Tuesday 6 August 2024

Pakistan Stock Exchange Nosedive Starts

Lately, the benchmark index of Pakistan Stock Exchange has witnessed a massive fall. While many of the leading brokerage houses are talking about quick recovery, some of the cynics like me are getting jittery. There is a growing consensus that the benchmark index may plunge below 60,000 by end September 2024.

I am amazed to note that none of the brokerage house is talking about this likely fall, seems they have been told explicitly by the high-ups in the government to remain silent. The government, particularly the finance minister is using the rising index as an indicator of the robust performance of the economy of the country.

I am sure many of the readers may not like my expression, “In no way the benchmark index of the Exchange is the true indicators of the robustness of the economy of Pakistan”.

My premise is based on the following: 1) the index is based on 100 out of total listed around 550 companies, 2) bulk of the index points pertain to around 30 blue of the blue chip companies, 3) substantial holding is by institutions and foreigners, and 4) bulk of the daily trading volume is generated by “Day Traders”.

Coming back to likely substantial fall in index, the readers are advised to keep following points in mind and watch market movement closely: 1) income of commercial banks will decline due to the reduction in interest rate and shrinking appetite of the private sector borrowers as well as consumer financing, particularly car financing, 2) E&P companies are likely to witness fall in earnings because of declining crude oil prices and mounting circular debt of the energy sector, 3) the ongoing IPP saga may also result in selling of these shares as well as reduction in income, and 4) profitability of fertilizer companies is being marred by persistent hike in gas tariff.

Going two steps forward, I believe bearish spell in the United States, may lead to a situation we have witnessed in 2008. At that time the fall was led by subprime loans and this time it will be led by technology companies.

 

 

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