BRIndex30 increased by 136.47 points or 0.61 percent to 22,414.64 points with a total volume of 59.897 million shares. The benchmark KSE-100 index rose by 152.47 points to 41,279.30 points. Trading activity on the ready counter also improved as daily volumes increased to 99.676 million shares as compared to 94.949 million shares traded Monday.
Foreign investors emerged net buyers of equities worth $3.8 million. The market capitalization increased by Rs 15 billion to Rs 8.654 trillion. Out of total 371 active scrips, 202 closed in negative, 155 in positive while the value of 14 stocks remained unchanged. Engro Polymer was the volume leader with 9.426 million shares. However, it declined by Rs 1.28 to close at Rs 27.34 followed by K-Electric that gained Rs 0.11 to close at Rs 6.25 with 9.289 million shares. Nestle Pakistan and Rafhan Maize were the top gainers with Rs 511.07 and Rs 190.71, respectively to close at Rs 12,186.00 and Rs 7,260.71. Bata Pak and Pak Tobacco were the top losers with Rs 131.45 and Rs 65.43, respectively to close at Rs 2,860.00 and Rs 1,450.00.
BR Commercial Banks Index increased by 131.07 points or 1.67 percent to close at 7,978.07 with a total turnover of 16.286 million shares. BR Cement Index gained 50.48 points or 0.83 percent to close at 6,029.78 points with total volumes of 6.977 million shares. BR Oil and Gas Index closed at 4,783.83 points, down 1.78 points or 0.04 percent with 4.518 million shares.
BR Tech. & Comm. Index gained 15.67 points or 1.27 percent to close at 1,214.49 points with total turnover of 6.699 million shares. BR Power Generation and Distribution Index closed at 6,799.30, down 59.29 points or 0.88 percent with total turnover of 9.832 million shares.
Maaz Mulla at JS Global Capital said volatility prevailed in the market as the index remained rangebound trading between minus 102 to plus 284 points and closed at 41,279 level, up 152 points. Banking sector led the gain as HBL (up 5.0 percent) closed at its upper circuit and NBP (up 2.02 percent) and MCB (up 2.43 percent) gained to close positive. Fertilizer sector stocks also recorded gains, where FFC (up 0.18 percent), FFBL (up 0.93 percent) and EFERT (up 0.65 percent) closed in the green zone from the fertilizer sector. Cement sector contributed negatively to the index where CHCC (down 3.03 percent), FCCL (down 0.88 percent) and DGKC (down 1.59 percent) were among the major losers from the sector.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017