Shanghai Bourse Seeks 40% Stake in Pakistan Stock Exchange

The Shanghai Stock Exchange has submitted a letter of intent to buy up to 40% stake in the Pakistan Stock Exchange, according to  report in The Nikkei Asian Review.  The Shanghai Stock Exchange has the world's fourth largest market cap. The possible Pakistan tie-up could encourage Chinese companies to expand into the South Asian country and perhaps even list on the PSX.

In August this year, Bloomberg News reported Shanghai Electric's US$1.6 billion for 66% stake in K-Electric, Karachi's main electric utility.

Multinational Acquisitions in Pakistan: 

In July 2016, two multinational giants acquired 2 Pakistani companies as part of their growth strategy to establish presence in Pakistan.

Dutch dairy giant FrieslandCampina acquired 51 % of Karachi-based Engro Foods Limited, the second largest dairy producer in Pakistan.

In the same week in July, Turkey's Arcelik announced purchase of Dawlance, Pakistan's market-leading home appliance maker.

Both cited opportunity for double-digit growth in the emerging market as the main reason for their acquisitions.

Shanghai Bourse's Bid: 

If the Shanghai Bourse's bid succeeds, it will represent the first purchase of a stake in a foreign stock exchange by a Chinese bourse.  In June, global index provider MSCI upgraded Pakistan to emerging markets status while keeping Vietnam as a frontier market, because the former has much better market liquidity.

The Shanghai Stock Exchange has the world's fourth largest market cap. The possible Pakistan tie-up could encourage Chinese companies to expand into the South Asian country and perhaps even list on the PSX.

Pakistan Top Performing Market in Asia:

As of Sept 30, 2016, KSE100 index, the PSX's key stock index, has  gained almost 24 percent year to date making Pakistan the best performing market in Asia. Vietnam and Indonesia follow with returns of 18% and 16.8%, respectively, while India’s Sensex Index has gained only 6.7%.

Year-to-date, the Global X MSCI Pakistan ETF (PAK) has gained 21.7%, according to Barron's Asia.

PSX official Ayyaz Afzal told The Nikkei Asian Review that "Shanghai is one of two stock exchanges who submitted us letters of intent (to acquire PSX stakes)".

The other bidder is a bourse in the Middle East. Afzal said the PSX could receive additional letters of intent by December, and "before March 2017, I think there will be some positive news about the strategic investor," he said.

A total of 576 companies are listed on the PSX, with an aggregate market cap of slightly higher than 8 trillion rupees (US$80 billion), according to Nikkei Asian Review. Pakistan, the world's sixth most populous nation, is home to some 190 million people. Its economy in 2015 was the globe's 41st largest, at $270 billion.

ADB Pakistan Forecast: 

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has recently raised Pakistan's economic growth forecast for fiscal year 2017 (from July 2016 to June 2017) from 4.8% to 5.2%. The Bank also sees brighter outlook for the the entire South Asian region. However, the prospects of even a limited India-Pakistan war could derail the economies of the entire South Asia region. I hope that sanity will prevail in New Delhi to tone down its war rhetoric, abstain from escalation and maintain the current economic momentum.

Summary:

Pakistan's economic recovery is in full swing with double digit growth in multiple industries, including auto, pharma, chemicals, cement, fertilizers, minerals, etc.  It is expected to pick up steam over the next several years with new investments on the back of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor related projects. Prospects of even a limited war in South Asia could derail the economies of the entire region. I hope that sanity will prevail in New Delhi to abstain from escalation and maintain the current economic momentum.

Related Links:

Haq's Musings

ADB Raises Pakistan GDP Growth Forecast

Is Pakistan Ready For War With India?

India's Israel Envy: Surgical Strikes in Pakistan?

Growing Middle Class in Pakistan

Rising Energy Consumption

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

Pakistan's Thar Desert Sees Development Boom

Gwadar vs Chabahar Ports

Alan Greenspan's book tour

Former Federal Reserve Chief Alan Greenspan has been promoting his book "The Age of Turbulence" for the last couple of weeks. Among other things, he is talking about his reasons for supporting the Iraq invasion and his assessment that the Chinese stock market is a bubble waiting to burst. On the question of his support for Iraq invasion, he explains that he was convinced Saddam Husain would block the Strait of Hormuz if not removed from power. I think he's just flat wrong on this reasoning.Other than the US or Europeans, the only power that had the capacity to close the Strait is Iran. The removal of Saddam has, in fact, strengthened Iran significantly and made it more likely that the Strait would be closed in the event of war in the Persian Gulf involving Iran.
On the question of Shanghai bubble, he is more qualified than most but I still think he is wrong. The Chinese economy is very strong and growing rapidly. China is the factory of the world and it is developing a very large consumer class of its own with a pent-up demand not too different from the US consumer demand right after the WW II. So the Chinese markets are backed up a strong and rapidly growing economy to justify high valuation of its stock.