Stocks rally extended to overcome political noise, gaining 4.4% wow
Summary
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit this week to China to meet President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang to discuss the progress of CPEC projects. China reiterated its support for Pakistan on the on-going Kashmir conflict. On domestic front JUI-F plans to march in Islamabad on possible support from other political parties. During the visit PM apprised the Chinese leadership of the government recent landmark decisions to speed-up implementation of ongoing CPEC projects as well as efforts to project CPEC as a High Quality Demonstration Projects of BRI. A number of agreements/MoUs were signed between the two prime ministers.
During the week KSE-100 Index gained 1442.37 point and crossed 34,000. The average volume increased to 234m and market capitalization gained Rs.217 billion to close at Rs.6,771 billion.
On Monday, the business leaders and investors sentiments were high after last week meeting with Army chief. The Index gained 603.50 points to close at 33,636.82.
After seven days of bullish trend in stock the investors went for profit taking on Tuesday. The Index lost 160.20 points to close at 33,476.62.
On Wednesday the market remained range bound and closed at 33,523.74 with gain of 47.12 points.
The bullish trend resumed again on Thursday and KSE-100 Index gained 503.96 to close at 34,475.69.
The last day of the week there was a rally of 504 points and Index finally closed at 34,475.69.
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Participants/Activities
On average shares of 398 companies were traded. Of these 228 were gainers and 152 were losers and 18 remained unchanged.
Foreigners were net seller of $5.31m during the week; companies were buyer by $3.91m, Banks were seller $4.04m; Mutual fund net seller $1.36m and individuals net buyers $2.67m.
Volume leaders during the week were: Unity Foods Ltd 104m; Lottee Chemical 89m; Bank of Punjab 74m; K-Electric 43m; TRG Pak Ltd 35m; WTL 31m; Pak Intl Bulk 26m; Engro Polymer 19m and Pak Elektron 13m.
Triggers
- President Dr. Arif Alvi promulgated two ordinances to set up the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Authority and grand tax concessions to the Gwadar Port and its free zone.
- Pakistan ‘s ranking on the World Economic Forum ‘s competitiveness index has dropped three ranks to 110 from 107 in 2018 below India 68th and Bangladesh 105th.
- The SBP Governor in his address to OICCI said that reforms introduced to address macro-economic challenges have started to bear fruits and an improvement in external sector has become visible.
- Hyundia Nishat Motors Private Ltd will start local assembly of Porter H100 pick up from January next year.
- The Asian Development Bank will provide $2.5 billion financing to Pakistan – higher than last year $1.08 billion.
- Overseas Pakistanis in the first quarter of current fiscal year remitted $5.478 billion down 1.4 percent from $5.557 billion same period last fiscal year.
Conclusion
Finally Prime Minister Imran Khan spell out “Economy is our foremost priority”. The government foremost priority is to run the economic system on sustainable basis which would help create job opportunities, enhance investors confidence and promote local industry. He expressed these views while chairing a meeting of government’s economic team.
The recent visit of the Prime Minister to China has upgraded and updated the economic planning of CPEC in the right direction.
Coming week is important as possible outcome of the review scheduled from 13-18 October on Financial Action Task Force on Pakistan progress will be made.
During two weeks of October the Index has crossed 2400 points. The average volume from September around 100 million has jumped to 284 million. The activity which was around average 350 companies in September has in October jumped to 398 companies. As SBP Governor said that government reforms have started to bear fruits, is KSE in a take- off mode.?
Raees Uddin Khan
Research & Development Institute of Securities Management, Research & Training (Pvt) Ltd, Karachi.
Dated: Oct 11, 2019