Karachi: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 index closed positive.

At close, benchmark index settled at 75,983.03, up by 868.56 points or 1.16 percent. Across-the-board buying was witnessed in key sectors including automobile assemblers, cement, chemical, commercial banks, oil and gas exploration companies, OMCs and refinery. Total of 609,848,980 shares valuing Rs 23.580 billion were traded during day as compared to 758,944,398 shares valuing Rs 16.708 billion previous day. As many as 382 companies transacted their shares in stock market, 215 of them recorded gains and 144 sustained losses, whereas share price of 23 companies remained unchanged. Three top-trading companies were K-Electric Limited with 130,069,373 shares at Rs 5.21 per share, WorldCall Telecom with 50,574,182 shares at Rs 1.42 per share and Dewan Cement with 28,324,001 shares at Rs 10.49 per share.

Hoechst Pakistan Limited witnessed maximum increase of Rs 102.72 per share price, closing at Rs 1,472.50, whereas runner-up was Mari Petroleum Company Limited with Rs 49.66 rise in its per share price to Rs 2,836.07. Shahmurad Sugar Mills Limited witnessed maximum decrease of Rs 32.07 per share closing at Rs 567.84, followed by Rafhan Maize Products Company Limited with Rs 30 decline to close at Rs 7,970. Asian stocks fell on Friday, while dollar advanced as strong US economic data bolstered prospect of interest rates staying higher for longer and Federal Reserve taking its time in cutting rates, keeping investors away from risky assets. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan, opens new tab fell 0.5 percent and was on course for 1 percent weekly decline, snapping its four-week winning streak.