SECP terrifying brokers into submission

The directive from Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to the three stock exchanges to appoint a non-member director as the chairman of the stock exchanges came on Tuesday, as a bolt from the blue. Till late in the evening on Wednesday, it was not clear whether the directive was in place or was subsequently withdrawn on ‘technical grounds’. But the episode is a reminder of the crisis of mid-August 2002, when the commission had issued a similar order. After a great deal of hue and cry by the members, the regulator modified its stance and let the chairman of the bourse be a broker.

Case of the fourth Stock Exchange

After nearly 30 months, the issue of Pakistan’s fourth stock exchange “PEX Limited” has come back to life as the Karachi Stock Exchange on Tuesday, withdrew its case for a stay order against PEX.

Leaving the legal jargon alone, which is difficult to understand and more so to interpret, knowledgeable sources suggest that the dramatic developments took place in the High Court of Sindh after the defendant Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) pleaded to the Court that the application be disposed of, as the present stalemate was not helping in the resolution of the issue, and that the Regulator would look into the case afresh (not the exact words, but something to that effect). In response, the counsel for the plaintiff (KSE) Khalid Anwar, who had lodged the suit against SECP, filed a statement saying that he does not press this suit, which resulted in an Order of the dismissal of the case.

Case of the fourth Stock Exchange

After nearly 30 months, the issue of Pakistan’s fourth stock exchange — PEX Limited — has come back to life as the Karachi Stock Exchange on Tuesday, withdrew its case for a stay order against PEX.

Leaving the legal jargon alone, which is difficult to understand and more so to interpret, knowledgeable sources suggest that the dramatic developments took place in the High Court of Sindh after the defendant Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) pleaded to the Court that the application be disposed of, as “the present stalemate was not helping” in the resolution of the issue, and that the Regulator would look into the case afresh (not the exact words, but something to that effect). In response, the counsel for the plaintiff (KSE) Khalid Anwar, who had lodged the suit against SECP, filed a statement saying that he “does not press this suit”, which resulted in an Order of the dismissal of the case.

Investment under CFS stands capped

Total investment under the Continuous Funding System (CFS) on the Karachi Stock Exchange throughout the previous week stood unchanged at the cap level of Rs25 billion, demonstrating that the financing limit of Rs25 billion is small keeping in view the increasing demand.

Analysts said that an idea of more funding may well be had from the fact that the CFS worth about Rs2 billion was billed as outstanding bids.

However, CFS rates at the KSE showed a modest rise at 16.5 per cent from the previous 16.2 per cent a week earlier. They touched the week’s highest at 16.8 per cent briefly.

UAMC renamed as UBL Fund Managers Limited

The United Asset Management Company Limited (UAMC) has been renamed as UBL Fund Managers Limited (UBLFM). The UBLFM is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the United Bank Limited (UBL), which is Pakistan’s second largest private commercial bank.

The UBL was the pioneer in initiating asset management services in the banking sector with the launch of UAMC in 2002 and has thus become a trend-setter.

The UBL Fund Managers Limited has been successfully managing United Money Market Fund (UMF), which is one of the largest open-end money market funds in Pakistan with a size of Rs 3.75 billion.

Investment under CFS stands capped

Total investment under the Continuous Funding System (CFS) on the Karachi Stock Exchange throughout the previous week stood unchanged at the cap level of Rs25 billion, demonstrating that the financing limit of Rs25 billion is small keeping in view the increasing demand.

Analysts said that an idea of more funding may well be had from the fact that the CFS worth about Rs2 billion was billed as outstanding bids.

However, CFS rates at the KSE showed a modest rise at 16.5 per cent from the previous 16.2 per cent a week earlier. They touched the week’s highest at 16.8 per cent briefly.

More financing modes available at bourses

Investors at capital market after reaching the limit under Continuous Funding System (CFS) have more avenues to finance shares to purchase, like in-house badla, futures options and other derivatives, soon to be formulated.

After being effective from August 22, 2005, the CFS in 14 scrips has reached its upper limit of Rs 25 billion.

The response of the market to the announcements made after the meeting of brokers, SECP and Prime Minister, which included launching of CFS, launching of Pre-Trade Verification System and increased tenors for future contracts, was very positive and the KSE-100 index gained 278 points, with trading volumes increasing by 69 percent on day-to-day basis from less than 200 million to over 300 million shares.

More financing modes available at bourses

Investors at capital market after reaching the limit under Continuous Funding System (CFS) have more avenues to finance shares to purchase, like in-house badla, futures options and other derivatives, soon to be formulated.

After being effective from August 22, 2005, the CFS in 14 scrips has reached its upper limit of Rs 25 billion.

The response of the market to the announcements made after the meeting of brokers, SECP and Prime Minister, which included launching of CFS, launching of Pre-Trade Verification System and increased tenors for future contracts, was very positive and the KSE-100 index gained 278 points, with trading volumes increasing by 69 percent on day-to-day basis from less than 200 million to over 300 million shares.

Pre-Trade Verification System at the Stock Exchanges

The pre-trade verification system would be put into place from Monday (Sept 12) at the stock exchanges. That was one of the nine points on which market players and the corporate regulator had inked an agreement in the presence of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on August 19.

The system is universally believed to be a step that would strengthen risk management measures, which would eventually contribute to improving the health of the bourses. But the question that boggles many minds is whether the stock exchange has developed or acquired the required technology and software to introduce the system as early as on September 12 and whether all market players have adequate knowledge of how the system would function?

Continuous funding system takes off

The continuous funding system (CFS) took off at the Karachi Stock Exchange on Monday with enthusiastic investor’s response, as the KSE-100 index gained 279 points. According to analysts, the CFS rate on Monday stood at 16.9 per cent with the level of investment at Rs16.3 billion.

KSE Chairman Yasin Lakhani told Dawn that the new system would fulfil the immediate liquidity need of the market and would create stability and restore confidence. He also said that the CFS would eliminate shortcomings in the badla system.