This was decided at a meeting of the officials of Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and the Board of Directors and management of Karachi Stocks Exchange (KSE) held here on Monday.
The meeting chaired by the SECP Chairman Razi-ur-Rehman, was held in view of the present continuous declining trend of the Securities Market and consequent possibility of systemic risk resulting in disruption of timely and smooth settlement of trades.
It was mutually decided to adopt various measures for the stabilisation of the market as a force majeure for a period of 30 days, the currently applicable security-wise circuit breakers in Ready, Deliverable Future Contracts and Cash Settled Future Contracts markets will be revised as detailed below, which will be reviewed again on July 15, 2008:
It was decided that the Lower Circuit Breakers would be applicable at price fluctuation of 1 percent from the closing price of the previous day while the Upper Circuit Breakers will be applicable at price fluctuation of 10 percent from the closing price of the previous day.
Short Selling will be completely prohibited in Deliverable Future Contract Market as currently allowed under Clause 6 (i) of the relevant Regulations. Furthermore, Short Sale in Ready Market with pre-existing interest against purchase on another exchange will also be prohibited. These prohibitions shall be for a period of one month, effective June 24, 2008. The said prohibitions will be reviewed again one week prior to the start of August Deliverable Futures Contract.
Bank Guarantees from "A" and above rated banks will be allowed as margin eligible security for Margin Deposit in the Ready, Futures and CFS Market. Tender of Mark to Market Losses will remain in cash in the Futures Markets. After seeking necessary approvals from the competent authority, changes will be brought in the methodology for calculating receivables in members' Capital Adequacy as follows:
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NO OF OUTSTANDING DAYS PROVISIONING AGAINST RECEIVABLES
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Less than 15 days 0%
Greater than or equal to 15 days but less than 30 days 25%
Greater than or equal to 30 days but less than 60 days 50%
Greater than or equal to 60 days but less than 90 days 75%
Greater than or equal to 90 days 100%
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The meeting also decided that a Market Stabilisation Fund of Rs 30 billion would be launched in line with international practice. The utilisation of the said fund will be automatically triggered if and when volatile circumstances are witnessed in the market. The KSE has been advised to submit detailed proposal for the same.