PRO 27-06-2012_Layout 1 6/26/2012 11:52 PM Page 1
Wednesday, 27 June, 2012
As political concerns ease, KSE bulls say cheese Page 02
Cue Chinese Biryani g
China’s discovered gene boosts Pak Basmati rice yield 14 percent
Oops! g
BEIJING APP
A research carried out by Chinese scientists revealed that it could help increase the production of Pakistan’s flagship Basmati rice to 14 percent more without compromising on its quality. While studying the Basmati rice from Pakistan that is world famous for its high quality, Fu Xiangdong at Chinese Academy of Sciences and his colleagues found a gene named GW8 which could influence the quality of rice, reported Xinhua news agency. The Chinese researchers while identifying the key gene in rice stated that it could enhance both quality and productivity of rice at the same time, as they reported in the journal Nature Genetics on Sunday. The gene could improve shape and color of rice grain, enhancing its quality of appearance. On the other hand, it could also change the arrangement of starch inside the grain, enhancing its quality for eating. Further study showed that the GW8 gene also exists in some types of high yield rice grown in China. However, it’s a different variant of that gene, whose major effect is not on quality, but on the grain weight, thus enhancing the productivity of rice.
HDIP ousted! g
From inspecting CNG/LPG storage
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FY12 to see huge falls in C/A, rupee value, dollar reserves, t-bill yield The ‘sterling’ performance of FY11 shall not be repeated, much to the horror of economic observers KARACHI
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ISMAIL DILAWAR
HE outgoing financial year 2011-12 saw the country’s external account failing to repeat what the economic observers said the sterling performance of fiscal year 2010-11 and once again turned red. FY11 had seen the current account balance registering a $ 542 million surplus against a deficit of $ 3.946 billion in FY10. By end-June FY12, however, the current account gap is expected to hover around 1.8 percent of the GDP with poor foreign inflows making it difficult for the economic mangers to finance this deficit through financial account. Overall, the country’s dollar reserves, peaking to all-time high of $ 18.3 billion in July 2011, are estimated to have shrunk by $ 3.3 billion to $15.0 billion by the mid of this month June and are expected to fall further due to more debt
servicing. For the weakening of country’s external account, the analysts cite unfavorable prices of commodities, tense Pak-US relationship, reduced foreign inflows and higher debt repayments as major attributing factors. This, resultantly, pressured Pak Rupee that depreciated by 8.8 percent from Rs 86.1 to Rs 94.4 against the dollar in the inter-bank market during FY12YTD. “This compares unfavorably with FY11’s 1 percent depreciation and 10 years average depreciation of 4 percent,” viewed Topline analyst Nauman Khan. The currency dealers in open market also see sea-
ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
The inter-ministerial wrangling over authority to carry out inspections of CNG/LPG cylinders, tanks and other storage devices of petroleum products has taken a new turn, as the Department of Explosives (DoE) of Ministry of Industries has said the Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP), which works under the Ministry of Petroleum is not authorized to conduct inspections. In a statement issued on Tuesday the DoE said that HDIP is not authorized to conduct inspections of CNG/LPG Cylinders, tanks and other storage devices of petroleum products. HDIP is a testing laboratory which does not have expert inspectors for the inspection of such storages devices. Therefore, HDIP is not authorized to inspect and certify petroleum and gas storages equipments and any such inspections will be considered as illegal, it said.
Exports rise playfully
m u c h needed relief to the
sonal factors like annual Hajj ritual, which every year increases demand for the greenback in the local money
Export of sports goods up 3 percent in current year ISLAMABAD APP
The exports of sports good from the country witnessed positive growth of 2.96 percent during the first eleven months of the ongoing fiscal year against the exports of same period of last year. The exports of sports good were recorded at US$302.206 million during July-May (2011-12) as compared to the exports of US$293.525 million during July-May (2010-11), according to the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). Among the sports good, the major increase of 9.82 percent was recorded in the exports of footballs, as it grew from US$128.448 million last year to US$141.056 million during the ongoing year. However, the exports of sports gloves decreased by 7.06 percent during the period under review, the PBS data revealed. The exports of gloves stood at US$101.016 million during 2011-12 against the exports of US$108.687 million in 2010-11. The exports of other sports goods also increased by 6.64 percent by going up from US$56.390 million last year to US$60.134 million during the ongoing fiscal year.
rupee. “Our assessment suggests that for every $10 per barrel decline in oil prices, annual oil import bill reduced by $1.2 billion,” he said. A timely decision by Islamabad to resolve the lingering Nato supplies issue and a likely re-entering into the IMF
Boom Boom Afridi! Hameedullah Jan Afridi launches a blitzkrieg against infringement of IPRs and stepped down the pitch to wallop piracy out of the ballpark ISLAMABAD Noting that the foreign direct investment in the country has reduced significantly during the current fiscal year, Chairman Intellectual Proterty Rights (IPO) Pakistan has stressed the need for enhancing the law enforcement against piracy and infringement of Intellectual Porperty Rights (IPRs). He said this while chairing a media consultative forum on IPRs under the European Union (EU) funded Trade Related Technical Assistance (TRTA-II) programme on Tuesday. Showing concern that Pakistan was included in the priority watch list against IPR violation for the last several years and there was need to improve law enforcement against piracy and infringement by the law enforcement agencies especially FIA and Customs. “ Ministry of Interior has assured us to hold an international conference to apprise the international community about the steps against piracy of IPRs”, he added. It is a fact that the countries which have protected IPRs have developed, as it gives more confidence to investors and reduces capital flight, he said adding that the IPR ordiance has already given shape and enactment of the bill into an act was awaited from the parliament. He said establishment of IPR tribunals was proposed under the ordinance to speedily decide IPR cases. He said that the offices of IPO will be
soon opened in Balochistan and Kyber Phatunkhwa and an electonic trademark general will be soon available online, to promote registeration and protection of IPRs in the country. Noting that if IPRs laws were strictly implemented in the country then the late eminent singer Medhi Hassan would have no need to seek financial support from anybody during his illness. The royalty of his numerous famous songs would have been enough for him and his family. “We are working on a collective management organization to protect the IPRs of writers, singers and other artists”, he added. Dr. Mansur Raza of World Intellectual Property Orginazation (WIPO) said it is important to inform businesses that IPRs provide economic rights which result in benefits for over the years. He gave the example of Korean music which was poplualr in all east asian countries and resulting in economic returns, which was only achived by first implementing IPRs locally. Promoting IPRs in the country will lead to flourishing of small companies by patenting technology. He said that unfortunately rank of Pakistan in global innovation list was below Bangladesh. Dr. Arshard of NUST said that his university was formulating a IPR policy with the help of IPO. And a technology incubation center is established at the university and 4 companies have graduated while 19 other were still in incubation.
program are other factors, the analysts believe, would provide some respite the rupee would be direly needing in FY13. Inflation is another negative that was not let deflate by the cash-strapped government’s massive bank borrowings to finance the mounting fiscal deficit. During FY12YTD up to June 8, the funds-starved federal and provincial governments borrowed an additional Rs 1.2 trillion from the banking system, of which Rs 502 billion constitutes inflationary borrowing from the central bank, approximately Rs 285 billion during January-MarchFY12. This, having adverse implications on the interest rates particularly in the second half of FY12, made the central bank halt further easing of the monetary policy from the current 12 percent. Coupled with government’s bank borrowings, weakness in the external account also negatively impacted domestic liquidity position, especially during the second half, January-JuneFY12, when the budget deficit was largely financed through local channels. During 1H, the State Bank had cut the discount rate by 200 basis points staggered in two stages, while maintained the same in the 2H as pressure on the rupee and liquidity re-emerged. As a result the benchmark 6-month T-Bill yield, which fell to lowest level of 11.5 percent in January 2012 from 13.7 percent at the beginning of FY12, recovered to 11.93 percent at end-June. “There seems little room for further cut in the policy rate but could see a round of rate hikes if the liquidity issue is not resolved,” said Khan who sees more pressure on country’s external account owing to traction in oil prices, strained Pak-US ties and above expectation contraction in foreign flows. “The CA deficit is expected to hover around 1.8 percent of GDP in FY12 against the government’s target of 0.6 percent and SBP’s 1.5-2.5 percent,” the analyst said.
Legends of the fall
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AMER SIAL g
market by $200-$300 million, responsible for “temporary” appreciation of the American currency. “The current hike is a routine as last year too the dollar had appreciated to Rs 93 and then came down to Rs 88,” recalled Malik Bostan, chairman Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan. Recent weeks saw the rupee devaluing to the lowest level of Rs 96.80 against a dollar. However, on Monday it recovered on the currency market and gained 10 paisa for buying and 95.80 and 96.00 for selling. The analysts, however, predict further pressure on the rupee in prospect. “Pressure on the PKR is expected to continue in FY13 with further increase in the debt payment, including $ 2.2 billion IMF debt repayment, uncertain Pak-US relationship and reduced foreign flows,” Khan said. On the flip side, the analyst said, materialization of Coalition Support Fund, PTCL’s privatization receipts, auction of 3G license and subdued oil prices could provide the
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Banking spreads fall by 15bps in MayFY12 KARACHI STAFF REPORT
The banking spreads of the country’s banking sector during the month of May decreased by 15 basis points Month-on-Month to 7.07 percent from 7.22 percent of the previous month. The banking spreads is the difference between banks’ lending and deposit rates. However, on YoY basis, considerable decline of 58bps was witnessed in the banking spreads compared to spread of 7.65 percent in May FY2011, said the analysts at InvestCap quoting the State Bank figures. The average interest rate spread during 5MCY12 (Jan-May) stood at 7.25 percent as compared to 7.57 percent in the same period last year, showing a decline of 32bpsYoY. Furthermore, the spreads based on gross disbursement and fresh deposit appreciated by 52bpsCYTD to 6.7 percent in May-12 from 6.2 percent in Dec-11. The weighted average deposit rates on outstanding deposits including zero percent markup increased by 12bpsMoM to 5.88 percent during May-12 compared to deposit rate of 5.76 percent last month. On CY12TD basis, the rate on outstanding deposit remained flat at 5.88 percent. Highest deposit rate witnessed in Public sector funds which stood at 6.10 percent (declined 4bpsMoM) followed by deposit rate on private sector funds which stood at 5.84 percent (up 16bpsMoM). Yields on outstanding loans including 0 percent markup fell by 3bpsMoM to 12.95 percent during May-12 compared to 12.98 percent witnessed last month. While during CY12TD the rate on outstanding loans fell by 51bps compared to 13.46 percent of Dec-11 rate. Highest lending rates witnessed in Public sector loans which stood at 13.53 percent (declined slightly by 1bpMoM) followed by lending rate on public sector loans which stood at 12.98 percent (declined by 4bpsMoM). However, the 6M KIBOR, which is the benchmark for almost 80 percent lending to private sector hovered in very low range of 11.95 percent to 12.0 percent during the last five months or so, therefore the spread on fresh lending are on consistent downward trajectory largely after the downward adjustment in lending rates. On the other hand, stagnant deposit rate is the result of the slower inflow of funds into the banking system that made deposit mobilization task harder resulting into the fall in raising the rate of deposits.
PRO 27-06-2012_Layout 1 6/26/2012 11:52 PM Page 2
Wednesday, 27 June, 2012
Eurozone finance ministers head for Paris PARIS AGENCIES
The finance ministers of Germany, France, Italy and Spain will meet in Paris for talks on Tuesday evening, ahead of a crucial European Union summit at the end of the week, French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici said. “We want to work with Germany,” Moscovici told France Info radio, asked about the pressure on President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to reach an agreement on ways to curb the spiralling euro zone crisis. “Tomorrow there is a meeting, which will be very important, between Francois Hollande and Angela Merkel and this evening I will receive the finance ministers: Mr. Schaeuble from Germany, Mr. Monti or Mr. Grilli of Italy and Mr. de Guindos of Spain along with the European Commissioner,” Moscovici said.
LSE loses 9.64 points LAHORE APP
Bearish trend prevailed in Lahore Stock Exchange on Tuesday as it shed 9.64 points, following the LSE-25 index opened with 3437.48 and closed at 3427.84 points. The market’s overall situation, however, corresponded to an upward trend as it remained at 1.459 million shares to close against previous turnover of 719,209 shares, showing an upward move of 740,647 shares. While, out of the total 87 active scrips 14 moved up, 51 remained equal and 22 shed values.
Obama urges Greece to work closely with EU, IMF, ECB WASHINGTON AGENCIES
U.S. President Barack Obama spoke with newly elected Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Monday and urged him to work closely with the European Union and other bodies as he pursues economic reforms, the White House said.
REG RAG: NATO SUPPY RESUMPTION & RAJA
As political concerns ease, KSE bulls say cheese Bulls manage to squeeze past the bears, thanks to a gamut of optimistic happenings in the recent past. Index gains 14 points fittingly g
KARACHI
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STAFF REPORT
N Tuesday the bulls kept dominating Karachi stocks market with the benchmark, KSE 100-share index gaining 13.84 points. Ahsan Mehanti, Director at Arif Habib Investments Limited, said that the Pakistan stocks closed higher amid thin trade on easing political concerns after designation of Deputy PM and hopes for improvement in Pak-US ties on resumption of Nato supply routes. The day saw the index closing up by 0.10 percent at 13, 656.04 points against 13, 642.20 points of first working day of the week. The trading volumes at the ready-counter were recorded higher 57.989 million shares against 56.825 million shares of the previous day. The trading value was up to Rs 2.005 billion compared to Rs 1.863 billion of the previous session. The intraday high and low, respectively, stood at 13, 707.21 and 13, 587.97 points. He added that the institutional support in blue-chip stocks across the board ahead of year end close played a catalyst role in bullish sentiments despite concerns for security situation in the city
and uncertainty in global stocks and commodities on prevailing euro-zone debt crises. The market capitalization grew modestly and increased to Rs 3.484 trillion from Rs 3.482 trillion a day earlier. Of the total 353 traded scrips, 105 gained, 163 lost and 85 finished as unchanged. The free-float KSE-30 index also gained 4.86 points to close at 11, 779.67 points against the previous 11, 774.81 points. The KSE all-share index closed with a gained of 6.72 points to 9,615.66 points as against 9, 608.94 points. D.G.K. Cement was the day’s volume leader counting its traded shares at 7.225 million with the opening and closing rates standing at Rs 39.18 and Rs 39.17, followed by Hub Power Company, Pak Reinsurance, Bank Al-Falah and Jahangir Siddiqui Company with turnover of 3.901 million, 3.679 million, 3.357 million and 2.760 million shares respectively. On the future market, the turnover recovered remarkably by over 9 million shares to 21.391 million against 12.359 million shares of Monday. The Unilever Food and Rafhan Maize Prod, up Rs 111.00 and Rs 71.48, led highest price gainers while, Exide (Pakistan) and Sanofi-Aventis Pakistan, down Rs 9.30 and Rs 7.92 respectively, led the losers.
Shares in choppy trade over EU summit scepticism TOKYO AGENCIES
Asian shares were caught in choppy trade on Tuesday as investors remained cautious ahead of a European leaders summit which many believe will not produce any substantive measures to solve the region’s protracted debt crisis, now in its third year. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan inched up as much as 0.2 percent and slid as low as 0.1 percent. Japan’s Nikkei average fell 0.5 percent to a one-week low. “Sentiment is not one-sidely bearish, as low volatility in some local equities markets suggests relative stability, but the choppy trade reflects extreme caution before the European summit,” said Hi-
rokazu Yuihama, a senior strategist at Daiwa Securities in Tokyo. “Investors want to see what direction the summit’s outcome will point to. It’s very unclear what specific agreements may actually be made, there could be compromises on forward-looking measures, so investors can’t be entirely pessimistic,” he said. The euro edged up 0.2 percent at $1.2523, off a two-week low of $1.24713 hit on Monday when growing concern over the June 28-29 EU summit sent risk assets and the single currency sinking, while pushing up Italian and Spanish debt yields as contagion risks weighed on investor sentiment. The twoday summit in Brussels will be the 20th time EU leaders have met to try to resolve a crisis that has spread across Europe since it began in Greece in early 2010.
Business 02 Major Gainers COMPANY
OPEN
HIGH
LOW
CLOSE
CHANGE TURNOVER
Unilever Food Rafhan Maize Prod. Colgate Palmolive Nestle Pakistan Ltd. Philip Morris Pak.
2714.00 2861.19 948.08 3995.01 177.48
2825.00 3004.24 965.00 4024.80 186.29
2714.00 2860.00 960.00 3851.00 179.00
2825.00 2932.67 961.02 4002.21 183.40
111.00 71.48 12.94 7.20 5.92
Major Losers Exide (PAK) Sanofi-Aventis Pak Siemens Pakistan Pak.Int.Cont SD Biafo Industries
KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and all offices of SBP Banking Services Corporation, inclusive of Public Debt Offices, will remain closed for public dealing on Monday the 2nd July 2012, which has been declared as a Bank Holiday. All banks and DFIs shall, therefore, remain closed for public dealing on the above mentioned date. However, all officers/staff of SBP, SBP BSC, Banks/ DFIs/ MFBs will attend the office as usual. STAFF REPORT
Qubee committed to customer service KARACHI: Chief Executive of Qubee Pakistan, Jamal Nasir Khan said Qubee has become a key player in the wireless broadband category in very short span of time, as they have been striving hard to provide their subscribers the best value for money in the form of fast and reliable broadband internet with 24/7 customer support. He further said they have already set new trends in the country by providing best internet services to the subscribers through matchless packages and easy solutions to payments, while Qubee-Go Green initiative has limited impact on the environment with the halt on sending printed bills to the customers.
D.G.K.Cement 39.18 Hub Power Company Pak Reinsurance 17.74 Bank Al-Falah 17.01 Jah.Sidd. Co. 12.98
184.20 174.00 725.00 147.99 56.10
178.86 173.00 700.00 138.71 53.65
178.97 173.07 721.20 142.05 53.65
-9.30 -7.92 -5.37 -3.95 -2.45
72,353 150 35 223 550
39.75 41.54 18.40 17.37 13.08
38.60 41.65 17.50 17.05 12.52
39.17 41.30 17.65 17.30 12.59
-0.01 41.51 -0.09 0.29 -0.39
7,225,864 -0.03 3,901,659 3,679,205 3,357,225 2,760,719
Interbank Rates US Dollar UK Pound Japanese Yen Euro
94.5082 147.5557 1.1913 117.9949
Dollar East BUY US Dollar Euro Great Britain Pound Japanese Yen Canadian Dollar Hong Kong Dollar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal Australian Dollar
95.00 117.27 146.83 1.1813 91.23 12.05 25.70 25.19 94.00
SELL 95.75 118.33 148.13 1.1916 92.54 12.21 25.90 25.37 96.29
Spain banks’ ratings cut as Cyprus asks for bailout MADRID: Spain suffered a fresh blow as 28 of its banks were hit with credit downgrades while Cyprus became the latest eurozone country to request a rescue loan, days ahead of a pivotal European Union summit. The Moody’s decision to slash the Spanish lenders’ ratings came just hours after Madrid made a formal request for cash to bail out its troubled banking sector. The agency said it slashed the ratings because they faced rising losses from commercial real estate loans, adding that Madrid’s own lowered credit grade was a contributory factor. Spain’s lower creditworthiness “not only affects the government’s ability to support the banks, but also weighs on banks’ stand-alone credit profiles”, the agency said. AGENCIES
SECP introduces ICRS system 3D Smart TV, being equipped with the most advanced 3D technology, enables a smoother and more immersive 3D viewing bringing a limitless world of 3D entertainment at the tip of your magic remote.
KARACHI STAFF REPORT
PMEX announces agreement with Catalyst IT Solutions LAHORE: Pakistan Mercantile Exchange (PMEX), the first technology-driven, web-based, de-mutualised Commodity Exchange in Pakistan, recently signed an agreement with Catalyst IT Solutions to provide them with a technology platform whereby PMEX brokerage houses will be able to offer multi asset/multi exchange online trading platforms, mobile trading platforms and SMS alert services to their clients.
Greenvalley Premium Supermarket Coming Soon in Bahria Town, Rawalpindi
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Communications Dr Arbab Alamgir visited Ghazi interchange on M-1 to see progress of work.
PTCL’s 3G EVO becomes a Wi-Fi hotspot ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has made an exciting introduction of 3G enabled Tenda router driven by Pakistan’s fastest 3G EVO Wireless Broadband that creates a powerful Wi-Fi hotspot for its customers virtually anywhere. Tenda router is a portable 3G Wi-Fi router that converts EVO and Nitro dongles into a powerful Wi-Fi hotspot so that customers can have Internet connectivity for multiple users and multiple Wi-Fi devices at the same time.
LG launches record breaking 2012 Cinema 3D Smart TV series KARACHI: LG Electronics (LG) , a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, announced the launch of its latest 2012 Cinema 3D Smart TV line-up in Pakistan. Unveiling the new product line at a grand event, LG revealed the cutting-edge 3D bezel TV that is sized at almost zero mm, setting a new world record for the narrowest bezel 3D TV. The LG Cinema
188.27 180.99 726.57 146.00 56.10
Volume Leaders
CORPORATE CORNER Bank holiday
10 41 211 66 39,838
RAWALPINDI: After the successful launch of Greenvalley Premium Supermarket in Lahore’s high street shopping destination, Bahria Town is all set to initiate the works on Greenvalley in Rawalpindi. The project will be located at the strategic location in Intellectual Village, Bahria Town.
KARACHI: Group picture shows the 32 most outstanding players of the ‘ZONG UNITED KICKOFF’ Football Tournament along with the MU legend, Dion Dublin (Centre) and coaches/project coordinators at a weeklong training session in Manchester United Soccer School (MUSS) in Abu Dhabi
To streamline the submission of regulatory information required by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan under the Insurance Ordinance, 2000 and other relevant laws, the Commission has introduced an online regulatory returns submission system, namely the Insurance Companies Return Submission (ICRS) system, which is being implemented from July 1, 2012 for life and non-life insurance companies. Recently, orientation workshops were conducted by the Commission at Karachi and Islamabad. The details of ICRS system and its user manual are also available at the official website
Standard Chartered to launch trade centres KARACHI STAFF REPORT
Standard Chartered Bank announced the launch of Trade Centres for its Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) customers in Pakistan. The launch comes at a time when the bank is stepping up to provide best in class financial services to SME customers in the country. The trade sector of Pakistan will benefit from the bank’s customer focus and diversification approach as 30 Trade Centres will be distributed amidst Standard Chartered’s 132 branches, across 29 cities in Pakistan.