KARACHI - After the bull-run that started from Jan 1, market witnessed some range-bound activities with impressive participation. Benchmark posted fresh gain of 32 points or 0.12 percent to end the day at 26373.24 points compared to 26341.08 points of the previous day.
The basic reason of positive sentiments is GSP plus status from European Union which is prevailing in the equity market from 1st of January, said renown equity expert Aqeel Karim Dheady while exchanging views with The Nation.
Chinese investment in Masood Textile give a breakthrough to textile sector, and the share which is traded around Rs 20 in market now available at Rs 140, he added. Aqeel said increase in labour cost in china is the basic reason of Chinese entrust in Pakistani textile sector. KSE-Allshare index added 79.99 points or 0.41 percent to stop the day at 19680.25 points, KSE-30 share index gained 2.87 points or 0.01 percent to conclude the session at 19481.19 points while KMI-30 share index shed by 38.33 points or 0.09 percent to conclude the session at 44264.86 points.
Equity dealer Asad Siddiqui said activity was seen in scrips like OGDC, PPL, UBL, ABL etc that were to be discussed in Privatisation Committee on Wednesday. However, news regarding government decision to review the recent price hike by fertilizer manufacturers led to some profit-taking in the fertilizer sector scrips and especially in Engro Corp. The day turnover of market in term of shares was 427.419 million compared to 321.177 million shares and the value of traded shares was climbed to Rs 11.927 billion from Rs 10.619 billion. Stock capitalisation settled at Rs 6.384 trillion compared to Rs 6.358 trillion of day earlier. Trading took place in 415 companies where losers beat the gainers 216 to 183 while the value of 16 stocks remained intact. Unilever Foods was the biggest loser of the day decreased by Rs 375 to Rs 8925 while the top price gainer of the day was Island Textile up by Rs 61 to Rs 1291. Analysts said speculation continued amid consolidation of listed SOEs mainly in oil and banking sector expected to raise over Rs.100b to meet commitments with IMF. Investors awaited major corporate earning announcements and ECC decisions on OMCs margins and gas pricing due next week. Lafarge Pak topped the active list with 42.068 million shares added Re 0.53 to Rs 10.18. PIAC(A) was on the second position with 37.630 million shares off by Re 0.48 to Rs 9.97.
It was followed by Azgard Nine with 28.459 million shares off by Re 0.24 to Rs 8.76, KESC with 24.717 million shares shed by Re 0.06 to Rs 6.23 and Bank of Punjab SPOT with 18.785 million shares increased by Re 0.08 to Rs 11.95.