ISLAMABAD, July 18 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) returned to bullish ways on Monday after receiving bearish trends at the weekend as the main index finished close to its all-time peak amid a volatile session.
The Pakistan Stock Exchange's benchmark KSE 100-Index gained 0.17 percent or 64.78 points to 39,253.25 points on Monday when compared with 39,188.47 points reported on Friday.
The KSE All-Share Index rose 0.17 percent or 43.71 points to 26,200.12 points, the KSE 30-Index grew by 0.13 percent or 30.29 points to 22,751.70 points, the KMI 30-Index surged by 0.45 percent or 312.96 points to 70,236.18 points, whereas the Islamic All-Share Index jacked up by 0.56 percent or 102.28 points to 18,369.93 points.
During Monday's trading session, the main index moved in a narrow range of 363.32 points as it scaled an intraday high of 39,269.14 points as against an intraday low of 38,905.82 points.
Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) were in the limelight after news emerged that gas tariffs are likely to be raise. The SSGC closed at its upper limit while the SNGPL jumped by 4.8 percent.
Investors also bought positions in Maple Leaf Cement (MLCF) and Dera Ghazi Khan Cement (DGKC) which closed by 2.1 percent and 1 percent, respectively.
Engineering sector continued to rise as Amreli Steels Limited (ASTL) closed at its upper limit while ISL and MUGHAL gained 1.9 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively.
Market volumes decreased by 13.91 percent or 27.793 million shares to 172.003 million shares on Monday when compared with 199.796 million shares recorded on Friday.
Market capitalization swelled by 0.17 percent or 13.103 billion rupees (128.465 million U.S. dollars) to 7.854 trillion rupees (77.003 billion dollars) whereas trade value dipped by 19.59 percent or 2.671 billion rupees (26.186 million dollars) to 10.964 billion rupees (107.496 million dollars).
Among 344 active scrips on Monday, prices of 159 issues advanced, 152 depleted, whereas values of 33 other companies stayed stable at the weekend's level.
Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited, Dewan Motors, and TRG Pakistan Limited were the top traded companies with turnovers of 31.682 million shares, 12.106 million shares, and 11.964 million shares, respectively.
Nestle Pakistan was the top price gainer with an increment of 325.50 rupees (3.19 dollars) to 7,824.50 rupees (76.71 dollars) while on the other hand Philip Morris Pakistan Limited led the major price shedders with a decrement of 76.40 rupees (74.90 cents) to 1,530 rupees (15 dollars).
