KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed volatile trading on Thursday with the benchmark KSE-100 index recording gains of nearly 80 points in line with global equity markets, which showed mixed trends.
Upbeat investor sentiment stemmed from the technology sector, where Systems Limited closed 4.96% higher. As a result, stocks in the IT sector attracted investor interest.
Benchmark KSE-100 oscillated in both directions whereas volumes depreciated from the last close.
The auto sector remained under pressure due to dismal car sales data for the month of September — which showed a decline of 7% month-on-month.
On the results front, Engro Powergen Qadirpur Limited (EPQL) announced its third-quarter earnings per share and dividend per share of Rs3 each where the stock closed at the upper cap.
The benchmark KSE-100 index closed at 42,085.72 points with an increase of 78.58 points or 0.19%.
A report from Arif Habib Limited noted that another range-bound session was witnessed at the PSX today.
“Despite opening in the green zone the benchmark KSE-100 index recorded a lacklustre session as investor participation remained low, which caused the volumes to decline sharply,” the brokerage house stated.
The market fluctuated in both directions but ended up in the green as the IT sector remained in the limelight.
Sectors contributing to the performance included technology (77.1 points), exploration and production (15.5 points), refinery (8.1 points), chemical (8 points), and fertiliser (6.6 points).
Shares of 341 companies were traded during the session. At the close of trading, 158 scrips closed in the green, 161 in the red, and 22 remained unchanged.
Overall trading volumes rose to 222.22 million shares compared with Wednesday’s tally of 238.65 million. The value of shares traded during the day was Rs9.66 billion.
Worldcall Telecom was the volume leader with 50.64 million shares traded, gaining Rs0.01 to close at Rs1.52. It was followed by TRG Pakistan with 23.19 million shares traded, losing Rs1.11 to close at Rs128.47 and Pakistan Refinery with 9.60 million shares gaining Rs0.16 to close at Rs17.98.
The head of the Senate’s Foreign Affairs Standing Committee and the PML-N’s parliamentary leader paid Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif a visit in Islamabad.
Senator Irfan Siddiqui gave the Prime Minister an update on the Parliamentary Party’s Senate performance.
Additionally, Senator Irfan Siddiqui gave the Prime Minister an update on the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs’ performance.
He complimented the Prime Minister on his outstanding efforts to bring Pakistan’s economy back on track and meet its economic objectives.
The Special Investment Facilitation Council is intended to help Pakistan’s energy sector attract $585.6 million in direct foreign investment in 2024–2025. The amount invested at the same time previous year was $266.3 million.
This is a notable 120% rise, mostly due to investments in gas exploration, oil, and power. Such expansion indicates heightened investor confidence and emphasizes the development potential in important areas.
The State Bank reports that foreign investment in other vital industries has increased by 48% to $771 million.
This advancement is a blatant testament to SIFC’s efficient investment procedure and quick project execution.
The purpose of the Special Investment Facilitation Council is to establish Pakistan as an investment hub by aggressively promoting regional trade and investment in the energy sector and other critical industries.
When compared to the same period last year, the data indicates that discos have decreased their losses in the first quarter of the current fiscal year.
The distribution businesses recorded losses of Rs239 billion in the first three months of the current fiscal year, a substantial decrease from the Rs308 billion losses sustained during the same period the previous year.
Additionally, the distribution businesses’ rate of recovery has improved. It has increased to 91% in the first quarter of this year from 84% in the same period last year, indicating success in revenue collection.
Regarding circular debt, the Power division observed a notable change. Last year, between July and October, the circular debt grew by Rs301 billion. Nonetheless, this year’s first four months saw a relatively modest increase in circular debt, totaling about Rs11 billion.
These enhancements show promising developments in the electricity sector’s financial health in Pakistan, where initiatives are being made to accelerate recovery rates and slow the expansion of circular debt.