Lahore: BMA Capital Management Limited and the Karachi Stock Exchange organized an Investor Awareness Program, as part of a Nationwide Awareness Campaign to enhance the investor base, in Lahore at a local hotel on June 20, 2014. Around 450 businessmen including the Members of Lahore Chamber of Commerce, Jewelers, salaried professionals and people from all walks of life attended the seminar.

Mr. Nadeem Naqvi, Managing Director, Karachi Stock Exchange briefed the participants about the Risks and Returns of equity markets and urged potential investors to attain knowledge about the basics of Personal Financial Planning in order to be able to better design an investment strategy which is in line with their financial goals and needs.

Mr Azfer Naseem, CFA, Director Research & Business Development at BMA Capital gave a detailed stock market synopsis and addressed the key question in every one’s mind; has the stock market risen too much?. Azfer highlighted that BMA thinks that the market has a lot more room to go because of several reasons. He said that the stock market is trading at very attractive multiples, and the listed companies are expected to have a year with very strong earnings growth in FY15. Pakistan, which is classified as a Frontier Market, is much more attractive than its other Frontier peers. Pakistan’s macroeconomic outlook is improving, and the government has initiated a privatization program that is attracting a lot of foreign interest. Foreign investors are generally optimistic about Pakistan’s economic outlook and capital market performance.

Mr. Fawaz Valiaani, Chief Operating Officer at BMA Capital Management Limited while speaking on the occasion said that it was for the first time ever in the history that the brokerage industry has taken such an initiative. He also thanked the KSE for participating in the event as a co-host; and he said that such campaigns would have a long and enduring impact on the overall economic development of Pakistan. He described BMA Capital as one of the leading securities brokering, asset management and investment banking firms in Pakistan which is committed to working with the KSE in order to enhance the investor base. “We provide ‘one-stop shop’ financial services and sound fundamental research to the general public, institutional and foreign investors”.