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Bloodbath at PSX as KSE-100 index plunges over 1,600 points on PM Shehbaz’s ‘tough’ decisions

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  • The market closes at 41,051.73 points after losing 3.9%
  • Analyst says 10% super tax on large-scale industries unexpected. 
  • Shares of 364 companies were traded during the session.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) Friday witnessed a bloodbath immediately after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced “tough decisions” taken by the government in the federal budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2022-23.

The benchmark KSE-100 index opened in the green in line with its positive trend a day earlier; however, it soon plunged over 2,000 points or nearly 5%. 

At close, benchmark KSE-100 index closed at 41,051.79 points after plunging 1,665.18 points or 3.9%.

Benchmark KSE-100 index intra-day trading curve. — PSX data portal
Benchmark KSE-100 index intra-day trading curve. — PSX data portal

In his address to the nation, the premier announced that a 10% super tax would be imposed on large-scale industries including cement, steel, sugar, oil and gas, fertiliser, banking, textile, chemical, beverage, and automobile sectors.

Speaking to Geo.tv, Arif Habib Limited Head of Research Tahir Abbas said the market is reacting to the news of the imposition of super tax on large-scale industries.

“A 10% super tax on large-scale industries is on the higher side and the market didn’t expect this, therefore the reaction is intense,” he said.

The analyst was of the view the market will now stay under pressure in the days to come until budget 2022-23 is passed in the National Assembly and the finance act is released, which will reveal the exact details of the “tough” decision taken by the government.

Shares of 364 companies were traded during the session. At the close of trading, 61 scrips closed in the green, 287 in the red, and 16 remained unchanged.

Overall trading volumes rose to 424.22 million shares compared with Thursday’s tally of 349.48 million. The value of shares traded during the day was Rs12.8 billion.

K-Electric was the volume leader with 36.66 million shares traded, gaining Rs0.01 to close at Rs2.86. It was followed by Cnergyico PK Limited with 25.85 million shares traded, losing Rs0.43 to close at Rs5.35 and Pakistan Refinery with 25.3 million shares traded, losing Rs1.44 to close at Rs18.10.

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Pakistan’s gold prices are still declining; see the most recent

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The price of 10-gram gold reduced by Rs943 to settle at Rs207,733, while the price of gold dropped by Rs1200 to close at Rs242,300 a tola, according to the Sindh Sarafa Jewellers Association.

In the global market, the price of the precious metal fell by $10 to $2,349 per ounce, resulting in losses.

At 04:48 GMT, the spot price of gold had dropped by 0.2% to $2,354.77 per ounce. In the previous session, prices reached a two-week high.

American gold futures dropped 0.6% to $2,361.

Spot silver decreased by 0.4% to $28.03 per ounce, while palladium remained steady at $978.03 and platinum decreased by 0.1% to $992.89.

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Pakistan and the IMF begin talks for a new loan.

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Pakistan is requesting a $6 to $8 billion bailout package from the international lender over the next three to four years to address its financial troubles.

A mission team led by Nathan Porter, the IMF’s Mission Chief in Pakistan, is meeting with a Pakistani delegation led by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

According to sources familiar with the situation, Islamabad may face more difficult options, such as raising power and gas bills.

Mr. Aurganzeb informed the IMF team that the country’s economy has improved as a result of the IMF loan package, and Islamabad is ready to sign a new loan programme to further develop.

The IMF mission expressed satisfaction with Islamabad’s efforts to revive the country’s struggling economy.

The IMF praised Pakistan’s economic growth in its staff report earlier this week, but warned that the outlook remains challenging, with very high downside risks.

The country nearly avoided collapse last summer, and its $350 billion economy has stabilized since the end of the last IMF program, with inflation falling to roughly 17% in April from a record high of 38% last May.

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Petrol prices are likely to drop significantly beginning May 16.

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According to sources, the government is set to decrease petrol prices by Rs 14 per litre and diesel prices by Rs 10 on May 16 for the next fortnight’s revision.

Last month, the government reduced the price of fuel and high-speed diesel by Rs5.45 and Rs8.42 per fortnight, respectively.

The current fuel price is Rs288.49 per litre, while the HSD price is Rs281.96.

Meanwhile, oil prices fell further on Monday, as signs of sluggish fuel consumption and comments from U.S. Federal Reserve officials dimmed optimism for interest rate reduction, which may slow growth and reduce fuel demand in the world’s largest economy.

Brent crude prices down 25 cents, or 0.3%, to $82.54 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 19 cents, or 0.2%, to $78.07 per barrel.

Oil prices also declined on signals of poor demand, according to ANZ analysts, as gasoline and distillate inventories in the United States increased in the week before the start of the driving season.

Refiners throughout the world are dealing with falling diesel profitability as new refineries increase supply and warm weather in the northern hemisphere and weak economic activity reduce demand.

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