Pakistan stock shares hit record high closing

Analysts said the budget is expected to benefit sectors such as fertilisers, cement and textiles.

The benchmark 100-share index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange finished up 0.94 percent, or 342.98 points, at 36,839.14, after rising as much as 1.05 percent to a record high earlier in the day.

“Today’s activity, although conflicting at times, was broad- based across most of the listed sectors,” said Gohar Rasool, head of international sales at Inter Market Securities Pvt Ltd.

Major gainers for the day included shares of Fauji Fertilizer Company Ltd, which rose 2.19 percent, Nestle Pakistan Ltd, up 5 percent, and Lucky Cement Ltd, up 2.02 percent.

A global crude oil rally ahead of an OPEC meeting in Vienna later on Thursday led to gains for Pakistani oil stocks.

Shares of Oil and Gas Development Company Ltd gained 1.36 percent, Pakistan Petroleum Ltd closed up 1.88 percent and Pakistan Oilfields Ltd rose 1.41 percent.

Traded volume on the day stood at 219 million shares, 1.5 times the 30-day average, with value at 11.4 billion rupees ($108.92 million).

The rupee ended stronger at 104.66/104.71 against the dollar, compared with Wednesday’s close of 104.79/104.80.