The Market opened on a positive note today and carried the momentum by adding a total of 538pts and closing the session +490pts (unadjusted). Banking sector stocks advanced today and were supported by a rebound in prices of E&P, OMCs, Refinery, Chemicals, Steel sectors. Expectation of rebound in Economy and Current Account Surplus helped Index stage recovery. Cement sector also contributed positively on the back of higher dispatches in the month of August 2020. Selling pressure in E&P and OMCs subsided, compared with last few sessions making it possible for the underlying scrips to show price groth. Cement sector topped the volumes with 88M shares, followed by OGMCs (66.4M) and Technology (56.7M). Among scrips, HASCOL posted 50.2M shares, followed by UNITYR2 (37.7M) and TRG (30M).

· The Index closed at 40,293pts as against 39,803pts showing an increase of 490pts (+1.2% DoD). Sectors contributing to the performance include Banks (+93pts), E&P (+91pts), Power (+56pts), Chemical (+41pts) and O&GMCs (+39pts).

· Volumes increased from 371.7mn shares to 535.1mn shares (+44% DoD). Average traded value also increased by 36% to reach US$ 120.8mn as against US$ 88.7mn.

· Stocks that contributed significantly to the volumes include HASCOL, UNITYR2, TRG, PRL and POWER1, which formed 31% of total volumes.

· Stocks that contributed positively to the index include HUBC (+51pts), HBL (+34pts), UBL (+28pts), OGDC (+25pts) and MARI (+25pts). Stocks that contributed negatively include LUCK (-10pts), DAWH (-6pts), FCEPL (-3pts), PMPK (-3pts) and NBP (-2pts).