KARACHI: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) have agreed to withdraw a mandatory basic deposit requirement to take part in deliverable futures market (DFM) and allow 50 percent margin in eligible securities and 50 percent in cash in DFM to encourage trading activities in country's capital market.
This decision was taken at a meeting between SECP and KSE management which discussed the prevailing market situation and possible measures to be taken to address issues faced by the market in particular persistent low trading volumes and lack of retail participation.
According to KSE here Monday, the meeting was chaired by the chairman SECP Muhammad Ali and attended by chairman and member directors KSE board, senior management of the exchange and SECP, and senior market participants.
The meeting also decided to allow a voluntary "Roll-over Facility" for DFM via a special window to be devised and provided by the Exchange for the purpose showing the rate of interest at which the transaction is offered to be rolled over.
Similarly, it was agreed that all other parameter including collection of mark to market losses to be collected in cash will remain as per existing Rules and Regulations.
The meeting discussed various developmental areas including KSE's proposal for amendments in DFM and MTS.
In relation to MTS, the SECP consented to look into the possibility of allowing individual investors to take part in the MTS market as financiers.
It was also agreed that the FPR ratio shall be reviewed for accepting about 10% eligible securities within the overall 25% cash requirement while keeping the collection of mark to market margins in 100% cash.
To encourage and enhance the trading activity in various market segments, it was agreed to review the existing list of eligible scrips in the MTS DFM, and Margin Financing with a view to increase the number of securities in this list, for augmenting the same.
The chairman SECP reassured the participants that the apex regulator will continue to work in close coordination with the Exchanges and play a facilitators role for the development of capital markets and enhancing investors' confidence.
He emphasized upon the Exchange to take concrete measures for educating the investors particularly retail investors here and abroad by organizing the road-shows, conferences and seminars.
The chairman KSE Munir Kamal while thanking the chairman SECP for taking this initiative and his keen interest in resolving Capital market issues said that Karachi Stock Exchange on its part will also do whatever is needed for reaching out to investors and resolving all pending issues, so that they are willing to invest and participate vigorously in the market.
Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011
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