KARACHI – Investors remained cautious as annual inflation clocked in at 13.16 percent in March 2011. The KSE-100 Index closed down 84 points at 11,849 with 75 million shares traded, down 15 percent from yesterday.
The refining sector continued to outperform the market in general on the back of rising GRM’s post closure of refining capacities in the aftermath of Tsunami in Japan (World’s 3rd largest oil consumer). Foreign Institutional Investors were rumored to be buyers in cement and refinery scrips while locals were sellers of fertiliser and energy shares.
The cement sector drew participation of both foreign and savvy locals as both Lucky Cement and Dera Ghazi Khan Cement (DGKC) outperformed with healthy volumes while index heavy OGDC continues to take a pounding. Activity at the local bourse is likely to remain range bound; however in the intermediate term, arrival of result season backed by better earnings is likely to bring back some momentum.
The KSE-100 index closed at 11848.84 with a loss of 84.34 points, and total volume stood at 54,557,887 along with the total value of 2,475,468,764. KSE 30 index lost 55.94 points to close at 11,512.23, while All Share index closed at 8,324.80 after losing 53.78 points. A total of 121 scrips advanced, 161 declined and 85 remain unchanged out of total 367 scrips traded.
KSE market capitalisation stood at Rs 3,158.77 billion, $37.22 billion, while KSE future volume was 3.56 million shares. KSE future value was Rs. 365.94 million and the KSE future spread stood at 10.47 percent. Top gainers at the KSE today were Pakistan Telephone Cables, Gharibwal Cement, DG Khan Cement, Standard Chartered Bank, Pak Suzuki Motor, Lucky Cement and Grays Of Cambridge (Pakistan) Ltd.
Top losers were Dawood Hercules Chemicals, Indus Dyeing Manufacturing., Unilever Pakistan, Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, Pakistan Refinery, Pace (Pak), and Pakistan Tobacco Company.
Investors remain wary on KSE
