The Lahore Stock Exchange (LSE) 25 Index closed at a record high on the last working day of the year 2014 i.e. Wednesday, December 31, 2014, with analysts crediting falling inflation and commodity prices as well as an easing of political tensions. The benchmark Lahore Stock Exchange index of 25 shares closed at 6,154.14 points, increased by 56.49 points for the last session of 2014 . The previous peak of 5895.55 points came in June 11, 2014 and historical lowest index reading was 1300.94. Now the investors’ focus has shifted towards economic matters from the political affairs of the country, said Aftab Ahmed Chaudhry the Chief Executive officer and Managing Director of The Lahore Stock Exchange.
On the economic front official data showed that inflation had plunged to low, raising investor’s hopes that the central bank might slash the basic interest rate in its next review. “The inflation (rate) has come down to 3.96 per cent in y/y, so investors look forward to corresponding cut in interest rates. In line with the international fall in commodity prices, especially oil, the government slashed petroleum prices by an average of more than twenty four per cent — the largest price relief ever. Pakistan’s long-moribund economy has shown some glimmers of revival under this government. Ratings agency Moody’s upgraded the country’s outlook to ‘stable’ from ‘negative.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Lahore Stock Exchange Mr. Aftab Ahmed Chaudhry congratulated the stakeholders on this special occasion. MD also highlighted the steps taken by the LSE contributing to build a mechanism that has produced more transparency in the trading of the shares as well as to secure the investment of the investors. Lahore Stock Exchange is a fully electronic and completely automated stock exchange of Pakistan that is the only domestic exchange to have more than one trading floors in the region.