Market watch: Stock market loses 448 points amid profit-takingThe market has gone down 14,569 points, or 28%, since touching the all-time high of 52,876.46 points on May 24, 2017. Apart from the IMF, Pakistan is expected to receive $19-22 billion in financial assistance from friendly counties and through the sale of Eurobond and Sukuk. The IMF bailout and the funds from friendly countries and international markets will help address the immediate challenge of strengthening Pakistan’s capacity to make international payments. “The high interest rate regime will encourage companies to seek equity financing from the stock market compared to acquiring expensive debt from the banking industry,” Habib said. He said the depressed stock market saw only three IPOs in 2018 during which the newly listed companies raised Rs5 billion.

Source: The Express Tribune December 13, 2018 03:23 UTC