Aggressive trading activity was witnessed at ready counter and the volumes surged to 312.258 million shares as compared to 255.983 million shares a day earlier. Total market capitalisation increased by Rs 33 million to Rs 4,152.057 billion. It previously stood at Rs 4,152.024 billion. Some 364 companies' shares were traded on last trading day, of which 150 closed in positive, 188 in negative while that of 26 stocks remained unchanged.
Among the top 10 traded shares, Fauji Cement was the volume leader with 89.16 million shares. It gained Re 0.11 to close at Rs 6.95. Jah Sidd Co gained Re 0.58 points to close at Rs 17.23 with 27.71 million shares trading. KESC share price decreased by Re 0.05 to Rs 6.88 with a turnover of 17.5 million.
With trading volume of 12.767 million shares, National Bank rose by Rs 2.36 to Rs 49.86. Share price of BankIslami Pakistan went up by Re 0.81 to Rs 9.83 with 8.16 million turnover. DG Khan Cement lost Re 0.40 to close at Rs 53.80 per share with a turnover of 8.13 million shares. TRG Pakistan and Silk Bank Limited gained Re 0.10 to Rs 4.36 and Re 0.06 to Rs 2.29 with trading volume of seven million and 5.6 million shares, respectively.
Similarly, Lafarge Pakistan, with 5.38 million shares, gained Re 0.01 to Rs 5.28 while Pak Reinsurance lost Re 0.26 to Rs 23.89 with five million shares. Bata Pak and Wyeth Pak Limited were the top gainers as their share prices moved up by Rs 82 and Rs 44.5 to close at Rs 1,722 and Rs 934.5, respectively. While, Unilever Pak and Nestle Pakistan Ltd were the top losers shedding Rs 534.71 and Rs 245 to close at Rs 10,159.54 and Rs 4,655, respectively.
Commenting on the market situation, analyst at Arif Habib Ahsan Mehanti said that index closed at highest level led by oil and banking stocks amid speculations ahead of SBP policy rate announcement next month. Higher local cement prices, expectation for favourable revision in minimum deposit rate for commercial banks, higher global stocks and commodities and the ECC suggestions for reduction of Sales Tax, GDS for fertiliser sector played a catalyst role in bullish sentiment at KSE despite concerns for lower cement dispatches data and security situation in the city, he added.