KSE-100 index edges up 262.30 points to close at 46,407.26.
Index oscillates between red and green zones as investors await corporate results.
Shares of 359 companies were traded during the session.
KARACHI: The bulls held on to their positions for the third consecutive session at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Tuesday and helped keep the benchmark KSE-100 index in the positive zone.
Political stability that emerged after newly elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took charge coupled appreciation of Pakistani rupee against the US dollar aided the rise of the bourse.
The KSE-100 index oscillated between red and green zones as investors awaited corporate results for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 in certain sectors.
Today, the benchmark KSE-100 index edged up 262.30 points, or 0.57%, to close at 46,407.26 points.
A report from Arif Habib Limited in its post-market commentary noted that another positive session witnessed today due to political stability and appreciation of Pakistan rupee against the US dollar.
Across the board rally was witnessed regardless of foreign selling spree; meanwhile main board activity remained healthy.
Moreover, market even witnessed hefty volumes in the third-tier stocks.
Sectors contributing to the performance included technology (+96.7 points), cement (+55.7 points), banks (+52.2 points), engineering (+24.9 points) and refinery (+20 points).
Shares of 359 companies were traded during the session. At the close of trading, 172 scrips closed in the green, 172 in the red, and 15 remained unchanged.
Overall trading volumes dropped to 493.59 million shares compared with Monday’s tally of 557.67 million. The value of shares traded during the day was Rs13.85 billion.
WorldCall Telecom Limited was the volume leader with 62.03 million shares traded, losing Rs0.06 to close at Rs2.07. It was followed by Telecard Limited with 32.65 million shares traded, gaining Rs0.73 to close at Rs16.96 and Flying Cement with 30.85 million shares traded, losing Rs0.83 to close at Rs8.80.
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.