Index loses 32.13 points

The KSE-100 index on Thursday lost 32.13 points to close at 11,515.59 level due to profit-taking in late hours. The market opened on a positive note and the index hit 11,652.74 points intra-day high. However, the investors opted for profit-taking in late hours that dragged the index into negative zone at 11,502.34 points intra-day low level.
Trading activity however improved as the volumes at ready counter increased to 92.473 million shares as compared to 83.732 million shares traded on Wednesday. Total market capitalisation declined by Rs 7 billion to stand at Rs 2.991 trillion. Of the total 322 active stocks, 123 closed in positive, 113 in negative while the value of 86 stocks remained unchanged.
Jahangir Siddiqui Co was the volume leader with 15.809 million shares gaining Re 0.71 to close at Rs 5.16. Lafarge Pakistan inched up by Re 0.09 to close at Rs 2.01 with 7.885 million shares. Azgard Nine closed at Rs 3.31, up Re 0.16 with 5.991 million shares. DG Khan Cement increased by Re 0.42 to close at Rs 20.62 with 5.599 million shares.
Profit taking was seen in the fertiliser sector, as Fatima Fertiliser Co, Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim and Engro Corp lost Re 0.62, Re 0.23 and Rs 1.53 to close at Rs 22.66, Rs 46.51 and Rs 102.25 with 5.409 million shares, 4.354 million shares and 2.966 million shares, respectively. NBP lost Re 0.82 to close at Rs 41.29 with 5.153 million shares. Lotte Pakistan PTA decreased by Re 0.13 to close at Rs 9.99 with 4.463 million shares.
Attock Refinery surged by Rs 1.93 to close at Rs 111.65 with 3.090 million shares. Nestle Pakistan and Unilever Pak were the top gainers increasing by Rs 153.54 and Rs 73.12 to close at Rs 3226.19 and Rs 5516.60, respectively while Rafhan Maize and Millat Tractors were the worst losers declining by Rs 60.49 and Rs 4.85 to close at Rs 2552.78 and Rs 428.43, respectively. Ahsan Mehanti at Arif Habib Corp said Pakistan stocks closed lower amid higher activity on institutional profit-taking in overbought stocks.
The investor booked profits in blue chip stocks after five sessions of bullish close after bimonthly policy announcement by the SBP was delayed up to February 11 and the Supreme Court adjourned hearing of PM Gilani on NRO implementation case to February 01. He said the index closed on its intra day lows despite strong recovery in global stocks and commodities on the IMF lending plans to support Europe debt concerns.