KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Tuesday oscillated between gains and losses as the benchmark KSE 100-share Index reduced by 145 points or 0.35 percent after an earlier increase during early trading hours. Around noon, the Index stood at 41,499.61 points.
On monthly basis, amid positive market triggers, the KSE-100 index has been maintaining the level beyond the 41,000-point mark, and yesterday, it moved to the highest level since Nov. 16, 2018. It closed at 41,644.88 yesterday after gaining 728.29 points. The stock market has recovered by about 45 percent since its low of 28,765 points on Aug. 16, 2019.
On Friday, the KSE 100-share Index closed at 40,916.59 after gaining 184 points or 0.5 per cent on a weekly basis, and continued the positive streak for the seventh consecutive week. It was supported by buying interest in stocks of oil companies.
The index was last seen trading above 41,000 points in February 2019. So far, the market has regained over 11,000 points after hitting a five-year low at 28,671 points in August 2019. The index has been lifted by 7,259 points or 21.6 per cent in the last seven weeks.
“There is a general belief that after these index adjustments, the support from key players will increase in upcoming sessions,” dealers had said for the stock observation last week.
After amassing a run up of 10 per cent in the last month, the KSE100 index during last week traded around the psychological level of 41,000 index points.
Foreign investors were net sellers of shares during the week, accumulating positions worth $5.8 million.
Among local investors, companies and brokers moved in the same direction as the foreign investors’ portfolio cumulative net sold $10.20 million.
This was, however, offset by individuals, mutual funds and insurance companies, who cumulatively net bought $15.41 million.
“While the market lose its momentum during the week, the improving macroeconomic indicators coupled with higher central bank reserves could keep market participants interested”, an analyst from Habib Metro Financial had said.
“We believe the index will continue its upward journey as the economy depicts signs of resurrection”, an analyst from Arif Habib had said.
Improvement on the external front together with stability in the Pakistani Rupee is expected to reassure foreign investors.
Meanwhile, inflationary readings are set to touch peak in January 2020 with an imminent interest rate cut to follow, domestic investors remain jubilant as well, he said.
Earlier, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh had said the recent strong performance of Pakistan’s stock market was proof of “increasing investor confidence on stabilisation measures” employed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government.
In a tweet, the premier’s aide had stated that the 14.9 per cent gain of the KSE-100 Index in November was the highest one-month return over the past six years.
“The KSE-100 index is up by 14.9% in November 2019, highest one month return after May 2013. Since 16 August 2019, the index increased by 36.6% (10,500 points),” said Mr Shaikh.
