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Bulls stage comeback at PSX on Ishaq Dar’s cues

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  • Investors cheer Dar’s assurance Pakistan will not seek debt restructuring from Paris club.
  • Benchmark KSE-100 index traded between hope and despair.
  • Investors kept a close watch on SBP’s decision on monetary policy.

KARACHI: The bulls staged a comeback at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Monday cheering Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s assurance that Pakistan will not seek debt restructuring from the Paris club.

Constant assurance from the top leadership that Pakistan will not seek debt restructuring from Paris Club creditor nations enticed market participants. 

Moreover, Dar dismissed market rumours that the government might extend maturities for its bonds, saying that the country will fulfil all multilateral, international and bond obligations.

The benchmark KSE-100 index traded between hope and despair, which eventually let loose the bulls, who pulled the bourse into the green.

Investors kept a close watch on the State Bank of Pakistan’s decision on the monetary policy — which was later kept unchanged at 15% for the next seven weeks.

The KSE-100 index gained since the morning bell rang, but some dips were seen at regular intervals. The downtrend turned steeper at midday bulls managed to regain control.

The benchmark KSE-100 index closed at 42,211.64 points with an increase of 126.39 points or 0.30%.

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

Topline Securities in its post-market commentary noted that the KSE-100 index largely traded in the positive zone due to Dar’s statement regarding Pakistan not planning to seek a debt restructuring.

Shares of 336 companies were traded during the session. At the close of trading, 161 scrips closed in the green, 149 in the red, and 26 remained unchanged.

Overall trading volumes declined to 240.19 million shares compared with Friday’s tally of 313.34 million. The value of shares traded during the day was Rs10.53 billion.

Worldcall Telecom was the volume leader with 31.15 million shares traded, gaining Rs0.03 to close at Rs1.63. It was followed by Pak Elektron with 27.14 million shares traded, gaining Rs1.21 to close at Rs17.45 and TRG Pakistan with 26.74 million shares gaining Rs7.29 to close at Rs151.43.

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In interbank trade, the Pakistani rupee beats the US dollar.

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In the international exchange market, the US dollar has continued to weaken in relation to the Pakistani rupee.

The dollar fell to Rs278.10 from Rs278.17 at the beginning of interbank trading, according to currency dealers, a seven paisa loss.

In the meantime, there was a lot of turbulence in the stock market, but it recovered and moved into the positive zone. The KSE-100 index recovered momentum and reached 116,000 points after soaring 1,300 points.

Both currency and stock market swings, according to analysts, are a reflection of ongoing market adjustments and economic uncertainty.

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Phase II of CPEC: China-Pakistan Partnership Enters a New Era

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The cornerstone of economic cooperation between the two brothers and all-weather friends is still the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the initiative’s flagship project.

In contrast to reports of a slowdown, recent events indicate a renewed vigour and strategic emphasis on pushing the second phase of CPEC, known as CPEC Phase-2, according to the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives.

According to the statement, this crucial stage seeks to reshape the foundation of bilateral ties via increased cooperation, cutting-edge technology transfer, and revolutionary socioeconomic initiatives.

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal is leading Pakistan’s participation in a number of high-profile gatherings in China, such as the 3rd Forum on China-Indian Ocean Region Development Cooperation in Kunming and the High-Level Seminar on CPEC-2 in Beijing.

His involvement demonstrates Pakistan’s commitment to reviving CPEC, resolving outstanding concerns, and developing a strong phase-2 roadmap that considers both countries’ long-term prosperity.

At the core of these interactions is China’s steadfast determination to turn CPEC into a strategic alliance that promotes development, progress, and connectivity.

Instead of being marginalised, CPEC is developing into a multifaceted framework with five main thematic corridors: the Opening-Up/Regional Connectivity Corridor, the Innovation Corridor, the Green Corridor, the Growth Corridor, and the Livelihood-Enhancing Corridor.

With the help of projects like these, the two countries will fortify their partnership, and CPEC phase-2 will become a model of global economic integration and collaboration that benefits not just China and Pakistan but the entire region.

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The inflation rate in Pakistan dropped to its lowest level.

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On December 2, core inflation as determined by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) significantly slowed, falling to 4.9% in November 2024 from 7.2 percent in October 2024.

The CPI-based inflation rate for the same month last year (November 2023) was 29.2%, according to PBS data.

Compared to a 1.2% gain in the prior month, it increased by 0.5% month over month in November 2024.

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