After witnessing mixed trend on Tuesday, the KSE-100 index closed at 12,267.21 points with a loss of 39.49 points. The index earlier hit 12,367.28 points intra-day high on the back of foreign investors' support. However, local investors opted for profit taking on available margins and the index dropped into negative zone at 12,248.61 points intra-day low.
Trading shrank and the volume at ready counter declined to 120.003 million shares as compared to 135.400 million shares traded on Monday. Market capitalisation reduced by Rs 10 billion to Rs 3.321 trillion. Of 408 active scrips, 199 closed in negative and 183 in positive, while the values of 26 scrips remained unchanged. Lotte Pakistan PTA was the volume leader with 11.696 million shares. However, it lost Re 0.14 to close at Rs 14.52.
Fatima Fertiliser, Engro Corporation and Fauji Fertiliser gained Re 0.49, Re 0.26 and Rs 3.05 to close at Rs 11.67, Rs 208.26 and Rs 135.91 with 7.402 million shares, 5.130 million shares and 3.418 million shares respectively, while Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim lost Re 0.23 to close at Rs 38.42 with 10.769 million shares.
Attock Refinery surged by Rs 5.19 to close at Rs 135.77 with 5.907 million shares. Nishat Chunian Power lost Re 0.15 to close at Rs 16.89 with 4.705 million shares. BoP decreased by Re 0.23 to close at Rs 9.42 with 4.212 million shares.
Kot Addu Power gained Re 0.84 to close at Rs 44.84 with 4.126 million shares. SilkBank declined by Re 0.14 to close at Rs 2.79 with 3.608 million shares. Wyeth Pak and Nestle Pak were the highest gainers increasing by Rs 23.82 and Rs 20.94 to close at Rs 1054.67 and Rs 2469.00 respectively while Rafhan Maize and Unilever Pak were the worst losers declining by Rs 53.62 and Rs 48.47 to close at Rs 2051.02 and Rs 4260.25 respectively.
Hasnain Asghar Ali at Aziz Fidahusein Co said that the low volume price erosion in the front line and high priced stocks forced the index in red zone. There was renewed buying in fertiliser sector stocks in some due to high dividend yields. In some, it was on technical calls and group support. This allowed the benchmark to recover. Market participants also placed the liquidity in various stocks termed a safe bet, despite awkward situation on economic and financial front.
He said that support in the dividend yielding and various mid-tier stocks did spark across the board short covering. The activity did keep volatility on the higher side and it did allow the benchmark to re-enter positive zone, besides offering day trade opportunities to the market men. Low volumes, however, disallowed the positively to sustain.
Nervousness due to absence of substantial buyers on dips kept the horizon restricted, thus confirming the views that the bourse, due to absence of ready board leverage product, continued to stay at the mercy of the syndicate operating from both local and off-shore accounts. Caution, therefore, stays the call, despite a comparatively sound political and law and order front.
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