First day of the financial year 2021 took the index close to 35K level, posting gains of 502pts during the session, mostly inline with regional markets. Major contributors were Cement (on the back of recent increase in cement price / bag and reduction in FED charges), E&P (due to an increase in international crude prices), OMCs (primarily PSO, which gained from recent increase in retail price, eroding inventory losses at financial year end) and Fertilizer (for reasons of provision of cheap gas for feedstock for few fertilizer companies). Technology sector realized 78.8M shares, followed by Cement (64.4M) and Power (44.6M). Among scrips, KEL topped 39.1M shares, followed by HUMNL (30.7M) and TRG (26.5M).

· The Index closed at 34,889pts as against 34,421pts showing an increase of 468pts (+1.4% DoD). Sectors contributing to the performance include Cement (+178pts), E&P (+116pts), Power (+87pts), Fertilizer (+84pts) and O&GMCs (+25pts).

· Volumes increased further from 223.3mn shares to 315.0mn shares (+41% DoD). Average traded value also increased from US$ 44.6mn to US$ 63.5mn (+42% DoD).

· Stocks that contributed significantly to the volumes include KEL, HUMNL, TRG, MLCF and DGKC, which formed 43% of total volumes.

· Stocks that contributed positively to the index include LUCK (+95pts), HUBC (+68pts), OGDC (+58pts), PPL (+41pts) and ENGRO (+38pts). Stocks that contributed negatively include UBL (-22pts), BAFL (-17pts), MCB (-16pts), BAHL (-14pts), and HBL (-11pts) . (AHL).