Bearish onslaught prevailed in all energy, banking and cement scrips at KSE on Monday as the market failed to convince leading investors and financial institutions to lend support. The KSE-100 index tumbled by 331 points, or 3.4 percent, to close at the 9504-point level.
The volume in the ready market was 127 million shares compared to 174 million shares of Friday. However, the volume in the futures market was 65 million shares, against 35 million shares.
Following the higher-than-expected dividend announcement by NIT, the market started positively. However, across-the-board hefty selling pressure plunged the index to mark the 9484 points intra-day low. The index suffered heavy losses in the absence of any significant support. All notable scrips closed at or near their lower circuit levels.
Despite higher dividend payout from NIT; NBP, BoP and Faysal Bank these received heavy battering and closed 5.6 percent, 5.4 percent and 6.1 percent lower from their intra-day highs. Picic Bank, which had closed limit up for the last three consecutive sessions, depicted 3.8 percent decline to close at Rs 28.00. Among energy scrips, OGDCL, PPL and POL decreased by Rs 6.35, Rs 9.90 and Rs 14.65, respectively, to close at Rs 123.65, Rs 200.85 and Rs 302.35.
Rumours regarding former SECP chairman disclosing names of brokers involved in March 2005 crisis also pushed the investors to offload their positions. Therefore, the market made an intra-day low level of 9484.
Hasnain Asghar from Aziz Fidahuesin said that the outcome of the presentation in the National Assembly created further unrest among market participants, as the blame game seemed to have increased nervousness. Raise in transaction cost had already reduced the number of participants. The ongoing tussle has forced the remaining to stay on the back foot.
The inability of the market to move on its technical and fundamentals hints that if the blame is transferred to the stakeholders it would invite a massive offloading. Technically, the index would continue to find support around 9470-9477, while immediate resistance stays at 9727-9733. It is, however, recommended to wait for the settlement of the issue as the sensitive market with low turnover and absence of buyers might not be able to digest any tough development.
An analyst from Al-Habib Capital Market said that the banking sector was mainly the beneficiary of NIT''s healthy dividend opened at a positive note with good volumes in NBP, BOP and FABL, but the ongoing controversy between SECP and Finance Ministry changed the market sentiment. Investors preferred to stay outside the market, and with no interest from any quarter, the benchmark KSE-100 index continued downward trend. Forensic investigation, local auditors, and sending of data to Korean investigators for analysis, did the rest. Decline in volumes showed that market did not seem stable at these levels. "We do expect that the market may slide further in the short run, but a dip would definitely be an excellent buying opportunity for the long term."
Ahsan Mehanti, chief executive officer of Salim Chamdia Securities, said that the market needed intervention from the government and it should immediately clear the dust following the meeting of National Assembly Standing Committee last week. "The allegation war should be ended to boost the investors'' confidence. The valuations are attractive and upcoming results, which are likely to be healthy ones, might help turn the tables."
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