Karachi: The National Clearing Company of Pakistan Limited (NCCPL) has announced changes to the eligibility of securities for its Securities Lending and Borrowing (SLB) and Margin Financing (MF) systems, effective from October 30, 2024. This quarterly review follows the guidelines set forth in the NCCPL Regulations 2015, ensuring securities meet specific criteria for inclusion or exclusion within the respective NCC Systems.

In the Securities Lending and Borrowing category, nine companies have been added to the SLB Eligible Securities list under Category A. These include AGP Limited, Exide Pakistan Limited, Fatima Fertilizer Company Limited, and several others which meet the required regulatory criteria for short selling.

Conversely, 18 securities have been removed from Category A for reasons such as having an impact cost greater than 2 and low average daily trading volume. Notable exclusions include Attock Cement Pakistan Limited and Berger Paints Pakistan Limited, reflecting the stringent standards maintained by the NCCPL for trading safety and liquidity.

According to information available from the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), in the Margin Financing system, two new securities have been qualified for inclusion. Ali Asghar Textile Mills Limited and The Pakistan General Insurance Co. Ltd. are now part of the list, indicating their robust performance and compliance with regulatory standards.

This update is critical for market participants as it directly influences the pool of securities available for lending and borrowing, as well as margin financing, impacting strategies and potential returns.