Bourse closes flat amid investor caution

Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Friday ended flat amid the ongoing corporate earnings season and investor caution ahead of the upcoming International Monetary Fund (IMF) review.

Concerns over tax collection shortfall and overdue external debt payments kept the market in check. However, rising foreign exchange reserves, which reached $11.4 billion, along with expectations of further monetary easing provided support to market activity. The KSE-100 index registered a mixed trading session, fluctuating between the intra-day high of 604 points and intra-day low of -615 points. It closed marginally higher by 0.02% at 110,323.

While stocks like Fauji Fertiliser Co, OGDC and Lucky Cement contributed positively, losses in Engro Holdings, Engro Fertilisers and MCB Bank dragged the index down.

Analysts noted that despite selling pressure, recent corrections had made valuations attractive, hinting at a possible trend reversal in the near future.

"Stocks closed flat in the earnings season amid worries over the outcome of IMF review later this month following tax collection shortfall and overdue external debt," said Arif Habib Corp MD Ahsan Mehanti.

"Surge in forex reserves to $11.42 billion and expectations of further policy easing by the State Bank played the role of catalysts in positive close at the PSX."

At the end of trading, the benchmark KSE-100 index recorded a marginal rise of 21.78 points, or 0.02%, settling at 110,322.94.

Arif Habib Limited (AHL), in its report, highlighted that the KSE-100 index continued to trade below the 112,000 level and closed the week a little above 110,000, marking a 3.4% week-on-week decline.

On Friday, key contributors to the index gains were Fauji Fertiliser Co (+1.7%), OGDC (+1.57%) and Lucky Cement (+1.24%). On the other hand, Engro Holdings (-2.09%), Engro Fertilisers (-0.99%) and MCB Bank (-0.75%) emerged as the biggest drags, AHL said. Topline Securities, in its market review, wrote that a range-bound session was observed where the KSE-100 index traded between the intra-day high of 604 points and intra-day low of -615 points. It finally settled at 110,323, up 0.02%. "This lacklustre activity can be attributed to the lack of triggers," it said.

Overall trading volumes stood at 299.7 million shares, significantly lower than the previous session's tally of 598.9 million. Total traded value for the day was Rs15.6 billion, down from Rs25.6 billion in the previous session.

A total of 446 companies were traded in the ready market, of which 144 stocks closed higher, 228 declined and 74 remained unchanged.

WorldCall Telecom led the volume chart with 30.2 million shares, gaining Rs0.01 to close at Rs1.53. Silkbank followed with 22.2 million shares, losing Rs0.12 to close at Rs1.07 and K-Electric saw trading in 18.7 million shares, declining Rs0.03 to settle at Rs4.29. During the day, foreign investors sold shares worth Rs2.4 billion, according to the NCCPL.