Karachi Stock Exchange

The Karachi Stock Exchange or KSE is a stock exchange located in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Founded in 1947, it is Pakistan's largest and oldest stock exchange, with many Pakistani as well as overseas listings. Its current premises are situated on Stock Exchange Road, in the heart of Karachi's Business District.

The KSE is the biggest and most liquid exchange in Pakistan and in 2002 it was declared as the "Best Performing Stock Market of the World" by "Business Week". As of December 20, 2007, 671 companies were listed with the market capitalization of Rs. 4364.312 billion (US $ 73 Billion) having listed capital of Rs. 717.3 billion (US $ 12 billion). On December 26, 2007, the KSE 100 Index reached its ever highest value and closed at 14,814.85 points. KSE has been well into the 4th year of being one of the best performing markets of the world as declared by "Business Week". Similarly USA Today termed Karachi Stock Exchange as one of the best performing bourses in the world. [1]

Foreign buying interest had been very active on the KSE in 2006 and has continued in 2007 so far. According to estimates from the State Bank of Pakistan, foreign investment in capital markets total about $523 Million US. According to a research analyst in Pakistan, around 20pc of the total free float in KSE-30 Index is held by foreign participants.

KSE has seen some fluctuations since the start of 2007. One reason could be that it is the election year in Pakistan, and stocks are expected to remain dull. KSE has set an all time high of 12,400 points, before settling around the 11,000 mark. Result season in June and better payout expectations can drive the market to record level high again.

Karachi stock exchange Board of Directors has recently (2007) announced plans to construct a 40 story highrise KSE building , as a new direction for future investment.

In My Observation

Pakistan being among the developing economies of the world has the benefit of holding the status of emerging markets i.e. The stock markets in Pakistan are classified as emerging stock markets. It is because of these wide range of advantages that many mutual funds and brokeage firm are offering investors an opportunity