Index sheds 20.62 points

The KSE-100 index on Friday lost 20.62 points to close at 12,041.15 points due to investors'' concerns over Pak-US relations. The market witnessed mixed trend with the index oscillating between 12,142.15 points intra-day high and 11,963.16 points intra-day low level.
Trading improved slightly but remained low, and the volume at ready counter stood at 70.392 million shares as compared to 60.592 million shares traded on Thursday. Market capitalisation declined by Rs 5 billion to Rs 3.258 trillion. Of 374 active scrips, 157 closed in negative and 105 in positive, while the values of 112 scrips remained unchanged.
Nishat Mills was the volume leader with 9.518 million shares and surged by Rs 1.51 to close at Rs 62.84. Lotte Pakistan PTA lost Re 0.11 to close at Rs 15.99 with 8.545 million shares. DG Khan Cement declined by Rs 1.25 to close at Rs 24.42 with 4.897 million shares. Nishat (Chunian) closed at Rs 26.26, down Re 0.01 with 3.556 million shares.
Nishat Power inched up by Re 0.46 to close at Rs 16.68 with 2.934 million shares. Dewan Salman lost Re 0.06 to close at Rs 2.75 with 2.318 million shares. PTCL gained Re 0.24 to close at Rs 18.73 with 2.211 million shares. Meezan Balanced Fund declined by Re 0.43 to close at Rs 8.57 with 2.033 million shares. Engro Corporation increased by Re 0.56 to close at Rs 219.33 with 1.992 million shares. Azgard Nine inched up by Re 0.13 to close at Rs 10.68 with 1.831 million shares.
Unilever Pak and Nestle Pakistan were the highest gainers increasing by Rs 222.81 and Rs 96.00 to close at Rs 4679.08 and Rs 3596.00 respectively, while Siemens Pak and Rafhan Maize were the worst losers declining by Rs 53.31 and Rs 53.06 to close at Rs 1019.49 and Rs 2539.75 respectively. Ahsan Mehanti at Arif Habib Investments said that although trading started on a positive note, the momentum could not continue on investors'' concerns over US disappointment on extension in Raymond Davis remand.
He said that trading also remained low due to investors'' lack of interest and volume remained on the lower side. He said that the rising circular debt issue in Pakistan energy sector and unrest in Arab world affected the market sentiment in the earnings announcement session despite higher global commodity prices and foreign interest in blue chip scrips in oil, banking and fertiliser sector.