This week KSE100 rose by 3.68% closing at 45152. This weekly performance erased losses sustained in first two weeks of this month taking monthly performance positive by 1.05%. Now Index is in gain YTD by 1.25%.
The index still has to reach 46340 to cover losses it sustained from 2nd week of February though.
This is a positive monthly performance is heartening considering Ukraine war, record high oil prices, extreme political turbulence at national level, weakening rupee, higher inflation, declining reserves, and stalled IMF negotiations for next tranche.
Kibor also kept inching upwards (now at 12.5%) after higher cut off at Tbill and PIB auction. This month SBP had kept policy rate unchanged at 9.75% - a decision, that as SBP had indicated in its statement, may have to be revisited.
'Foreigners' kept selling in 'Banks' intensively and the this week alone net selling in 'Banks' by them reached $13.88mn. Selling by 'foreigners' had almost come to an end but it has intensified after FATF ruling.
Rupee kept weakening and is now +184 for a dollar. This month of March has been particularly hard on Rupee. The relief packages announced by the Govt is stumbling block for IMF next tranche. The government had kept petroleum prices unchanged two weeks back despite high international price. Now for next 15 days again petroleum prices have not been raised.
The current political set up is expected to change this week and policy direction will be clearer after that. Whatever the outcome of political tussle, the next government will have its plate full.
If nothing major untoward takes place I expect good PSX performance next week building up on its momentum, expected corporate results, and absence of selling pressure.