Index gains 25.88 points

The KSE-100 index on Wednesday gained 25.88 points and closed at the level of 11,532.83 points on the back of investors' interest in some select stocks. The market opened on a strong positive note and the index hit 11,593.29 points intra-day high. The investors opted for profit taking during the mid-session.
The index briefly visited negative territory at 11,504.75 points intra-day low level. However, revived investors interest in some stocks supported the index to close in positive. Trading improved slightly and the volume at ready counter increased to 38.491 million shares as compared to Tuesday's 37.386 million shares.
Market capitalisation increased by Rs 7 billion to Rs 3.003 trillion. Of 304 active scrips, 125 closed in positive and 86 in negative, while the values of 93 stocks remained unchanged. Jahangir Siddiqui Co was the volume leader with 5.815 million shares and gained Re 0.25 to close at Rs 5.83.
In the fertiliser sector, Fatima Fertiliser and Engro Corp increased by Re 0.17 and Rs 1.62 to close at Rs 23.12 and Rs 128.86 with 4.148 million shares and 1.172 million shares respectively, while Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim and Fauji Fertiliser Co declined by Re 0.32 and Rs 1.48 to close at Rs 54.11 and Rs 163.99 with 1.869 million shares and 1.158 million shares respectively.
DG Khan Cement inched up by Re 0.31 to close at Rs 20.75 with 3.153 million shares. Picic Gro Fund gained Re 0.30 to close at Rs 12.57 with 2.673 million shares. Arif Habib Corp increased by Re 0.28 to close at Rs 29.15 with 1.478 million shares. Japan Power lost Re 0.04 to close at Re 0.60 with 1.140 million shares. Lotte Pakistan PTA decreased by Re 0.03 to close at Rs 9.76 with 1.139 million shares.
Bata (Pak) and Unilever Pak were highest gainers by Rs 14.94 and Rs 9.80 to close at Rs 730.70 and Rs 5528.40 respectively, while Siemens Pak and Bhanero Textile were worst losers by Rs 24.74 and Rs 10.53 to close at Rs 725.86 and Rs 228.00 respectively. Samar Iqbal at Topline Securities said that the market remained dull throughout the day as investors continued to focus on the monetary policy and government decision on tax on gas consumption. Market players were not sure what would be the implications if the government would increase gas prices for te fertiliser sector. Volume remained confined on mid cap stocks, he added.