Market watch: Dull session ahead of monetary policy

KARACHI: Sentiments at the local bourse remained dull for another day as investors awaited the monetary policy announcement on Saturday.

The Karachi Stock Exchange benchmark 100-share index ended 0.04 per cent or 4.44 points higher on Friday at 12,481.44 points.

In the monetary policy, eight of 10 analysts polled by Reuters expect the central bank to increase its key policy rate by at least 50 basis points to 14.5 per cent to combat double-digit inflation. The central bank had increased the policy rate by 50 basis points to 14 per cent in the preceding review in November.

Volumes dropped to a month low of 87.91 million shares compared with Thursday’s 112.3 million shares.

Equities witnessed a virtual uneventful day despite announcement of some key corporate results, said Elixir Securities equity dealer Mohammad Rameez.

Pakistan Oilfields Limited (POL) and Attock Petroleum Limited (APL) also chipped in with handsome cash dividend payouts although both stocks ended flat with investors probably booking some profits, added Rameez.

POL announced a net profit of Rs5.2 billion for the first six months (July to December) of fiscal 2011, 57 per cent higher than the net profit in the same period last year. The scrip fell slightly by Rs0.07 to close at Rs328.91.

APL’s net profit surged 17 per cent to Rs1.7 billion in the first six months of fiscal 2011, in line with market expectations. The scrip fell Rs1.84 to end at Rs391.25. Shares of 369 companies were traded on the last trading session of the week. The value of shares traded during the day was Rs4.33 billion.

Lotte Pakistan PTA was the volume leader with 12.3 million shares, gaining Rs0.16 to finish at Rs15.57. It was followed by Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim with 7.75 million shares, gaining Rs0.69 to close at Rs41.39. The fertiliser giant continues to attract attention ahead of its proposed acquisition of Agritech, said Rameez.

Nishat Chunian Limited, third in the volumes chart with 5.5 million shares, closed at the upper limit on expectation of improved quarterly earnings.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^th, 2011.