KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange Friday witnessed fluctuation in trading and lost most of the gains in last session but remained in the green zone. The benchmark 100-index added another 25.34 points to close at another height of 38776.94 points.
The stocks recorded the highest trading level of 38965.34 points and lowest level of 38640.00 points, with the volume of 256 million shares, having over Rs 17.5 billion value. As many as 326 companies were active; of which 119 advanced, 185 declined and 22 remained unchanged.
Commercial banks was the top traded sector with 26,797,100 volume, while power generation and distribution remained second with 23,105,600 volume
The three top traded companies were K-Electric Ltd with a volume of 17,689,000 and price per share of 8.06 (0.01), Pak Int.Bulk with a volume 8,125,000 of price per share of 33.10 (-0.57), Habib Bank with a volume 7,092,000 of price per share of 210.49 (9.57).
The top three gainers were Colgate Palmo with price per share 1550 (50.01), Hinopak Motor SPOT with price per share of 1082.87 (47.35) and Pak Tobacco price per share of 1041 (38.30).
The top three losers were Bata (Pak) with price per share of 3600 (-100), Mari Petroleum with price per share of 915.54 (-34.04) and The Searle Co.Ltd. per share of 569.05 (-27.99).
On Thursday, positivity prevailed in the stock market for the third consecutive day, as the benchmark 100-share index closed at a new all-time high. PSX index rallied by 191.72 points (0.50%) to close at 38751.60 points, mainly led by banks. Investor interest was seen in the stocks provisionally making part of MSCI Emerging Market Index, as HBL (5.0%) and MCB (4.9%) closed in the green zone. OGDC (down 1.8%) and POL (1.4%) in the E&P sector lost value to close in the red zone on the back of declining crude oil prices. Volumes increased by 5% to 255m shares while value decreased by 7.9% to Rs17.5b. Banking stocks rallied as HBL, BAFL closed at their upper limits while UBL and MCB closed up by 2.3% and 4.6% respectively. Investor interest was also seen in cement sector stocks.
