Stock market closes slightly higher amid thin volume - The Nation, Pakistan

KARACHI - Equity market closed higher amid thin trades as investors remained cautious ahead of federal budget announcements due next month.
At Karachi stock market benchmark KSE-100 share index gained 17.96 points or 0.13 percent to close the day at 13,875.74 points as compared to the 13,857.78 points of the last working day on Friday.
Ahsan Mehanti analyst at KSE said trading remained in narrow range as investors awaited announcements on military aid to Pakistan during President visit for Chicago conference amid hopes for improvement in Pak-US relations on resumption of NATO supplies. Fall in global commodities and stocks affected the sentiments despite foreign interest in banking and oil sector stocks.
KSE-Allshare index added 12.52 points or 0.13 percent to close the day at 9,750.31 points, KSE-30 share index increased 25.44 points or 0.21 percent to end the day at 12,006.24 points while KMI-30 share index improved 24.01 points or 0.10 percent to conclude the  trading session at 23,889.65 points.
Expert said after a fall of 375 points last week local market shows signs of consolidation. Low volumes indicated that speculators are on the sidelines in the absence of any major trigger. DGKC remained in the limelight as investors accumulated shares in hope that local cement prices will recover soon.
Market traded 81.448 million shares after opening at 175.707 million shares and the value of traded shares was Rs 2.121 billion. Trading took pace in 361 companies where loser out numbered the gainers 143 to 139 while the values of 79 stocks remain unchanged. 
Active list was topped by JS Bank Ltd with 10.720 million shares as it closed at Rs 5.80 after opening at Rs 5.20 added Re 0.6. JS Co was on the second position with 8.070 million shares shed Re 0.23 to lock at Rs 16.34. It was followed by DGK Cement with 7.21 million shares off Re 21 to end at Rs 40.28, Bankislami Pakistan  with 6.841 million shares lost Re 0.72 to stop at Rs 10.11 and Engro Foods Ltd 3.403 million shares up Re 0.88 to end at Rs 65.63.
Mithchells Fruit and Wyeth Pak Limited were the top traded companies of the day increased by Rs 10.73 and Rs 10.00 while the top losers were led by Rafhan MaizeXD and Dreamworld off by Rs 72.82 and Rs 21.15 respectively. 

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