50am
Changing sentiments?
Banking

Changing sentiments?

Last week the news flow was positive; and the stock market reacted to it with 9 percent recovery. A fresh wave of positi
Published 26 Aug, 2019 06:46am
BOP: double digit growth
Banking

BOP: double digit growth

The Bank of Punjab (BOP) rode on the exemplary top line growth, which trickled down to the bottom line, posting a double
Published 26 Aug, 2019 06:05am
FDI: finding neverland
Banking

FDI: finding neverland

FDI data is here; FDI isn’t - unless one really counts those peanut-sized net inflows of $73.4 million in July 2019.
Updated 29 Aug, 2019 05:10am
Askari Bank marches on
Banking

Askari Bank marches on

The blueprint for banks this season – big, mid-sized and small, has been by and large the same. Bank on higher interest
Published 23 Aug, 2019 05:57am
The yield curve inversion
Banking

The yield curve inversion

The market participated with full heart in the recent PIB auction, indicating that the pulse in rates is peaked. Market
Published 23 Aug, 2019 05:44am
Current account in control
Banking

Current account in control

The current account deficit is down to $579 million in July19; almost one fourth of what was in the July18 – just before
Published 22 Aug, 2019 06:50am
Bank Al Habib sails smooth
Banking

Bank Al Habib sails smooth

Bank Al Habib Limited (BAHL) posted a strong 1HCY19 financial performance, registering 21 percent year-on-year increase
Published 22 Aug, 2019 06:47am
ABL 1HCY19: well poised
Banking

ABL 1HCY19: well poised

Allied Bank Limited (ABL) posted its financial results for 1hCY19, accompanied with an interim dividend of Rs2 per share
Published 21 Aug, 2019 05:41am
BAFL takes steady strides
Banking

BAFL takes steady strides

Having faced a slightly underpay 1QCY19. Bank Alfalah (BAFL) made a strong comeback in the second quarter, posting 14 pe
Published 20 Aug, 2019 05:26am
Sustaining remittances
Banking

Sustaining remittances

A good start to FY20, worker remittances for July 2019 as per SBP’s recently released data has risen by 8 percent on a y
Published 19 Aug, 2019 06:08am
MCB shines in tough times
Banking

MCB shines in tough times

MCB Bank announced its 1HCY19 financial results yesterday, continuing the rich tradition of hefty dividends. There was a
Published 08 Aug, 2019 08:00am
Missing sovereign guarantees
Banking

Missing sovereign guarantees

The fate of Rs200 billion power sector Sukuk – to park circular debt in another company, and Rs20 billion market support
Published 08 Aug, 2019 07:39am
Policy rate: Is this the peak?
Banking

Policy rate: Is this the peak?

Having complied with the IMF raising the interest rates by 150 bps in May 2019 as part of prior action, the Central bank
Published 17 Jul, 2019 07:20am
SBP doesn’t hold back
Banking

SBP doesn’t hold back

It looks like the monetary authority will not pull any punches. Reading between the lines, the State Bank of Pakistan’s
Published 17 Jul, 2019 07:16am
Hold onto remittances
Banking

Hold onto remittances

With hopes of economic revival still distant as exports continue to paint a dreary picture, banking on remittances to pr
Published 12 Jul, 2019 06:17am
Can DFS get merchants on board?
Banking

Can DFS get merchants on board?

Bringing retailers on board is a huge challenge for Pakistan’s digital financial services (DFS) ecosystem. Next door, In
Published 11 Jul, 2019 06:35am
Bringing currency back
Banking

Bringing currency back

There is no stoppage to fiscal deficit growth. FBR collection by June end is likely to be less than last year. The next
Updated 24 Jun, 2019 07:03am
CAD: slippery again
Banking

CAD: slippery again

The current account deficit (CAD) is starting to drift again. In April and May 2019, CAD’s monthly average crossed the b
Published 21 Jun, 2019 05:39am
Decision times: bold and cold
Banking

Decision times: bold and cold

The strategy is to accumulate foreign currency from the local market at lucrative rates. The interest rates are rising,
Updated 20 Jun, 2019 08:13am
Betting on remittances
Banking

Betting on remittances

That Pakistan received a significantly higher amount of remittances from overseas Pakistani’s is a much needed breather
Published 19 Jun, 2019 06:15am
Wait-and-see!
Banking

Wait-and-see!

If yesterday’s press conference of SBP governor Dr Reza Baqir is any indication, all eyes are on controlling inflation t
Published 18 Jun, 2019 06:22am
No more tightening
Banking

No more tightening

The SBP Governor in a public gathering spoke about the interest rate determination. He was spot on to say that the objec
Published 17 Jun, 2019 06:46am
No credit to credit expansion
Banking

No credit to credit expansion

The decline in the economy is manifesting in the lending patterns to private sector businesses and consumers which is ar
Published 11 Jun, 2019 05:31am
Fiscal debt trap brewing
Banking

Fiscal debt trap brewing

Is the government of Pakistan getting into a debt trap? Probably yes. Back in 2014, this space cautioned about the loomi
Published 29 May, 2019 04:58am
God’s gift to treasury
Banking

God’s gift to treasury

The economy is nose diving and it is time for banks to make merry in the PIBs bonanza. The IMF conditionality is creatin
Published 28 May, 2019 06:33am
Alarming fiscal deficit
Banking

Alarming fiscal deficit

Nothing is going right. The fiscal deficit stood at 5 percent of GDP in 9MFY19 - highest ever deficit since Pakistan sta
Published 22 May, 2019 03:54am
Rise in inactive m-wallets
Banking

Rise in inactive m-wallets

Much of the current government’s financial inclusion agenda depends on making digital transaction accounts (DTAs) grow i
Published 21 May, 2019 07:39am
MPS: A step too soon?
Banking

MPS: A step too soon?

There was a strong noise of 150 bps increase; and it happened. The rumor had it as a prior IMF condition and this perhap
Published 21 May, 2019 07:08am
Prepone the monetary policy
Banking

Prepone the monetary policy

The IMF deal is done; but uncertainty prevails. The market demands clarity on the quantum and timings of prior actions.
Published 15 May, 2019 06:32am
The deal is here
Banking

The deal is here

The IMF programme is finalized. In Naya Pakistan, it was announced in an old fashioned way by a technocrat FM in PTV 9 P
Published 14 May, 2019 05:42am
IMF: be counter-cyclical
Banking

IMF: be counter-cyclical

Since the IMF’s statement regarding a staff-level loan agreement with Pakistan was released May 12, economic observers h
Published 14 May, 2019 05:26am
Remittances remain faithful
Banking

Remittances remain faithful

With the economy sailing into choppy waters, the growth in remittances continues to provide some shock mitigation capabi
Published 13 May, 2019 05:28am
Facilitating FDI investment
Banking

Facilitating FDI investment

Pakistan’s foreign direct investment has been nothing to write home about. The 9MFY19 numbers have been dismal with FDI
Published 10 May, 2019 04:41am
Of NPLs and banking courts
Banking

Of NPLs and banking courts

Banks in Pakistan lack credit robustness and one reason, apart from banks’ own laziness and higher government financing
Updated 29 Apr, 2019 10:00am
Allied Bank: doing just fine
Banking

Allied Bank: doing just fine

Allied Bank Limited (ABL) announced its financial results for 1QCY19 accompanied with the first interim dividend of Rs2
Published 26 Apr, 2019 06:06am
HBL – pre-tax profit growth
Banking

HBL – pre-tax profit growth

Save for the retrospective imposition of Super Tax on 2017 profits, HBL delivered promising 1QCY19 results. Better still
Published 25 Apr, 2019 05:28am
Import led CAD breather
Banking

Import led CAD breather

The current account deficit at $822 million for Mar19 is little higher than market expectations, but the direction is ri
Published 23 Apr, 2019 06:04am
The FDI gloom
Banking

The FDI gloom

Remittances have been growing and supporting the current account deficit; and the government and the central bank have b
Published 23 Apr, 2019 05:46am
Wanted: telecom FDI
Banking

Wanted: telecom FDI

It’s a season of doom for Pakistan’s overall net FDI, which fell 51 percent year-on-year – or $1.35 billion – in 9MFY19.
Published 22 Apr, 2019 06:20am
PIBs – say no to high rates
Banking

PIBs – say no to high rates

The PIB auction is scheduled today. Recent behavior of auctions is erratic. With DG debt at the helm, Ministry of financ
Published 17 Apr, 2019 07:00am
T -Bills auction - bold move
Banking

T -Bills auction - bold move

The bid pattern of this week T-Bills auction brings no surprises. The market is expecting another rate hike in May 19 mo
Published 12 Apr, 2019 07:05am
Remittances - the saviour
Banking

Remittances - the saviour

The significance of remittances for Pakistan’s economy is well-documented; but the precarious nature of the country’s ec
Published 12 Apr, 2019 06:39am
Why all this tightening?
Banking

Why all this tightening?

Earlier in 2017, when economic stresses were building with excess demand reflecting in the external account, the SBP was
Published 09 Apr, 2019 05:06am
Dollar outlook
Banking

Dollar outlook

In mid-October 2018, the interbank forex market was desperate for dollars – as desperate as it was in June 2013. The des
Updated 03 Mar, 2021 10:35am
Rate hike uncalled for
Banking

Rate hike uncalled for

So, 50 bps it is. Get ready for the IMF; forget fundamentals or what is happening in the world. The IMF wants Pakistan p
Published 01 Apr, 2019 05:45am
M-wallets: just a numbers game?
Banking

M-wallets: just a numbers game?

Another quarter, another round of growth for mobile wallets. As per the central bank’s latest publication on the Branchl
Published 29 Mar, 2019 05:53am
Scary NIR - don't look at it
Banking

Scary NIR - don't look at it

The current account deficit came down to 29 months low in Feb-19, and the trajectory is changing (read " Current account
Published 21 Mar, 2019 06:30am
An unsustainable strategy?
Banking

An unsustainable strategy?

Being a donor helps when it comes to communicating on sensitive issues. The World Bank Group has done just that in Pakis
Published 21 Mar, 2019 06:18am
FDI plummets and diversifies
Banking

FDI plummets and diversifies

The government officials are busy boasting of the multi month low CAD achieved in February 2019. Good job. But they woul
Published 18 Mar, 2019 05:23am
M2 growth: amnesty calling?
Banking

M2 growth: amnesty calling?

The currency in circulation has always been high in Pakistan and it is a cause of concern for an economy where lack of d
Published 14 Mar, 2019 04:59am
Remittances on track
Banking

Remittances on track

Remittance numbers for February 2019 are out. If you are looking whether Pakistan is on track to meet the full year targ
Published 12 Mar, 2019 05:11am
Sukuks to the rescue
Banking

Sukuks to the rescue

The much-awaited Sukuk bond has been finally launched, amid much fanfare. The idea is to help reduce the infamous power
Published 07 Mar, 2019 05:35am
Readying for the IMF
Banking

Readying for the IMF

A rumor is circulating on an agreement with the IMF on a $12 billion package soon. BR Research channel checks confirm th
Published 05 Mar, 2019 06:48am
NBP – record revenue
Banking

NBP – record revenue

National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) has continued expanding its balance sheet, which stands at Rs2.8 billion, showing a near
Published 26 Feb, 2019 05:24am
UBL: profits down
Banking

UBL: profits down

UBL had a difficult CY18 in terms of printability. That is one way of looking at banks. Another way is to look at the ba
Published 25 Feb, 2019 05:56am
The fiscal headache
Banking

The fiscal headache

The one element that the federal government is unable to control in its early days is the fiscal deficit. On consolidate
Published 21 Feb, 2019 06:45am
HBL: lending and profits surge
Banking

HBL: lending and profits surge

While a few large banks are celebrating reaching the trillion rupee mark in terms of deposit – the largest of them all,
Published 21 Feb, 2019 06:43am
MCB: steady growth
Banking

MCB: steady growth

MCB Bank announced its CY18 financial results yesterday, doling out another Rs4/share in final dividends – taking the fu
Published 21 Feb, 2019 06:41am
Remittances: good news and bad
Banking

Remittances: good news and bad

Remittance inflows are growing closer to the full-year FY19 target of 15 percent. Year-on-year growth clocked-in at 6 pe
Published 13 Feb, 2019 04:06am
Make the IMF wait
Banking

Make the IMF wait

The PM’s charm could not lure the IMF head Christine Lagarde in Dubai. The negotiations are not conclusive yet. The Fund
Published 12 Feb, 2019 07:40am
A 25 bps face-saving
Banking

A 25 bps face-saving

The outgoing monetary policy committee salvaged its position by a token increase of 25 bps in the policy decision yester
Published 01 Feb, 2019 06:33am
Will the diaspora do more?
Banking

Will the diaspora do more?

Is patriotism overrated? The dam fund’s fate would suggest so – as no more than $10 million made their way five months l
Published 31 Jan, 2019 06:18am