Index gains 24.39 points

Buying in late hours in some select stocks on Friday supported the KSE-100 index to close in positive at 11,937.81 points, with a gain of 24.39 points. The index moved both ways, between 11,970.53 points intra-day high and 11,842.53 points intra-day low levels. Trading improved slightly and the volume at ready counter increased to 38.838 million shares as compared to 28.661 million shares traded on Thursday.
Market capitalisation increased by one billion rupees to Rs 3.104 trillion. Of 304 active scrips, 109 closed in negative and 99 in positive, while the values of 96 stocks remained unchanged. Bank Al Falah was the volume leader with 11.184 million shares and gained Re 0.28 to close at Rs 12.07.
Fatima Fertiliser, Fauji Fertiliser and Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim lost Re 0.11, Rs 3.53 and Re 0.11 to close at Rs 23.05, Rs 172.75 and Rs 59.72 with 7.301 million shares, 1.413 million shares and 0.765 million shares respectively, while Engro Corp inched up by Re 0.04 to close at Rs 132.05 with 1.054 million shares. Lotte Pakistan PTA closed at Rs 10.78, up Re 0.24 with 1.617 million shares.
Byco Petroleum increased by Re 0.27 to close at Rs 7.20 with 1.601 million shares. DG Khan Cement gained Re 0.05 to close at Rs 21.05 with 1.316 million shares. Arif Habib Corp inched up by Re 0.12 to close at Rs 29.85 with 1.173 million shares. Azgard Nine lost Re 0.08 to close at Rs 3.71 with 0.649 million shares.
Bhanero Textile and Indus Motor were highest gainers by Rs 9.95 and Rs 5.59 to close at Rs 238.53 and Rs 209.59 respectively, while Unilever Pakistan and Wyeth Pak were worst losers by Rs 47.64 and Rs 20.00 to close at Rs 5479.96 and Rs 680.00 respectively.
Hasnain Asghar Ali at Aziz Fidahusein Co said that low volume spur during closing hour in oil sector heavyweights did allow the index to recover from deep red zone wherein OGDC contributed 44 points. While substantial contribution by mid-tier stocks allowed the volume to match the previous sessions, wherein BAFL and Fatima Fertiliser led the volume by making a combined contribution of almost 50 percent to overall turnover. He said that gloomy economic and financial situation, along with uncertain political environment ,coupled with various internal matters, might continue to restrict activity at the bourse.