ISLAMABAD, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) fell for the second straight day on Friday as investors resorted to booking profits at higher levels after international rating agency Fitch downgraded Pakistan's long-term foreign and local currency issuer ratings to negative from stable. The Fitch also affirmed "B" rating for both the categories.
The Pakistan Stock Exchange's benchmark KSE 100-Index declined by 0.59 percent or 265.58 points to 44,551.13 points on Friday when compared with a closing of 44,816.71 points recorded on Thursday.
During the week that ended on Jan. 26, the main index increased by 372.30 points with three out of five trading sessions ending in the green zone. The key index is currently trading 17.98 percent or 8,059.75 points below its all-time peak of 52,876.46 points achieved on May 24 last year.
The KSE All-Share Index fell by 0.30 percent or 95.60 points to 32,043.29 points, the KSE 30-Index slipped by 0.84 percent or 190.98 points to 22,434.13 points, the KMI 30-Index dipped slightly by 0.08 percent or 62.61 points to 75,669.53 points, whereas the Islamic All-Share Index bucked the overall bearish trends with an increase of 0.05 percent or 10.43 points to finish the week at 21,991.21 points.
During Friday's trading session, the main index moved in a healthy range of 629.21 points as it touched an intraday peak of 44,825.78 points as against an intraday low of 44,196.57 points.
Market volumes improved by 10.19 percent or 25.03 million shares to 270.76 million shares on Friday when compared with a trading of 245.73 million shares posted on Thursday. During the week under review, the top Pakistani bourse reported total volumes of 1.38 billion shares at an average daily turnover of 275.39 million shares. During the week, the PSX witnessed the highest volumes of 339.67 million shares on Wednesday.
Market capitalization decreased by 0.30 percent or 27.68 billion rupees (246.78 million U.S dollars) to 9.22 trillion rupees on Friday when compared with a figure of 9.25 trillion rupees posted on Thursday.
Market value shrank by 7.65 percent or 759.80 million rupees to 9.18 billion rupees on Friday when compared with a figure of 9.94 billion rupees registered on Thursday.
Among 357 active scrips on Friday, the prices of 179 issues depleted, 149 advanced, whereas values of 29 other companies remained unchanged for the week.
Karachi Electric Limited, Bank of Punjab, and Azgard Nine Limited were the top traded companies of the day with turnovers of 39.16 million shares, 19.45 million shares, and 19.25 million shares, respectively.
Khyber Tobacco XD was the top price gainer with an increment of 46.03 rupees to close at 1,012.97 rupees while on the other hand, Shezan International led the major price shedders with a decrement of 28.05 rupees to finish the day at 532.95 rupees. (1 U.S. dollar = 112.15 rupees)
