August 20, 2021 (MLN): Pakistani equities maintained the upward momentum on Friday, following the gains of the last trading day, as investors tracked the geopolitical uncertainty surrounding the Afghan situation that wore off.  At the end of trading, the KSE-100 Index recorded a positive close of 341.37 points or 0.72 percent gain to settle at 47,599.82-level.

However, the USA froze Afghan’s central bank' s assets and IMF also blocked the country’s SDR allocation.

Further, the drop in crude oil prices that came off three-month lows on Friday also boded well for the economy.

The Index remained positive throughout the session touching an intraday high of 47,644.34

Of the 97 traded companies in the KSE100 Index 58 closed up 32 closed down, while 7 remained unchanged. Total volume traded for the index was 119.84 million shares.

Sectors propping up the index were Cement with 182 points, Commercial Banks with 73 points, Oil & Gas Marketing Companies with 39 points, Engineering with 27 points and Fertilizer with 15 points.

The most points added to the index was by MEBL which contributed 64 points followed by DGKC with 39 points, CHCC with 32 points, LUCK with 31 points and PSO with 31 points.

Sector wise, the index was let down by Oil & Gas Exploration Companies with 25 points, Insurance with 11 points, Miscellaneous with 10 points, Technology & Communication with 7 points and Textile Spinning with 2 points.

The most points taken off the index was by PSEL which stripped the index of 10 points followed by MARI with 9 points, TRG with 9 points, OGDC with 7 points and NESTLE with 7 points.

All Share Volume increased by 53.06 Million to 299.13 Million Shares. Market Cap increased by Rs.58.89 Billion.

Total companies traded were 464 compared to 461 from the previous session. Of the scrips traded 298 closed up, 139 closed down while 27 remained unchanged.

Total trades increased by 26,571 to 119,120.

Value Traded increased by 1.59 Billion to Rs.13.07 Billion

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