Pakistan stocks end negative, sheds 209 points

Author: Staff Report

Pakistan equities closed Thursday on a negative note, as the benchmark KSE-100 Index shed 209 points, closing at 40,071 levels, down by 0.5 percent compared to the previous trading session.

The local bourse made highs and lows of +137 & -397 points, respectively during the day. KSE100 started trading sideways in the wee hours of the session, but came under pressure due to lower-than-expected results of some major stocks.

An equity analyst at Trust Securities said the benchmark KSE-100 index opened Thursday’s trading session 38 points in the “green zone” where the index made a low of 137points which brought in the index to a level of 40,416. However, throughout the trading session volatility played its part as the index kept fluctuating, after making a high of 137 points “selling” increased which caused the market go into the “red zone” where the index made a low of -397 points bringing the index down to a level of 39,882.

Mixed sentiment was seen in Banks where United Bank Limited (UBL) losing 5 percent closed limit down. Meezan Bank Limited (MEBL) reported 2018 EPS of Rs7.66, where DPS announced was Rs2.0.

Askari Bank Limited (AKBL) and Faysal Bank Limited (FABL) also reported their earnings where the companies announced 2018 EPS Rs3.51, with a cash payout of Rs1.0/share and a consolidated EPS Rs3.22, respectively.

Hubco, in the Power sector, closed near limit down as the company reported first half FY19 EPS of Rs4.67. Mixed sentiment was seen in cements as well where Lucky Cement (+1.1%) closed in the green but DG Khan Cement ended in red. Kohat Cement (KOHC) reported first half FY19 EPS of Rs 4.97. United Bank Limited (UBL), Hubco (-4.2%), Habib Bank Limited (HBL) (-3.0%), KAPCO (-5%), Engro (-0.3%) and Engro Fertilizer (-0.6%) were top scrip to cumulatively contributed -258 points to the close.

Thall reported first half FY19 consolidated EPS of Rs21.72 with a DPS Rs2.50. Traded value stood at $44 million, down 9 percent and volume stood at 103 million shares, down 22 percent.

Furthermore, major contribution to total market volume came from Unity Foods (-5%), K-Electric (-1.1%) and UBL (-5%). “We expect market to remain volatile on the geo-political concerns with India”, said an equity analyst Danish Ladhani.

Published in Daily Times, February 22nd 2019.

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