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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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Trade ties between Pak-Oman: Both nations decide to activate “Joint Business Council”.

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Jam Kamal Khan, federal minister for commerce, visited Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Muscat alongside chairman Faisal Abdullah Al Rawas.

To enable closer economic collaboration, both sides decided during the meeting to activate joint Business Council between OCCI and the federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and industry.

Concurrent with the conference, the Embassy of Pakistan arranged a b2b networking event in association with OCCI to gather Omani Businessmen and Pakistani Business Delegates investigating trade prospects.

Speaking on the occasion, Jam Kamal Khan said, “Our present trade figures do not fairly represent the depth of our connection. We can quickly raise the current Trade volume to two or three times its present level by just eliminating logistical and communication barriers.

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Despite economic gains, PSX remains strong.

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Amidst the ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding a loan tranche, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) has resumed its upward trajectory in recent days.

The KSE-100 Index gained 600 points on Friday, the penultimate working day of the business week, and then increased to 115,730 points as traders showed confidence and engaged in trading.

After experiencing fluctuations, the PSX gained strength on Thursday, as the major index surpassed 115,000 points.

The KSE 100-Index closed at 115,094.23 points after gaining 1,009.70 points, or 0.89 percent. 115,247.39 was the intraday high, and 14,429.93 was the lowest.

According to experts, one important factor is Moody’s Ratings’ upgrade of Pakistani banks. Investor confidence has also increased due to the expectation of a positive conclusion from the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

In its assessment, Moody’s stated, “We have shifted our outlook on Pakistan’s banking system from stable to positive to reflect the banks’ resilient financial performance as well as improving macroeconomic conditions from very weak levels a year ago.”

The major index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) surpassed 115,000 on Thursday, indicating a surge in the market.

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Pakistan resolves to meet benchmarks, and the IMF promises economic help.

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In the midst of an ongoing economic review, the delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has promised Pakistan economic cooperation.

In order to assess the delivery of a $1 billion tranche under the $7 billion rescue deal, IMF officials are now in Pakistan.

Today, March 14, marks the completion of the two-week-long economic review and negotiations between the global lender’s representatives and Pakistani authorities.

The team met with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb at the Ministry of Finance for the last round of negotiations.

The nation’s economic team’s actions and performance were praised by the visiting officials.

Aurangzeb promised the IMF during the conference that all economic goals would be met. He said that as long as the loan program is in place, no goals would be broken.

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