Stock market gains 103 points amid record inflows

Stock market gains 103 points amid record inflows

KARACHI: The stock market increased by 103 points on Friday amid record foreign inflows in debt securities. Analysts at Arif Habib Limited said that the week ended nearly where it began, i.e. near 43,000 level.

During the week, the index did slip towards 42800 but closed the week above 43,000.

Among OMCs, PSO made an upward move whereas E&P & Refineries remained largely unchanged and declined respectively.

Throughout the week, political uncertainty reverberated that cautioned otherwise optimistic investors and therefore a halt in index performance.

By the end of session, news of further foreign inflows of $500 million in treasury bills broke that proved to be single highest inflow in a single day yet.

Positive sentiment was observed in the equity market as well but MoC activity pulled the index back. Banking sector again led the pack with 46.9 million shares, followed by Technology (42.7 million) and Cement (20.5 million).

Among scrips, BOP topped the chart with 27.8 million, followed by TRG (23.9 million) and WTL (8.6 million).

Sectors contributing to the performance include Others (+21 points), O&GMCs (+17 points), Autos (+17 points), Fertilizer (+11 points), Textile (-11 points).

Volumes declined from 229.9 million shares to 211.2 million shares (-8 percent DoD). Average traded value also declined by 4 percent to reach US$ 40.7 million as against US$ 42.3 million.

Stocks that contributed significantly to the volumes include BOP, TRG, WTL, KEL and DCL, which formed 35 percent of total volumes.

Stocks that contributed positively include PSEL (+21 points), PSO (+16 points), THALL (+13 points), MEBL (+13 points) and ENGRO (+13 points). Stocks that contributed negatively include MCB (-19 points), DAWH (-9 points), BOP (-5 points), HUBC (-5 points), and NBP (-5 points).