KARACHI, Feb 14: MSCI, a leading provider of investment decision support tools worldwide, announced on Wednesday the results of the Quarterly Index Review for MSCI Equity Indices with no addition or deletion.

No company from Pakistan was added or deleted from the index, in sympathy with the regional peers.

At present 12 Pakistani companies sit on the MSCI index that include: OGDC, MCB, FFC, POL, UBL, Engro, NBP, PPL, PSO, Hubco, PTCL and Fatima. Pakistan’s weight was maintained at 4.1pc following the review.

As per the MSCI press release, though there were no additions or deletions to the MSCI Frontier Market Index (MSCI FM), however, there were marginal changes in FIF (Foreign Inclusion Factor) included in calculation of the index.

As a result, Pakistan's proforma weight changed to 4.02pc from 4.01pc currently; the slight upswing driven by a small change in FIF factor of Fatima Fertiliser.According to KASB Wires, looking ahead, any developments on Pakistan potentially being considered for an upgrade should be closely tracked; there were developments in other markets which could also have an impact on Pakistan.

Analysts said that UAE and Qatar upgrade combined with any development on MSCI statement in the last Annual Review that it could consider consulting investors on excluding Argentina from MSCI FM would be positive in terms of Pakistan’s weight in MSCI FM.

The combined impact of all three markets being excluded from MSCI FM Index works out to 165bp, raising Pakistan’s weight to 5.67pc within MSCI FM.

On the other hand, MSCI has also highlighted the possibility of Morocco and Saudi Arabia being included in MSCI FM in future, which would dilute Pakistan’s current weight of 4.02pc in MSCI FM. Pakistan weight in MSCI Frontier Small Cap also remained intact.