ISLAMABAD, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) stayed bearish for the fourth straight day on Thursday as investors remained on the sidelines due to the ongoing turbulence on the country's political front.
The Pakistan Stock Exchange's benchmark KSE 100-Index declined by 0.66 percent, or 266.15 points, to 40,237.53 points on Thursday when compared with 40,503.68 points reported on Wednesday.
The key index is currently trading 23.90 percent, or 12,638.93 points, below its all-time historic peak of 52,876.46 points achieved on May 24, 2017. The ongoing bearish run has ejected 1,075.06 points from the main index.
The KSE All-Share Index trimmed down by 0.38 percent, or 110.72 points, to 29,025.77 points, the KSE 30-Index went down by 0.75 percent, or 154.62 points, to 20,326.00 points, the KMI 30-Index fell by 0.54 percent, or 359.61 points, to 66,826.70 points, whereas the Islamic All-Share Index slipped by 0.46 percent, or 92.80 points, to 20,082.49 points.
During Thursday's trading session, the main index moved in a healthy range of 957.81 points as it touched an intraday high of 40,791.91 points as against an intraday low of 39,834.10 points. The premier Pakistani equity market started the day on a positive note but profit-taking at higher levels soon changed the complexion of the trade floor. The key index fell below 40,000 points-mark during intraday trade but some institutional support emerged which saved the day for the bourse and helped the key index regain the psychological barrier before the close.
Market volumes improved slightly by 6.51 percent, or 8.43 million shares, to 137.99 million shares on Thursday when compared with a trading of 129.56 million shares reported on Wednesday.
Market capitalization decreased by 0.50 percent, or 42.43 billion rupees (395.41 million U.S. dollars), to 8.41 trillion rupees whereas trade value swelled by 13.65 percent, or 735.83 million rupees, to 6.13 billion rupees.
Among 395 active scrips on Thursday, the prices of 306 issues depleted, 73 advanced, whereas values of 16 other companies stayed unchanged.
Karachi Electric Limited, TRG Pakistan Limited, and Aisha Steel Mills Limited were the top traded companies with turnovers of 13.51 million shares, 8.21 million shares, and 7.32 million shares, respectively.
Unilever Foods XD was the top price gainer of the day with an increment of 240.00 rupees to close at 6,800.00 rupees while on the other hand, Sanofi-Aventis led the major price shedders with a decrement of 81.55 rupees to finish at 1,549.45 rupees. (1 U.S. dollar = 107.30 rupees)
