Islamabad, Nov 28 (TIWN) The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) crashed at the opening bell on Monday in reaction to the State Bank of Pakistan's (SBP) unforeseen hike on November 25, while the market was closed, in the interest rate to 16 per cent -- the highest level since 1999.

The benchmark KSE-100 index lost 707 points as soon as the trading week kicked off, The News reported.  The market was at 42,229 points at 9.39 am. It had closed at 42,936.73 points at the last session on November 25.  Analyst Samiullah Tariq blamed SBP's decision to increase the interest rate as a key factor for the drop in the KSE-100 index.  "The market wasn't expecting a rate hike. That's why it is reacting," the head of research at the Pakistan-Kuwait Investment Company told The News.  At the time the decision was announced the markets had closed, which is why the KSE-100 index went in the red at opening bell today.  On November 25, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the SBP raised the key policy rate by 100 basis points to 16 per cent -- the highest since 1999.  The central bank, in a statement, issued after the meeting said that the decision reflects the MPC's view that inflationary pressures have proven to be stronger and more persistent than expected, The News reported.  "This decision is aimed at ensuring that elevated inflation does not become entrenched and that risks to financial stability are contained, thus paving the way for higher growth on a more sustainable basis," the MPC said.  The SBP noted that amid the ongoing economic slowdown, inflation is increasingly being driven by persistent global and domestic supply shocks that are raising costs.