Senior SECP officials, headed by the SECP Chairman, and Chairman, Karachi Stock Exchange met with the Board of Directors, Management and Members of the Karachi Stock Exchange on Wednesday. The meeting discussed various important market related matters including the proposed new broker registration regime. The SECP briefed the participants on the various significant steps taken by it to ensure sustainability and providing confidence to the market participants and proposals that were under discussions. It was emphasized that all reform measures that have been introduced in the past and currently being considered were in close coordination and consultation with the relevant stakeholders and are designed to improve trading volumes and enhancing retail participation in the stock market. The participants were briefed on the SECP’s strategic objectives for the coming years. The key objectives highlighted include: (i)Structural and regulatory reforms for the market;...

ISLAMABAD: Integrity, transparency and fairness in the capital markets are critical for protection of investors and enhancing their confidence. However, market abuses and unfair trading practices such as front-running/insider trading negatively affects this basic essence of the markets.  Front-running, a form of insider trading arises when a person engaged in processing or making investment decision/order in his official capacity uses that information for his personal benefit directly or indirectly.                                                                                     This undesirable activity usually takes place in institutions active in the capital markets such as brokerage houses, mutual funds, financial institutions and entities having large investments in ...

The Board of Directors of Karachi Stock Exchange, in its meeting held on May 31, 2011, focused extensively on resolving difficulties for investors on the one hand and strengthening the Exchange’s risk management aspects to provide confidence to market participants. Besides this, in order to enhance product attractiveness, several initiatives under development were discussed, including Option trading. The Board also emphasized on informational security and level playing field for all investors. In addition, following market related decisions were taken: 1. Approval was accorded to TOR of following Committees: i. Development & Trading Affairs Committee ii. Voluntary Delisting Committee 2. Approval of following regulatory amendments, subject to approval of SECP: i. Regulations Governing Risk Management to allow placing of circuit breakers on 1st Trading Day of unpaid Right Allotment Letter and newly listed securities on Ready Market. ii. Regulations for Short Selling to allow short s...

ISLAMABAD – January 12: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has filed a criminal complaint in a court against Eastern Capital Limited, ex-member of the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) and all those, including its director, involved in non-transfer of shares/funds and unauthorized pledges of client’s shares and other prohibited activities under Section 24(2) of the Central Depositories Act 1997 as well as offences under relevant provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). The warrants for all the accused have been issued. The SECP received numerous complaints/claims against five KSE brokers mainly pertaining to the alleged non-transfer of shares and non-payment of funds. The SECP directed the brokers to expedite resolution of complaints/claims and issued instructions for the immediate transfer of shares/funds to the claimants. The brokers failed to remedy the situation, obliging the SECP to suspend registration of Eastern Capital Limited and four other brokers. More...