Index down by 16.79 points

The Karachi share market on Tuesday witnessed a mixed trend with the KSE-100 index oscillating between 15,828.81 points intra-day high and 15,779.35 points intra-day low levels. The index finally closed at 15,795.93 points, down 16.79 points. Selling was seen mainly by local investors while the foreign participants'' interest continued and they remained net buyers of shares worth 2.11 million dollars.
Trading activities also remained extremely low as the volumes at ready counter declined to 84.993 million shares as compared to 136.018 million shares traded on last trading session. Total market capitalisation declined by Rs 14 billion to stand at Rs 3.939 trillion. Of the total 326 active stocks, 158 closed in negative and 146 in positive while the value of 22 stocks remained unchanged.
Fauji Cement was the volume leader with 9.803 million shares however lost Re 0.13 to close at Rs 6.38. In the other cement sector stocks, DG Khan Cement and Maple Leaf Cement gained Re 0.14 and Re 0.15 to close at Rs 51.87 and Rs 9.09 with 4.936 million shares and 2.432 million shares respectively. PTCL decreased by Re 0.85 to close at Rs 16.72 with 9.616 million shares. KESC lost Re 0.32 to close at Rs 5.78 with 6.222 million shares. Quice Food declined by Re 0.70 to close at Rs 9.68 with 5.47 million shares. Engro Corporation lost Rs 1.89 to close at Rs 91.38 with 3.701 million shares.
TRG Pakistan gained Re 0.26 to close at Rs 3.86 with 2.489 million shares. Askari Bank increased by Re 0.19 to close at Rs 16.64 with 2.246 million shares. Jahangir Siddiqui Co lost Re 0.10 to close at Rs 14.25 with 2.212 million shares. Siemens Pakistan and Indus Dyeing were the top gainers increasing by Rs 32 and Rs 17.68 to close at Rs 745 and Rs 504.43 respectively, while Nestle Pakistan and Shezan International were the top losers declining by Rs 200 and Rs 22.49 to close at Rs 4,800 and Rs 427.5 respectively. Ahsan Mehanti at Arif Habib Corporation said Pakistan stocks closed lower amid thin trade post major earning announcements at KSE.
He said the uncertain global markets on US Hurricane threats, limited foreign interest, dismal fertiliser off-take data by NFDC, concerns for gas shortfall for industrial sector and rising political uncertainty ahead of the Supreme Court decision on cases against security unrest in city affected the sentiments. "The bearish activity continued amid consolidation in stocks across the board despite strong earning announcements in oil, banks and textile sector stocks", he added.