The Pak Banker

Pakistan's stocks rallying since mid-December

- KARACHI - AGENCIES

Pakistan's stocks have been on a tear since mid-December and, according to financial experts CNBC spoke to, a combinatio­n of factors are pushing up the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE).

The country's benchmark exchange is currently trading up 16.7 percent since December 19, the start of a rally ostensibly linked to the central bank's decision to devalue the Pakistani rupee a few days earlier. But the State Bank of Pakistan's decision to withdraw support for its currency in a bid to encourage economic growth could only be part of the story.

"The recent sharp surge in the KSE 100 stock index is first and foremost a natural correction following a sizeable sell-off over the second half of 2017," Michael Henderson, chief economist at risk consultanc­y Verisk Maplecroft, told CNBC via e-mail.

Henderson placed Pakistan's rally amid broader risk on sentiment for emerging markets, pointing out that: "Emerging economies are witnessing strong growth across the board and Pakistan is no exception to the rule - GDP growth is currently in a sweet spot of around 5 percent per annum."

But, substantia­l foreign investment from China could also be playing a role. The superpower is expected to pump $60 billion into its smaller regional neighbor as part of its Belt and Road Initiative, a massive infrastruc­ture building plan to resurrect ancient trading routes across Asia and beyond. "Investors may be getting in early in anticipati­on of big future gains," Henderson said.

The Pakistan Stock Exchange, the company that operates financial markets in the country, is itself 40 percent owned by a Chinese consortium, Reuters reported a year ago. Pakistan's rallying stocks come ahead of a politicall­y turbulent background. Earlier in January, news broke that the U.S. was cutting $2 billion of aid to the country, accusing it of refusing to combat terrorism.

In addition, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was booted from office in July last year following allegation­s of corruption. No Pakistani prime minister has completed a full term in office since the country's formation in 1947.

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