BRIndex100 advances

Pakistan Stock Exchange witnessed a positive trend on the back of fresh buying in various sectors. BRIndex100 gained 35.44 points or 0.78 percent to close at 4,577.90 points Thursday. BRIndex100 touched intraday high of 4,586.29 and intraday low of 4,533.11 points. Volumes stood at 120.469 million shares.
BRIndex30 increased by 67.44 or 0.3 percent to close at 22,773.32 points with total volumes of 84.597 million shares.
The benchmark KSE-100 index surged by 300.16 points or 0.71 percent to close at 42,846.64 points. Daily trading volumes on the ready counter increased to 142.623 million shares as compared to 133.730 million shares traded Wednesday.
Foreign investors remained net sellers of shares worth $7.9 million. The market capitalization increased by Rs 58 billion to Rs 8.913 trillion. Out of total 352 active scrips, 190 closed in positive, 139 in negative while the value of 23 stocks remained unchanged.
Pak Elektron was the volume leader with 13.909 million shares. It gained Re 0.42 to close at Rs 38.50 followed by Pak International Bulk Terminal that lost Re 0.50 to close at Rs 13.06 with 11.813 million shares.
Philip Morris Pak and Colgate Palmolive were top gainers with Rs 129.46 and Rs 60.00, respectively to close at Rs 3,129.46 and Rs 3,000.00. Unilever Foods and Rafhan Maize were the top losers with Rs 413.20 and Rs 150.00, respectively to close at Rs 7,850.85 and Rs 7,900.00.
BR Commercial Banks Index increased by 62.64 points or 0.73 percent to close at 8,636.79 with total turnover of 37.463 million shares.
BR Cement Index lost 9.63 points or 0.19 percent to close at 5,091.44 with 8.762 million shares.
BR Oil and Gas Index gained 50.21 points or 0.94 percent to close at 5,395.25 points with 6.248 million shares.
BR Tech. & Comm. Index closed at 1,141.41 points, up 2.88 points or 0.25 percent with 15.324 million shares.
BR Power Generation and Distribution Index declined by 24.97 points or 0.4 percent to close at 6,254.87 points with 2.269 million shares.
Maaz Mulla at JS Global Capital said volatility prevailed in the market as index remained range-bound, trading between minus 50 to plus 373 points, and closed at 42,847 level, up 300 points. However hefty buying was witnessed at the eleventh hour as investors took the opportunity to accumulate stocks on attractive levels.
OGDC (up 1.79 percent), MCB (up 2.02 percent), POL (up 1.82 percent) and HBL (up 1.02 percent) were the major leaders for the day cumulatively contributing plus 124 points to the index. Banking sector led the gains as sector heavyweights such as MCB (up 2.02 percent), BAFL (up 1.72 percent), FABL (up 4.76 percent) and HBL (up 1.02 percent) closed in the green zone. Investors'' interest was witnessed in the E&P sector despite crude oil prices edging lower in the international market. OGDC (up 1.79 percent), POL (up 1.82 percent) and PPL (up 1.22 percent) were the major movers of the aforementioned sector.