KARACHI: Mixed news flow kept the equities market highly volatile, pushing the benchmark KSE 100 index close the outgoing week in the red amid uncertainty about the country’s economic and political outlook.

The investor’s nervousness stemmed particularly after Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th president of the United States and a slew of executive orders issued by him, including the imposition of import duties and energy reforms that would have widespread consequences on the global trade equation.

The Pakistan Stock Exchange on Monday, ahead of Mr Trump’s oath-taking, staged a rally, but in the subsequent two sessions turned bearish on selling pressure caused by the proposed tax measures, including restriction non-filers and uncertainty about the outcome of talks between the government and the PTI.

Arif Habib Ltd (AHL) said the market commenced positively amid expectation of further rate cuts in the upcoming State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting next week. However, a........

© Dawn Business