Gold rebounded on Friday, recovering from a nearly one-week low in the previous session, as investors awaited key US inflation figures for cues on the direction of interest rates following robust jobs data that tempered rate cut expectations.

Spot gold was up 0.6 per cent at $4,949.99 per ounce as of 06:26 GMT, but has lost 0.2pc so far this week. US gold futures for April delivery climbed 0.4pc to $4,968.0 per ounce.

“With volatilities as heightened as they are and these big round levels offering, you know, sort of indicators of where positioning might be, big breaks certainly accelerate these moves,” Capital.com senior market analyst Kyle Rodda said.

Gold dropped about 3pc to a near one-week low on Thursday, breaking below the $5,000-an-ounce key support as selling pressure intensified after an equities rout.

“Precious metals came down with equities last night. They didn’t really have much of a macro catalyst,” Rodda added.

Asian shares retreated from record highs on Friday as worries about shrinking margins in the tech sector hit the likes of Apple.

The yellow metal also came under pressure after data released on Wednesday showed the US job market began 2026 on firmer footing than expected, reinforcing the view that policymakers may keep rates elevated for longer.

Investors now await inflation data, due later in the day, for more cues on the Fed’s monetary policy path, with two 25-basis-point cuts currently priced in this year, the first of those expected in June. Non-yielding bullion tends to do well in low-interest-rate environments.

Elsewhere, gold flipped to a discount in India this week for the first time in a month on subdued demand as volatile prices deterred buying, while the China market saw robust demand as it heads into the Lunar New Year celebrations.

Spot silver climbed 1.5pc to $76.31 per ounce, rebounding from an 11pc drop on Thursday, though it remained on track for a weekly loss of 2.1pc.

Spot platinum added 0.9pc to $2,018.44 per ounce, while palladium rose 2.2pc to $1,652.31. Both metals were set to notch weekly losses.

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Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) benchmark index, KSE-100, was trading in the red at 11am on Friday.

The index shed 1716.51 points during early intraday trading, a 0.95 per cent drop from its previous close of 180,512.64 points on Thursday.

The top active stocks were led by K-Electric Limited, rising 2.19pc to Rs8.40 at a volume of 32,163,790, followed by Hum Network Limited, rising 10.01pc to Rs12.20 at a volume of 27,375,937, and Pakistan International Bulk Terminal, rising 0.83pc to Rs19.55 at a volume of 23,299,378.

LSE Capital Limited led the top advancers, rising 41.53pc to Rs2.59 at a volume of 5,348,697, followed by 786 Investments Limited advancing 10.02pc to Rs16.25 at a volume of 373,943, and Apna Microfinance Bank Limited rising 10.02pc to Rs21.74 at a volume of 36,071.

The top decliners were led by Ahmad Hassan Textile Mills Limited, falling 9.86pc to Rs76.11 at a volume of 81, followed by Shadman Cotton Mills Limited, falling 7.71pc to Rs48.02 at a volume of 11, and Saritow Spinning Mills Limited, declining 7.64pc to Rs28.77 at a volume of 2,703.

The index’s last session was marred by volatility on account of Engro Fertilizer’s fourth quarter 2025 results falling short of street expectations, which triggered a shift in momentum decisively in favor of sellers, according to Topline Securities. Investors wait to see whether this bearish momentum persists.

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ISLAMABAD: Corporate Social Responsibility has become an integral part of modern business strategy, and that investment is not merely about economic indicators but about improving lives, creating jobs, reducing poverty, and strengthening social stability, said Board of Investment (BoI) Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh on Thursday.

Speaking at the annual CSR Summit, the minister emphasised that businesses today are key partners in social progress alongside economic growth.

He underlined that investment in human resources is the key to poverty reduction and economic stability. Without strengthening education, research, and skill development, sustainable progress cannot be achieved, underscoring the continued importance of public–private partnerships for inclusive, long-term development.

He called upon investors, industrialists, and business leaders to align their investment objectives with social responsibility and expand CSR initiatives in education, healthcare, environmental protection, skill development, and community welfare.

He expressed the confidence that through strong collaboration between the government and the private sector, Pakistan can achieve sustainable, inclusive, and investment-friendly economic growth.

The BoI reaffirmed its commitment to providing maximum facilitation and guidance to investors through transparent and efficient one-window operations.

Referring to China’s journey of sustainable growth, the minister noted that over the past four decades, China lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty through long-term planning, industrial policy, technological advancement, and consistent investment in education and skills development. He stated that China’s economic transformation demonstrates that quality education, innovation, and human capital development are fundamental pillars of sustainable growth.

He said that the government was implementing comprehensive regulatory reforms and investment-friendly policies to stabilise and strengthen the national economy. Measures to enhance ease of doing business, ensure regulatory transparency, and facilitate investors are being actively pursued.

Incentives, including income tax exemptions and customs duty concessions in Special Economic Zones, are being provided to attract both local and foreign investment. He particularly highlighted the Business Facilitation Centre (BFC), which provides a single-window facilitation mechanism to investors, ensuring streamlined approvals, reduced processing time, and effective resolution of operational issues.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2026

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