As the political noise in the country eased off considerably, the benchmark index of Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) posted a robust uptick. The index moved up by 1,237 points during the week ended on November 11, 2022 to close at 43,093 points, up 2.95%WoW.
The uptick in index was witnessed amid healthy participation with the weekly average daily traded
volumes also jumping by 8.8%WoW to settle around 306.4 million shares, as opposed to 281.5 million shares witnessed last week. Stability also returned in the foreign exchange market during the week with PKR holding its ground against US$ at 221.6, appreciating by 20bpsWoW.
The newfound stability in PKR came amid a hefty depletion in country’s official foreign exchange reserves which declined by US$956 million as the country made repayments on its international debt.
Major news flows during the week were: 1) SBP taking various steps to contain foreign exchange outflow, 2) Cabinet approving US$900 million escrow account for Reko Diq in March next year, 3) Bank Alfalah expressing plan to buy back 200 million shares, 4) DFML to start assembling LCVs, 5) first quarter fiscal deficit soaring to one percent of GDP from 0.7% of GDP, 6) Cement, CNG, Fertilizer sectors to face gas shortage in winter and 7) FBR Chairman ruling out any new tax amnesty.
The top performing sectors were: Leasing, Vanaspati and Allied, E&Ps, Refineries and Technology, while the least favorite sectors were: Miscellaneous, Sugar, Textiles, Leather and Tanneries (-0.8%WoW) and Woollen.
Stock-wise, top performers in the KSE-100 Index were PGLC, TRG, FABL, PPL and BAFL, while laggards were: PSEL, SHFA, SCBPL, ILP and FFBL. To five volume leaders for the week were WTL, HASCOL, CNERGY, DFML and FFL.
Flow-wise, Mutual Funds and Banks were the largest buyers in the market during the week, with net buys of US$3.6 million and US$3.0 million respectively. While Foreigners and Insurance Companies were major sellers,
with the cumulative net sells of US$4.7 million and US$6.0 million respectively. The foreign outflow was largely concentrated in sectors namely Banks (US$5.31 million) and Technology (US$1.05 million).
After a relatively stable week for the currency, PKR may yet again come under pressure as foreign currency reserves posted a spectacular decline during the
week, while the inward remittances also slowed down significantly, falling by 9%YoY during October 2022.
On the political front, the things may start heating up once again as country’s largest political party starts its
long march once again. Both these factors may yet again prove to be market dampeners and the resurgence that the market showed during this past week may fizzle out once again and the index may see a renewed selling pressure.
Investors are advised to maintain trading positions only and refrain from building and holding long positions in the market.