PSX stays almost flat

Pakistan equities ended "almost flat" at 31,294 points, registering 0.9 percent Week-on-Week (WoW) growth in the benchmark KSE-100 index during the week that ended on February 26. Compared to 124 million of preceding week, daily trade averaged 11.5 percent higher on 138 million shares. The value thereof, however, depleted six percent to Rs 6.2 million or $59.5 million.
Foreigners remained jittery to have sold portfolios worth $4.8 million on net basis. While oil and gas and cement scrips attracted $3 million cumulative inflows, banks and electricity sectors saw respective outflows of $1.9 million and $0.9 million.
"The benchmark equity gauge nudged around preceding week's levels, closing almost flat," viewed analysts at Arif Habib Limited Research in a weekly market commentary.
The week under review saw fertiliser stocks stay upbeat because of what AHL analysts said two percent growth in international urea prices. This added 111 points to the index.
Topline analysts said the local bourse took a breather as investors cherry-picked stocks in selected sectors on attractive valuations.
They noted oil and gas, multi-utilities and tobacco sectors as the week's top gainers with 3.2-5.5 percent rise over a week earlier. General industrials and food producers were major losers having declined 6.0 and 2.6 percent.
"Overall sentiments remained volatile during the week due to uncertainties and lack of triggers in the market," said Faizan Ahmed of JS Global.
He said dull activity and bearish sentiments from last week prevailed at the start but the market recovered during the latter half with an upturn in international oil prices.
Backed by rebounding global crudes, recovering in the index heavyweight oil and gas sector provided the much-needed impetus for a broad-based improvement in the index during the week's second half.
The week's key highlights were the minister's confirmation of 400mmcfd LNG supply from March, Army Chief's orders to execute final phase of operation Zarb-i-Azb, APTMA's demand for increase in duty on import of cotton yarn, yields on PIBs were cut by up to 60 basis points, diversion of 60mmcfd Mari Shallow gas to original allottees, textile exports registered sharp fall in January, Saudis declaring no-cut in oil output anytime soon, shrinkage in banking spreads to 5.12 percent in January 2016, possible approval of $742 million US aid for Pakistan, a likely Rs200 billion cut in PSDP and release of CAD numbers.