Global oil prices dropped 5% in early Asian trading on Monday as the United States and Iran paused military attacks, easing fears of further escalation in the region (businessday.ng). The temporary ceasefire, which followed 13 days of attacks on Iranian sites, has led to a decline in oil prices to $92 per barrel, with analysts hopeful that the pause could stabilize the strategic Strait of Hormuz (channelstv.com). The decision by the U.S. to hold fire over the weekend, as noted by Donald Trump's UN envoy, has contributed to the market's cautious optimism (channelstv.com).
In Pakistan, the financial sector remained cautious as analysts anticipated the State Bank of Pakistan’s Monetary Policy Committee to maintain the current interest rate of 11.5 percent, despite the geopolitical developments (arabnews.pk). The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) opened the week with a strong performance, gaining over 5,000 points in early trade, reflecting improved investor sentiment following the U.S.-Iran pause (dawn.com).
