According to a press release issued here on Friday, the 'Industry Classification Benchmark' provides a comprehensive system with four levels of granularity - industry (10), supersectors (19), sectors (41) and subsectors (114) and facilitates cross-border company comparison.
The ICB will replace KSE's own classification system after a transition period in which KSE will run both classification systems parallel to allow a smooth adoption process. The ICB is the standard used by major stock exchanges, data distributors, index providers, buy-side and sell-side institutions, custodians and media organisations globally.
KSE joins other exchanges and global financial institutions which have integrated ICB into their research, trading and investment workflows. These include Nasdaq, NYSE/Euronext, the London Stock Exchange, the Swiss Exchange, Aegon, the International Monetary Fund and the World Economic Forum, as also media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, CNBC and Dow Jones Newswires.
KSE Managing Director Adnan Afridi said on the occasion: "The KSE is extremely pleased to adopt ICB methodology for classification of its listed companies. The growing interest of international investors in Pakistan's capital markets is both a reflection of the reforms undertaken at the KSE and a requirement that we adopt global standard/best practices so that all investors can make accurate/informed comparisons between listed securities at the KSE and other exchanges.
The adoption of ICB will also assist in our efforts to introduce tradable sector indices as part of our overall strategy to introduce derivative and structured products at the KSE." James Cemprola, Managing Director of ICB, said: "By adopting well established global standards like ICB, upcoming financial markets can strengthen their transparency, comparability and hence draw the attention of international market participants.
The 'Industry Classification Benchmark' is a relevant, clear, strictly rules-based and accurate system which has been designed to meet the needs of sophisticated investors. We are pleased that financial institutions in emerging Asia such as the Karachi Stock Exchange are choosing ICB to assist them in bringing their services in line with practices of the global investment community."-PR