KARACHI - Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed some consolidation on Tuesday, with the benchmark KSE 100-index hitting the fresh highest-ever level. The index closed at 36,265.12 points after gaining 30.13 points.

Mixed activity was observed at the bourse yesterday, as the market turned positive after opening on a negative note to close up by 0.08%, brokers said. Investor interest was seen in the cement sector with DCL, up 5.7%, CHCC, 2.3%, and LUCK, 1.5%, garnering investor interest, dealers said.

Moreover, gas utility companies SNGPL, which increased 1.1%, and SSGC, which went up by 1.0%, gained on the back of news that Pakistan and Italy may sign a government to government deal for supply of LNG to Pakistan, observed analyst Ahmed Saeed Khan at JS Research.

On the other hand, slight correction was seen in scrips expected to be part of MSCI Emerging Market Index as UBL (down 1.6%), OGDC (down 0.6%) and PSO (down 0.4%) lost ground in the session, analysts added. Volume increased by 2.9% to 281m shares while value decreased by 7% to Rs 11.9b/114$m. DCL and DFML were volume leaders with 59m shares and 29mn shares traded. Some profit taking was observed in banking stocks which led MCB, UBL and HBL to close down between 0.1% to 1.9%, stated dealers at sales desk of major brokerage.