KSE-100 edges up 154.81 points as 319 of 496 stocks fall

The KSE-100 Index closed 154.81 points higher on Monday at 166,564.07, a gain of 0.09 percent over the previous session's 166,409.25, but the advance rested on a narrow base: 319 of the 496 companies traded in the ready market fell, against 137 that rose and 40 that were unchanged.

Activity thinned sharply. Ready-market volume came to 443.432 million shares against 825.467 million a day earlier, and traded value slipped to Rs17.731 billion from Rs23.123 billion. Total market capitalisation eased to Rs18.293 trillion from Rs18.389 trillion.

Cnergyico PK led the volume chart with 93.110 million shares, followed by Pervez Ahmed Co on 45.177 million and TPL Properties on 30.105 million. Pakistan Services Limited topped the gainers, adding Rs98.52 to close at Rs1,083.71, while Pakistan Engineering Company Limited rose Rs38.73 to Rs919.02.

Among the fallers, Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited dropped Rs281.02 to Rs25,998.98 and PIA Holding Company Limited B lost Rs250.00 to close at Rs13,700.00. In the futures market, turnover was 119.359 million shares worth Rs4.970 billion, down from 738.201 million shares worth Rs28.522 billion, with 212 of the 316 companies traded declining.