KSE-100 index closed at 36,663 levels (104 points lower) after trading higher during early hours making a day’s high of plus 572 points as sentiment of investors recuperated in anticipation that recommendation proposed by members of PSX association with Finance Minister, Asad Umar will be accepted. Moreover, scheduled International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout package will be presented in lower house for approval in coming session. Oil and gas exploration companies swayed market as oil prices in international markets rose on back of decline in oil exports from Iran ahead of sanctions against Tehran that are set to start in November. However, commercial banks and cement sector simultaneously dragged market down. Moreover, two key factors-macroeconomic situation and possibility of exclusion of main stocks from MSCI EM index may guide market direction in future. Index-heavy HBL (-1.68%) and UBL (-2.81) and LUCK (-3.33%) were the major laggards. CHCC (-0.71%) announced its 1QFY18 results where it reported EPS of Rs 2.44. Moreover, ISL closed near to limit down as it reported its 1QFY19 EPS of Rs1.93 with no cash payout. Traded volumes slightly increased by 10 percent DoD to 182 million shares while value traded decreased to $41 million. Top volume stocks were BOP (+5.81%) and TRG (-5%). Moving forward, stock market experts are expecting that investor’s sentiment to remain choppy on back of economic uncertainty. Therefore, he KSE-100 performance shall remain under pressure along with selling pressure from foreign investors. Market capitalisation remained at Rs 7,559 billion with total shares volumes stood to 181.73 million. Published in Daily Times, October 17th 2018.