06-Capital Markets
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CHAPTER 06 Capital Markets Capital markets are a broad category of markets banks and institutions in Europe and Asia held facilitating the buying and selling of financial trillions of dollars of these securities. instruments. In particular, there are two categories of financial instruments in which markets are The capital market structure in Pakistan consists involved. These are equity securities, which are of an apex regulator of the markets, the Securities often known as stocks, and debt securities, which and Exchange Commission Pakistan (SECP), are often known as bonds. Capital markets involve Pakistan Stock Exchange (emerged as a result of the issuing of stocks and bonds for medium-term merging three stock exchanges during current and long-term durations, generally terms of one year), Mercantile Exchanges, Central Depository year or more. Company (CDC) and a Clearing and Settlement Company. The structure further includes Other than the distinction between equity and intermediaries or market participants such as debt, capital markets are also generally divided brokers which handle the transaction of shares in into two categories of markets, the first of which the capital markets on behalf of investors. being primary markets. In primary markets, stocks and bonds are issued directly from companies to Capital markets in Pakistan play a crucial role in investors, businesses and other institutions, often mobilizing domestic resources and channeling through underwriting. Primary markets allow them efficiently to productive uses, thus raising companies to raise capital without or before national productivity. The level of capital market holding an initial public offering so as to make as development is an important determinant of level much direct profit as possible. of savings, efficiency of investment and ultimately rate of economic growth. Capital markets are overseen by the financial regulators all over the world and in case of The capital markets in Pakistan have witnessed Pakistan, Securities Exchange Commission of several developments during the period; including Pakistan (SECP). Though capital markets are promulgation of the new Securities Act, 2015, generally concentrated in financial centers around demutualization of exchanges and integration of the world, most of the trades occurring within three local stock exchanges into a single unified capital markets take place through computerized national stock exchange, the Pakistan Stock electronic trading systems. Some of these are Exchange (PSX). The Securities Act 2015 has accessible by the public and others are more replaced the Securities and Exchange Ordinance, tightly regulated. 1969. The new law incorporates global benchmarks such as International Organization of Capital markets are increasingly interconnected in Securities Commissions (IOSCO) principles of a globalized economy. Ripples in one corner of securities’ regulation and investor protection, and the world can cause major waves elsewhere. The provides for implementation of advanced reforms drawback of this interconnection is best illustrated for preventing market abuses and manipulation by the global credit crisis of 2007-09, which was practices. The new law also contains provisions triggered by the collapse in U.S. mortgage-backed for promoting public confidence in the market, securities. The effects of this meltdown were including full disclosure at the time of the initial globally transmitted by capital markets since offering, continuous disclosure requirements and an inclusive compliance regime, among others. Pakistan Economic Survey 2015-16 Also, the Futures Market Act, 2016 for the futures companies, enhance systems and operations market has been approved by the parliament and towards global best practices. is awaiting presidential assent. The law contains dedicated provisions for derivatives markets and Merger of stock markets is not a new phenomenon is designed to protect public interest through a in the world as many developing countries like system of effective self-regulation of futures India, Philippines, Turkey and Thailand have markets, clearing systems, market participants and already done it. Malaysia, Singapore, USA, UK, market professionals under oversight of the SECP. Germany, Australia, Hong Kong and many other developed countries also run their equity markets PSX as a single national stock exchange on the same lines. Pakistan has entered a new era of equity trading In the later stage the unified Pakistan Stock after merger of all the three stock exchanges into Exchange would be offered to a “strategic Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), a vital step investor” that must be a stock exchange, a towards demutualization of the shares market in depository company, a derivative exchange or a the country. During current financial year, as a clearing house meeting a certain criteria approved second phase of the Stock Exchanges by Securities and Exchange Commission of Demutualization and Integration Act 2012, the Pakistan (SECP). three stock exchanges of the country i.e Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE), Islamabad Stock Besides this, integration process was not a new Exchange (ISL) and Lahore Stock Exchange concept as many relatively developed economies (LSE) formally merged into single stock exchange like Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia has one on January 11, 2016 to become the Pakistan Stock capital market and India has also merged its 23 Exchange (PSX). The integration is expected to stock exchanges into single stock exchange. It is help reduce market fragmentation and create a expected that it will prove beneficial for our strong case for attracting strategic partnerships country and could pave the way for more foreign necessary for providing technological expertise investment in the financial sector. and assistance. Predictions and basic idea is that with this action, Pakistan would be honored as a Performance of Stock Exchange rising capital market. The year FY2016 witnessed a significant and an The owners of the three stock exchanges held overall steady rise in the stock market indices with several meetings and the Securities and Exchange historic and unprecedented levels being reached. Commission of Pakistan (SECP) facilitated the The PSX (formerly KSE)-100 share index which process throughout. Finally, a Memorandum of began the year at 34,398.86 points reached Understanding (MoU) was signed between the 36,266.23 points by close of trading on May 11, Demutualization Committee of KSE, ISE and 2016, i.e., an increase of about 5.4 percent since LSE to integrate the operations of LSE and ISE the inception of the year. Market capitalization into KSE and rename KSE as Pakistan Stock stood at Rs.7,435.68 billion against Rs.7,421.03 Exchange Limited (PSX). Subsequently, the billion as of June 30, 2015 reflecting no SECP approved the integration which was also considerable change. Foreign investment in the approved by Competition Commission of Pakistan stock market exhibited net inflow of $38.54 (CCP). million during the year, which reflects a decrease of 85 percent over last year. Some of the more Its basic purpose is to enhance operating important developments that have contributed to efficiency of Pakistan’s Capital Market, provide this relatively exceptional performance of the investors, listed companies and trading right Pakistani stock market are: stable political entitlement certificate (TREC) holders with a environment, investment projects backed by single, deep liquidity pool and fully integrated CPEC; stable exchange rate against the dollar; national trading platform, raise profile of Pakistan improving security and law enforcement situation; Capital Market internationally, encourage cross renewed foreign interest in stocks; increased listing and global capital raising by Pakistani confidence shown by the multilateral donor 98 Capital Markets agencies such as the IMF, World Bank and Asian banking sector stocks as both those sectors make Development Bank’s allocation for energy sector up a significant component of the index. Those development; etc. blue chip heavyweights came under selling pressure mainly due to sale by foreign portfolio The market witnessed lackluster activity during investors as part of their global equity sell-off in first three quarters of the current fiscal year but all the emerging and frontier markets. Other sectors the gains in index has been witnessed since start have not seen much selling pressure. For example of last quarter where the PSX index is breaking cement sector has held up well along with the auto previous records. sector due to their strong fundamentals. But since the sectors that are doing fine have relatively The first nine months of current financial year, small weightage in the index and are not able to 2015-16 (Jul-Mar) could be termed as a turbulent neutralize the bigger fall. Roughly, cements have period for the stock market in Pakistan. The PSX around 12 percent weightage; automobile 3 – 100 Index demonstrated an overall average percent and pharmaceuticals just 2 percent in the performance during this period from July 2015 – index. According to a rough estimate, among the March 2016. The index touched its highest point 30-odd sectors listed on the PSX, only around at 36,228.88 on August 6, 2015 whereas, its eight accounted for 80 percent of market activity. lowest point was at 30,276.25 on February 23, Those included banks, oil and gas exploration, 2016 which suggests that the index suffered fertilizers, cements, textiles, automobiles, food decline